need ADVICE on plans!!!

[lwong]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I'm a biochem major who also wants to complete two years of Chinese. For this reason I am having trouble planning out my acadmic schedule for the next couple years. I want to continue into a MD/Ph.D program (Biochem, physiology, or pharmacology).

I'm concerned about taking a year off to apply. My options right now is (a) follow the typical pattern of taking MCAT junior year/summer and then apply throughout senior year; however, I'm worried about becoming entirely overwhelmed because I will have a full-load of science(I declared my major only this year (sophomore) so I am a little behind on science courses). The other (b) is to take non-science requirments over the summer and maybe stay for an extra qtr. So I would take the MCAT my summer of my senior year and then apply that following fall.

For some that are thinking that I should not take Chinese because I don't need it...I actually do. Other than Chinese being a real interest, I want to look into Chinese med as a supplementary study. So, if I want to take Chinese, right now is the time.

I've heard of ppl taking a year to apply to accomadate the trips to interviews, but for those that been through this or is going through it, what problems have you run into? Can yall give me some pros and cons from cramming it into your haevy school load as well as for taking a year off?

I have advising coming up and need to seriously consider how to carryout my undergrad edu.

THANKS!

 

[alhkim]

First of all, I think it's great that you are branching out from science to broaden your horizons. As for taking a year off, I strongly feel that it will make no difference whatsoever with respect to your application. In fact, I have seen more maturity by those who have taken some time off, and this really paid off in the lab and the clinic. For you, trying to cram everything in order to take the MCATs your junior year sounds too risky...I would be inclined to take your time finishing your requirements and have the foundation to do well on your MCATs. Just make sure that you are also doing enough research during undergrad and that year off also.

I'm a biochem major who also wants to complete two years of Chinese. For this reason I am having trouble planning out my acadmic schedule for the next couple years. I want to continue into a MD/Ph.D program (Biochem, physiology, or pharmacology).

I'm concerned about taking a year off to apply. My options right now is (a) follow the typical pattern of taking MCAT junior year/summer and then apply throughout senior year; however, I'm worried about becoming entirely overwhelmed because I will have a full-load of science(I declared my major only this year (sophomore) so I am a little behind on science courses). The other (b) is to take non-science requirments over the summer and maybe stay for an extra qtr. So I would take the MCAT my summer of my senior year and then apply that following fall.

For some that are thinking that I should not take Chinese because I don't need it...I actually do. Other than Chinese being a real interest, I want to look into Chinese med as a supplementary study. So, if I want to take Chinese, right now is the time.

I've heard of ppl taking a year to apply to accomadate the trips to interviews, but for those that been through this or is going through it, what problems have you run into? Can yall give me some pros and cons from cramming it into your haevy school load as well as for taking a year off?

I have advising coming up and need to seriously consider how to carryout my undergrad edu.

THANKS!

 

[lwong]

Thanks for your reply. 🙂 I think subconsciously I really want to pace myself too. I started working at a lab last month and I'm learning a lot of new things and I'm going to actually start research at school this summer. Yet, I am concerned about the time I am out of school and applying. You mentioned that I should be in a lab during that time. This is only the beginning of my research involvment and I don't know if the lab would keep me after I graduate because I won't have my work-study status anymore. I guess I don't know how labs decide if they keep someone esp. if they only have an bachelor's?

Does everyone elso that say this post agree? No one ran into problems when they took the year off?