Pre-med schedule for pre reqs

[Witty Knitter]

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I'm a junior in ugrad, majoring in anthro. I only realized recently that I want to pursue a career in medicine, so I have not yet taken any of the science pre reqs. I went to my pre health adviser for advice on schedule planning, and she told me that I should only take bio next semester. I understand that she doesn't want me to be overwhelmed by the hard sciences, but I don't want to prolong my time as an undergraduate for longer than I have to. Plus, i find that SDN gives much better advice 👍 So I made my own schedule plan, and I'm just looking for feedback on whether its doable if I keep up with the work , or if its too intense.

Summer 2013: Chem I + lab
Fall 2013: Bio I + lab, Chem II + lab, major reqs, honors thesis
Spring 2014: Bio II + lab, Orgo I + lab, physics I + lab
Fall 2014: Orgo II + lab, Physics II + lab, Stats, electives, possibly graduate (by this time I could graduate, but not sure if I should take some science electives)
Spring 2015: study for MCAT, possibly do some advanced science courses, apply to med schools for matriculation in fall 2016 while doing a lot of volunteer work, shadowing, etc.

I know this is really ambitious, but I don't want to stay in ugrad longer than I have to. Others on SDN have advised a full course load, so long as my grades don't suffer. Obviously, finishing the pre reqs won't matter much if I only pull Cs, and I'm definitely conscious of that fact. But what do you think of this schedule? I know the summer class will be really, really intense, and I figure that the spring 2014 semester will be tough with all those labs, especially with orgo. But is it doable? Or am I living a fantasy thinking I could pull good grades with this schedule?

 

[Meihua]

If you haven't had serious sciences for a while, I would be very hesitant about that Spring 2014 schedule. If I were you, I would spread out my classes (and volunteering/shadowing) a bit more and graduate in Spring 2015, then take the MCAT over the summer.

 

[Roxas]

If you haven't had serious sciences for a while, I would be very hesitant about that Spring 2014 schedule. If I were you, I would spread out my classes (and volunteering/shadowing) a bit more and graduate in Spring 2015, then take the MCAT over the summer.

This. Especially if your physics and orgo classes are as difficult as most schools. Plus you will need biochem for the 2015 mcat. I personally am a fan of summer classes, so I would take more of those if you can, especially if your schools offers both g-chem 1 and 2 and/or bio 1 and 2 in the summer.

 

[strongbones]

I actually took Chem II and lab over one summer, and it wasn't that bad at all. I also took a Bio lab class and had a job, so don't worry about that. I would only be concerned about your Spring 2014 semester. Three labs at once is really a lot, and if you haven't taken any physics before I'm not sure it would be advisable to start physics along with orgo. I'm taking Orgo II, Orgo Lab (we have a separate 2 credit class for this at my school), Physics II w/ lab, and Biochem at the same time and it's horrid. The physics isn't too bad, since I took physics in high school and did well, but if you end up having any trouble with physics I guarantee your GPA will drop that semester.

Everything else looks good though. Maybe you could try delaying starting physics to Fall 2014, and if you end up graduating then you could take the second part as a non-degree-seeking student, or you could delay graduation to the Spring if necessary.

 

[Meihua]

This. Especially if your physics and orgo classes are as difficult as most schools. Plus you will need biochem for the 2015 mcat. I personally am a fan of summer classes, so I would take more of those if you can, especially if your schools offers both g-chem 1 and 2 and/or bio 1 and 2 in the summer.

Ooh, I forgot that biochem was going to be included. With that in mind, I would probably do something like this:

Summer 2013: Chem I + lab, shadowing, volunteering*
Fall 2013: Bio I + lab, Chem II + lab, major reqs, honors thesis
Spring 2014: Bio II + lab, Orgo I + lab, electives
Summer 2014: Orgo II + lab, more shadowing & volunteering, possibly research if you're interested
Fall 2014: Physics I + lab, biochem, stats or upper-level bio
Spring 2015: Physics II + lab, stats or upper-level bio, start studying for MCAT
Summer 2015: study for MCAT, apply for med school

*Start volunteering as soon as possible and continue throughout. You will want to be able to show a continued commitment to volunteering, so cramming that+shadowing into the spring before you apply would not look good.

 

[Witty Knitter]

This. Especially if your physics and orgo classes are as difficult as most schools. Plus you will need biochem for the 2015 mcat. I personally am a fan of summer classes, so I would take more of those if you can, especially if your schools offers both g-chem 1 and 2 and/or bio 1 and 2 in the summer.

Thanks. My adviser didn't even mention anything about biochem 🙄

I actually took Chem II and lab over one summer, and it wasn't that bad at all. I also took a Bio lab class and had a job, so don't worry about that. I would only be concerned about your Spring 2014 semester. Three labs at once is really a lot, and if you haven't taken any physics before I'm not sure it would be advisable to start physics along with orgo. I'm taking Orgo II, Orgo Lab (we have a separate 2 credit class for this at my school), Physics II w/ lab, and Biochem at the same time and it's horrid. The physics isn't too bad, since I took physics in high school and did well, but if you end up having any trouble with physics I guarantee your GPA will drop that semester.

Everything else looks good though. Maybe you could try delaying starting physics to Fall 2014, and if you end up graduating then you could take the second part as a non-degree-seeking student, or you could delay graduation to the Spring if necessary.

Yeah, I took physics in high school and did really well (though I hated it. So boring). Good to know that summer science classes aren't completely impossible (which is how the pre health adviser portrayed them). Unfortunately, it would be virtually impossible for me to get into any classes as a non-degree student, especially science classes. Regular students can barely get in. Right now I'm in an honors program that gives me priority registration, so I'd like to get all my pre reqs done before I graduate.

Ooh, I forgot that biochem was going to be included. With that in mind, I would probably do something like this:

Summer 2013: Chem I + lab, shadowing, volunteering*
Fall 2013: Bio I + lab, Chem II + lab, major reqs, honors thesis
Spring 2014: Bio II + lab, Orgo I + lab, electives
Summer 2014: Orgo II + lab, more shadowing & volunteering, possibly research if you're interested
Fall 2014: Physics I + lab, biochem, stats or upper-level bio
Spring 2015: Physics II + lab, stats or upper-level bio, start studying for MCAT
Summer 2015: study for MCAT, apply for med school

*Start volunteering as soon as possible and continue throughout. You will want to be able to show a continued commitment to volunteering, so cramming that+shadowing into the spring before you apply would not look good.

This is very similar to the alternative schedule I came up with. The only thing that worries me is not finishing the pre reqs till Spring 2015. I want to apply to med schools for admission to Fall 2016. If I take the MCAT at the end of the spring 2015 semester (spring semester finishes during the last or second to last week of May), I just worry that if I don't score as well as I'd like, I won't have enough time to retake the test in time for applications.

And though I only mentioned volunteering/shadowing in Spring 2015, I do plan to do both asap. I just meant that I'd dedicate a lot more time to that in Spring 2015 compared to past semesters.

Thanks for all the great advice everyone!

 

[Meihua]

Yeah, I took physics in high school and did really well (though I hated it. So boring). Good to know that summer science classes aren't completely impossible (which is how the pre health adviser portrayed them).

This is very similar to the alternative schedule I came up with. The only thing that worries me is not finishing the pre reqs till Spring 2015. I want to apply to med schools for admission to Fall 2016. If I take the MCAT at the end of the spring 2015 semester (spring semester finishes during the last or second to last week of May), I just worry that if I don't score as well as I'd like, I won't have enough time to retake the test in time for applications.

If you've already taken some physics and done well, I wouldn't worry too much about not having finished (re)taking it before you start your MCAT prep. However, if you want to free up your last spring, I would go with the recommendation to double up on summer classes. You may have to take summer courses at other schools - if you do, definitely pay close attention to how they divide up the laboratory component of their courses vs. how your alma mater does it.

 

[Weewee]

I know it depends on the school but I wouldn't take chem during the summer if you haven't done science in a while. Maybe a bio class to ease into it instead?

 

[Witty Knitter]

If you've already taken some physics and done well, I wouldn't worry too much about not having finished (re)taking it before you start your MCAT prep. However, if you want to free up your last spring, I would go with the recommendation to double up on summer classes. You may have to take summer courses at other schools - if you do, definitely pay close attention to how they divide up the laboratory component of their courses vs. how your alma mater does it.

If I take bio I and II during the summer, I figure I can do something like this:
Summer 2013: Bio I and II + labs
Fall 2013: Chem I, Physics I + lab, major reqs, honors thesis
Spring 2014: Chem II + lab, Physics II + lab, major reqs
Summer 2014: Orgo I + lab
Fall 2014: Orgo II + lab, Stats, biochem, possibly graduate or stay an extra semester to take upper level bio courses

Still, I think I'll stick with the first schedule you proposed, because I don't want to lose my whole summer, as I'm hoping to get an internship working with the developmentally disabled. I know it's not volunteering at a hospital, but it is something I'm interested in, and I'm sure it won't count against me in my apps, lol.

 

[bob99]

why not take physics 1 and 2 in the summer of 2014??

 

[SOMBound13]

I know this isn't the topic of your thread, but have you contacted your school's FA office to find out if you'll have FA for that 5th year? Many schools won't provide FA for extra years. If your parents are paying, then fine, but otherwise you could be in for a shock if after your 4th year, you find yourself w/o aid or a degree.

 

[Witty Knitter]

why not take physics 1 and 2 in the summer of 2014??

That's also a possibility.

I know this isn't the topic of your thread, but have you contacted your school's FA office to find out if you'll have FA for that 5th year? Many schools won't provide FA for extra years. If your parents are paying, then fine, but otherwise you could be in for a shock if after your 4th year, you find yourself w/o aid or a degree.

No, I figure I'll have to cover tuition expenses after the 4th year. I go to a CUNY, so tuition is incredibly cheap, especially when compared to private schools. Depending on how much money I'm making from my job at that time, I might be able to cover the cost, but if I have to I'll take out loans. I already have like $7k in ugrad loans from when I went to a SUNY upstate my freshman year.