New to Pre-Med, any pointers?

[neuropsyance]

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Alright here's my story in short.

I'm a senior in undergrad (graduation date May 2010) who planned on a career in Clinical Neuropsychology from the start. A lot of pre-med students at my school take a lot of neuroscience courses (like I have) so naturally medical school has crossed my mind on more than a few occasions. I'm interested, and only need one additional year to finish my requirements for medical school and graduate in May 2011. I want to pursue this, and would like any advice you have!

So far I've.....

- Planned my courses for the next year

- Have started familiarizing myself with the MCAT and application process

- Have requested the opportunity to volunteer at a hospital (Froedert/Medical College of Wisconsin)

- Have set an appointment with my school's pre-med advisor

- Will be taking a course in the spring that involves shadowing a doctor

I have a psychology major and biology minor with a cumulative GPA of 3.77. Any other steps I should be taking at this point?

Thanks!

 

[Stratego]

See if you can work a research experience into your schedule. Seek out leadership and/or teaching/mentoring opportunities. Keep that GPA high. The rest of your plan looks good.

 

[neuropsyance]

Forgot to mention research experience! I have a combined 4 years of experience in a neuroscience laboratory, and hope to produce a thesis in the spring. For next year should I continue my research, or would this be enough for medical school admissions committees?

 

[Compass]

Plan an MCAT in January. Might as well. If it needs fixing, you can take another one in April and still be ahead of the pack. Other than that, 👍

Also, if you have space for other courses besides pre-reqs with your senior year, take them. Interesting ones.

 

[nlax30]

Sounds like you already have some research exposure I would just focus on nailing the rest of the pre-reqs and killing the mcat. Definitely get some clinical time in as well to help make sure this is really what you want to do.

Just don't spread yourself too thin where you grades or mcat could suffer.

 

[schrizto]

keep doing what you're doing.

 

[Stratego]

Sounds like you already have some research exposure

Just don't spread yourself too thin where you grades or mcat could suffer.

I think your research experience is well above average. Pacing yourself and having good time management are important. I agree with nlax's final comment.

 

[neuropsyance]

Thanks guys, and I couldn't agree more with nlax30. I've spread the courses out (so that I don't take everything in two semesters) using my schools summer semester and winterim.

The last thing I want to do is let either the MCAT or GPA suffer. One more question, in regards to the MCAT. If I'm going to take it in January, when should I register?

 

[jla314]

Thanks guys, and I couldn't agree more with nlax30. I've spread the courses out (so that I don't take everything in two semesters) using my schools summer semester and winterim.

The last thing I want to do is let either the MCAT or GPA suffer. One more question, in regards to the MCAT. If I'm going to take it in January, when should I register?

register now! they technically have deadlines to register by, but the number of seats at your preferred testing location may fill up well before that deadline.

 

[Compass]

As soon as they come out. Better to pick a place close to home than in the next state over.

 

[neuropsyance]

Final question, thanks for all the input!

If I take the MCAT in January 2011, I will only have taken one semester of organic chemistry (with lab) and one semester of physics (also with lab). I would be completing the other two semesters of these courses in spring semester 2011 (after the MCAT).

Is this a bad idea?

 

[marele86]

Final question, thanks for all the input!

If I take the MCAT in January 2011, I will only have taken one semester of organic chemistry (with lab) and one semester of physics (also with lab). I would be completing the other two semesters of these courses in spring semester 2011 (after the MCAT).

Is this a bad idea?

Yes to the physics, no to the ochem.

Physics II is tested hard. That said, if you're a really quantitative person, you may be able to learn what you need out of the prep books - but that's pretty hypothetical. I'm sure there's someone on SDN who has done it, but I've never personally heard of anyone who's tried it without a sub-9 PS score, and I'm not surprised by that.

Ochem, on the other hand, can be very lightly tested, and I believe it doesn't usually exceed 1/3 of the Bio section. It depends on your test date and how much you're willing to risk - but if you understand 1st semester principles, you can easily memorize the handful of 2nd semester reactions. I didn't even really do that, and I still got a 14 on the BS section (caution: on a date that had only 1 or 2 ochem passages).

Good luck.

 

[neuropsyance]

I may be able to take Physics I in the summer of 2010, so I'll see if I can pull that off so that I can take Physics II in the fall.

 

[CopToEM]

Final question, thanks for all the input!

If I take the MCAT in January 2011, I will only have taken one semester of organic chemistry (with lab) and one semester of physics (also with lab). I would be completing the other two semesters of these courses in spring semester 2011 (after the MCAT).

Is this a bad idea?

Fairly common situation, honestly. Most people are in this same position. You will ultimately have to teach yourself things from second semester to compensate but a lot of people do this.

 

[marele86]

I may be able to take Physics I in the summer of 2010, so I'll see if I can pull that off so that I can take Physics II in the fall.

That would be ideal if you can swing it - having the Physics II final so close to your MCAT date will really be an advantage. 👍

 

[Beta Cell]

register now! they technically have deadlines to register by, but the number of seats at your preferred testing location may fill up well before that deadline.

They aren't out yet :\