How far behind am I?

[ajh1995]

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So...I am a transferring sophomore this fall and I just found out that I will most likely have to go the pre-med route. My freshman year I finished all of my core work and college requirements except for genchem. I will also be done with the college requirements this fall. However, had no clue about the extracurricular things like shadowing and the MCAT is not the same as the FCAT in Florida (elementary school standardized test). I have not done any thing this summer towards this.

I understand this is broad but I appreciate any insight. I can give more info if necessary.

 

[BoiledBagels]

I don't think you're far behind at all. Just make absolute sure this is the route you want to go and be organized in terms of planning pre-med course work (can't tell from your description what you've completed so far). I think the best advice I can give you is to get connected immediately with a pre-medical advisor at your university who can help you with your checklist for a med school route. Then start finding physicians to shadow, look for research opportunities, get involved with community service, but most of all, discover what you enjoy and spend a lot of time doing it!

Start with the basics, know what you're getting into, and build up from there! Good luck 🙂

 

[sunflower18]

So...I am a transferring sophomore this fall and I just found out that I will most likely have to go the pre-med route. My freshman year I finished all of my core work and college requirements except for genchem. I will also be done with the college requirements this fall. However, had no clue about the extracurricular things like shadowing and the MCAT is not the same as the FCAT in Florida (elementary school standardized test). I have not done any thing this summer towards this.

I understand this is broad but I appreciate any insight. I can give more info if necessary.

Hmmmm... I don't really like the bolded sentence above, as it makes me think that it is not YOUR dream to become a physician. Why do you feel like you have to go to medical school, and how did you find this out? I'm currently applying to med school, and it's been a long journey to even get here -- but I have ~10 more years of grueling training ahead of me. But I'm okay with that, because medicine is what I want to do with my life. If you don't love the idea of being a physician or have a passion/desire to practice medicine, I would strongly advise you to think very hard before submerging yourself in the medical education process.

As for your question, many many many many many people decide they want to be a physician partway through college or after graduation. You might not be able to apply to med school after your junior year, which is "traditional", but you can certainly catch up on coursework and ECs by taking a gap year. I think it's shifted so that most people take a year off between undergrad and med school anyway. You'll be fine, if you choose to pursue this path.

 

[allantois]

Who is making you do pre-med route? What does FCAT have to do with anything (I am from FL)? Your not taking gen chem will potentially create a gap year for you. I don't like the mentality of finishing all core work as you will get stuck up with all science courses unable to mix them up with easy classes.

 

[Entadus]

So...I am a transferring sophomore this fall and I just found out that I will most likely have to go the pre-med route...

Huh?

EDIT: Also, OP, your question is a little misguided. When you say "how behind am I?", I'm curious what you mean. Behind whom?? Getting into medical school is not a cut and dry process with a set timeline. From the time you decide you want to pursue medicine, you're looking at roughly 3-4 years of hard work at the least. There's no need to compare yourself to your peers . . .

 

[edgerock24]

So...I am a transferring sophomore this fall and I just found out that I will most likely have to go the pre-med route. My freshman year I finished all of my core work and college requirements except for genchem. I will also be done with the college requirements this fall. However, had no clue about the extracurricular things like shadowing and the MCAT is not the same as the FCAT in Florida (elementary school standardized test). I have not done any thing this summer towards this.

I understand this is broad but I appreciate any insight. I can give more info if necessary.

This entire text block should be added to the "Funny quotes from 'less informed' premeds" thread.

 

[superpom_7]

What do you mean "you just found out that you most likely have to go the pre-med route"? Are you only "going this route" because someone else wants you to?

 

[el_duderino]

You have to what, now?

 

[Judson]

So...I am a transferring sophomore this fall and I just found out that I will most likely have to go the pre-med route. My freshman year I finished all of my core work and college requirements except for genchem. I will also be done with the college requirements this fall. However, had no clue about the extracurricular things like shadowing and the MCAT is not the same as the FCAT in Florida (elementary school standardized test). I have not done any thing this summer towards this.

I understand this is broad but I appreciate any insight. I can give more info if necessary.

If you haven't finished gen chem then you still need organic I&II plus lab. By technical standards you're about 3-4 semesters behind. However, if you plan tactfully you should be able to graduate on-time, take the MCAT, and apply for med school the same cycle you would have if you went premed from day 1.

 

[ajh1995]

I have done English 1 and 2, pre-calculus, Bio 1 and 2, all of the arts and literature classes for my new school. As of now I have 59 credit hours completed and 15 coming up for the Fall which include Chemistry and Calculus. I am coming in with a GPA of 4.o. I finished the easy classes because I knew they would transfer.

Nobody is forcing me to do anything, I promise. I am a Psychology major but I had been trying to find something that wasn't based so much on therapy and testing like psychology usually is. I also realized at my old school I was finished with all my science courses which was disappointing, I spend my free time reading up on medical research, I even practiced for Spanish classes with someone in med school for a year because I was genuinely excited to learn. Psychiatry fits my interests the best and you have to go to med school for that. I just never looked into as an option because of poor college planning as a HS senior.

I thought that MCAT was the same as the FCAT just for a different state. Yes, stupid. I know.

Also, I openly admit that I am "less informed". I am trying to get as much information about what I need to do, know and research before I commit to pre-med or any other field. I wasn't sure if everything was "cut and dry" but I also know that schools look for certain things in applicants.

 

[SN12357]

I have done English 1 and 2, pre-calculus, Bio 1 and 2, all of the arts and literature classes for my new school. As of now I have 59 credit hours completed and 15 coming up for the Fall which include Chemistry and Calculus. I am coming in with a GPA of 4.o. I finished the easy classes because I knew they would transfer.

Nobody is forcing me to do anything, I promise. I am a Psychology major but I had been trying to find something that wasn't based so much on therapy and testing like psychology usually is. I also realized at my old school I was finished with all my science courses which was disappointing, I spend my free time reading up on medical research, I even practiced for Spanish classes with someone in med school for a year because I was genuinely excited to learn. Psychiatry fits my interests the best and you have to go to med school for that. I just never looked into as an option because of poor college planning as a HS senior.

I thought that MCAT was the same as the FCAT just for a different state. Yes, stupid. I know.

Also, I openly admit that I am "less informed". I am trying to get as much information about what I need to do, know and research before I commit to pre-med or any other field. I wasn't sure if everything was "cut and dry" but I also know that schools look for certain things in applicants.

You're only a sophomore. You aren't 'behind'. Lots of people don't even realize they want to be go to medical school until after they graduate. More and more people take gap years, too. You have tons of time.

 

[allantois]

Why is it so hard for people to properly state their academic standing.

OP, are you starting your second or third year in college? You are one credit away from officially being a junior. Did you do the first 2 years at CC? What is your intended major?

 

[ajh1995]

Starting second year. I only did one year at the other college. I took enough AP classes and placement test to get 20 something hours. My major is psychology my minor is Spanish.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

I understand that a lot of undecided ppl take science classes (ie med school pre-reqs) while majoring in a non-science. But don't do it unless you actually like science. Those courses require a serious commitment.

 

[el_duderino]

It's way too late for you bro. Starting sophomore year and under 500 clinical hours? For shame.

 

[Time Table]

Why is it so hard for people to properly state their academic standing.

LOL we've been running into this issue on so many threads that I think this deserves it's own thread.

 

[Doctor Dream]

Just make sure you're not "settling" for medicine because you decided you'll "have to go the pre-med route".

I have a hard time seeing how it'll end well for you if that's the case.

 

[BillyGee]

Hey please don't be discouraged. Simply reading up on SDN for a few days will give you a better idea of what it takes to get into med school than half the pre-meds in your classes. Just make sure to keep excelling in classes because they'll only get tougher from now, and start (now!) finding places to volunteer, conduct research, etc. If you can shadow a doctor now for the next few weeks before school starts, try! You'll thank yourself later and could probably keep it going throughout the semester. It's doable esp cause you're only a rising sophomore plus lots of kids have started their EC's but don't have a GPA like yours (like me lol).

 

[moisne]

Summer class- gen chem 1&2, calc 1&2, physics 1&2

then following summer Ochem 1&2

That should catch you up

 

[Law2Doc]

There is no schedule. No reason to "catch up". This isn't a race. Nothing bad happens if you become a doctor a year or two later. The whole nontrad board consists of people starting this process after college. The biggest reason people don't get into med school is by rushing things. In fact, being a bit later is probably preferable to most because you don't spend your twenties on the wards.