Applying to medical school without Physics 2

[immanuel11421]

Hi

I want to know if anyone ever gotten accepted to medical school without completing all the prerequisite. I am aiming for 2010 admission and need to take mcat in August.
But I am supposed to take Physics 2 in Summer session 2. I just finished my Organic Chemistry 2 Summer session 1.
I killed myself for this class and got an A. And I realized that I don't have enough time to pre-pare for mcat especially Verbal ( since English ) is not my first language.

I am thinking about dropping Physics 2 in Summer so that I can focus on mcat and take it in August instead of September. Does it make a difference whether I take mcat in August or September?

I am convinced that I can teach myself Physics 2 material that I need to know for mcat in 2 weeks instead of having to dedicate all my time for the summer class for4 weeks so that it would not mess up my GPA.

But applying without Physics 2 ,would that lower my chances of getting accepted?
Either I finish my Physics 2 this summer and take mcat late in mid-September or should I drop Physics 2 summer class so that I can have more time to study for mcat now and take mcat earlier in August?
Which is better options to increase my chances of getting accepted?
Will they even consider offering me admission without Physics 2? I will take it in the Fall but the transcipt will not be ready by the deadline of all medical schools which is Dec1st the latest for 2010 admission.

Pls advice. ANyone ever got accepted without finishing al prerequisite when application is submitted??

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[armybound]

You will be fine without the pre-reqs. They have to be done by matriculation, not by application/acceptance.

You really need to try to take that MCAT early. September would have your results back in October, which is way too late to be finishing your application. Even August is really getting far too late.

 

[Food]

You will be pretty late in September...you want to be turning in secondaries by the beginning of October just to be "on time".

I'm also skeptical that you can teach yourself physics 2 well enough in 2 weeks. It'd be an impressive feat if you could, though. Taking your MCAT in August would only give you about a month and half maybe...and you sound like you have a lot of studying to do for the MCAT. It really is something you must prepare for thoroughly.

You might need to wait a year, to be honest. I don't see how you could do all that ins uch little time, but perhaps it is possible. I don't know what you are capable of, but if you think you can do it, then I say go for it.

 

[Brent8927]

You will be pretty late in September...you want to be turning in secondaries by the beginning of October just to be "on time".

I'm also skeptical that you can teach yourself physics 2 well enough in 2 weeks. It'd be an impressive feat if you could, though. Taking your MCAT in August would only give you about a month and half maybe...and you sound like you have a lot of studying to do for the MCAT. It really is something you must prepare for thoroughly.

You might need to wait a year, to be honest. I don't see how you could do all that ins uch little time, but perhaps it is possible. I don't know what you are capable of, but if you think you can do it, then I say go for it.

I agree with this. Physics can be hard enough to learn in a couple of months, let alone two weeks. I would highly, highly, highly recommend not taking the MCAT until you've taken a full year of bio, physics, o-chem, and gen-chem. You will have a much better chance of doing your best on the MCAT if you wait until you are ready.

Ultimately you will know when you are ready, and that's what matters most. But, definitely take some of the AAMC practice tests--if you are scoring well, then go ahead and take the MCAT, but I think you would still do better if you wait until you take the rest of physics.

 

[camaras2480]

You might need to wait a year, to be honest. I don't see how you could do all that ins uch little time, but perhaps it is possible. I don't know what you are capable of, but if you think you can do it, then I say go for it.

Do not blow your first application to medical school. It is more difficult the second time around, especially since you don't have significant plans to be a stronger candidate when reapplying.

Although completing in October may be considered "on time" as someone indicate previously, IMO, it is late. You really want to try to be complete in September, especially if you are NOT targeting top tier schools. It will be tough to get through rolling admissions by completing in October. Certainly not impossible, but an uphill battle. And, imagine for a moment you do not do well on the MCAT. You have wasted time, money, and even more precious, your first impression.

 

[immanuel11421]

Does Physics 2 take up a big part of mcat? I have only seen a few practice test so far and mostly came across Physics 1 material.
That's why I thought I can teach myself what I need to know about Physics 2 in 2 weeks.

I don't think Physics is easy. But I just thought that I don't need to know Physics 2 that much in depth to do well in mcat.

But is there any difference if I apply in August or September anyway?
If both months are too late anyway, I'll just make different plan.

I just thought that if I can only choose to do one thing this summer to get in for 2010, I should focus on mcat instead of finishing up my Physics 2. But I don't know even if I do well in mcat, would the school even offer admission to people with one incomplete prereq like Physics 2.

 

[camaras2480]

Does Physics 2 take up a big part of mcat? I have only seen a few practice test so far and mostly came across Physics 1 material.
That's why I thought I can teach myself what I need to know about Physics 2 in 2 weeks.

I don't think Physics is easy. But I just thought that I don't need to know Physics 2 that much in depth to do well in mcat.

But is there any difference if I apply in August or September anyway?
If both months are too late anyway, I'll just make different plan.

I just thought that if I can only choose to do one thing this summer to get in for 2010, I should focus on mcat instead of finishing up my Physics 2. But I don't know even if I do well in mcat, would the school even offer admission to people with one incomplete prereq like Physics 2.

Applying in August is still reasonable. Applying in September is late. Regarding a different plan, you should definitely consider other plans as fallbacks, including waiting a year.

Physics on the MCAT is luck of the draw. There is no required number of questions for either Physics 1 or 2. So you have to know it all.

Would schools offer admission to one incomplete prereq? Yes, assuming you complete that prereq in the upcoming year.

 

[Food]

Does Physics 2 take up a big part of mcat? I have only seen a few practice test so far and mostly came across Physics 1 material.
That's why I thought I can teach myself what I need to know about Physics 2 in 2 weeks.

I don't think Physics is easy. But I just thought that I don't need to know Physics 2 that much in depth to do well in mcat.

But is there any difference if I apply in August or September anyway?
If both months are too late anyway, I'll just make different plan.

I just thought that if I can only choose to do one thing this summer to get in for 2010, I should focus on mcat instead of finishing up my Physics 2. But I don't know even if I do well in mcat, would the school even offer admission to people with one incomplete prereq like Physics 2.

Yeah there is a big difference between August and September - time is very valuable at that stage.

Physics 2 will probably cover more information than Physics 1 on the MCAT. Here is a list of topics from physics 2 you should know:

Electrostatics
Magnetism
RC Circuits
Optics
Wave mechanics
Fluids and Solids (density, buoyancy force, bernoulli's equation)

I mean that's a lot of **** to learn - especially since each of those categories is pretty big. The good thing is there is no Guass's Law - which is one of the pillars of undergrad physics 2. Plus there's probably stuff on that list I left out - there's a very very basic list. And it might be a mix of physics 1 and 2 (not sure where wave mechanics, optics, and fluid mechanics fit for you guys).

And no, the schools won't care if you have not finished the pre-reqs yet - they have to be complete by the time you have attended orientation.

 

[camaras2480]

(not sure where wave mechanics, optics, and fluid mechanics fit for you guys).

For me, waves and optics was Physics II. I think fluids was Physics I. Memory is starting to fail. Wayy too many years ago haha.

 

[emeraldelle1985]

I am applying this cycle and am currently taking Physics 2. I am a non-traditional applicant and I took Physics I in the summer of 2005, then took the MCAT in 2009 without having taken Physics II. It is definitely do-able, but if you can avoid doing it that way, I would.

However, if you have to, just make sure you list it as a Current/Planned Coursework on your AMCAS application. You might also want to double check with your individual medical schools about whether or not this is okay. It was my experience that almost all the schools I applied to said it was fine that I had not completed it yet; they just asked that I list it in Current/Planned Coursework so they knew I would have it complete by matriculation. Good luck!

 

[immanuel11421]

hi all,

Thanks for all of your advice. I am also a non-traditional applicants and that's why time is very valuable for me.
Waiting another year will make me older and according to my primary doctor, he said that there things medical doesn't tell u. Like age does some how matter. Although once in a while they do take unusual applicants but most of the time, they like younger applicants whom they feel would be able practice medicine for a while.

I'll play it by ear regarding my Physics class. If the prof is too demanding and it's taking all my time to get an A, I'll drop it. Don't want it to mess up my GPA. If I can do the class while studying ing my other stuff for mcat, I'll keep it. I have a low cGPA from undergrad but now all my science post-grad is 4.0 and don't want to mess it up.

I am shooting for August mcat or else I don't think I have any chance of getting in.

**THE MAIN THING IS, HOW BAD IS IT TO HAVE A LOW MCAT SCORE IN MY MCAT? IF THIS CYCLE DOESN'T WORK OUT, I MAY RETAKE MCAT. BUT ONE BAD MCAT SCORE IN MY RECORD, WILL IT SCAR ME FOR LIFE???

 

[Food]

It depends on your circumstances. One bad MCAT won't kill you - but it is absolutely essential that your retakes are better.

 

[camaras2480]

hi all,

Thanks for all of your advice. I am also a non-traditional applicants and that's why time is very valuable for me.
Waiting another year will make me older and according to my primary doctor, he said that there things medical doesn't tell u. Like age does some how matter. Although once in a while they do take unusual applicants but most of the time, they like younger applicants whom they feel would be able practice medicine for a while.

I'll play it by ear regarding my Physics class. If the prof is too demanding and it's taking all my time to get an A, I'll drop it. Don't want it to mess up my GPA. If I can do the class while studying ing my other stuff for mcat, I'll keep it. I have a low cGPA from undergrad but now all my science post-grad is 4.0 and don't want to mess it up.

I am shooting for August mcat or else I don't think I have any chance of getting in.

**THE MAIN THING IS, HOW BAD IS IT TO HAVE A LOW MCAT SCORE IN MY MCAT? IF THIS CYCLE DOESN'T WORK OUT, I MAY RETAKE MCAT. BUT ONE BAD MCAT SCORE IN MY RECORD, WILL IT SCAR ME FOR LIFE???

Average age of first year medical student in the US is 24.

Good idea with the physics class.

Yes, August is your only chance at this cycle.

A bad MCAT does not ruin you. Just do better the next time. Now of course, if this means you improving from 17 to 19, then yes, you are ruined as far as US MD schools go.

 

[immanuel11421]

Hi

One last thing, if I decide to drop the Summer Physics class, I know I don't have to mention it in AAMAS.
But if I withdraw the class with a W, do I have to report and explain??
The school where I am taking this class is NOT the same school where I have done the rest of my post-bac science classes.
I am only taking Physics 2 here as non-matriculated student.

So, do u think I have to report it and explain the W if I decide to withdraw??
How bad is a W ?

 

[Brent8927]

Hi

One last thing, if I decide to drop the Summer Physics class, I know I don't have to mention it in AAMAS.
But if I withdraw the class with a W, do I have to report and explain??
The school where I am taking this class is NOT the same school where I have done the rest of my post-bac science classes.
I am only taking Physics 2 here as non-matriculated student.

So, do u think I have to report it and explain the W if I decide to withdraw??
How bad is a W ?

Yes, you have to report every college-level course you've ever taken. This includes college courses taken in high school (which I did--and I had a 2.8 GPA from the three courses I took!). Any class you took, even if you withdrew, you have to report to AMCAS. However, if you withdrew before the deadline, and it doesn't appear on your transcript, you don't have to list it. But if you received a "W" and it is on a transcript, you unfortunately have to report it.

In my personal experience, a W isn't that bad--I don't know about others though. I had perhaps three of them (and an NR), and I still received two interview invites, and I think two interviews after applying to six schools isn't too bad, especially since five schools were UC's. I wasn't asked about any of my withdrawals in my interviews, nor was I asked about my C- in my senior design project (I was an architectural studies major in undergrad).

If possible you want to avoid W's, but I don't know what the "cut-off" point is (ie., I'm sure a W is better than a D or F, but is a C better than a W? What about a B-?)

 

[camaras2480]

Yes, you have to report every college-level course you've ever taken. This includes college courses taken in high school (which I did--and I had a 2.8 GPA from the three courses I took!). Any class you took, even if you withdrew, you have to report to AMCAS. However, if you withdrew before the deadline, and it doesn't appear on your transcript, you don't have to list it. But if you received a "W" and it is on a transcript, you unfortunately have to report it.

In my personal experience, a W isn't that bad--I don't know about others though. I had perhaps three of them (and an NR), and I still received two interview invites, and I think two interviews after applying to six schools isn't too bad, especially since five schools were UC's. I wasn't asked about any of my withdrawals in my interviews, nor was I asked about my C- in my senior design project (I was an architectural studies major in undergrad).

If possible you want to avoid W's, but I don't know what the "cut-off" point is (ie., I'm sure a W is better than a D or F, but is a C better than a W? What about a B-?)

One W does not matter. You don't have to explain it unless someone brings it up at your interview. Otherwise, no one cares. A W is certainly better than an F or a D, and most people would say it beats the C as well.