Best Time to Apply?

[Buhrock]

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I would like to know if it is fine to apply to schools even if you haven't finished your pre-reqs yet?

My current situation:

I have all of my non-science pre reqs done and am just now starting to take BIO, CHEM, OChEM and A&P.

So by the start of next fall I will have had BIO I, CHM I and II, A&P I, PHY I, Calc I, and STAT done.

Then next year is when I finish my biology courses and OCHEM.

Is it ok if I apply without having my pre reqs finished? I would apply at the latest, december and would only be lacking 2 or 3 courses.

 

[Solar de riokos]

It's fine to apply without finish all the pre reqs. I applied with 3 classes left (2 of which are science) and still be fine. I would not wait until december to apply because admission committee will start reviewing applications normally in mid October (some schools which have early admission even begin as early as September I believe). By December , most schools will send out interview invitations for their best group of candidates already (others may even finish interview for the first group and send out acceptance letter). With the time frame that you said, I'm afraid that you will miss your best chance to get a good shot at an interview, especially at your top choice school. Even if you don't have too many classes on your transcript, I think a strong PCAT score in the three science sections (biology, chemistry and math) will look appealing to the committee.

 

[Indypharm]

It's fine to apply without finish all the pre reqs. I applied with 3 classes left (2 of which are science) and still be fine. I would not wait until december to apply because admission committee will start reviewing applications normally in mid October (some schools which have early admission even begin as early as September I believe). By December , most schools will send out interview invitations for their best group of candidates already (others may even finish interview for the first group and send out acceptance letter). With the time frame that you said, I'm afraid that you will miss your best chance to get a good shot at an interview, especially at your top choice school. Even if you don't have too many classes on your transcript, I think a strong PCAT score in the three science sections (biology, chemistry and math) will look appealing to the committee.

I agree. I applied in oct (which I felt was too late) and was in the middle of taking immuno, ochem 2, and had yet to take biochem, speech, micro, and stats. You may need some good study materials for the pcat if you plan on taking it without any organic. Still totally doable though.

 

[Buhrock]

When I send in my application, I'll have to have my PCAT in right? I was waiting till December to take my PCAT because by next fall, I will be just starting ochem I and bio II so I don't think I will be well prepared. Will I have to take the PCAT before I apply? Then I can take it again in January or December.

 

[xtsukiyox]

When I send in my application, I'll have to have my PCAT in right? I was waiting till December to take my PCAT because by next fall, I will be just starting ochem I and bio II so I don't think I will be well prepared. Will I have to take the PCAT before I apply? Then I can take it again in January or December.

If you take it in January, you will be limited as to the schools you can apply for. Many schools require complete applications long before the January test scores will be sent (sometime in February).

Take a look at the schools you're going to apply for and their policy on retakes for the PCAT. The majority of schools don't care whether you took it twice - they care about your highest / most recent score. (Some schools encouraged planning for a retake.)

I would highly suggest taking the PCAT in July if at all possible. That gives you September if you need to retake, and you'd still be ahead of the game. Also, you have some study time where you can focus on PCAT instead of juggling school and PCAT study time.

Yes, you will be missing some prereqs so you may just not know some answers. However, I think that will be a minority of the information, and it will be very possible for you to get a good score on the PCAT without O Chem.