Does this timeline make sense?

[RHeff]

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Here is what I have sketched out for the year ahead. I've stopped working and am going back to school full-time to do the classes.

Fall 2012:
-Bio and lab
-Chem and lab
-Math

Spring 2013:
-Bio 2 and lab
-Chem 2 and lab
-Physics 1 and lab

Summer 2013:
-orgo 1 and 2
-physics 2

I'd be done with orgo around the middle of August, at which point I'd go for the MCAT.

If I don't need to retake it, will taking the MCAT in August '13 allow me to get into the admissions pool for Fall 2014 entry? Though I know it is better to take it prior to the AMCAS app opening, I don't think I can go into the test and do well having not taken orgo...correct?

Thanks

 

[RHeff]

And will it make a difference applying later in the cycle if I'm not looking at ubercompetitive, top schools?

 

[thlaxer]

Here is what I have sketched out for the year ahead. I've stopped working and am going back to school full-time to do the classes.

Fall 2012:
-Bio and lab
-Chem and lab
-Math

Spring 2013:
-Bio 2 and lab
-Chem 2 and lab
-Physics 1 and lab

Summer 2013:
-orgo 1 and 2
-physics 2

I'd be done with orgo around the middle of August, at which point I'd go for the MCAT.

If I don't need to retake it, will taking the MCAT in August '13 allow me to get into the admissions pool for Fall 2014 entry? Though I know it is better to take it prior to the AMCAS app opening, I don't think I can go into the test and do well having not taken orgo...correct?

Thanks

If you take your MCAT on August 13, you won't have any dedicated study time for the MCAT (since you're taking it immediately after you finish exams) and you won't know your score until mid-September. This will be the earliest time that a school will review your application, and it's assuming that the rest of your application has already been written and verified (which usually takes a month around this period) and that your secondary responses are ready to go. It's an overly optimistic timetable in my opinion and being complete in late September/early October is already considered late-ish in the cycle. Most people doing the one-year route avoid this problem by beginning classes in the summer (so they can apply in June/July).

Other potential issues: you are taking A LOT of science classes together. Are you absolutely sure you can handle the coursework? This schedule also doesn't leave much time for ECs such as volunteering, shadowing and research, which may be an issue if you don't already have significant experiences.

Fall 2012: Chem requires a fair bit of algebra, as does physics. It's best that you brush up on your math BEFORE starting chem, not while doing it.

Spring 2013: Doing Bio, Chem and Physics + labs is doable, but it's a lot of work (and not everyone can handle this level of coursework).

Summer 2013: Same issue as the Spring schedule. I did Physics 1 and 2 (+labs) over the summer and it was like a full time job. 3 hour of classes every day, exam every week, 2*4 hour labs per week + time for studying, lab writeups, etc. I really don't think it's a good idea to try to do 2 Orgo + 1 Physics class in this amount of time. Orgo in particular is something that can't be rushed as you need time to digest and understand all of the reactions.

Your goal should be to finish the pre-reqs with the highest grades possible. Taking everything in one year (and then being forced to apply late-ish in the cycle) isn't the most accomodating environment for this as one bad semester will significantly tank your sGPA. The lack of dedicated study time for your MCAT might also result in a significantly lower score as the MCAT isn't just about content, it's also about being familiar with the testing format, etc.

Most of my classmates doing the two-year route have a schedule that looks like:

Summer 2012 (now): brush up on math skills (algebra, trig)
Fall 2012/Spring 2013: Bio, Chem + math course if needed
Summer 2013: Physics I/II or Orgo I/II
Fall 2013/Spring 2014: Physics I/II or Orgo I/II
Spring 2014: MCAT prep, take MCAT in May 2014 and apply in June or July 2014.

This'll give you a lot more time to breathe and fit in part-time work, clinical ECs and/or research (especially during the 2013/2014 year). It'll also give you enough time to prepare for the MCAT so your score reflects your true ability.

 

[johnnyscans]

Here is what I have sketched out for the year ahead. I've stopped working and am going back to school full-time to do the classes.

Fall 2012:
-Bio and lab
-Chem and lab
-Math

Spring 2013:
-Bio 2 and lab
-Chem 2 and lab
-Physics 1 and lab

Summer 2013:
-orgo 1 and 2
-physics 2

I'd be done with orgo around the middle of August, at which point I'd go for the MCAT.

If I don't need to retake it, will taking the MCAT in August '13 allow me to get into the admissions pool for Fall 2014 entry? Though I know it is better to take it prior to the AMCAS app opening, I don't think I can go into the test and do well having not taken orgo...correct?

Thanks

Orgo 1 and 2 and Physics 2 at the same time is asking for trouble. Orgo is an extremely dense course and Physics 2 is, in my opinion, more difficult than physics 1. Also, applying late August/Early Sept puts you at a huge disadvantage, especially if you have less than stellar stats. Save yourself the stress and aim for a Spring of 2014 MCAT.

 

[rguil15]

This doesn't really work. Hate to say it but you need another year. I had to swallow this pill as well, that's how it goes though.

In the grand scheme of life, what's another year, esp since you should take more than the bare minimum pre reqs, have time to study for mcat, and get some research/volunteering/ecs in.

 

[rguil15]

And will it make a difference applying later in the cycle if I'm not looking at ubercompetitive, top schools?

The biggest difference it will make, at any school, is that you may not find out you were rejected until a few weeks before you need to reapply for the next cycle. And not knowing what you were lacking would be a nightmare in that scenario.

 

[Beandog]

This doesn't really work. Hate to say it but you need another year. I had to swallow this pill as well, that's how it goes though.

In the grand scheme of life, what's another year, esp since you should take more than the bare minimum pre reqs, have time to study for mcat, and get some research/volunteering/ecs in.

This.

Your first 2 semester look incredibly dense and how can you possibly take physics AND Ochem in 1 summer session? Spread it out, do another year which includes another semester and MCAT study.

 

[mspeedwagon]

Nope... definitely need another year. You have no time built in for volunteering/medical related activities, prepping for the MCAT, collecting LORs and transcripts and then you're applying very late (Oct if everything goes to plan... but you know what they said about the best laid plans).

The end of O-Chem 1, 2 and Physics 2 all in the same semester CANNOT be done. I've never heard of it being done. I had enough trouble with those classes over regular semester. O-Chem needs time to sink in. Physics 2 can be challenging as well. The worst thing you could do is overload and do badly in classes (looking at how many people on here are stuck with the need to do GPA repair b/c of poor decisions).

Apply once, apply correctly, and you'll SAVE yourself a lot of money in re-applications and wondering how to improve for your second cycle.

 

[RHeff]

Gotcha. Thanks, folks. Appreciate the advice.

 

[aspiringDR24]

In a similar position as the OP, any thoughts on this possibly schedule I have been thinking about....

Fall 2012:
Bio 1
Chem 1

Spring 2013:
Bio 2
Chem 2

Fall 2013
Organic Chem 1
Physics 1
Anatomy 1

Spring 2014
Organic Chem 2
Physics 2
Anatomy 2

The thought was to take the MCAT shortly following Spring 2014 semester or towards the end of it. My ECs will be taken care of by that point (I already have a good amount of ECs). I was hoping to apply in 2014 and matriculate for fall of 2015. Does this make sense to do it this way? Or should I try to do some course work over the summer?

 

[LingoLaine]

I think if you could ditch the math and take Physics 1 (and therefore also Physics 2) a semester earlier it could work. As long as you brush up on math enough to be able to handle the chem and physics (and if you can work around prereqs at your school) that could work. Then take math AFTER the MCAT but before matriculation.

 

[thlaxer]

I was hoping to apply in 2014 and matriculate for fall of 2015. Does this make sense to do it this way? Or should I try to do some course work over the summer?

Nothing wrong with doing it this way, your Fall 2013 - Spring 2014 semesters will be very busy though (especially Spring 2014, since you would ideally also be studying for the MCAT on the side, which can almost be like a part time job in itself). These two semesters would be a lot less stressful imo if you move one of those sequences (orgo, physics or anatomy) to the summer. This'll help you get better grades and give you more study time for the MCAT in the spring. Just my thoughts 🙂.