Plans.. Strategy.. Timing...

[iatros13]

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Since I realized there was a strong chance of having a full year off of school between completing my undergrad degree and starting med school, I have been trying to think of ways to avoid it. It just seems like such a waste of a year - even though I know being 45 when I complete med school is not much different than being 44...

It is not such a big deal that I want to do something stupid, but if I can avoid it, I would like to. So here is the plan; I would love to hear what others think.

Previously (back in 1994) I was a big dummy and failed several classes, leaving me with a nice GPA of 2.87 (Thankfully, I didn't have too many credits so there was room for improvement). I am about 1/2 way through undergrad now - 4.0 since I returned - and have a 3.39 GPA currently. **IF** I somehow, by the grace of God, manage to keep up the A's, I could have a 3.70 GPA when I finish (I haven't calculated what my sGPA would be - but it should be better than the 3.7).

I will be finishing up the major sciences in the Spring of 2015. I am thinking that I will take no courses that summer and study for the MCAT (I still work full time). Take the MCAT in the Summer and apply in 2015. At that point (given the miraculous A streak continues), my GPA could be 3.66. I will still have 15 credits to complete my degree, which will be finished up in the Spring of 2016.

Pro's

- No wasted year...

-Taking MCAT right after finishing Org Chem and Biochem (fresh in my brain maybe?)

Con's

-Probably wouldn't get my application in right at the very first day (Unless I can submit it before MCAT's are taken - which doesn't seem to make sense).

-My class schedule is a little heavier for the next two semesters to get the Summer 2015 off so that I have it to study.

-GPA would be kicked up another point with the extra grades included if I waited.

(I am working on EC's too. Volunteering once a week at a hospital in the ER. And I worked on a research project over the summer, although it wasn't related to medicine, it was a ecology research).

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[NuttyEngDude]

ignoring your age 😉

if you have managed A's up until now then you know how to do it, only way to lose it is if you stretch yourself too thin be aware of this.

2015 is a new mcat format with new subjects added. i am not sure you have that in your plan at the moment.

if you are taking the mcat at the end of the summer of 2015 your best chances are to apply june 1st 2016.

 

[freakingoutabit]

If you do it this way, absolutely submit your primary app before you take the MCAT. You'll have a long wait for your scores, and you might as well get your app verified and start working on secondaries for schools that don't prescreen for MCAT scores.

Ideally, you'd want to finish up your secondaries before/around the time that your MCAT scores come in, that way you'd be complete as soon as possible.

It sounds like you have a good plan! Good luck!

 

[freakingoutabit]

if you are taking the mcat at the end of the summer of 2015 your best chances are to apply june 1st 2016.

Yeah, make sure you aim for a May, June, or EARLY July MCAT (early July at the latest) if you want to apply in 2015. I would aim for May so that you have time to retake it if you need to.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

Yeah, make sure you aim for a May, June, or EARLY July MCAT (early July at the latest) if you want to apply in 2015. I would aim for May so that you have time to retake it if you need to.

Might be possible, but it will be tiring. He's already loading up just to get to the point of having a summer with no classes. Assuming with the current plan the logistics will be close (but rules out a 2015 app imo), it might be too close if he's fitting mcat studies in with a heavy spring semester and may result in a score he's not satisfied with.

 

[iatros13]

So, maybe I should take a lighter spring, study then and take a couple courses in the summer? Only thing is I am taking Org Chem 2 and Biochem in the Spring... but if I am TAKING the classes, then that is like studying for them maybe? Since I will be taking the MCAT shortly after finishing them.

Then take MCAT at the beginning of the Summer - before Summer session starts.

I could take ONLY those two - which is a much lighter load than I normally take, even though I suspect they are going to be difficult enough alone...

 

[NuttyEngDude]

I could take ONLY those two - which is a much lighter load than I normally take, even though I suspect they are going to be difficult enough alone...

Doable but I think it is risky, at this point it boils down to what you think you can handle. Do you have sociology/psychology and/or whatever the new mcat requires? i dont know much about the 2015 mcat so cant comment too much.

 

[iatros13]

I am a psych major, so I feel like I might be a little ahead of the game in that department... But I wish I knew more specifically what was being added. It is something I need to research.

I cannot really do any MCAT studying yet, because I have not taken most of the courses needed to cover the information on there.

I think I am going to take the heavier load now, it just really strips down ANY free time I have. Which sucks, but I have survived it before.

Chem I (plus lab)
Physiological Psychology
Intro to Poetry (gotta get my humanities course in there)
Political Science I

It is only 13 hours - but mixed with work it gets challenging. My wife is planning to go back to school, working toward her bachelors for teaching, and she works the night shift - where she will have time to study at work... makes me so jealous.. lol!

Thanks for all the input!