MCAT trouble

[700003]

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[700003]

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[Lya]

I wouldn't study MCAT during the semester, considering the amount of work you would have. I wouldn't jeopardize your semester GPA.

Right after your organic 2, physics 2, and genetics, start your MCAT content review right away and you will still have sufficient time to prepare for your September MCAT exam, assuming your semester ends in May and you will have about 3 months to study for MCAT. Since your organic and physics should be still fresh in your mind, your MCAT review will take less time than other people.

It depends on what MCAT you will have in September. You might have nearly zero genetics questions, while you could also have quite a few genetics. No one can tell.

Yes, it's a bad idea to take summer classes. Since you signed up for a research position over the summer, I am not sure how you could study MCAT alongside. Have you considered taking a light course load this upcoming fall and take MCAT before next year? If your research lab is very demanding, you might need to consider and postpone your MCAT date.

 

[knv2u]

If you feel that I should make modifications to my spring schedule, what would you remove?

Genetics - 4
Organic 2 -5
Physics 2 -4
Brain and Sensory processes (psych. class) -3
Physiological Psychology lab - 1
International Health - 3

Total credits: 13 (this is more realistic for MCAT preparation).

Genetics will help with the MCAT. The psychology classes are nice, but I would omit them to reduce your course load. I doubt international health will really help you or matter to medical schools that much. At the very least, I would eliminate this class to bring you down to 17 credit hours. You could always take it later if it matters to you.

 

[Cmdr_Shepard]

No way. Don't study during that hellish semester. Like Lya says, start content review after the semester is over and study for the MCAT full time over the summer.

I wouldn't take classes in the summer. You could probably volunteer/shadow though.

 

[700003]

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[700003]

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[Lya]

And is taking the mcat in september and keeping january as a back-up just in case I don't do well a good idea?

I actually like that @knv2u course load. I would keep genetics as well as the summer research position. Keep the total credits relatively low and you may start the content review over the semester.

Have you thought about taking the MCAT earlier than September? You want to have organic, physics, and genetics fresh in your head when you take that MCAT. In doing so, you can solely focus on research and be productive.

 

[medmedman]

I need help making a major decision! I am planning to take the MCAT in September 2014. This way, I can have a entire summer to prepare for it.

Right now, my course load for the spring semester is 20 credits:

Genetics - 4
Organic 2 -5
Physics 2 -4
Brain and Sensory processes (psych. class) -3
Physiological Psychology lab - 1
International Health - 3

Now, my question is: Should I be trying to study for the MCAT over the semester as well? In that case, I feel like taking 20 credits will prevent me from studying for the MCAT on the side...

Also, suppose I don't study hard-core for the MCAT during the semester, will taking Genetics help me get prepared for the biology section? How much is Genetics worth it for the mcat anyway?

Lastly, is it a bad idea to take summer classes while preparing for the mcat? I am already signed up for a research position over the summer which I can't just leave...

Please let me know what your opinions are!

1) I would not take the MCAT with that courseload unless you really feel you can handle it. Genetics is esay and won't be that helpful at all on the MCATs. Organic 2 is just like orgo 1. Physics 2 is like physics 1. Physiology is a bit study intensive and Im not sure about your schools inte health class. 20 credits is a lot and I don't think you'll have itme to study for the MCAT

2) I think MCAT stuyding and summer class is doable

 

[3838]

I wouldn't study during the semester. Summer is more than enough. Just a word of advice, schedule your MCAT so that you have a few weeks afterward to relax. You only need a certain amount of time to study.

Free advice I wish someone had told me: I think you need 2-3 weeks of "studying the test," where you take practice sections and timed practice passages and observe trends in the types of passages, questions, and your own responses/analyses of these things. These three weeks are spent training your mind to think for the test. People will tell you take lots of practice exams. IMO, any more than two practice exams are a waste. The AAMC passages are better used for the aforementioned analyses of trends/thought processes; after an entire practice exam, you won't remember what you were thinking while doing the passage, but that's not true for a timed passage. Higher point yield, IMO.

The amount of time you need to review varies a little more, but since you'll be fresh out of those classes, I would think that you could do it pretty quickly. Keep a little notebook with the equations/concepts that you don't remember/understand well. Do everything you can to understand these concepts (hint: youtube and google). Once you understand them, write down how you understand these concepts so that when you come across questions on these concepts you will invariably miss, you can quickly remind yourself. Eventually, these will become second nature.

Keep to a strict schedule as well. I would suggesting actually going somewhere (I went to the hospital library) and studying from about 8-9 am to 4-5PM with a lunch break. Make sure to do practice questions while reviewing (TPR Hyperlearning is great). Check out the threads on SDN - they really help.

 

[listener23]

1) I would not take the MCAT with that courseload unless you really feel you can handle it. Genetics is esay and won't be that helpful at all on the MCATs. Organic 2 is just like orgo 1. Physics 2 is like physics 1. Physiology is a bit study intensive and Im not sure about your schools inte health class. 20 credits is a lot and I don't think you'll have itme to study for the MCAT

2) I think MCAT stuyding and summer class is doable

explain?

 

[mehc012]

1) I would not take the MCAT with that courseload unless you really feel you can handle it. Genetics is esay and won't be that helpful at all on the MCATs. Organic 2 is just like orgo 1. Physics 2 is like physics 1. Physiology is a bit study intensive and Im not sure about your schools inte health class. 20 credits is a lot and I don't think you'll have itme to study for the MCAT

2) I think MCAT stuyding and summer class is doable

Physics 2 is very dissimilar to physics 1.
Physiology was, imo, an easy joke class.
Genetics was middling hard, except for the fruitfly bit which was incredibly time consuming.

The point here, OP, is that the difficulty of this course load depends quite heavily on your school, your profs, and your inclinations.

 

[medmedman]

explain?

The only thing that you would get out of genetics for the MCATs is simple pedigree analysis along with genetic techniques and DNA replication. Simple pedigree analysis you cover in other courses including Bio 1. Genetic techniques you cover in most of your molecular bio courses - same goes with DNA replication. What you learn in your genetics class will be far more detailed than the genetics that you will be expected to know for your MCAT exam.

Physics 2 is very dissimilar to physics 1.
Physiology was, imo, an easy joke class.
Genetics was middling hard, except for the fruitfly bit which was incredibly time consuming.

1- I'm talking about level of complexity so yes, physics I and II are about the same.
2-Then either you're good at physio or you had an easy physio class. Physio can be easy to challenging depending on your school
3-I'm surprised that you found physio to be harder than genetics. Most students at my undergrad laughed at genetics for being mind-boggling easy while physio and physio lab was seen as far time consuming and challenging.

 

[mehc012]

The only thing that you would get out of genetics for the MCATs is simple pedigree analysis along with genetic techniques and DNA replication. Simple pedigree analysis you cover in other courses including Bio 1. Genetic techniques you cover in most of your molecular bio courses - same goes with DNA replication. What you learn in your genetics class will be far more detailed than the genetics that you will be expected to know for your MCAT exam.



1- I'm talking about level of complexity so yes, physics I and II are about the same.
2-Then either you're good at physio or you had an easy physio class. Physio can be easy to challenging depending on your school
3-I'm surprised that you found physio to be harder than genetics. Most students at my undergrad laughed at genetics for being mind-boggling easy while physio and physio lab was seen as far time consuming and challenging.

That was my point...these courses vary widely depending on your school, your prof, and your background. I even said that IN my post.

I found Physics II (by the same prof, no less) to be more complex than Physics I AT MY SCHOOL. Couldn't believe the difference.
I found physio to be so mind-numbingly easy that it was insulting. I thought it was slow, undetailed, and boring. I did not study for any of the tests and I spent every class seething in boredom and frustration. My classmates found it fast, difficult, and detailed. This was likely due to MY BACKGROUND - extensive (non-physio) science coursework and constant Googling of anything physio related, because I think it's cool.
I found Genetics to be time-consuming and moderately difficult, partly due to THE PROFESSOR and partly because I took it freshman fall and wasn't used to the pace yet. The fly lab took hours and hours of time in the evenings with the way my prof set it up.

 

[knv2u]

Okay, so would you say to absolutely take genetics? I was planning to drop that class because I though it may be kinda hard with the physics and organic. But if it will help with the MCAT...

Genetics can be difficult but if only really have three classes and a lab, I think it is doable. If you have concerns about overloading yourself in terms of rigor, then you might want to consider dropping genetics. But keep in mind that the MCAT often contains a lot of genetics questions. This isn't true of every administration. Nevertheless, I wouldn't want to take the MCAT without it. So I would weigh course rigor, your resources including time, and your desire to take the MCAT by X date. Also keep in mind that you want to take the MCAT before the 2015 test comes out because 1) it has more subjects and 2) is two hours or so longer than the current examination. I would pour all of my effort in getting the MCAT out of the way and do whatever it takes to get a solid score. For me, that would include me taking genetics, but that is an individual/personal decision.

 

[knv2u]

And is taking the mcat in september and keeping january as a back-up just in case I don't do well a good idea?

Yes.

 

[knv2u]

Also, one more thought OP: it should be easier to do MCAT review with my 13 credit model for another reason. Since the subject matters you are taking will be on the MCAT, when you study for one (i.e. either the MCAT or the course), you are also studying for the other. This could be a very efficient arrangement of time and resources. You will have time to learn the material inside and out like the back of your hand, and should require less prep time for the MCAT than someone who took the courses a long time ago. In short, you all of the time poured into your courses will "double count" as MCAT preparation time.

I would also look up the MCAT threads here and how some people who performed well on the exam prepared for it. Many appear to use SN2ed's study schedule, but there are others as well. @gettheleadout also had an interesting modification and included some great web resources in his 30+ score thread IMO.

 

[knv2u]

I wouldn't do it during the semester. Just curious though - how come genetics is 4 credits (is there a lab)? And orgo is 5?

At my school, genetics came with an additional recitation session that made it 4.0 credits with no lab. Organic Chemistry I and II were 3 credits each and the labs were 3.0 credits each. That sounds excessive, but the labs took at least twice as long as the lecture in terms of the amount of work required. It was truly a class in its own right and we learned additional topics that weren't included in the lecture.

 

[700003]

I wouldn't do it during the semester. Just curious though - how come genetics is 4 credits (is there a lab)? And orgo is 5?

My genetics was only 3 and orgo 4 (even with a 4 hour lab every week).

Genetics lecture is 3 and the required lab is another credit. In my school, organic lecture is 3 credits and lab is 2.

 

[mehc012]

I wouldn't do it during the semester. Just curious though - how come genetics is 4 credits (is there a lab)? And orgo is 5?

My genetics was only 3 and orgo 4 (even with a 4 hour lab every week).

Every school is different. My school, for example, does 1 class = 1 credit for their own requirements. When you go to translate that into AMCAS, though, it's a whole different convoluted story. You have to ask the Registrar for the weight of each class you took...basics seem to be ~3.25 each (No, I don't know why the extra .25), regular labs 4.75, and chemistries (which all have a longer lab period than any other class is allowed to) are 5.25s. So as a chem major, it turns out I was taking 16-18 credits per semester when at the time, I saw it simply as taking the basic 4 that everyone else at my school took.

 

[700003]

Genetics - 4
Organic 2 -5
Physics 2 -4
Brain and Sensory processes (psych. class) -3
Physiological Psychology lab - 1
International Health - 3

Total credits: 13 (this is more realistic for MCAT preparation).

Genetics will help with the MCAT. The psychology classes are nice, but I would omit them to reduce your course load. I doubt international health will really help you or matter to medical schools that much. At the very least, I would eliminate this class to bring you down to 17 credit hours. You could always take it later if it matters to you.

I would love to do the 13-credit schedule but unfortunately, I can't. You see, I have to take 20 credits in order to graduate on time (and since, I won't be taking any summer classes this year, it is even more urgent!). Also, I absolutely HAVE to take Brain and Sensory Processes. I could technically drop Intl Health and take something lighter though...maybe fine arts? But 20 is a must 🙁

 

[700003]

Genetics can be difficult but if only really have three classes and a lab, I think it is doable. If you have concerns about overloading yourself in terms of rigor, then you might want to consider dropping genetics. But keep in mind that the MCAT often contains a lot of genetics questions. This isn't true of every administration. Nevertheless, I wouldn't want to take the MCAT without it. So I would weigh course rigor, your resources including time, and your desire to take the MCAT by X date. Also keep in mind that you want to take the MCAT before the 2015 test comes out because 1) it has more subjects and 2) is two hours or so longer than the current examination. I would pour all of my effort in getting the MCAT out of the way and do whatever it takes to get a solid score. For me, that would include me taking genetics, but that is an individual/personal decision.

I like your advice and feel that I need to take Genetics...maybe a whole lot won't be on the MCAT i get, but I am very poor at Genetics! Even the simple pedigree analysis and DNA replication stuff taught in intro. bio....I never truly understood it and this bothers me. At the very least, taking this course will help boost my confidence for the MCAT!

Is it alright though that I won't be able to take biochem. before the September mcat? they only offer that in the fall at my school...

 

[700003]

Every school is different. My school, for example, does 1 class = 1 credit for their own requirements. When you go to translate that into AMCAS, though, it's a whole different convoluted story. You have to ask the Registrar for the weight of each class you took...basics seem to be ~3.25 each (No, I don't know why the extra .25), regular labs 4.75, and chemistries (which all have a longer lab period than any other class is allowed to) are 5.25s. So as a chem major, it turns out I was taking 16-18 credits per semester when at the time, I saw it simply as taking the basic 4 that everyone else at my school took.

Hmm...do you know how they calculate this gpa-wise? I mean, is an A in a 5 credits orgo course the same as an A in a 4 credit orgo course?

 

[700003]

Also, one more thought OP: it should be easier to do MCAT review with my 13 credit model for another reason. Since the subject matters you are taking will be on the MCAT, when you study for one (i.e. either the MCAT or the course), you are also studying for the other. This could be a very efficient arrangement of time and resources. You will have time to learn the material inside and out like the back of your hand, and should require less prep time for the MCAT than someone who took the courses a long time ago. In short, you all of the time poured into your courses will "double count" as MCAT preparation time.

I would also look up the MCAT threads here and how some people who performed well on the exam prepared for it. Many appear to use SN2ed's study schedule, but there are others as well. @gettheleadout also had an interesting modification and included some great web resources in his 30+ score thread IMO.

Yes this is the plan! I feel like the only thing I need to do this semester is concentrate hard on understanding the material and getting those A's and catch up on some novel-reading to increase my reading skills...

 

[700003]

I actually like that @knv2u course load. I would keep genetics as well as the summer research position. Keep the total credits relatively low and you may start the content review over the semester.

Have you thought about taking the MCAT earlier than September? You want to have organic, physics, and genetics fresh in your head when you take that MCAT. In doing so, you can solely focus on research and be productive.

I don't think I'll be ready. I need time to study for the MCAT and the summer will be a bunch of free time for me to do exactly this. Just the thought of taking it earlier is making me anxious lol

 

[knv2u]

I would love to do the 13-credit schedule but unfortunately, I can't. You see, I have to take 20 credits in order to graduate on time (and since, I won't be taking any summer classes this year, it is even more urgent!). Also, I absolutely HAVE to take Brain and Sensory Processes. I could technically drop Intl Health and take something lighter though...maybe fine arts? But 20 is a must 🙁

Do those twenty have to be in specific courses? If not, check to see whether you can get credit for your summer research? You could also see if your school would allow you to take some fluff classes during the summer at a community college (late at night so there would be no conflict with your research) and transfer them back. A 20 credit load and MCAT preparation are not tenable in most cases. If you insist on a 20 credit load, can you take something pass fail so you have a bit of a fall back (like the biopsychology class)? Also is international health a fluff class? My school had something similar.

I took a 21 or 22 credit hour load (mostly rigorous upper division science work) while doing research and working a job. I was able to pull of an A average, but was extremely wore out and miserable the entire time. MCAT preparation should be at least like a part time job. I wouldn't wish my experience on you. I learned what true stress was that semester.

 

[knv2u]

I don't think I'll be ready. I need time to study for the MCAT and the summer will be a bunch of free time for me to do exactly this. Just the thought of taking it earlier is making me anxious lol

I agree with your instinct on this. It is better to put it off if you're having reservations rather than to bomb the MCAT.

 

[700003]

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[knv2u]

Another thing real quick


Yeah, they are specific courses and I won't be able to get credit for the research. I could take late-night classes during the summer at my school itself but I'd prefer not to...they won't accept the community college credits since I am at a commutable distance from my university and can easily take those classes where I am.

Int'l health is not a very difficult class, but to guarantee easy A's I think the fine arts class would be my best bet. Also, physiological psych lab is not that difficult. I am expecting an A in that class also.

Be careful about the fine arts professors. I know of many that do not believe in awarding A grades. YMMV.

 

[Euxox]

Relevant reading: MCAT and a Heavy School Workload Don’t Mix: Stop rushing to take the MCAT