Focus on MCAT or take a new BIO class??

[PTAtoMD]

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Hello all...I am debating the Spring 2013 semester. After wrapping up Physics 2 and Organic Chem 2 this semester I will be finished with all required classes. The first 3 weeks of Jan I'm taking the Princeton Review MCAT course, then taking the MCAT in March. The Biology classes I've take are as follows:

General Bio (C)- 2002
Anatomy and Physiology both with lab (A,A) - 2007
Neurobiology (A) - 2011

I started to take Microbiology in Fall of 2011 but had to take a W due to a family death. Should I retake that in the Spring while studying for the MCAT to show I can do it and to have a recent Bio class? Or just focus on the MCAT?

Thanks for any help or advice!

 

[Catalystik]

Hello all...I am debating the Spring 2013 semester. After wrapping up Physics 2 and Organic Chem 2 this semester I will be finished with all required classes. The first 3 weeks of Jan I'm taking the Princeton Review MCAT course, then taking the MCAT in March. The Biology classes I've take are as follows:

General Bio (C)- 2002
Anatomy and Physiology both with lab (A,A) - 2007
Neurobiology (A) - 2011

I started to take Microbiology in Fall of 2011 but had to take a W due to a family death. Should I retake that in the Spring while studying for the MCAT to show I can do it and to have a recent Bio class? Or just focus on the MCAT?

Thanks for any help or advice!

It would help to know your (projected) cGPA and BCPM GPA. Are you doing a postbacc, or completing a college degree after some years away from it?

 

[PTAtoMD]

I should give more background I guess I'm sorry...
I took 2 years of general undergrad for an AS in general studies (transfer degree), went into the Air Force and did 4 years active duty, transitioned to 2 more years of reserves while getting my AS in Physical Therapy Assistant. Got married, had a kid, then started practicing as a physical therapy assistant. Then went back and finished my BS in Psychology (while still practicing full time in a hospital) with lots of behavioral neuroscience classes in there for the emphasis. I've taken Gen Chem 1/2, Gen Bio, Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology of Disease, Kinesiology, NeuroRehab, Pharmacology, Physics 1/2, Organic Chem 1/2, Neurobiology, Biological Basis of Cancer, Biological basis of behavior, along with lots of other physical therapy classes...Now I've wrapped up the last two required pre-med classes this semester and paid for an intense 3 week course for the MCAT in Jan. In that semester while I'm studying for the MCAT and getting ready to apply in June, should I take another Bio class or just focus on the MCAT? I'm not worried about if the class will prep me for the MCAT, I have taken all of those classes and have every princeton review book. So if I do take a class, should it be the Microbiology I got a W in, or a different class altogether, or just focus on the MCAT?? I just don't want to regret not taking something that may have benefited me, while I will still be working full time and taking care of my daughter of course. I am not sure what admissions will want or see as more important.
I haven't calculated out my overall GPAs from all the different colleges yet...but it should be somewhere around 3.6 overall and 3.4 sciences...my math classes messed me up and are the only classes I didn't get As or Bs on...my bost-bac science GPA is 3.75 right now. I'm math ******ed but can get As in Physics and Ochem!

 

[Catalystik]

I should give more background I guess I'm sorry...
I took 2 years of general undergrad for an AS in general studies (transfer degree), went into the Air Force and did 4 years active duty, transitioned to 2 more years of reserves while getting my AS in Physical Therapy Assistant. Got married, had a kid, then started practicing as a physical therapy assistant. Then went back and finished my BS in Psychology (while still practicing full time in a hospital) with lots of behavioral neuroscience classes in there for the emphasis. I've taken Gen Chem 1/2, Gen Bio, Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology of Disease, Kinesiology, NeuroRehab, Pharmacology, Physics 1/2, Organic Chem 1/2, Neurobiology, Biological Basis of Cancer, Biological basis of behavior, along with lots of other physical therapy classes...Now I've wrapped up the last two required pre-med classes this semester and paid for an intense 3 week course for the MCAT in Jan. In that semester while I'm studying for the MCAT and getting ready to apply in June, should I take another Bio class or just focus on the MCAT? I'm not worried about if the class will prep me for the MCAT, I have taken all of those classes and have every princeton review book. So if I do take a class, should it be the Microbiology I got a W in, or a different class altogether, or just focus on the MCAT?? I just don't want to regret not taking something that may have benefited me, while I will still be working full time and taking care of my daughter of course. I am not sure what admissions will want or see as more important.
I haven't calculated out my overall GPAs from all the different colleges yet...but it should be somewhere around 3.6 overall and 3.4 sciences...my math classes messed me up and are the only classes I didn't get As or Bs on...my bost-bac science GPA is 3.75 right now. I'm math ******ed but can get As in Physics and Ochem!

Thank you for providing more background detail:

AMCAS GPA calculator: see link in post 2 of sector9's stickied "Read this before posting" at the top of the WAMC Forum.
AMCAS grade conversion guide: https://www.aamc.org/students/download/181676/data/amcas_grade_conversion_guide.pdf
AMCAS BCPM GPA includes: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=552026
Screen shot of AMCAS Verified Grade Point Averages summary: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=11226358

Thinking strategically, since your BCPM GPA is indeed on the low side (3.61 being the average for MD acceptees), and because that W is recent, I think you might give consideration to taking the Microbiology class next term, if you are sure you can get an easy A. It is generally considered to be one of the easier upper-level Bio classes; I'd hope that is the same for your institution.

OTOH, your more recent science grades are good and you've shown an upward grade trend since your early college days. A potentially higher MCAT score due to more dedicated study focus is desirable, and can help compensate for other lower stats. Due to these factors, I don't feel retaking Microbio during this time is critical. But retaking later is still a consideration. And you didn't mention Biochem, which is increasingly required/recommended by med schools. You might give consideration to taking both these courses during your application year.

I don't feel it's critical for you to make the decision one way or the other, so I'm not making a definitive recommendation, as you might have noticed. There is room here for your personal preference.

 

[PTAtoMD]

Thank you so much for the links and extra information!
I have not had one single semester in my 10 years of on/off college that I haven't worked full time or part time with sports. I have also been part of a research team this last year for a functional neuromuscular stimulation unit on acute cva patients while in an acute hospital setting, which had never been done before and I'm presenting on and being published this Friday. I know I don't have a great GPA, but I also haven't lived at "home" or had parental support of any kind since I was 16...while in PTA school I flew for the reserves still, owned my own personal training business, waitressed at night, and still made the deans list almost every semester! I started college at 16 with no guidance while playing rugby and working, so those first two years messed me up.

 

[Catalystik]

I hope you can gracefully convey all this information in your Primary application and via Secondary essays.

You have a ton of clinical experience working directly with patients, and research, and (intercollegiate?) athletics. Your time in the military would have given you other leadership (besides running a business) and more teaching experience (and it's fine to split those activities out under different categories, rather than trying to fit it all in one space for Employment-Military). How is your physician shadowing coming? Everything else seems to be pretty well covered.

 

[squat]

I'm inclined to vote for "focus on the MCAT."

I'm also a non-traditional applicant with children and a full-time job. I did NOT prep like I knew I should have for the May MCAT and had to retake (it was worth it) in September. That meant all my applications were in stasis until my score was released in October. A month later, I have 4 interviews (2-DO, 2-MD) but I think it would have been a TON smoother for me if I had simplified things in my life so that I only had to take the MCAT *once* (just my 2 cents)

 

[PTAtoMD]

Yes you are right that I will need to ensure I can accurately and eloquently state all of my time spent outside of studying. 9 years ago I shadowed an Anesthesiologist for a summer, along side him during surgeries as well. During PTA school I observed several surgeries. Most recently I have shadowed a neurosurgeon through surgeries and Brian tumor conferences. I was also on the stroke advising commity last year in developing the neuro unit in our hospital and educating our rehab staff on stroke education. In addition I am a clinical instructor for student PTAs, and lead neuro PTA. I have also been the only therapist in our hospital to take part in full codes while performing the CPR on my patient, not many applicants can say that...but I don't know how to say it yet!
Thanks so much for all the help!!

 

[FalconSlice]

MCAT is more important than any one class...

 

[Catalystik]

Yes you are right that I will need to ensure I can accurately and eloquently state all of my time spent outside of studying.

1) 9 years ago I shadowed an Anesthesiologist for a summer, along side him during surgeries as well. During PTA school I observed several surgeries. Most recently I have shadowed a neurosurgeon through surgeries and Brian tumor conferences.

2) I was also on the stroke advising commity last year in developing the neuro unit in our hospital and educating our rehab staff on stroke education. In addition I am a clinical instructor for student PTAs, and lead neuro PTA. I have also been the only therapist in our hospital to take part in full codes while performing the CPR on my patient, not many applicants can say that...but I don't know how to say it yet!
Thanks so much for all the help!!

1) I think it would be very helpful if you add an office-based primary care shadowing experience, as you surely have more mature perspectives to bring to the experience now. Maybe your daughter's pediatrician would permit this. Maybe the neurosurgeon could recommend you to a neurologist (who also frequently provides longitudinal care). A local VA hospital or clinic might be another option.

2) All good stuff. 👍