No science classes first semester

[Hisaam]

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[Ace-Co-A]

Yea, we're not going to be able to help you unless we know where you go to school. 😛

In all seriousness, I think you'll be fine. I don't know why you (apparently) haven't considered trying to make up for lost time later in college by taking more science classes than you otherwise would to get back on track.

Even if you're not able to get back on track, a gap year is a great option. Many applicants do it, and report that it was a good decision. I certainly don't think you're overthinking things. It's certainly a good idea to form a plan. My own plan changed over time though, so don't feel like you have to know exactly what you're doing before even starting your first semester of college.

Good luck. 👍

 

[Being]

Blessing in disguise? Having an easy 1st semester seems good because you'll be adjusting to a new environment, and there are a lot of things you're going to want to do in lieu of studying. Also, gap years are good. Goooooooooooood!

 

[ciestar]

I've never seen anyone (at least on here) say anything bad about a gap year. Most embrace them, they're not a bad thing.

 

[Low Flow]

Bit early to be thinking about a gap year. Buttt, I don't think you'll be off track. I also had a minor set back my freshman year where I had to drop intro chemistry the first semester before classes even started. Only thing I had to do to get caught back up was take 2 summer classes after my sophomore year. Minor fix. You should be fine, and like others said, it'll be good to have an easier semester to transition in. I would also suggest taking the college algebra, as I had to do the same sort of thing. It'll make calc much easier.

 

[WillburCobb]

I didn't take any science/pre-reqs until my fourth year of college. You're fine.

 

[AspiringERMD]

You're totally fine. Use this first semester to get a bunch of gen eds out of the way.

 

[allantois]

What did you get on your AP tests? You may have already earned credit for something. You don't seem like somebody who is in desperate need of an easy transition to college.

Edit: I realized that if you took your APs this year, you don't know your score yet (but you will receive it by the end of this week or it may be reported to your college even earlier than that). You would need a 4 to get one semester of Bio/Chem and a 5 to get both semesters. You are not off track, but you will need to take a chemistry course in one of the summers, unless you got a 4 on your AP Chem, which in that case I would think they let you take Chem 2 in the fall as it makes no sense for them to hold you back.

 

[fahimaz7]

Hello there! My time has finally come to enter undergrad and what I hope to be a long journey in the field of medicine. Before even taking a college class, I am already having to deal with "expecting the unexpected."

Math has never been my strong suit, so to make a long story short I placed into college algebra on my university's math placement test... No big deal, except that means I can't take Gen Chem until second semester... Which also means I cannot take Bio until second semester (Chem and Bio are co-reqs). Obviously, I was disappointed when I learned this, especially considering I took AP Chem and Bio my senior year of HS. I took these courses as I knew it would be great to have a strong grasp of these subjects to help ease into college. I tried emailing the chemistry department to explain my situation at the advice of my advisor, but was promptly shut down.

Is this a big deal? I guess my options are essentially:
1) Study algebra/pre-calc topics this summer and retake the math placement test as soon as I get on campus... Assuming I place just one level higher I would be able to take Chemsitry.
2) Wait until second semester to take Gen Chem I, then take Gen Chem II over the summer at community college.
3) Plan for a gap year.

It's just disappointed that I'm paying such a huge bill for tuition and I am not even allowed to take intro science classes. Maybe I'm overreacting, but I would really appreciate some of your opinions as to what I should do. With the new material being added to the MCAT I've been thinking that a gap year might not be such a bad option. But at the same time I would rather not push my life back by a year... I know I'm being neurotic. Thank you all for taking the time to read this, your help is greatly appreciated!

There's no rush! You can major in anything in undergrad and still get into medical school. Enjoy the first year and get through your core classes. If you're savy and talented in chem/bio, take the summer courses and knock them out in half the time! There's no reason to get all frustrated and anxious! Realize that the process takes 4 years and the required core content for medical school and the MCAT only take 4-5 semesters!

 

[medicalmnt]

Retake your math placement tests, no question about it imo. Seems like you might end up taking orgo in the summer.
You don't want to get stuck junior/year taking ALL tough classes like histology/cell physio/biochem/p-chem/etc junior year.

 

[IncognitoGuy]

To people saying AP Credit: don't use AP credit to get ahead. Many medical schools don't accept AP credit for pre-requisites which means you need to retake those classes anyways.

OP: Don't worry about it. All that matters is that your pre-reqs are ready by the time you apply.

 

[DoctorWhoo]

Hello there! My time has finally come to enter undergrad and what I hope to be a long journey in the field of medicine. Before even taking a college class, I am already having to deal with "expecting the unexpected."

Math has never been my strong suit, so to make a long story short I placed into college algebra on my university's math placement test... No big deal, except that means I can't take Gen Chem until second semester... Which also means I cannot take Bio until second semester (Chem and Bio are co-reqs). Obviously, I was disappointed when I learned this, especially considering I took AP Chem and Bio my senior year of HS. I took these courses as I knew it would be great to have a strong grasp of these subjects to help ease into college. I tried emailing the chemistry department to explain my situation at the advice of my advisor, but was promptly shut down.

Is this a big deal? I guess my options are essentially:
1) Study algebra/pre-calc topics this summer and retake the math placement test as soon as I get on campus... Assuming I place just one level higher I would be able to take Chemsitry.
2) Wait until second semester to take Gen Chem I, then take Gen Chem II over the summer at community college.
3) Plan for a gap year.

It's just disappointed that I'm paying such a huge bill for tuition and I am not even allowed to take intro science classes. Maybe I'm overreacting, but I would really appreciate some of your opinions as to what I should do. With the new material being added to the MCAT I've been thinking that a gap year might not be such a bad option. But at the same time I would rather not push my life back by a year... I know I'm being neurotic. Thank you all for taking the time to read this, your help is greatly appreciated!

https://www.khanacademy.org/math

Self study math all summer and then retake math placement. You'll be fine if you can't do things on the "normal" schedule... But it's better to stay on track as much as you can!

 

[Lawpy]

To people saying AP Credit: don't use AP credit to get ahead. Many medical schools don't accept AP credit for pre-requisites which means you need to retake those classes anyways.

OP: Don't worry about it. All that matters is that your pre-reqs are ready by the time you apply.

This is just a scare tactic. Nearly all schools accept AP credit without question. Those that don't require upper level coursework, which is always a plus. @Catalystik had a useful link from Rice addressing the AP credit policy, but OP has no reason to retake those courses from the medical school perspective.

Retaking courses is thus purely in OP's self-reflection and not from medical school requirements

 

[Aerus]

Are you able to take summer classes and get the math situation fixed? While it won't be a big deal at all if you start a semester late, you do want to consider all your options.

 

[DoctorWhoo]

This is just a scare tactic. Nearly all schools accept AP credit without question. Those that don't require upper level coursework, which is always a plus. @Catalystik had a useful link from Rice addressing the AP credit policy, but OP has no reason to retake those courses from the medical school perspective.

Retaking courses is thus purely in OP's self-reflection and not from medical school requirements

As someone that had to take general chemistry despite ap credits... I disagree. Admissions are school specific, you are closing doors if you rely on ap credit without looking at school policies first.

 

[Lawpy]

As someone that had to take general chemistry despite ap credits... I disagree. Admissions are school specific, you are closing doors if you rely on ap credit without looking at school policies first.

Take a look at this link and get back to me

To summarize

1. Many schools accept AP credit.
2. Schools that "don't" require you to take an upper level coursework.
3. Schools that don't follow #2 (which are very few and are weird state schools) should be consulted separately

Your taking gen chem was your decision, unless the particular schools you had in mind follow #3.

Now, OP made the decision to retake the classes despite AP credit. Fine. His decision. Discouraging others from pursuing this route is limiting and I don't support it unless it was an informed view.

 

[Frostbite22]

I took a super easy first semester of college. I started college a year after finishing high school and didn't really have guidance. I personally started in college Algebra because I didn't want to take the placement test for calculus. I don't regret it. It was good to have an easier semester and learn how to study for college level classes.

 

[ortnakas]

You'll only be a semester behind the regular premed schedule, which you can make up for later if you want. A summer class, super-senior year or gap year never killed anyone, either.

 

[DoctorWhoo]

Take a look at this link and get back to me

To summarize

1. Many schools accept AP credit.
2. Schools that "don't" require you to take an upper level coursework.
3. Schools that don't follow #2 (which are very few and are weird state schools) should be consulted separately

Your taking gen chem was your decision, unless the particular schools you had in mind follow #3.

Now, OP made the decision to retake the classes despite AP credit. Fine. His decision. Discouraging others from pursuing this route is limiting and I don't support it unless it was an informed view.

My personal application experience had a skewed sample (UC applicant)... So I had an over-representation of schools that didn't accept AP's in my application pool.

That said, I did end up with a scholarship at a school that doesn't accept AP's... so I guess taking (and teaching) general chemistry at the same time as advanced organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and biochemistry was worth it

 

[allantois]

Excuse me, I don't know why things are so ridiculous on the west coast, but most med schools do accept AP credit. Last time I checked all schools in my state (FL) do. So for me I saw no point in repeating a semester of Gen Chem as I have no desire to apply anywhere OOS (you could count the number of people accepted to OS MD from my school each year on one hand). If anything the best advise is to check the prospective schools. I will also be able to take a better quality upper division coursework as I won't be worried that I don't have a biochem prerequisite for many Biology courses. (e.g. Biochem->Cell Bio->Neuroscience1->Neuroscience2, all prerequisites of each other).

 

[el_duderino]

Unless your state school, or a school you really want to go to, doesn't take your AP credit for something then just scratch that school off your list. Otherwise take the college course.

FWIW I used AP credit for Chem 1 and 2, Physics 1, Calc 1 and 2, and English.

 

[Lawpy]

My personal application experience had a skewed sample (UC applicant)... So I had an over-representation of schools that didn't accept AP's in my application pool.

That said, I did end up with a scholarship at a school that doesn't accept AP's... so I guess taking (and teaching) general chemistry at the same time as advanced organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and biochemistry was worth it

Yeah i don't know what's up with UCs so you probably had to follow #3. Definitely school-specific but it's not the norm. Hopefully the UCs will realize the merit if the $86 exam 😉