Need advice on class planning HELP :)

[Mike MacKinnon]

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Ok

So i have been doing my pre reqs in hopes of applying for the 2007 class and i hit a snag. I didnt realise that the april 06 MCAT is really only going to get me into the 2008 year. I was unaware that 75% of admissions are done by december based on the august MCAT and of course GPA/interview.

Anyway, so i have to change my planning a little. I had origional planned it out this way :

Will be finished CHEM II with an A end of this month.

SEPT - DEC
BIO I and ENG comp I

JAN - MAY
BIO II and ENG COMP II

MAY - JULY
Organic Chem I
Physics I

July - Aug
BioChem I
Physics II

(Many DO schools will take Biochem I in place of organic chem II so i chose this route for GPA reasons)

Obviously this makes it near impossible to study for the MCATS in august. Especially since I am also working full time while doing all of this. I dont have any choice but to take Ochem and Biochem I in the summer as this is when my work schedule is the most flexable.

Would this be better:

Sept - Dec
BIO I & Physics I

Dec - MAY
BIO II & Physics II

May - July
Organic Chem I

July to Aug
Biochem I

Aug - dec
ENG comp I & Eng comp II


Will this set me up better to take them MCATS? At least this way I will have some physics going in to the exam and still have time to study in summer.

Also i JUST found out about the CLEP and that i may very well be able to get credit for eng comp I & II without taking the classes.

Does this make more sense? Do you all think it will work?

Lastly, How much does taking the MCATs more than once affect your application. I was wondering that if i didnt do so well in AUG i would retake in april. If the marks came up is theis favorable or does it overall look bad that i took it twice?


Ideas?

 

[internetwop]

if you take the april/august 2006 mcat, you can apply for 2007. as long as you have all your coursework done right before you start med school, they will accept you. they will just ask for your completed transcripts again before you would start. be careful as far as ochem II goes-most schools require you to have a total of 8 credit hours of ochem, & a few schools require biochem in addition to the 8 hours of ochem. hope this helps! 😉

 

[internetwop]

oh, i for got to say-most people take the mcat more than once!! several people have taken this exam even 3 times or more so don't let that stop you!

 

[Mike MacKinnon]

Thanks!

Yah the schools i have been looking at all have it listed as 8 hours of O chem but when i talked directly to the admissions people (through email so i have it in writing) they told me they would accept Biochem I with Lab in place of Ochem II. I cant explain how happy that made me 🙂

What i was wondering tho. If i did take the MCAT in april, wouldnt i be locked into the 25% of spots left? My best chance, i would assume is taking it in august and getting the app in as early as possible. I am pretty sure i can CLEP out of ENG comp I & II at Midwestern but im going to call on monday. I think my plan is to do try and CLEP out of eng I & II, take the other courses by summer, take the MCAT in august and if it isnt what i expect mark wise i can take it again for april. 2X the chance for the 2007 year.

In anycase, this should be interesting.

if you take the april/august 2006 mcat, you can apply for 2007. as long as you have all your coursework done right before you start med school, they will accept you. they will just ask for your completed transcripts again before you would start. be careful as far as ochem II goes-most schools require you to have a total of 8 credit hours of ochem, & a few schools require biochem in addition to the 8 hours of ochem. hope this helps! 😉

 

[internetwop]

well, i'm taking mcat next month & applying for 2006 admittance (that is if my score doesn't suck!) so hopefully most spots won't be taken but i don't think so, if i get everything in by october i should be ok. besides, just because they interview alot of people doesn't mean they accept them all-many people don't interview well!! i know people that sit on the admissions committee where i work & they have rejected people even with top scores because they can't answer simple questions like "why do you want to be a doctor?" 😕 duh! have you checked out www.aacom.org good website for DO programs!

 

[Mike MacKinnon]

Good luck! I hope you do well! Keep us posted!

well, i'm taking mcat next month & applying for 2006 admittance (that is if my score doesn't suck!) so hopefully most spots won't be taken but i don't think so, if i get everything in by october i should be ok. besides, just because they interview alot of people doesn't mean they accept them all-many people don't interview well!! i know people that sit on the admissions committee where i work & they have rejected people even with top scores because they can't answer simple questions like "why do you want to be a doctor?" 😕 duh! have you checked out www.aacom.org good website for DO programs!

 

[mx_599]

What i was wondering tho. If i did take the MCAT in april, wouldnt i be locked into the 25% of spots left? My best chance, i would assume is taking it in august and getting the app in as early as possible.

Mike

I think you are thinking about the application cycle wrong. Those who take the MCAT in april usually have an EARLY start. Why do you keep refering to the lower 25%? It would be the opposite.

If you take it in april and do well enough than you would be starting med school in the Fall of 2007! not 2008. I think someone else said this too.

Furthermore, I believe the Mcat will only be on computer and offered more than twice a year. But I am not sure of this.

Good Luck 👍

 

[mx_599]

Would this be better:

Sept - Dec
BIO I & Physics I

Dec - MAY
BIO II & Physics II

May - July
Organic Chem I

July to Aug
Biochem I

Aug - dec
ENG comp I & Eng comp II

I like this one better. I think having the physics is important. However, I am concerned about you not having any Ochem before the MCAT. How do you feel about this. I guess it is not as important as some of the other areas.

Will this set me up better to take them MCATS? At least this way I will have some physics going in to the exam and still have time to study in summer.

Yes...exactly.

Also i JUST found out about the CLEP and that i may very well be able to get credit for eng comp I & II without taking the classes.

That would be pretty sweet

Does this make more sense? Do you all think it will work?

I think it will all work for 2007, doesn't have to be 2008

Lastly, How much does taking the MCATs more than once affect your application. I was wondering that if i didnt do so well in AUG i would retake in april. If the marks came up is theis favorable or does it overall look bad that i took it twice?

I took it 3 times because I am ******ed. I was laughed at, ridiculed, and spat on as I walked into our testing center the 3rd time...but I overcame all of this.

More than once is fine, just don't do it 3 times. I would hate to see anyone have to endure what I have 🙁

 

[Mike MacKinnon]

Hmm ok i guess im confused. Here is what it says on the school webpage:

The official AACOMAS application deadline is January 1; however, to be competitive within the rolling admissions process, prospective students should submit their AACOMAS applications as early as possible. Even though the AACOMAS deadline is January 1, typically 75% of all admissions offers are made by the end of December

If that is the case and i would be taking the Mcat in April i would be 3 months after the 75% admission offers for aug the next year. If i take the MCAT in aug of 2006 I will have it all ready for application and have it in long before the Dec end date. See what I mean?

Am i misunderstanding this? If med school starts in august, and the MCAT is currently only offered in August and April, then if i want to get into the 2007 II have a better chance if i get the whole app done and MCAT before dec 2006. If i wait until April 2007 then it seems i have less of a chance.

Mike

I think you are thinking about the application cycle wrong. Those who take the MCAT in april usually have an EARLY start. Why do you keep refering to the lower 25%? It would be the opposite.

If you take it in april and do well enough than you would be starting med school in the Fall of 2007! not 2008. I think someone else said this too.

Furthermore, I believe the Mcat will only be on computer and offered more than twice a year. But I am not sure of this.

Good Luck 👍

 

[mx_599]

I think we are confusing each other. This isn't the hard part Mike. Maybe we're not cut out for medical school since we can't figure out the admissions cycle...and I have already done it too, so sad 😀

If that is the case and i would be taking the Mcat in April i would be 3 months after the 75% admission offers for aug the next year. If i take the MCAT in aug of 2006 I will have it all ready for application and have it in long before the Dec end date. See what I mean?

Look at it this way...the earliest you can submit AACOMAS is mid May. So from mid May all the way to whatever date that was that you posted...like Jan 1st or whatever. Therefore, anyone who takes the MCAT in August is actually behind

Am i misunderstanding this?

Yes.

If med school starts in august, and the MCAT is currently only offered in August and April, then if i want to get into the 2007 II have a better chance if i get the whole app done and MCAT before dec 2006. If i wait until April 2007 then it seems i have less of a chance.

Okay..you're confusing the hell out of me. If you take the test THIS August, then you can still get into med school for NEXT Fall (2006).

If you take the MCAT April 2006 or August 2006, these will set you up for starting school in the Fall of 2007...the April one of course being the better of the two so that you can submit the AACOMAS in May/June of 2006. 😀

Hope that helps 🙂

 

[-Goose-]

with all this talk about pre-reqs and the medcat, keep in mind that the mcat is more of a test of your ability to extract information from a passage and use that information to answer questions. yes, it helps to have seen the crap before and be familiar with key scientific terminology (organic nomenclature, entry level bio stuff...) but the most important thing (imho, at least) is to start practicing for the test as soon as possible. start reading passages, answering them, going over your why you missed what and vice-versa, etc. etc. etc.

as far as timing goes, if you're trying to enter in the fall of 2008, for example, taking either of the 2007 tests (april or august) would put you in the running with pretty much everybody else... earlier (ie august 2006) would be better, but this is pretty uncommon. just make sure you are prepared for the thing and you will be fine...

gl

 

[Mike MacKinnon]

LOL

What a confusing set of posts we have here. OK So i plan to start med school Aug 2007 (not 2008). Either of the 2 mcat times (Aug 2006 or April 2007) would work for me. Obviously the sooner the better so i have time to retake if i have to.

I have MCAT prep books now. I have read alot about them and it seems exam crackers and kaplan are the best from what everyone says. Time to start reading 😉

with all this talk about pre-reqs and the medcat, keep in mind that the mcat is more of a test of your ability to extract information from a passage and use that information to answer questions. yes, it helps to have seen the crap before and be familiar with key scientific terminology (organic nomenclature, entry level bio stuff...) but the most important thing (imho, at least) is to start practicing for the test as soon as possible. start reading passages, answering them, going over your why you missed what and vice-versa, etc. etc. etc.

as far as timing goes, if you're trying to enter in the fall of 2008, for example, taking either of the 2007 tests (april or august) would put you in the running with pretty much everybody else... earlier (ie august 2006) would be better, but this is pretty uncommon. just make sure you are prepared for the thing and you will be fine...

gl

 

[kaikai128]

LOL

What a confusing set of posts we have here. OK So i plan to start med school Aug 2007 (not 2008). Either of the 2 mcat times (Aug 2006 or April 2007) would work for me. Obviously the sooner the better so i have time to retake if i have to.

I have MCAT prep books now. I have read alot about them and it seems exam crackers and kaplan are the best from what everyone says. Time to start reading 😉

NO.
You must apply to med school the summer/winter before you begin to start. You have to have the MCAT scores in before your application can be finished. If you plan to start med school August 2007, the latest you can take the MCAT is August 2006. The optimum time for you to take the MCAT is April 2006.

Think about it....The scores take 2 months to get back. If you take the April 2007 MCAT, you find out how you did in June 2007. This obviously isn't going to get you into med school by the end of the application cycle (Approx May 2007) for August 2007.

So...let me try to make this easy.

Begin Med School August 2007: Take MCAT August 2006, April 2006, or before.

Begin Med School August 2008: Take MCAT August 2007 (at latest), April 2007, or before. (Note: supposedly the MCAT will be offered more times per year starting in 2007)

Good Luck figuring out this process...

 

[Mike MacKinnon]

Ok that makes sense. It was what i origionally thought.

The plan is already in motion for Aug Mcat so thats is how it will go. If i dont make that one 2008 here i come 😉

NO.
You must apply to med school the summer/winter before you begin to start. You have to have the MCAT scores in before your application can be finished. If you plan to start med school August 2007, the latest you can take the MCAT is August 2006. The optimum time for you to take the MCAT is April 2006.

Think about it....The scores take 2 months to get back. If you take the April 2007 MCAT, you find out how you did in June 2007. This obviously isn't going to get you into med school by the end of the application cycle (Approx May 2007) for August 2007.

So...let me try to make this easy.

Begin Med School August 2007: Take MCAT August 2006, April 2006, or before.

Begin Med School August 2008: Take MCAT August 2007 (at latest), April 2007, or before. (Note: supposedly the MCAT will be offered more times per year starting in 2007)

Good Luck figuring out this process...

 

[mx_599]

It was what i origionally thought.

The plan is already in motion for Aug Mcat so thats is how it will go. If i dont make that one 2008 here i come 😉

Are you saying I confused you more?? 😛

Which August MCAT???? This August? What do you mean if you don't make it 2008 here you come? That is NOT correct!

Or do you mean August 2006 you're planning on taking the MCAT?