Applying without all prereqs

[footNankle]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

So I wasn't really able to find a straight answer for this anywhere.

I'm planning on applying June 2013. I'll have all my pre-reqs done by that time, minus both organic chem classes. I'm going to be doing both orgos over the summer, and I'll be getting my grade back for orgo 1 (probably) before I even receive any secondary applications.

I'm doing a little GPA repair at the moment and I'll probably be looking at about a 3.5 cGPA and sGPA when everything is said and done.

I know that technically speaking as long as I have all classes done by matriculation, I'm fine. I'm just wondering how big of a disadvantage, if any, I will have when I submit my primary while I'm missing two pre-reqs...? If it helps, I should have all my pre-reqs completed by mid August of next year's application cycle.

 

[dntke1518]

While you can do that and it isn't a problem, being that it is orgo would help to have before you apply since you are trying to do some gpa repair

 

[Mehd School]

How are you planning on taking the MCAT with having no knowledge of Organic Chemistry?

 

[HeronsBeak]

^
I just did two weeks ago, using orgo for dummies and EK organic. Not the easiest, but I think I did okay on BS, I got about half the orgo questions for sure, another 25% narrowed down to two, and the rest I was unsure. Considering orgo is 15% on average of the BS, I wouldn't worry about it too much as long as you can teach yourself some basics before the mcat. By the way, I'm in the same boat for next year, will have my Orgo 1 grade in my app, but not 2 and lab. I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[footNankle]

^
I just did two weeks ago, using orgo for dummies and EK organic. Not the easiest, but I think I did okay on BS, I got about half the orgo questions for sure, another 25% narrowed down to two, and the rest I was unsure. Considering orgo is 15% on average of the BS, I wouldn't worry about it too much as long as you can teach yourself some basics before the mcat. By the way, I'm in the same boat for next year, will have my Orgo 1 grade in my app, but not 2 and lab. I wouldn't worry too much.

Yep I'm planning on doing exactly that... There is a book called "Organic Chemistry as a Second Language" by David Klein (professor at Johns Hopkins). Excellent explanations of the material... I'm planning on using that along with some traditional mcat study books.

While you can do that and it isn't a problem, being that it is orgo would help to have before you apply since you are trying to do some gpa repair

I'm really not too concerned about the GPA repair at that point. I should have around a 3.4 or so even without the ochem.

 

[Mehd School]

^
I just did two weeks ago, using orgo for dummies and EK organic. Not the easiest, but I think I did okay on BS, I got about half the orgo questions for sure, another 25% narrowed down to two, and the rest I was unsure. Considering orgo is 15% on average of the BS, I wouldn't worry about it too much as long as you can teach yourself some basics before the mcat. By the way, I'm in the same boat for next year, will have my Orgo 1 grade in my app, but not 2 and lab. I wouldn't worry too much.

Yep I'm planning on doing exactly that... There is a book called "Organic Chemistry as a Second Language" by David Klein (professor at Johns Hopkins). Excellent explanations of the material... I'm planning on using that along with some traditional mcat study books.

I really don't understand why people do this. Seriously, think about how much extra time you are going to spend on Organic than you would if you were simply reviewing it. That is very valuable time that is being sapped away from other content. Organic is a real crap shoot. I had basically none on mine, but the test before me had three passages.

You're really only hurting yourself.

 

[footNankle]

I really don't understand why people do this. Seriously, think about how much extra time you are going to spend on Organic than you would if you were simply reviewing it. That is very valuable time that is being sapped away from other content. Organic is a real crap shoot. I had basically none on mine, but the test before me had three passages.

You're really only hurting yourself.

I agree it would be easier if I just took the class, but if I go this route I'm going to have to wait an extra year to apply.

 

[Late Bloomer]

How are you planning on taking the MCAT with having no knowledge of Organic Chemistry?

Orgo is being tested less and less on MCAT. Granted you're at an advantage if you've finished both I and II, but if you've done well in Gen Chem and you use review books then Orgo shouldn't be your demise on MCAT

 

[MedPR]

Orgo is being tested less and less on MCAT. Granted you're at an advantage if you've finished both I and II, but if you've done well in Gen Chem and you use review books then Orgo shouldn't be your demise on MCAT

Lol, you're kidding right? Do you have any data to support that claim?

Regardless, even if you got every single biology question right, there's usually enough orgo questions to drop your score from a 15 to an 11-12. Most people don't get all the bio questions right, so now you're looking at a 9-10 or worse.

 

[angldrps]

Orgo is being tested less and less on MCAT. Granted you're at an advantage if you've finished both I and II, but if you've done well in Gen Chem and you use review books then Orgo shouldn't be your demise on MCAT

Don't be so sure about that. Its just what people on SDN have been saying but if you go read some of the recent MCAT threads, people have been caught off guard with an ochem heavy bio section.

 

[Mehd School]

Orgo is being tested less and less on MCAT. Granted you're at an advantage if you've finished both I and II, but if you've done well in Gen Chem and you use review books then Orgo shouldn't be your demise on MCAT

This isn't true. At all.

If anything, Organic has poked his ugly head out especially over the past two years.

I made mention to it earlier, but my test had next to no organic on it. The test a week earlier had THREE ORGANIC PASSAGES.


Have you prepped or taken the MCAT? If you have, I'm sure you've had some weaknesses. Now imagine that weakness comprising 40% of a section. I'd be sweating balls. In fact, I'd be sweating just praying before the BS section that there wasn't much organic. It wouldn't make for a comfortable test day, and it would surely affect my performance in one way or another.

 

[MedPR]

This isn't true. At all.

If anything, Organic has poked his ugly head out especially over the past two years.

I made mention to it earlier, but my test had next to no organic on it. The test a week earlier had THREE ORGANIC PASSAGES.


Have you prepped or taken the MCAT? If you have, I'm sure you've had some weaknesses. Now imagine that weakness comprising 40% of a section. I'd be sweating balls. In fact, I'd be sweating just praying before the BS section that there wasn't much organic. It wouldn't make for a comfortable test day, and it would surely affect my performance in one way or another.

+1. Mine had 2 orgo passages and 5-6 discretes.

 

[WTEngel]

I recall mine having 2 O Chem passages and maybe 4-5 discrete questions.

The discrete questions were like free points...because I had taken organic chemistry already! If I had not taken any organic chemistry, and simply read Klein's book, I think I would have been lost on more than a few of them.

 

[rolark]

I took the MCAT this past July with no history of organic chemistry. I used EK and did some independent review. After the test I felt awful; I had two o-chem passages and multiple discreete that were more difficult than anything I had seen on my practice AAMC tests. After worrying for a month, I was positively surprised with a 10 in the bio section.

Taking the MCAT and applying without organic chemistry isn't ideal, but keep in mind the people thinking about doing this are usually non-traditional or have some other good reason behind their plan. In my case, I took the MCAT and applied between the first and second years of a self-designed post bac. If all goes as planned, it will save me from a third "empty" year after my two years of prerequisites.

If you have good reasons to choose this route, go for it. You have to weigh the risks and rewards in light of your own values. Others have gone the same route and been successful!

 

[DrWily]

Why would you do GPA repair before finishing the pre-reqs?

 

[footNankle]

Why would you do GPA repair before finishing the pre-reqs?

I don't really feel comfortable doing higher level chem until I get a good grade in the lower level stuff.

 

[dododr]

Touro NV denied me a secondary until I finish my Ochem lab, also I was put on hold post interview at LECOM-B until my fall grades come in. Besides that though, I've received 8 interviews out of 9 schools I was complete at. I am in the camp where I think I would have done significantly worse on the mcat without a year of OCHEM classes, but besides that I don't think schools are too hung up on it.

 

[DrWily]

I don't really feel comfortable doing higher level chem until I get a good grade in the lower level stuff.

I see... but OChem is an entirely different beast than Gen. Chem and getting an A in Gen Chem is not necessarily going to help you do well in OChem.

Just thought it was weird to put off an actual requirement for a little GPA repair when your GPA is already pretty good.

 

[MedPR]

Touro NV denied me a secondary until I finish my Ochem lab, also I was put on hold post interview at LECOM-B until my fall grades come in. Besides that though, I've received 8 interviews out of 9 schools I was complete at. I am in the camp where I think I would have done significantly worse on the mcat without a year of OCHEM classes, but besides that I don't think schools are too hung up on it.

Touro NV did this to me also for physics. I've completed physics, but it wasn't on my AACOMAS.. long story.