Doubling up sciences v/s taking time

[yankpak786]

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Hello SDN community,

I finished up the chemistry sequence, half of Bio, and have yet to take Orgo or Physics sequence. My question is, should I finish all these sciences as fast as I can (doubling up,) and take the MCAT in the summer of 2014 (the current MCAT.) Or should I take my time with my sciences and graduate in 2015 and take the MCAT over the summer of '15 (BUT THEN HAVE TO TAKE THE NEW MCAT, and consequently have a year off) which option would be better? I've heard the new one is indubitably going to be harder, but also it'll be as if, we're guinea pigs to AAMC (administrators of the MCAT) My gut is telling me to take it over summer of '14 but then again, my GPA has a better chance if I space out my sciences. What should I do? 😕

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Daneosaurus]

Hello SDN community,

I finished up the chemistry sequence, half of Bio, and have yet to take Orgo or Physics sequence. My question is, should I finish all these sciences as fast as I can (doubling up,) and take the MCAT in the summer of 2014 (the current MCAT.) Or should I take my time with my sciences and graduate in 2015 and take the MCAT over the summer of '15 (BUT THEN HAVE TO TAKE THE NEW MCAT, and consequently have a year off) which option would be better?

...

I could have written this. You have finished exactly what I have, except I'm doing physics this semester. I'd say go for it.

With my plan, I will be taking Physics 2, Orgo 1, in Fall 2013. Orgo 2 and MCAT studying in the Spring 2014.

Let's get it!!!

 

[yankpak786]

Haha, how ironic.

Yeah, I really want to have a shot at the old MCAT!

 

[TangoDown]

Do what you have to do to get the highest grades. If you feel you can't handle the course load enough to pull off good grades, then don't take on that course load. If you think you can still pull off the grades, then do it. It's pretty logical.

As for the new MCAT, there really is no way to determine if it's going to be harder not. Adding new material doesn't necessarily = harder, and nobody's taken it yet so the difficulty is completely speculative at this point.

Even if the 2015 MCAT was harder, if you pile on an amount of work that you can't accomplish, you're going to walk into the "easier" MCAT with less grounding in the material you need to get a high score.

 

[ShenanigansMD]

The problem with doubling up (which I did) is that your time is limited, and even if you enjoy the science classes, adcoms might think you "have no life," since you spend all that time studying instead of on ECs. It's an unfair accusation, but when you're competing against thousands of other applicants you look a bit more... dare I say boring.

But if you're able to do well AND have consistent ECs (mine were inconsistent, sad face) then go for it.

 

[Mosa]

To offer another perspective, I've heard it repeatedly stated by med schools that they like to see that you are able to handle several demanding classes and labs simultaneously to illustrate that you would likely be able to handle the rigors of a med school curriculum. Personally, I would say to "double up" because that's what I did with orgo and physics sequences and it worked out for me. When I started, I spaced out my sciences nice and neat thinking I'd do best if I had the most time for my classes and I did mediocre. It wasn't until I piled on the sciences and labs that I finally got a 4.0 semester. It seemed counterintuitive, but I found that I do my best when I have a lot to focus on and accomplish. Of course, that is anecdotal, but my first point about showing med schools that you are able to handle several rigorous courses at the same time is still an item worthy of consideration.

 

[ShenanigansMD]

To offer another perspective, I've heard it repeatedly stated by med schools that they like to see that you are able to handle several demanding classes and labs simultaneously to illustrate that you would likely be able to handle the rigors of a med school curriculum. Personally, I would say to "double up" because that's what I did with orgo and physics sequences and it worked out for me. When I started, I spaced out my sciences nice and neat thinking I'd do best if I had the most time for my classes and I did mediocre. It wasn't until I piled on the sciences and labs that I finally got a 4.0 semester. It seemed counterintuitive, but I found that I do my best when I have a lot to focus on and accomplish. Of course, that is anecdotal, but my first point about showing med schools that you are able to handle several rigorous courses at the same time is still an item worthy of consideration.

+1

But don't forget the ECs and the good grades.

 

[yankpak786]

I think I might just double up... after all, taking the MCAT once over '14 summer, and then again (if necessary) over '15 summer is better than taking it in 2016. That thought scares me lol.

Oh, I know I should start a new thread if I have another question, but say, I don't fare so well by graduation time in terms of grades and my MCAT score, what career is best to go into if not M.D.? I was thinking of either dentistry or getting a Ph.D in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

 

[Ismet]

Keep in mind that the 2015 MCAT doesn't start until the spring of 2015, so you could still take it in Jan/Feb 2015 and have the old MCAT, freeing up summer and fall 2014 to take pre-reqs. Just be prepared to rock it, because you're gonna have a bad time if you have to retake.

Oh, I know I should start a new thread if I have another question, but say, I don't fare so well by graduation time in terms of grades and my MCAT score, what career is best to go into if not M.D.? I was thinking of either dentistry or getting a Ph.D in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

D.O.?

Only you can know that, as everyone has different opinions of what "best career" is. Shadow other professions and figure it out like you figured out you wanted to be a doctor.

 

[yankpak786]

Wow, I had totally forgotten I would have Fall '14 to complete a pre-req. Awesome, thank you so much.

Yeah, I think D.O. will be my other option, considering it'll be an easier transition than dentistry.

Congrats on your acceptance though! 😀

 

[Ismet]

Wow, I had totally forgotten I would have Fall '14 to complete a pre-req. Awesome, thank you so much.

Yeah, I think D.O. will be my other option, considering it'll be an easier transition than dentistry.

Congrats on your acceptance though! 😀

D.O. is really no different from M.D. So yeah, it will be an easier transition because there will be virtually no transition.