Pre-requisite plan?

[Baloo0]

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Hey there,

So I've sat down and sketched out a rough pre-requisite plan (I already have my Bachelor's) can anyone shed some light on: 1) Which plan I should go with? 2) Which version of the MCAT I should plan on taking?

PLAN A:
Summer (2013): Chemistry I, Physics I
Fall (2013): Chemistry II, Physics II, Biology I
Spring (2014): Biology II, O Chem I, Trig
Summer (2014): Anatomy, O Chem II
Fall (2014): Biochem, Calc

PLAN B:
Summer (2013): Chemistry I, Physics I
Fall (2013): Chemistry II, Physics II, Bio I, Trig.
Spring (2014): Bio II, O Chem I, Anatomy
Summer (2014): O Chem II, Bio Chem

It's obviously gonna be really tough either way but I'm committed to this. I'm also taking an EMT Basic course before enrolling this summer, volunteering and shadowing a lot as well. Does anyone see any holes in either plan and again which MCAT should I consider taking? I'm thinking the new one, but I may be ready to sit for the old one prior to it not being offered? Thanks in advance!

(Side note: I was a sociology minor and took a few psychology courses as well in my first undergraduate career so I wouldn't really need to do much for those new portions on the MCAT)

 

[Chip N Sawbones]

What is your current cumulative GPA? If it's good enough, you won't need anatomy or the math classes.

 

[rguil15]

MCAT 2015 looks most realistic given that course load. I mean I know a person who took the MCAT without O-Chem II or Physics II and pulled off a 34, but she's very very exceptional. Oh and why even bother with Calculus? The first calculus won't get you very far, practically speaking. I took three of them in my engineering days, nothing from them has come up yet and I am done with all pre-reqs save O-Chem lab.

 

[Baloo0]

My cumulative GPA (prior to taking these courses) is a 3.4, nothing exception hence why I need to rock these pre-requisites and get great EC's, LOR's, etc. but again I'm committed. I'm taking the anatomy because the pre-med advisor at the University I'll be studying at recommended it as it "would've helped me during med school" to quote him. The anatomy and calculus were also to be sort of a GPA booster, I suppose I could substitute the calculus with physiology which might seem more pertinent? Yeah, I figured the new 2015 MCAT was what I was looking at I'm just nervous to be one of the guinea pigs but the changes don't seem to be too drastic.

 

[popopopop]

I like plan A, but I would replace the math courses with bio electives. This also makes your summer '14 and fall '14 more flexible in terms of more bio classes. You also have spring '15 to study for MCAT or take more classes to boost gpa. I don't like Plan B because it's a bit condensed, and leaves you with fall '14 and spring '15 too open. This is all assuming you have EC and work etc piled on too.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

Hey there,

So I've sat down and sketched out a rough pre-requisite plan (I already have my Bachelor's) can anyone shed some light on: 1) Which plan I should go with? 2) Which version of the MCAT I should plan on taking?

PLAN A:
Summer (2013): Chemistry I, Physics I
Fall (2013): Chemistry II, Physics II, Biology I
Spring (2014): Biology II, O Chem I, Trig
Summer (2014): Anatomy, O Chem II
Fall (2014): Biochem, Calc

PLAN B:
Summer (2013): Chemistry I, Physics I
Fall (2013): Chemistry II, Physics II, Bio I, Trig.
Spring (2014): Bio II, O Chem I, Anatomy
Summer (2014): O Chem II, Bio Chem

It's obviously gonna be really tough either way but I'm committed to this. I'm also taking an EMT Basic course before enrolling this summer, volunteering and shadowing a lot as well. Does anyone see any holes in either plan and again which MCAT should I consider taking? I'm thinking the new one, but I may be ready to sit for the old one prior to it not being offered? Thanks in advance!

(Side note: I was a sociology minor and took a few psychology courses as well in my first undergraduate career so I wouldn't really need to do much for those new portions on the MCAT)

My cumulative GPA (prior to taking these courses) is a 3.4, nothing exception hence why I need to rock these pre-requisites and get great EC's, LOR's, etc. but again I'm committed. I'm taking the anatomy because the pre-med advisor at the University I'll be studying at recommended it as it "would've helped me during med school" to quote him. The anatomy and calculus were also to be sort of a GPA booster, I suppose I could substitute the calculus with physiology which might seem more pertinent? Yeah, I figured the new 2015 MCAT was what I was looking at I'm just nervous to be one of the guinea pigs but the changes don't seem to be too drastic.

whenever i hear someone say something like "do this because it will help you once you are in med school," i think to myself "ok i will do this after i get my acceptance to med school." I think this is applicable here.

If you are weak in physics and general math, then maybe keep the math as practice, otherwise ditch it unless you are fishing for a class to boost your grades. I would go ahead and plan for MCAT2015 given your strengths in what the new subjects are and the fact that you will finish your pre-reqs around the time the last test is given in 2014. Ditch Anatomy in favor physiology unless they are the same class.

I like plan A, but I would replace the math courses with bio electives. This also makes your summer '14 and fall '14 more flexible in terms of more bio classes. You also have spring '15 to study for MCAT or take more classes to boost gpa. I don't like Plan B because it's a bit condensed, and leaves you with fall '14 and spring '15 too open. This is all assuming you have EC and work etc piled on too.

I agree, more bio is the way to go. biochem will help a lot. for me, i found microbio and genetics to be helpful. others would not agree, because it boils down to how good you bio1 and bio2 classes are. i am finding now as i study for the mcat, there are lots of example passages that refer to areas of biology that i would not have known had i not taken a class in something like, say entomology. it isnt necessary, but it's fun and interesting to see it show up in a passage.