non trad 2012 application cycle

[stee1erfan]

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Hi guys..I am a non-trad with a finance background working for a big insurance company...i currently am in my second semester of my post - bac classes (doing it part time)...did very well in the first 2 sets (Chem 1 and Phy 1 w/labs) ..currently taking chem 2 and phy 2 ...then in the summer Org 1 and Bio 1....Fall Org 2 and Bio 2...my question is this...should i start studying for MCAT after the end of Bio 1 and Org 1 and take the MCAT on the last test date in September 2011? is it to risky? can i teach org 2 and bio 2 to myself thru prep books?

my school has a linkage to its own med school but, i am also open to D.O and would like to apply early to PCOM (philadelphia) since they require MCAT scores Before January.?

Any suggestions? comments?..

 

[hopefuldoc97239]

should i start studying for MCAT after the end of Bio 1 and Org 1 and take the MCAT on the last test date in September 2011? is it to risky? can i teach org 2 and bio 2 to myself thru prep books?

I think the answer to the bolded part lies in how well you do in o-chem 1. I think many people will agree with me that organic chemistry is entirely different from anything else you take.

I know a guy who was a physics major (and ended up get a 37 on the MCAT) who consistently got C's and D's in organic, just because it's so different. Me, I don't care for physics but I tutor o-chem and love it.

 

[DrMidlife]

Nothing about taking the MCAT in September is early.

PCOM is arguably the best DO school - if their deadline is in January, that doesn't mean you can still get in by "beating" that deadline.

The candidates you're competing with can be assumed to be submitting early, broad applications. That means they have a complete application, with an MCAT score, in June or so. (May for Texas.)

For DO schools, an app that's complete in October is somewhat reasonable, but for MD schools, complete in October is throwing away money.

Meanwhile, your fall course schedule will not set you up for a solid MCAT score in September. The last half of ochem isn't hit heavily on the MCAT, but the last half of bio is very heavy.

The scheduling of all this is difficult to make friends with, but the best plan to start from is one where you have your best possible MCAT score in hand by May or June. If that best possible MCAT score is earned in September, that's great for the following app year.

Best of luck to you.