Question about schedule for post-bac program

[nyc5614]

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Hello,

I was recently accepted to a post-bac program and was planning on taking Chemistry I & II this summer in order to start Org Chem in the fall. I am supposed to have my wedding in the middle of August, two days after classes would end, which I planned so I would be able to finish these classes beforehand. However, my fiance's mother had an aneurysm and subsequent stroke a couple of weeks ago and just yesterday got moved out of ICU, so she is probably going to need some help when she gets home with rehab. Also, in the interim I have done ZERO wedding planning and just found out today that my move date from NYC has been further moved back because my closing date got screwed up, so I'm thinking that starting classes right now might not be a good idea (the schedule is Mon - Fri, 9-5, starting mid-June).

Here's my question, after all of that: If I am planning on taking physics, biology, and organic chemistry in addition to the regular chemistry, is it going to push my application process off another year if I decide to start Chem I & II in the fall instead of this summer? If so, then I guess I suck it up and try to do it all? I'm turning 29 this week, so I'm getting antsy about finishing these post-bac classes quickly...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated since if I didn't convey it in the aforementioned, my life is a bit of a mess right now 😉

 

[mshheaddoc]

Well you could always finish it up next summer and take the MCAT in August. You can still apply in June as you just need to have all your prereqs done by matriculation. So then you should be complete by August except for MCAT. Just an idea.

 

[sumozmom]

Hello,

I was recently accepted to a post-bac program and was planning on taking Chemistry I & II this summer in order to start Org Chem in the fall. I am supposed to have my wedding in the middle of August, two days after classes would end, which I planned so I would be able to finish these classes beforehand. However, my fiance's mother had an aneurysm and subsequent stroke a couple of weeks ago and just yesterday got moved out of ICU, so she is probably going to need some help when she gets home with rehab. Also, in the interim I have done ZERO wedding planning and just found out today that my move date from NYC has been further moved back because my closing date got screwed up, so I'm thinking that starting classes right now might not be a good idea (the schedule is Mon - Fri, 9-5, starting mid-June).

Here's my question, after all of that: If I am planning on taking physics, biology, and organic chemistry in addition to the regular chemistry, is it going to push my application process off another year if I decide to start Chem I & II in the fall instead of this summer? If so, then I guess I suck it up and try to do it all? I'm turning 29 this week, so I'm getting antsy about finishing these post-bac classes quickly...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated since if I didn't convey it in the aforementioned, my life is a bit of a mess right now 😉

do u work too?

 

[nyc5614]

do u work too?

No, I just left my job awhile ago. That would be pretty difficult since the class + lab goes from 9-5 every weekday, not counting time needed for studying. I'm also a little concerned since I've been out of school for 7 years.

 

[njbmd]

Hello,

I was recently accepted to a post-bac program and was planning on taking Chemistry I & II this summer in order to start Org Chem in the fall. I am supposed to have my wedding in the middle of August, two days after classes would end, which I planned so I would be able to finish these classes beforehand. However, my fiance's mother had an aneurysm and subsequent stroke a couple of weeks ago and just yesterday got moved out of ICU, so she is probably going to need some help when she gets home with rehab. Also, in the interim I have done ZERO wedding planning and just found out today that my move date from NYC has been further moved back because my closing date got screwed up, so I'm thinking that starting classes right now might not be a good idea (the schedule is Mon - Fri, 9-5, starting mid-June).

Here's my question, after all of that: If I am planning on taking physics, biology, and organic chemistry in addition to the regular chemistry, is it going to push my application process off another year if I decide to start Chem I & II in the fall instead of this summer? If so, then I guess I suck it up and try to do it all? I'm turning 29 this week, so I'm getting antsy about finishing these post-bac classes quickly...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated since if I didn't convey it in the aforementioned, my life is a bit of a mess right now 😉

Hi there,
The one thing that you NEED to keep in mind is that one or even two year's delay is well worth it if the quality of your work remains high. There is no need to rush your pre-med preparation only to bomb something and not be successful.

Medicine and medical school is a very long term goal. Why invest thousands of hours and dollars in tuition only to rush through something or not be able to give your preparation its full attention. It does not matter if you are 30 or 35 as long as you are successful.

Quick in this process rarely leads to success.

njbmd 🙂

 

[ATrim7]

Well you could always finish it up next summer and take the MCAT in August. You can still apply in June as you just need to have all your prereqs done by matriculation. So then you should be complete by August except for MCAT. Just an idea.

The MCAT will be given nearly 20 times a year starting in 2007 so the OP will have the option of taking the test after August if it is necessary.

 

[mshheaddoc]

Yes I realize that but she only has till September to take. She would be done with classes in the beginning of Aug and could take the test at the end of August. The sooner the better.

 

[ATrim7]

Yes I realize that but she only has till September to take. She would be done with classes in the beginning of Aug and could take the test at the end of August. The sooner the better.

Can you clarify why she would would have to take test by September? Is there a deadline that medical schools set for taking the MCAT in order to matriculate the following fall?

 

[mshheaddoc]

There is no deadline but if she wants to have a complete application before November (which is well into the interview season that usually starts around Sept/Oct) to get a shot for an interview then she needs to get her application completed early.

Please refer to this thread if you want to see the test dates for 2007. If you notice the latest is in the beginning of September. There is a reason for the cutoff. Any later, by the time you get your scores in a month or month and a half, most applicants have had their applications in for 2-3 months complete. Then you have secondaries to worry about as well.

As stated before, she can always apply the next round and wait out a year. Its not a sprint, its a marathon. But if she's like me, she wants to apply as soon as possible.

My advice, don't overextend yourself especially if there are family/personal issues. Take your time and do well. And

 

[ATrim7]

There is no deadline but if she wants to have a complete application before November (which is well into the interview season that usually starts around Sept/Oct) to get a shot for an interview then she needs to get her application completed early.

Please refer to this thread if you want to see the test dates for 2007. If you notice the latest is in the beginning of September. There is a reason for the cutoff. Any later, by the time you get your scores in a month or month and a half, most applicants have had their applications in for 2-3 months complete. Then you have secondaries to worry about as well.

As stated before, she can always apply the next round and wait out a year. Its not a sprint, its a marathon. But if she's like me, she wants to apply as soon as possible.

My advice, don't overextend yourself especially if there are family/personal issues. Take your time and do well. And

Thanks for answering my question. I am in a similar position as the OP, and will be finishing my post-bac work in August of 2007, so your input regarding the timeline of the application cycle was of help to me as well. Thanks.

 

[mshheaddoc]

You can have your application submitted with transcripts and what not all that you need to submit would be your MCAT. Some schools will send out secondaries without the MCAT and others won't. But the sooner you take the MCAT after your coursework is completed the sooner you are complete!

Good luck!

 

[sumozmom]

how do you earn a living?

 

[nyc5614]

You can have your application submitted with transcripts and what not all that you need to submit would be your MCAT. Some schools will send out secondaries without the MCAT and others won't. But the sooner you take the MCAT after your coursework is completed the sooner you are complete!

Good luck!

Thank you so much for all of the great advice - I already feel less stressed out, especially with the semi cross-country move ahead of me (who knows when???!). I had been very worried about this, so one less thing to fret about right now is greatly welcomed.

And yes - I would like to be able to apply as soon as possible. To answer Sumozmom about what I do for a living, I was in healthcare (more specifically, biotech) investment banking for the last seven years but have recently left my job to pursue this. I am going to try and find some work or volunteer opportunities in the meantime, but obviously the other issue with having an entire year in between is that I can't make any sort of meaningful income during that time (read: much above minimum wage) considering my prior job experience, so it would be one more year where I'm burning up savings. I don't mind spending $$$ on school, but I mind the cash burn when I'm not in school....and certainly, I'm anxious to get started as soon as possible, just like everyone else!