Please help! What to do about preqs???

[premed7151985]

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Hey guys.. I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice.

I am applying now for the school where I'm hoping to be doing my pre-reqs. I spoke with the advisor for the program and he recommended that I take the following classes in this order:

Summer 2012:
Gen chem 1
Gen chem 2

Fall 2012:
Org. chem 1
Bio 1
Physics 1

Spring 2013:
Org chem 2
Bio 2
Physics 2

and take the MCATs on May 2013, so I could apply thru their "fast track" to the state med school and if accepted start in the fall 2013. I just wanted to know if anyone think it's possible to take those classes in the spring at the same time as studying for the MCAT's and do well on all.

Also, I am now looking to start volunteering, shadowing, research programs which I have done 0 until now. Do you guys think I'll have a good chance of getting in with only 1-1.5 year of EC? I am also looking to start an EMT course in the spring so I could then volunteer as and EMT as well as work part time thru school to make some income.

My advisor said it doesn't hurt to take the mcats in may and if I don't do well just retake in August and apply for other schools for the 2014 year. What do you guys think? Could def use some advice!!! Is it too much rushing or is it doable??

A little background on me.. I'm 26 and graduated with a business degree with a 3.78 gpa (that was while working 1 full time job in addition to 2 part time jobs -I worked a lot to get myself thru school), so I'm thinking that if all I have to worry about is school, the EC activities and the EMT thing, that I can do relatively well..?

Please help.. all advice welcome! 🙂

 

[DrMidlife]

Gauge the health of this plan by how well you do in gen chem.

If you get A's, then follow your adviser's plan.

if you don't get A's, stop and regroup. Assume your adviser's plan is too fast.

More specifically, if you don't get an A on your first chem exam, then regroup.

If you kills the prereqs, then you can make a reasonable guess that the MCAT won't hurt you too bad. If the prereqs kill you, then you have to assume the MCAT will hurt.

Best of luck to you.

 

[premed7151985]

Thank you Drmidlife!!

Anyone else?

 

[TriagePreMed]

MCAT while taking Ochem 2, Physics 2, and Bio 2? Do you plan to work or have any EC activities? Don't rush something. Just because it's "going back to undergrad," it doesn't mean it's easy.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I agree... this looks hard... and As are the goal, not how fast you apply, unless you're 40 something and having a ticking clock behind you??

And for whatever reason, if that is your birthday in your handle, I would change it...

 

[Elewynne]

Your Fall 2012 and Spring 2013 schedules look ambitious to say the least, crazy is another word for it depending on your aptitude for sciences. 🙂 Throw the MCAT in there with them and it makes me think your advisor doesn't know what s/he is talking about in terms of difficulty.

I have not taken the MCAT myself, yet, but from what I have read most recommend that you focus as close to 100% of your time on it as possible in the months leading up to your exam. You're not going to get close to that with three science classes in the works. I've also read it's in your best interest to take the MCAT once and only once if at all possible (see this thread for reference from someone who is on a medical school admissions committee: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=877440 )

For what it's worth, I'm taking no more than two sciences at a time while working full time. I may be taking one class, working, and studying for the MCAT when next spring rolls around but I may delay taking the test if I feel my score is going to be compromised or I'm just not ready. You can't take back a bad score once you get it.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I have taken 15 credits of sciences in one semester while working full time, it wasn't fun. I have taken 12 credits and it was doable for me, but they were biology, and I am adept at that...

 

[GenusTide]

Hmmmmmm......... I personally would not discredit this schedule. I managed to work full time while taking 20cr hrs and got strait A's. Will it be hard... Sure. Is it unmanageable, I don't think so. It will all fall on your determination and how well you pick up on the concepts. I personally had zero issues with any of the chems (gen and Orgo) but physics I thought was horrible. So it really depends on the OP. No one will be able to judge your ability. But like most posters are advising, if you start to slip, don't just keep getting bad grades, but re-evaluate and take an easier course load.

 

[startoverat40]

squeezing gen chem into the summer will be tough. make sure you keep reviewing the material from the previous days and weeks as you go along. and do lots and lots of practice questions. get those books with 1000+ practice questions, and do as many as you can.

http://www.amazon.com/000-Solved-Problems-Chemistry-Schaums/dp/0070236844/ref=pd_sim_b_7

 

[TriagePreMed]

Hmmmmmm......... I personally would not discredit this schedule. I managed to work full time while taking 20cr hrs and got strait A's. Will it be hard... Sure. Is it unmanageable, I don't think so. It will all fall on your determination and how well you pick up on the concepts. I personally had zero issues with any of the chems (gen and Orgo) but physics I thought was horrible. So it really depends on the OP. No one will be able to judge your ability. But like most posters are advising, if you start to slip, don't just keep getting bad grades, but re-evaluate and take an easier course load.

20 credits of what? I've worked harder for 5 units chemistry than I have for 15 units of GE.

 

[Nate9862]

squeezing gen chem into the summer will be tough. make sure you keep reviewing the material from the previous days and weeks as you go along. and do lots and lots of practice questions. get those books with 1000+ practice questions, and do as many as you can.

http://www.amazon.com/000-Solved-Problems-Chemistry-Schaums/dp/0070236844/ref=pd_sim_b_7

I did gen chem I and II in the summer while taking an accelerated calculus course. It can be done. I will say this, it can't be done if you have other commitments. I put in 12-16 hr days, 7 days a week for 10 weeks to get As in all of those classes. Had I not have taken Calc at the same time it would've been a bit easier, but still very time consuming. Much of chem I and II is repetition to understand the subject. If you get behind, you're doomed. We were covering three to four chapters a week then having a test on them THAT same Friday. Rough course. However, very doable. Also, out of 20 students, 10 passed and only one aced both courses, chem I and II. Me.

 

[GenusTide]

20 credits of what? I've worked harder for 5 units chemistry than I have for 15 units of GE.

Gen Chem II + lab ( 5cr tot )
Bio II + lab ( 5cr tot )
Calc I ( 4cr )
Written Com II ( 3cr )
Intro to Art Hist I ( 3cr )

But I must say, I don't know if I would have the same results if I had taken this course load now. This was only my third full semester after a 8yr break from school, so my drive was quite high at this point and I really liked both chem and bio. Physics on the other hand, I struggled for a B 😉. I have found my ambition to be dropping quite a bit lately. Hopefully this will change now that I can finally study medicine in July, which was what I wanted to study all along. I would think, if the op is dedicated he can make this schedule work. a 3.78 in any degree obviously shows he has ability. just my 2 cents though😏

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

Ok, but you already gave up the real answer, out of 20 people only one person got As in both, you. That's only a 5% chance... That is too low for the rest of us to say this is a viable plan...

 

[LegendaryPunk]

The best advice was given within the first few posts: only you can determine if the schedule laid out is possible for YOU. Don't bother reading about what other people have been able to handle; the fact that somebody else managed to survive taking X credit hours of class while working Y hrs a week doesn't really do you any good. Any schedule is possible - if it's being undertaken by the right person.

Some things I think that are important to consider when planning your schedule:

- What does it REALLY mean if you have to apply a year later than your current plan?
- If you have to choose between taking two years with awesome GPA and MCAT vs. one year with decent GPA and MCAT, go with the former.
- Think about your background and aptitude for science, as well as how long you've been out of school. Summer classes move fast, and three sciences + labs takes a lot of time. With your background in business, will you be able to to start sprinting through all these science classes?
- Shadowing / volunteering / getting LORs - this all takes a significant amount of time as well. Also, don't forget about time to actually study.

Finally, there are dozens of other topics asking for the same advice - don't let this topic be your only source of information.