Question about courses while studying for MCAT

[titoincali]

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Hey guys!

I need some advice about choosing courses for Spring term. After this term I only need to finish my Orgo lab and a math course to complete my med school pre-reqs. I'm taking the MCAT in April '05. I was planning on taking both a calculus course and the orgo lab next term as I study for the MCAT (signed up for PR course also) but now I'm wondering if I should take another advanced science course instead of the calculus course to help with the studying. Will it be ok to apply without having finished the math requirement (although not all schools have this requirement so it's a moot point for those applications)?

I have taken a General Genetics course already and did well but I still feel as if it's my weak spot. Considering what I've heard on SDN about the amount of genetics questions on the MCAT, would it be wise to take a molecular genetics or human genetics course instead of calculus? I also did a search and many people listed Biochem as a helpful course for the MCAT. Should I take that instead?

So to break it down. The options are:

1) Calculus and Orgo lab (will mean I apply with all possible pre-reqs complete)

2) Orgo lab and Molecular or Human Genetics (take Biochem and calc the following year)

3) Biochem and Orgo lab (take calc the following year).

I'm a post-bacc student right now and work pretty much full time and volunteer regularly. Yes, it's a crazy schedule but it's worked very well for the past 3 years as I complete my pre-reqs and have still somehow managed to do well in them. I wish I could quit working and just study for a few months but it's impossible and anyway, my work pays for my school and helps me save for all the money I'm going to be putting into this application process so I don't want to quit working! But I don't want to feel too overwhelmed either. I will not be volunteering at the clinic while I study for MCAT because the PR class is on the days the clinic is open (weekends) so that's one less thing I have to worry about.

Any thoughts??

 

[iamgoaloriented]

The regular genetics class that you took should be fine as long as they went over basic molecular genetics. The science on the MCAT tends not to be too detailed (and if it is, the info comes from the passage you are reading).

Biochem is useful for the mcat (and is also a requirement for a few schools) but not as useful as human phys.

If you've taken human phys already, for purposes of MCAT would be good to take biochem, although if you get a review book the science that you need to know will be in there. I was done with college when I applied so don't know what its like having to inform them of your most recent grades, but if you arent finished yet wont you need to do that anyway?

 

[titoincali]

I would love to take Physiology but the course I want to take is only offered in the Fall so I'm planning on taking it next year. They do offer a lower level Physiology course but from my understanding it's too easy and doesn't really go too indepth into topics. I think I'd rather take the other course so that's not really an option. But thanks for the suggestion!

Anybody else know what the policy on updating schools about pre-req scores is? Will they open your file for review if you are still missing pre-reqs?

 

[aparecida]

Yes, you can apply without finishing the prereqs -- you're only required to have them done by the time you enter, not by the time you apply. I am applying for this cycle and I am just now taking orgo II and orgo lab I, and I have had no trouble getting interviews/consideration.

 

[titoincali]

Yes, you can apply without finishing the prereqs -- you're only required to have them done by the time you enter, not by the time you apply. I am applying for this cycle and I am just now taking orgo II and orgo lab I, and I have had no trouble getting interviews/consideration.

Thanks for the input. I think I've decided to wait to take calculus until the following year and take Biochem next term.

Christina

 

[FlushingNemo]

Yes, you can apply without finishing the prereqs -- you're only required to have them done by the time you enter, not by the time you apply. I am applying for this cycle and I am just now taking orgo II and orgo lab I, and I have had no trouble getting interviews/consideration.

Have you encountered any difficulties taking Orgo Lab I after you were done with Orgo I, such as forgetting lecture material that relates to lab work?