Do i need to wait another year?

[tennisfan]

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Hi everyone, I am new to this site and would appreciate any advice. I have a masters degree in social Work, and work as a SW. However I am very interested in medicine and would like to pursue an MD/DO degree. I just began my prereqs, but have no science background. I am currently taking Inorganic chem1 and 2 this summer. My plan is to complete Bio over the fall/spring and Physics over next summer. I would like to take my mcats and apply next June/July, after physics, and finish O-chem over the following Fall/Spring. The reason I am saving O-Chem for after the mcats is because I was told that it is emphasized less than the other courses on the mcats My concern is that this may be too much over a one year period. I am working full time so it would be difficult to double up courses (although not impossible). I am 32 and therefore would really like to expedite the process, and not wait another full year to apply. I would be very grateful for any advice on this matter. Thank you very much.

 

[Neurocentric]

Hi everyone, I am new to this site and would appreciate any advice. I have a masters degree in social Work, and work as a SW. However I am very interested in medicine and would like to pursue an MD/DO degree. I just began my prereqs, but have no science background. I am currently taking Inorganic chem1 and 2 this summer. My plan is to complete Bio over the fall/spring and Physics over next summer. I would like to take my mcats and apply next June/July, after physics, and finish O-chem over the following Fall/Spring. The reason I am saving O-Chem for after the mcats is because I was told that it is emphasized less than the other courses on the mcats My concern is that this may be too much over a one year period. I am working full time so it would be difficult to double up courses (although not impossible). I am 32 and therefore would really like to expedite the process, and not wait another full year to apply. I would be very grateful for any advice on this matter. Thank you very much.

Welcome to SDN!

I'm not too familiar with post bacc, so I'm hoping someone else will have an answer for you there, although I did want to clear something up.

You said you wanted an MD/DO degree.. did you mean something else by that? MD and DO are actually two different things. DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic medicine and while they are just as good as MDs, they have an extra curriculum that MDs do not get - I think it's Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. So, in actuality, you do one or the other. You go to an allopathic (MD) or osteopathic (DO) school.

 

[klmnop]

Hi everyone, I am new to this site and would appreciate any advice. I have a masters degree in social Work, and work as a SW. However I am very interested in medicine and would like to pursue an MD/DO degree. I just began my prereqs, but have no science background. I am currently taking Inorganic chem1 and 2 this summer. My plan is to complete Bio over the fall/spring and Physics over next summer. I would like to take my mcats and apply next June/July, after physics, and finish O-chem over the following Fall/Spring. The reason I am saving O-Chem for after the mcats is because I was told that it is emphasized less than the other courses on the mcats My concern is that this may be too much over a one year period. I am working full time so it would be difficult to double up courses (although not impossible). I am 32 and therefore would really like to expedite the process, and not wait another full year to apply. I would be very grateful for any advice on this matter. Thank you very much.

Your number one goal needs to be to get all A's. With 4.0s in your pre-reqs nearly every door remains open for you. Thus, whatever you have to do, however long you have to spread it out over, this has got to be your focus. There is no point in doubling up to get B's and B+'s. Catch my drift.

Secondly, if you can, I strongly recommend taking Orgo before taking the MCAT. Its true that it is emphasized less, but they commonly have entire subsections on one organic problem in which you have to know many things. Ex: on mine they showed one long reaction with a bunch of blanks in some places, and asked around 7 questions about the entire thing. This was just one part. Orgo is difficult to understand without a class and you will most likely not be able to really understand and learn it just by studying for the MCAT.... so you would be essentially throwing out many of those questions. If I had to equate orgo with something it would be general chemistry + algebra + magic.

I wouldn't recommend taking any of these after the mcat, but if you had to choose, put bio off and purchase a study book from PR or Kaplan or something as much of the material covered is found in these and can be memorized with little explanation necessary.

I am wondering how you plan to set aside sufficient time to study for the mcat next summer if you are taking physics as well, because studying will essentially be like taking another course, and should be treated as such.

 

[klmnop]

Welcome to SDN!

I'm not too familiar with post bacc, so I'm hoping someone else will have an answer for you there, although I did want to clear something up.

You said you wanted an MD/DO degree.. did you mean something else by that? MD and DO are actually two different things. DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic medicine and while they are just as good as MDs, they have an extra curriculum that MDs do not get - I think it's Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. So, in actuality, you do one or the other. You go to an allopathic (MD) or osteopathic (DO) school.

the slash indicates the op is comfortable with either and is not discerning between them, ie. they are both potentially applicable
ex: "sdn is an informative/addictive site"

 

[Neurocentric]

the slash indicates the op is comfortable with either and is not discerning between them, ie. they are both potentially applicable
ex: "sdn is an informative/addictive site"

Oh, okay, I misunderstood. 🙂 I was thinking of it as the way people say they want an MD/PhD degree.

 

[mspeedwagon]

Taking the MCAT with taking o-chem is just stupid imho. Emphasized less yes... but you still need to know it. Not having taken o-chem will easily lower your score a few points.

Remember, in the words of Chris Rock, "****, you can drive a car with your feet if you want to, that make it a good f***ing idea." As someone that is now starting to practice for the MCAT, o-chem may be less emphasized, but don't confuse this with it doesn't not appear (you need at least one semester of o-chem before the MCAT).

 

[klmnop]

to the op, have a look at this post http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=9783187&postcount=26

specifically the line about PS, which can easily be applied to any of the subjects

 

[Northwesterly]

I'd agree with pretty much all of the above, the only caveat being that everyone's circumstances are different, and people's abilities to study and/or take standardized tests vary hugely as well. So start with a single course per term, and if you feel like you can fit in more and still get A's, go for it. Similarly, if you want to take the MCAT pre-orgo, do a little studying and take an AAMC practice test. Maybe you'll get a 6 on the BS with 0/14 orgo questions, or maybe you'll get a 13. Either way you'll know a whole lot more about your specific situation than any of us can guess based on a paragraph on SDN.
I can certainly sympathize with the desire to save time, but you don't want to kill yourself with over-scheduling and stress either. It's a tough tightrope to walk. Good luck!

 

[tennisfan]

Hey GUYS! Thanks a ton for the replies, I appreciate it. I am considering doubling the fall semester with Bio/Orgo. Therefore I would have finished all the prereqs except Orgo2. My concern is: would I have sufficient time to prepare for the mcats (doing well obviously) and make the necessary arrangements for med. school (lor, ms..) all the while working pretty much full time. ( I do have some work time that I can devote to studying) Does this sound like too much to do over the course of one year? Perhaps I should hold off for another year.
Thanks.`

 

[tennisfan]

Hey GUYS! Thanks a ton for the replies, I appreciate it. I am considering doubling the fall semester with Bio/Orgo. Therefore I would have finished all the prereqs except Orgo2. My concern is: would I have sufficient time to prepare for the mcats (doing well obviously) and make the necessary arrangements for med. school (lor, ms..) all the while working pretty much full time. ( I do have some work time that I can devote to studying) Does this sound like too much to do over the course of one year? Perhaps I should hold off for another year.
Thanks.`

 

[mspeedwagon]

This is a question that only you can answer. The best indicator is your practice MCAT score. If you are doing well on practice tests it's definitely possible to apply without the year off. In your shoes, I would take my time with the MCAT and application process. Do it once, and do it correctly.

Hey GUYS! Thanks a ton for the replies, I appreciate it. I am considering doubling the fall semester with Bio/Orgo. Therefore I would have finished all the prereqs except Orgo2. My concern is: would I have sufficient time to prepare for the mcats (doing well obviously) and make the necessary arrangements for med. school (lor, ms..) all the while working pretty much full time. ( I do have some work time that I can devote to studying) Does this sound like too much to do over the course of one year? Perhaps I should hold off for another year.
Thanks.`

 

[sindadel]

I think Orgo 2 is much less required than orgo 1. However, since you have NO science background at this time, I would take it slowly and carefully, making sure you really understand the basics, and have lots of time to practice solving problems. I know waiting a year seems like forever, but the time really does go by and at the end of the day, whether you are 34 or 35 starting med school probably doesn't matter too much, KWIM? Consider also that you need time to get clinical volunteering, do some shadowing, demonstrate your leadership and community service (outside of your paid job). A good MCAT score is needed, but the rest of your application is important too. The only thing that sucks worse than waiting a year to apply so you are very well prepared is spending that year languishing in no-interview land and ending up having to re-apply with an MCAT retake...

Best of luck to you with your decision!