How can I be prepared for a 7 year B.S./M.D. Program?

[altamont850]

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Hey guys,

I've recently started researching a program at University of Florida known as the Junior Honor's Medical Program. The benefits are entering medical school a year early and an opportunity to avoid the MCAT. The prerequisites for the program are Biology, Chemistry, Calculus 1, Organic, and a 3000 (or greater) level course in math or science. To be eligible, I must earn at least a 3.7 GPA for the above courses. In addition, I must volunteer(medically related) and research is highly encouraged. I just have some questions about these requirements.

In the Fall 2011 semester, I'm taking Chemistry 1, Biology 1, and Calculus. To those who are mainly taking science and math, how do you go about studying effectively for such dense courses? I do enjoy science and math, it's just that while taking these course I assume it is very easy to have mediocre performance due to depth rather that difficulty. I'm will to be tenacious and diligent in order to earn the marks I need but I want to study smarter, not harder. Because I will be taking math and science until I apply (and am hopefully accepted), there will be a somewhat monotonous pace. How would you guys recommend I break the monotony?

My other concerns involve research. Because I will be applying my sophomore year, will I even be able to have a meaningful research experience? I say this because I know many PI's want you to have basic chemistry and biology under your belt before they can confidently let you become involved. I see a lot of undergrads on the boards who say they began research in freshman year. How would I go about becoming involved with research? Should I just approach professors with whom I'm taking courses and explain my situation. If I were in a research professor course, and I was performing well do you think they could assist me?

My last concern is living on my own. If I were accepted, I'd have to move from home and get my own apartment. Because I'm somewhat of an introvert, I'm just worried about being in a relatively new place and having to gain a new circle of friends. Obviously me and my classmates would be close because there are so few of us but you cannot honestly assume that we would all like each other. I believe that there will be evident competition in that were all basically the same student in terms of habit, demeanor, work ethic, etc. I'm ready to take the plunge but I don't want to become a strong academic without a trace of a social life.

Thanks for your continued assistance and time.

 

[sha15]

Nice program.

If you're absolutely set on doing the program then I would take the minimum amount of courses you can each semester to make studying easier. As for actually studying, I'm not sure what to tell you because I was always the type that would turn it on when tests came around and take it fairly easy other times.

As for research, most professors would be more than happy to take you on if you go talk to them and say you'll do it for free. It is also likely that graduate students and technicians will be available to help you get acclimated to the particular lab. If you work hard and get some nice results, they may even start paying you. The important thing here is make sure you are working for someone you like and you at least have a tolerance for the work you are doing.

Living on your own; will the program have you in Gainsville for 7 years? Do you already live there? I would try to live in a dorm for the freshman year if you can do it reasonably financially; you will have a great chance to make good friends in that type of environment.

 

[IHOPness]

That sounds like a pretty sweet program.

 

[Eric01]

Hey guys,

I've recently started researching a program at University of Florida known as the Junior Honor's Medical Program. The benefits are entering medical school a year early and an opportunity to avoid the MCAT. The prerequisites for the program are Biology, Chemistry, Calculus 1, Organic, and a 3000 (or greater) level course in math or science. To be eligible, I must earn at least a 3.7 GPA for the above courses. In addition, I must volunteer(medically related) and research is highly encouraged. I just have some questions about these requirements.

In the Fall 2011 semester, I'm taking Chemistry 1, Biology 1, and Calculus. To those who are mainly taking science and math, how do you go about studying effectively for such dense courses? I do enjoy science and math, it's just that while taking these course I assume it is very easy to have mediocre performance due to depth rather that difficulty. I'm will to be tenacious and diligent in order to earn the marks I need but I want to study smarter, not harder. Because I will be taking math and science until I apply (and am hopefully accepted), there will be a somewhat monotonous pace. How would you guys recommend I break the monotony?

My other concerns involve research. Because I will be applying my sophomore year, will I even be able to have a meaningful research experience? I say this because I know many PI's want you to have basic chemistry and biology under your belt before they can confidently let you become involved. I see a lot of undergrads on the boards who say they began research in freshman year. How would I go about becoming involved with research? Should I just approach professors with whom I'm taking courses and explain my situation. If I were in a research professor course, and I was performing well do you think they could assist me?

My last concern is living on my own. If I were accepted, I'd have to move from home and get my own apartment. Because I'm somewhat of an introvert, I'm just worried about being in a relatively new place and having to gain a new circle of friends. Obviously me and my classmates would be close because there are so few of us but you cannot honestly assume that we would all like each other. I believe that there will be evident competition in that were all basically the same student in terms of habit, demeanor, work ethic, etc. I'm ready to take the plunge but I don't want to become a strong academic without a trace of a social life.

Thanks for your continued assistance and time.

Well to your first question. Since these courses are required by many different types of majors you'll get a variety of professors teaching them. I would HIGHLY recommend obtaining something like pickaprof and see if you can find the profs teaching these courses who gives out 30%+ As. Seriously, getting an easy grade prof is without a doubt the BEST and EASIEST thing you can do for yourself in getting the high GPA you desire (unfortunately it doesn't work when you get to your major course sequence in which there is only 1 prof teaching any given class)

Well you know a 3.7 is a very high bar. I only managed that GPA in 2 or maybe 3 of my 8 semesters in college. You have to pretty much aim for a 4.0 as any B will just sink your GPA from that level.

If you want to go ape**** that's probably the best way to obtain your high grade. I mean study every day. Attend every office hour, print out practice exams from generic posted tests online, do every problem in your textbook, read every chapter 2-3 times, make flashcards of your chapters etc.

I mean you don't need to do all these things to get an A. Most classes are just read the textbook, go to class, and try to figure out what's on the exam. But I mean the more you put in the more you get out.

Also, try to get your iphone or whatever app you have that records lectures, that way you can go over them and rewrite your notes as you review material.

For your second point, dude just enjoy life, once you're in that situation you'll adapt you'll see.

 

[Stumpyman]

Is that like a straight out of Highschool program? Or do you hae to take those science courses, and then apply for it?

 

[altamont850]

Is that like a straight out of Highschool program? Or do you hae to take those science courses, and then apply for it?

The program is for college sophomores who've completed the mentioned science courses. If accepted, you get to take a few courses taught by the medical school faculty. In addition, you begin working on an honors thesis with a researcher. There is a lot of medically related research and many graduates pursue an M.D./PhD. In your third year, you begin medical school. Essentially the year your start the program you get to conduct meaningful research and transition into a medical curriculum.

 

[SilmeUF]

I won't try to answer any questions on general study habits for the pre-medical courses, because everyone is different, and what works for one may not work for another. There are a lot of good threads on being a successful undergraduate that you can search for here on SDN.

Remember that you don't have to take any physics classes before applying to the program, so as far as monotony, getting Calc/Bio/Chem/Orgo/random 3000 class done in your first two years shouldn't be a problem. Don't forget, you can take those over summer terms as well. Given your fall semester, it seems like you are on the right track.

As for the research, if you were at UF for your undergraduate studies, I would just send you a link for the undergraduate research database; problem solved. Because you are talking about having to move, I'm going to assume you are not at UF. Rest assured, if you go to any university with a medical school, health science center, chemistry department, etc, you should have no problem finding a research position. UF, FSU, UM, and USF all have plenty of labs you could join. For most PI's, they won't harp on having some academic prerequisite for joining their lab. Commit enough time and effort and you will become competent in the tasks they need you to do while you are training to work independently and think like a scientist.

Here is a link to a thread where I gave some advice about finding a research position.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=842843

As far as finding and approaching PI's: Look around on departmental websites, find a number of projects that look interesting to you. Delve a little deeper and read some of the publications the labs have put out. If the research looks interesting to you, shoot the PI an e-mail expressing your interest in meeting to discuss a potential lab position if one is open. You should be honestly interested in the research and make that apparent in your e-mail. Sending a CV/resume with the e-mail won't hurt you either. It may take some searching and a few face to face meetings, but find a lab that is interesting, friendly, and willing to take a clueless freshmen under their wing. You shouldn't be in the corner washing dishes...at least not for long. A helpful graduate student or the PI should be taking a bit of time to train you in the relevant protocols/techniques.

Anyways, do some more searching on SDN and you will find better advice than mine.

Don't worry about over analyzing the social situation before you are accepted or move to Gainesville. Will you become good friends with some students in the JHMP class? Absolutely.
Will you also have friends that have never taken a science course before as well? Probably. Be honest and open, and you will make friends in Gainesville.

Stumpyman: You apply for the program in the spring of your sophomore year after the above prerequisite courses have been taken, assuming you have kept up with the other GPA/SAT requirements.

 

[altamont850]

Well to your first question. Since these courses are required by many different types of majors you'll get a variety of professors teaching them. I would HIGHLY recommend obtaining something like pickaprof and see if you can find the profs teaching these courses who gives out 30%+ As. Seriously, getting an easy grade prof is without a doubt the BEST and EASIEST thing you can do for yourself in getting the high GPA you desire (unfortunately it doesn't work when you get to your major course sequence in which there is only 1 prof teaching any given class)

Well you know a 3.7 is a very high bar. I only managed that GPA in 2 or maybe 3 of my 8 semesters in college. You have to pretty much aim for a 4.0 as any B will just sink your GPA from that level.

If you want to go ape**** that's probably the best way to obtain your high grade. I mean study every day. Attend every office hour, print out practice exams from generic posted tests online, do every problem in your textbook, read every chapter 2-3 times, make flashcards of your chapters etc.

I mean you don't need to do all these things to get an A. Most classes are just read the textbook, go to class, and try to figure out what's on the exam. But I mean the more you put in the more you get out.

Also, try to get your iphone or whatever app you have that records lectures, that way you can go over them and rewrite your notes as you review material.

For your second point, dude just enjoy life, once you're in that situation you'll adapt you'll see.

In addition to this, would you guys recommend pre-studying for these courses? I already have the textbooks for the courses and I have about a month before school starts.

 

[sha15]

Nah probably not dude. I don't think its necessary unless you feel like the subjects will be tough for you to grasp or you'll be overloaded during the semester. Also, some teachers don't follow the book all that well and skip over a lot of stuff.

But it cant hurt, and you seem like you're ready to tackle this program so I won't try to sabotage your hustle.

 

[altamont850]

Nah probably not dude. I don't think its necessary unless you feel like the subjects will be tough for you to grasp or you'll be overloaded during the semester. Also, some teachers don't follow the book all that well and skip over a lot of stuff.

But it cant hurt, and you seem like you're ready to tackle this program so I won't try to sabotage your hustle.

Yeah, I'm probably just going to unwind in that month (and volunteer, etc.) so I'll be ready to destroy this semester. In addition, I'll look over the material a little but not in great depth.

Thanks for the advice guys!

 

[ReptarBar]

you will probably get destroyed by college courses, so don't get your hopes up

(jk)

 

[altamont850]

you will probably get destroyed by college courses, so don't get your hopes up

(jk)

Thanks for the encouragement

 

[Eric01]

Thanks for the encouragement

No you'll be alright. The difficulty in doing well in college is getting the motivation to do your work. So many other distractions exist, (video games, tv, news, volunteering, work, relationships, partying, etc.) that people fall into the trap of procrastination. If you never lose sight of what you're working for and you're able to maintain your motivation you'll get a 3.7+ that simple.