If you could do it all again, how would you do it?

[Rotaro]

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If you could do your undergrad years again, how would you 'map' it out?

My map isn't very detailed, but if you had a chance to do it all again, what courses would you take before the MCAT, when would you take them, when would you do what EC's? I am only as far as Junior year, though.

During my freshman year, I would take my biology/chemistry requirements, join the Medical Emergency Response Team, my Church Group, and play intramural basketball for fun.

During the summer, I would have still done research.

In my junior year, I'd finish up my prereqs or Physics and Organic Chemistry and study and take the MCAT over the summer while it's still fresh in my mind. I might have taken the opportunity to take Biochemistry before taking the MCAT at the end of the summer.

During Junior year, I am finishing my major requirements, TA'ing and working as an MCAT tutor. I am getting my LOR now and hope to apply as early as possible.

 

[IDreamtIChased]

Unfortunately, I had decided to apply during this cycle in May. If I could do it all again, I would have taken the MCAT's during the winter or fall months. I would have taken my biochem class BEFORE the MCAT. I would have taken at least 1 physics college course before my MCAT. I wish I had used MSAR and applied "smart." I could keep going...

 

[MeowMeowCAT]

I would have started preparing for whatever I can back in high school. 🙁

 

[Cruzerthebruzer]

I wish I would've decided my career path much earlier in my college career (preferably high school) instead of taking random classes that don't help towards anything. I would have/be incredibly close to having my bachelor's degree, but instead I have 2.5-3 years left.

 

[unhappytnt]

Firstly, I would go to a state school. Damn tuition. 😡

I'd take Bio, Gen Chem, Physics my freshman year. Take Calc and OChem my sophomore year and prepare for the MCAT in the summer after that. I really find the material in physics easy, so I wish I had taken it in my freshman year. Calc was pretty easy too, so I guess I could have taken it along with OChem.

 

[alwaysaangel]

I would have gone out more, worked out more and traveled more.

 

[StudyShy]

I would have majored in biology. 😀

 

[Buttermellow]

Things I wouldn't change:
Went to a state school with a good reputation, and lots of financial aid
Took the "liberal arts" part of the college seriously. Didn't think twice about taking classes in humanities, art, etc.
Studied hard, made every grade count.
Joined a dance group-- the teaching, performing, and the people are all fabulous, and is something I will miss terribly. Not everything has to be science-related.

Things I would do differently:
Start shadowing/volunteering earlier. Like your 1st or 2nd semester. I procrastinated on this.
Join more ECs-- maybe just one more, as the dance group takes a lot of time.

 

[Forthegood]

I'd have worried less. It really wore me down and didn't help anything.

Aside from that, I would have joined the same lab, done the same ECs, taken the same classes, and applied to the same school.

 

[bucks2010]

I would have figured out that pre-med was right for me earlier.

- I also would have done more research to find out what a good pre-med strategy looks like.

- started the pre-reqs my freshman year instead of sophomore year

- definitely started EC's earlier instead of putting them off to focus on classes

- planned on taking a gap year from the start and leaving myself the summer after my junior year to study for the MCAT

I am definitely glad I took a gap year... I could probably be starting this fall if I wanted to, but I feel that I've learned a lot since last summer and have definitely done a lot that can be added to my application.

 

[Malice]

I would have started my penis enlargement program way earlier.

 

[NeuroKidd]

Pretty pleased with most of what I've done. Definitely should have applied to more schools.

 

[CoolWhipp]

Would have gone to a private university.

 

[Mithril]

.

 

[laffite]

Would've started dating that girl, who now has a bofriend, who used to like me but I was too busy playing with my calculator to notice.

I wish I hadn't fallen for that classmate of mine.

 

[Amrazzz]

Work out more. Gone out more. Take physics Sophomore year rather than Junior year.

 

[your mother]

I would have gone out more, worked out more and traveled more.

This is correct.

 

[ucfknight407]

I would do more volunteering and get more clinical experience earlier so that med school admissions committee's could tell I really wanted to be a doctor. I procrastinated on the EC's.

On a positive note. I got a great MCAT score, good grades, had a lot of fun in college, made lots of friends, had plenty of great experiences, and lived life.

 

[jadealer]

Would have changed:

-Not allowed personal BS to have a negative impact on my mental status and GPA during my junior/senior year.

-Would have withdrawn from the MCAT after my close friend passed away instead of trying to study and take the test 2 weeks after the funeral and having a bad score to follow me forever.

-Would have realized I was interested in medicine in my freshman year instead of starting as an "equine studies" major to become a horse trainer. Oh the follies of my youth.

 

[halethsonofhama]

I would have chosen to be to be a pilot

 

[LabMonster]

Looking back, nothing. In an odd way, even though I did EVERYTHING wrong, it was the right way for me to do it.