Pre-Req courses timeline & application

[prasinos]

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I'm starting pre-med this fall. I hope to apply June 08 although it seems a little impossible. If so, then June 09. So I have 2 questions:

(1) Obviously, since the application is 15 months before enrollment I will not have finished all the required courses by the application time. Is this okay? So by the time I apply I may have finished 1 yr bio, 1 yr chem, semester physics, semester o-chem. Would the admissions board not like this?

(2) Do you think it will be too tough to take chemistry, biology and physics at the same time?

I want to be able to apply as soon as possible because I'm already older than most applicants but I do not want to cram and mess up my GPA either.

Also, if I haven't taken a full year's worth of o-chem and physics, do you think the MCAT would be too difficult for me?

Thanks a lot, everyone.

 

[Law2Doc]

I'm starting pre-med this fall. I hope to apply June 08 although it seems a little impossible. If so, then June 09. So I have 2 questions:

(1) Obviously, since the application is 15 months before enrollment I will not have finished all the required courses by the application time. Is this okay? So by the time I apply I may have finished 1 yr bio, 1 yr chem, semester physics, semester o-chem. Would the admissions board not like this?

(2) Do you think it will be too tough to take chemistry, biology and physics at the same time?

I want to be able to apply as soon as possible because I'm already older than most applicants but I do not want to cram and mess up my GPA either.

Also, if I haven't taken a full year's worth of o-chem and physics, do you think the MCAT would be too difficult for me?

Thanks a lot, everyone.

You can apply before you finish everything, but you'll have to give schools enough science classes to be able to evaluate you. Since you have a lot of prereqs that will still be unfinished, it probably isn't ideal.

As for taking chem, bio and physics at the same time, I personally think that might be a bit heavy, particularly if you are just starting out on the prereqs (although certainly some people have done it). You need to get A's more than you need to get done quick, so do whatever will bring about that result. Start with a lighter load and if that's too easy then add things in the next semester/year. Plus you want to be adding in some volunteering/shadowing at some point, so maybe do a lighter load and start in on that, if you haven't already.

DO NOT take the MCAT without finishing all the prereqs. Material from all of those courses is fair game and you will be competing with people who had all the courses. Sure, some people are good self learners and can teach themselves enough orgo 2 and phys 2 to get by, but most mortals find this to be a bad idea. An extra couple of points on the test makes a huge difference in your application.

This is not a race. Take the time you need to do it right.

Good luck.