Lots of Decisions to make

[Ultimattack2]

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I am a sophmore undergrad and I want to prepared to take the MCAT by next year. That being said, I was wondering if I should take option A, option B, or option C regarding my missing classes which are: Org chem 2 & Lab, Biochem & Lab, and Physics 2 & Lab.

Option A: Take Ochem 2, Biochem, Physics 2 and Physics 2 lab. Study for the MCAT over the summer and take it in September this year.

Option B: Take Ochem 2, Biochem, Physics 2 and Physics 2 lab. Study for the MCAT over the summer and take it in January next year.

Option C: Take Biochem, Physics 2 and Physics 2 Lab. Study for the MCAT over the summer and take Org Chem 2 next year (gap semester between Org chem 1). Take the MCAT in January.

I really don't know how to space my labs either. If anyone can tell me from experience what I should do, please let me know.

Thanks.

 

[baratheonfire]

do you even need to take school classes to prepare for the mcat

 

[robin911]

can you take any courses over the summer?

I took physics 2/lab and biochem over the summer. Then I took biochem lab in the fall. Would NOT recommend taking orgo 2 over the summer though.
Studied for the MCAT during the summer and fall and then did full-time studying for 1 month and took the MCAT over winter break in late January.

 

[Ultimattack2]

can you take any courses over the summer?

I took physics 2/lab and biochem over the summer. Then I took biochem lab in the fall. Would NOT recommend taking orgo 2 over the summer though.
Studied for the MCAT during the summer and fall and then did full-time studying for 1 month and took the MCAT over winter break in late January.

IDK if I should because then I'd have to pay for it and I don't know what med schools think about taking classes during the summer. I have a scholarship that covers tuition if it's during the year so it seems like a waste of money.

 

[Glandzburg]

IDK if I should because then I'd have to pay for it and I don't know what med schools think about taking classes during the summer. I have a scholarship that covers tuition if it's during the year so it seems like a waste of money.

Medical schools won't care if you have to take a class or two over the summer to make them fit into your schedule. However, it doesn't sound worth it to do so in your case, considering your scholarship would only cover them during the fall or spring.

 

[SandP]

option a....study over summer and take it immediately

 

[Lucca]

Option A is the only one that makes sense.

 

[Lawpy]

Option B: Take Ochem 2, Biochem, Physics 2 and Physics 2 lab. Study for the MCAT over the summer and take it in January next year.

Option C: Take Biochem, Physics 2 and Physics 2 Lab. Study for the MCAT over the summer and take Org Chem 2 next year (gap semester between Org chem 1). Take the MCAT in January.

Can you explain the reasons for these options? Why would you study for the MCAT over the summer and take it in January instead of September?

 

[7331poas]

Is biochem lab required at any med schools? I would skip that.

 

[Ultimattack2]

Can you explain the reasons for these options? Why would you study for the MCAT over the summer and take it in January instead of September?

Then I can study for the MCAT during the summer and during the semester and make a better score and a better GPA.

 

[Lawpy]

Then I can study for the MCAT during the summer and during the semester and make a better score and a better GPA.

Not a good idea. You dont want to couple burnout (which happens with many months of studying) with semester work.

 

[Ultimattack2]

Not a good idea. You dont want to couple burnout (which happens with many months of studying) with semester work.

Wouldn't that be better than risking my GPA by taking both in the same semester? I'm pretty sure I can study lightly then go hard for the last 2-3 months. Since I don't have to take biochemistry next semester, I can take less hours and have more time to study.

 

[RedStar7]

This is just me but I have heard people say that one could potentially just self-study/learn the biochem portion in an extended MCAT study session? I don't know how feasible it is or even if its a good idea though. I am at a similar dilemma in that I still have to take orgo 2, orgo lab, physics 2, and biochem but don't want to take all four this semester.

And on a side note (pretending I am not taking a gap year and I am currently sophomore) do most people recommend that people study MCAT over a summer (maybe with a side activity or something) and then take it afterwards or do people recommend taking the MCAT after a winter break of ~month?

 

[Ultimattack2]

This is just me but I have heard people say that one could potentially just self-study/learn the biochem portion in an extended MCAT study session? I don't know how feasible it is or even if its a good idea though. I am at a similar dilemma in that I still have to take orgo 2, orgo lab, physics 2, and biochem but don't want to take all four this semester.

And on a side note (pretending I am not taking a gap year and I am currently sophomore) do most people recommend that people study MCAT over a summer (maybe with a side activity or something) and then take it afterwards or do people recommend taking the MCAT after a winter break of ~month?

Lemme know if you figure anything out, I'm seriously lost at what to do right now. I'm learning towards option C though.

 

[osckey]

Honestly, take the classes you need to prepare for the MCAT and do well the first time around. Timing is arbitrary. Sprinting to the loser's bench is a lot less sweeter than jogging to the winner's podium.

 

[MedHopeful09]

.

 

[raiderette]

Option A is the best in case you need to take a second time or don't feel comfortable in September.

 

[Ultimattack2]

Option A is the best in case you need to take a second time or don't feel comfortable in September.

I think I am going to try to take all the classes this semester and then see if i am ready in September. If not, I'll switch over to option B after a full semester's worth of studying because I won't have to worry so much about finishing so many science classes. Thank you so much for formulating my decision.

 

[charleliso]

you have to take a class or two over the summer to make them fit into your schedule.

 

[Ultimattack2]

you have to take a class or two over the summer to make them fit into your schedule.

How so? Won't I have all the classes I need for the MCAT if I take option A? I have a scholarship that pays for my tuituion during the semester so I don't want to go to summer school if not necessary.

 

[RedStar7]

How so? Won't I have all the classes I need for the MCAT if I take option A? I have a scholarship that pays for my tuituion during the semester so I don't want to go to summer school if not necessary

On top of that, from what I know, summer classes are not the best option for premed requirements, especially upper level core classes. I'm sure you could probably get away with it but, from my school and other schools, summer classes are generally easier even for the hardcore science ones. I would rather take classes a semester later and then study over that semester and take the MCAT after winter break than have to deal with summer classes and studying at the same time.

 

[Lucca]

This is just me but I have heard people say that one could potentially just self-study/learn the biochem portion in an extended MCAT study session? I don't know how feasible it is or even if its a good idea though. I am at a similar dilemma in that I still have to take orgo 2, orgo lab, physics 2, and biochem but don't want to take all four this semester.

And on a side note (pretending I am not taking a gap year and I am currently sophomore) do most people recommend that people study MCAT over a summer (maybe with a side activity or something) and then take it afterwards or do people recommend taking the MCAT after a winter break of ~month?

Summer study then take immediately will give you more time to improve your score. One month of preparation for it is only enough if you do not have a lot of content gaps and are innately skilled at standardized testing.

While you CAN self study the biochem portion (you can technically self study all of it) I definitely, definitely wouldn't. There is biochem in every section except CARS and having a strong foundation will help you out. Going over just the stuff in the practice books will not do a good job of preparing you to integrate biochemistry concepts into psych, physics, biology, etc.

 

[RedStar7]

While you CAN self study the biochem portion (you can technically self study all of it) I definitely, definitely wouldn't. There is biochem in every section except CARS and having a strong foundation will help you out. Going over just the stuff in the practice books will not do a good job of preparing you to integrate biochemistry concepts into psych, physics, biology, etc

What if one took a gap year then? Say hypothetically one takes a gap year..and finishes orgo 2 and physics by the end of sophomore year..then he takes orgo 2 lab first semester junior year and then biochem 2nd semester junior year followed by a long extended MCAT study (basically have uninterrupted biochem for an entire semester + summer) over the summer and taking MCAT at the end of the summer....wouldn't that be the best plan one could make? considering how much biochem is on the test.

I don't know too much about the MCAT in terms of studying (other than whats on it and what courses reflect that, scoring, etc) but which science course would you feel is the most important for it? Many I have talked to say biochem?

 

[Lucca]

What if one took a gap year then? Say hypothetically one takes a gap year..and finishes orgo 2 and physics by the end of sophomore year..then he takes orgo 2 lab first semester junior year and then biochem 2nd semester junior year followed by a long extended MCAT study (basically have uninterrupted biochem for an entire semester + summer) over the summer and taking MCAT at the end of the summer....wouldn't that be the best plan one could make? considering how much biochem is on the test.

I don't know too much about the MCAT in terms of studying (other than whats on it and what courses reflect that, scoring, etc) but which science course would you feel is the most important for it? Many I have talked to say biochem?

Biochem is definitely the most important. I think Organic Chemistry II is also pretty important but not so much because there's a lot of OChem II content on the MCAT rather OChem 2 is the foundation of first semester biochemistry and it is a class where I really developed an intuition for chemistry. By intuition I mean understanding why some molecules react in certain ways with certain molecules and not others or why a mechanism looks the way it does or how the properties of elements and compounds can affect a chemical reaction. A lot of stuff just comes together in that class and begins to make sense in the big picture of chemistry / biology rather than just standing on its own. YMMV, you may get this experience in GenChem I or in PChem II.

Content wise? Biochem > Molecular/Cellular Biology > Genetics > GenChem I/II > Physics II > Ochem > Physics I. This is only based on my own experience.

Obviously psych and Soc material is center stage in the P&S section lol. I think of all the sections this is the most self-study able.

Skills wise? Research logic > ability to read papers effectively (esp. Figures and tables) > reading comprehension > meta-reasoning (thinking like a test maker).

As far as studying I think one full summer followed by taking the exam early in the next fall semester is more than enough. I don't think it's a good idea to study for the MCAT for a protracted period of time for 3 reasons: 1) burn out, 2) you forget what you studied at the beginning, 3) it takes away from other, equally important pursuits and activities.