Help me out ?

[amar314]

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Hi everyone, I'm debating whether or not to take sociology this Spring semester or to leave it for next year? I'm a sophomore. Should psych (haven't taken either) and sociology be ideally closer to the MCAT?

Also, is it considered bad to take random humanities courses that are "gen ed" but sound really interesting?

How does this schedule look for this Spring semester? Orgo I, Bio 2, Personal Growth, Existentialism. I'm terrified of orgo and want to pair it with relatively easy classes, does it seem suspicious??

Thanks so much!

 

[efle]

Make sure your school clinic has a good supply of Prozac before you concurrently enroll in Ochem and existentialism.

 

[cactus8910]

I don't think it matters how soon before the MCAT you take those classes, as long as you allow time to review the material.
What on earth is a class on Personal Growth?

 

[deleted357625]

Calm down. Take any class you want at any time you want.

 

[Osteoth]

Lol first of all, nobody knows what's going to be on the new MCAT since nobody has taken it.

Second, take whatever electives you want in whatever order to maximize your GPA. That is your only goal, get a high GPA. No matter how you do it that literally 80% of what will matter at the end of the day.

 

[Doctor Dream]

Answering your questions based on what I've done or would do...
1. Take psych and soc whenever you'd like and they'll fit in your schedule. I took psych freshman year and soc sophomore year, it's nice to have them out of the way so I can deal with the more advanced classes like biochem. I wouldn't hold off taking them just so they'll be fresher in your mind for the MCAT.

2. Taking gen-eds that you think are cool is pretty much never a bad thing.

3. If I were you, I'd maybe hold off taking Orgo I next semester and take Orgo I in the fall next year and Orgo II in the spring. Taking Orgo I and then having three months off before Orgo II might be brutal. But it's doable I'm sure.

 

[amar314]

Answering your questions based on what I've done or would do...
1. Take psych and soc whenever you'd like and they'll fit in your schedule. I took psych freshman year and soc sophomore year, it's nice to have them out of the way so I can deal with the more advanced classes like biochem. I wouldn't hold off taking them just so they'll be fresher in your mind for the MCAT.

2. Taking gen-eds that you think are cool is pretty much never a bad thing.

3. If I were you, I'd maybe hold off taking Orgo I next semester and take Orgo I in the fall next year and Orgo II in the spring. Taking Orgo I and then having three months off before Orgo II might be brutal. But it's doable I'm sure.

#3 really? I sign up for classes today in an hour actually. Would I be behind by leaving orgo for junior year? If I don't take it now then I'd probably do Orgo 1 in the summer and orgo II in the fall. Should I then replace it with physics?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Pierre Escargot]

#3 really? I sign up for classes today in an hour actually. Would I be behind by leaving orgo for junior year? If I don't take it now then I'd probably do Orgo 1 in the summer and orgo II in the fall. Should I then replace it with physics?

Thanks everyone!

Assuming you are taking the MCAT after your junior year, it may turn out advantageous to take organic I + II that same year. If nothing else, you would not be behind in my opinion, as long as you're on the right track with your number of credits and finishing all your prerequisites before graduating (though before the MCAT would obviously be the wise way to do it).

 

[amar314]

Assuming you are taking the MCAT after your junior year, it may turn out advantageous to take organic I + II that same year. If nothing else, you would not be behind in my opinion, as long as you're on the right track with your number of credits and finishing all your prerequisites before graduating (though before the MCAT would obviously be the wise way to do it).

Thanks, I'm planning on taking a gap year so I'd actually take the MCAT fall or spring of senior year.

 

[Pierre Escargot]

Then I believe you've got nothing to worry about. From what I've collected on this forum, the general consensus is to just make sure to have everything done by the time it has to be and you'll be fine. There really isn't any right or wrong order to how you do your classes. Best of luck.

 

[Doctor Dream]

#3 really? I sign up for classes today in an hour actually. Would I be behind by leaving orgo for junior year? If I don't take it now then I'd probably do Orgo 1 in the summer and orgo II in the fall. Should I then replace it with physics?

Thanks everyone!

Agree with @Pierre Escargot

 

[amar314]

Great, thank you all 🙂

 

[Hockeyguy]

What the hell is "personal growth" is that a class? that sounds like major fluff.

 

[amar314]

What the hell is "personal growth" is that a class? that sounds like major fluff.

"Introduction to the concepts and techniques in psychology that apply to personal growth and development. All students have the opportunity to participate in research projects or alternative experiences."

 

[outdoorsmd]

efle... Just spit out my drink laughing so loud.. Lol!

 

[aalamruad]

Hi everyone, I'm debating whether or not to take sociology this Spring semester or to leave it for next year? I'm a sophomore. Should psych (haven't taken either) and sociology be ideally closer to the MCAT?

Also, is it considered bad to take random humanities courses that are "gen ed" but sound really interesting?

How does this schedule look for this Spring semester? Orgo I, Bio 2, Personal Growth, Existentialism. I'm terrified of orgo and want to pair it with relatively easy classes, does it seem suspicious??

Thanks so much!

Do you think med schools are under the impression that Bio 2 is a relatively easy fluff class...?

 

[grdxribeiro]

Lol first of all, nobody knows what's going to be on the new MCAT since nobody has taken it.

 

[Boolean]

Lol first of all, nobody knows what's going to be on the new MCAT since nobody has taken it.

That is not true.

 

[knv2u]

What the hell is "personal growth" is that a class? that sounds like major fluff.

You literally took the words right out of my mouth. It does sound like fluff that should be obvious to admission committee members. It doesn't help that the poster is also only taking four courses with what looks like an easy load.

To the initial poster, if you are that worried about organic chemistry, why not take it in the summer when you can devote more time to it? It is not as bad as many would lead you to believe.

 

[Doctor Dream]

That is not true.

I didn't realize there was only like 10 questions of OChem on the MCAT 🙁
There's a LOT of psych too! Dang.

 

[EvenStevens]

That is not true.

wow this is great. less orgo and physics sounds sweet

 

[wuhsabee]

wow this is great. less orgo and physics sounds sweet

Are we looking at the same graph?! Physics is less, but not ochem. If you look at the dark blue bars, they are about the same. If you read the guidebook, ochem is like 20% of the new test, similar to current MCAT.

 

[Doctor Dream]

Are we looking at the same graph?! Physics is less, but not ochem. If you look at the dark blue bars, they are about the same. If you read the guidebook, ochem is like 20% of the new test, similar to current MCAT.

Really? That blue ochem bar is definitely not 20%... And I'm pretty sure the guy who posted the graph got it off aamc or some credible site, I've seen that graph before.

 

[EvenStevens]

Are we looking at the same graph?! Physics is less, but not ochem. If you look at the dark blue bars, they are about the same. If you read the guidebook, ochem is like 20% of the new test, similar to current MCAT.

dunno, looks like a small difference either way.

 

[amar314]

You literally took the words right out of my mouth. It does sound like fluff that should be obvious to admission committee members. It doesn't help that the poster is also only taking four courses with what looks like an easy load.

To the initial poster, if you are that worried about organic chemistry, why not take it in the summer when you can devote more time to it? It is not as bad as many would lead you to believe.

I already feel as if I'm behind and I'd like to get it out of the way if not orgo II with the 2 credit lab will get paired up with physics or biochem. I changed the schedule a bit, here's what I'm taking: Orgo I, Bio 2, Sociology, Eating Disorders. The eating disorders class is in the 4000s level but it's online and easy. Does my schedule seem too easy? It's only 13 credits but I am busy in my ECs.

 

[amar314]

Do you think med schools are under the impression that Bio 2 is a relatively easy fluff class...?

Of course not, however, it's much easier for me when compared to chemistry and requires much less studying.

 

[wuhsabee]

Really? That blue ochem bar is definitely not 20%... And I'm pretty sure the guy who posted the graph got it off aamc or some credible site, I've seen that graph before.

LOL, I'm so sorry! I need to go back to elementary school. I just re-did the math, and it's going to be 5% of the total test.

Breakdown of the whole test:
Biology: 18.75%
Biochem: 12.5%
Chem: 8.75%
Physics: 6.25%
Ochem: 5%
Psych: 16.25%
Socio: 7.5%
Verbal's Humanities: 12.5%
Verbal's Social Sciences: 12.5%

Since new test will have 230 questions in all, then ochem will have about 10-11 questions.

 

[claduva94]

wow this is great. less orgo and physics sounds sweet

At the cost of an extra 3 hours? It is brutal anyway you look at it. Glad I can avoid this exam.

 

[onceawolverine]

OP: in answer to your question, "does it seem suspicious?"
Strength of Schedule is important, sure. But before anyone looks at your course list, they look at your GPA. As such, it's important that you a) have a good understanding of your capabilities, and b) use that information to set yourself up for success. If you want to pair Ochem with "easier classes" because you are legitimately concerned about your ability to succeed in Ochem, then I think that that demonstrates self-awareness. If that decision leads to solid grades, more power to you.

I think the concern that adcoms might have, which you allude to, relates to the transparency of taking easier courses to get better grades. That all boils down to: did you apply yourself? Did you take courses where there was some doubt about how well you would do? Can you perform even in strenuous courses? For me, I think you allay those concerns by taking bio w/ orgo. Two basic sciences in one semester? Good for you! Of course you should be allowed to pair that with a philosophy course and/or a psychology course. My main major was in the psychology department (it wasn't psychology, but it was pretty close), and so I was often pairing "hard science" with "softer" psychology classes. But I got a tremendous amount out of it, and it certainly hasn't hurt me.

Take courses you're interested in. If that is existentialism and/or the psychology of personal development, then go for it. Take them, knock your grades out of the park, and no one will bat an eyelash IMHO.

 

[Doctor Dream]

At the cost of an extra 3 hours? It is brutal anyway you look at it. Glad I can avoid this exam.

Yeaaaa, if there's a silver lining to all this it's that everyone has to deal with the new MCAT and all its fun.

 

[EvenStevens]

At the cost of an extra 3 hours? It is brutal anyway you look at it. Glad I can avoid this exam.

I have no choice but to find the small joys in this MCAT going foward, thankfully a few tests will happenbefore i have to take it

 

[amar314]

OP: in answer to your question, "does it seem suspicious?"
Strength of Schedule is important, sure. But before anyone looks at your course list, they look at your GPA. As such, it's important that you a) have a good understanding of your capabilities, and b) use that information to set yourself up for success. If you want to pair Ochem with "easier classes" because you are legitimately concerned about your ability to succeed in Ochem, then I think that that demonstrates self-awareness. If that decision leads to solid grades, more power to you.

I think the concern that adcoms might have, which you allude to, relates to the transparency of taking easier courses to get better grades. That all boils down to: did you apply yourself? Did you take courses where there was some doubt about how well you would do? Can you perform even in strenuous courses? For me, I think you allay those concerns by taking bio w/ orgo. Two basic sciences in one semester? Good for you! Of course you should be allowed to pair that with a philosophy course and/or a psychology course. My main major was in the psychology department (it wasn't psychology, but it was pretty close), and so I was often pairing "hard science" with "softer" psychology classes. But I got a tremendous amount out of it, and it certainly hasn't hurt me.

Take courses you're interested in. If that is existentialism and/or the psychology of personal development, then go for it. Take them, knock your grades out of the park, and no one will bat an eyelash IMHO.

Thank you so much for your thorough response, I really appreciate your view point! I had a hard time getting accustomed to college my first semester and I want to go slowly for these tougher classes to be able to improve my GPA.