Prereq questions..

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BTR1208

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  1. Pre-Dental
Hey guys and gals so I had some time off today from studying and looked over my plan for the next 2 years and am a little confused and just want to make sure I have everything in line..

Bare with me here. Just want to see if this seems like a good plan.

I will have 42 credit hours at the end of this semester and a 3.85 GPA (killing every course right now) easy stuff right now.

Now I am not going for my degree just the credits and a solid MCAT.

Currently I am taking intro science classes just to set a solid foundation BIO 101, CHEM 101. Have over 100% in both so hopefully that is a good sign.

Next semester I am planning on taking:

SPRING 13
Gen Bio I: 4 credits
Gen Chem I: 5 credits
Trig: 3 credits
Filler course undecided: 3 credits

So 15 credits there which will put me at 57 credit hours

SUMMER 13:
Physics I: 4 credits
Gen Bio II: 4 credits
Filler courses (2): 6 credits
14 credits

Total: 71 credit hours

FALL 13
Gen Chem II: 5 credits
Physics II: 4 credits
filler course: 3 credits
12 credits

Total: 83 credit hours

Spring 14
Organic Chem

This is where I am confused. Is orgo a one or two semester course?


This could allow me to have all of my prereqs done by Summer of 13 (considering orgo is just one semester) and could spend the summer on my MCAT and apply in August for Pod school and matriculate in Fall of 2015.
That will leave me with a whole year between getting accepted and matriculating which sort of bums me out because I think I will get very bored.

I am trying to figure out the best way for this to workout. I am worried about being prepared for the MCAT.

Do my classes look to be sufficient enough to prepare me?


Does my timing on everything seem alright? The latest I want to matriculate is Fall 2015. I do not think 2014 will even be possible. I am hoping to have everything done and ready to go by opening day 2014!

Thanks guys and sorry for the long post. I appreciate any help. Oh and congrats to all of you getting accepted and getting interviews, such inspiration and keeps me going!

B
 
Orgo is two semesters long.
 
This is just a suggestion but I would take each two part course back to back. Example: Phys I Fall 13 then Phys II Winter 14 etc etc. It just helps to keep things fresh that build on each other especially your chems. Completely up to you. Also Organic Chemistry is a two semester class. You need 8 credits of O-Chem to fulfill the requirement or four of O-chem and four of Biochem. Good luck!
 
This is just a suggestion but I would take each two part course back to back. Example: Phys I Fall 13 then Phys II Winter 14 etc etc. It just helps to keep things fresh that build on each other especially your chems. Completely up to you. Also Organic Chemistry is a two semester class. You need 8 credits of O-Chem to fulfill the requirement or four of O-chem and four of Biochem. Good luck!

Yes that does make sense. Does my overall plan look okay?

Do people generally do ochem 1 and 2 or ochem 1 and biochem?
 
In my experience people generally do Orgo 1 then 2. Some take biochem as an extra class after they have finished orgo.
 
i wish i could get >100% in my classes... how does that even happen?

Based on the course names, this sounds like a community college.

To OP, Do they have any specific classes at your school? i.e. Microbiology? Cell Bio? Etc. If you are thinking about any medical career, you should really take these classes, along with a ton of others I don't feel like mentioning. 🙂
 
BTR1208 said:
SUMMER 13:
Physics I: 4 credits
Gen Bio II: 4 credits
Filler courses (2): 6 credits
14 credits



B

Is your school on a trimester system?

And as has been stated, orgo is a 2 semester class, however I think only one semester is necessary to apply. Don't quote me on that-double check. Also look into picking up something like biochem/genetics/cell bio/physiology. Should help a little on the MCAT but come in really handy when you're in pod school and taking the course for your 2nd time.
 
Based on the course names, this sounds like a community college.

To OP, Do they have any specific classes at your school? i.e. Microbiology? Cell Bio? Etc. If you are thinking about any medical career, you should really take these classes, along with a ton of others I don't feel like mentioning. 🙂

My school does have Microbiology. Should I definitely take that? Should I take it instead of Bio 2?
 
My school does have Microbiology. Should I definitely take that? Should I take it instead of Bio 2?

No. I highly suggest you take gen bio 2. In fact most schools require you have taken both as prerequisites for classes like cell biology or microbiology.
 
No. I highly suggest you take gen bio 2. In fact most schools require you have taken both as prerequisites for classes like cell biology or microbiology.

Ya i am def going to do Bio 2. Once I am accepted I am going to have a whole semester off. Should I take classes to prepare me more for Pod school or just relax and maybe travel a bit?
 
Ya i am def going to do Bio 2. Once I am accepted I am going to have a whole semester off. Should I take classes to prepare me more for Pod school or just relax and maybe travel a bit?

If you haven't taken any other significant biology classes, such as microbio, cell bio, anatomy, then I would highly suggest taking those classes so you won't have as hard a time in pod school.
 
I vote for the opposite. Go and enjoy your time off before the real work starts.
 
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