Really Confused

[DrHoneyBee]

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First of all I would like to thank everyone that has helped me, you guys rock!

Okay, I'm not sure what to do. Heres my situation, I have a 3.33 GPA a 3.12 Science GPA haven't taken the MCAT's (signed up for kaplan to start in two weeks and taking them in August).

I am currently volunteering in pediatrics(I started a month ago). In April I am starting as a Physician Scribe (basically I run around and help the ER docs by getting lab work, test results, etc.), which I will be able to do until I start med school (they told me this). I am shadowing a DO in May. (I was a special education teacher right out of college but realized that it was not the right fit).

I don't have all of my pre-req's complete. I am currently taking Organic I and this summer I am going to take Chem I & II and Physics I& II ( I was able to take orgo before chem because I have already taken chemistry it just wasn't labled general chemisty). I was going to take Orgo II in the Fall. I already have the Biology requirement complete.

I know this seems like a lot but I like to push myself and it's hard for me to see waiting another. I will be 26 in a month and I am ready already! haha.

Okay, with the being said. I know that I am ready, but will admissions think that I moved too quickly. I do not want to ruin my changes just because I wanted to push through. Taking 4 summer classes (2 each session) is a lot and taking kaplan (which ends in June). I would love to hear some feedback, experiences, advice. Thanks in advance!

 

[Spankete87]

First of all I would like to thank everyone that has helped me, you guys rock!

Okay, I'm not sure what to do. Heres my situation, I have a 3.33 GPA a 3.12 Science GPA haven't taken the MCAT's (signed up for kaplan to start in two weeks and taking them in August).

I am currently volunteering in pediatrics(I started a month ago). In April I am starting as a Physician Scribe (basically I run around and help the ER docs by getting lab work, test results, etc.), which I will be able to do until I start med school (they told me this). I am shadowing a DO in May. (I was a special education teacher right out of college but realized that it was not the right fit).

I don't have all of my pre-req's complete. I am currently taking Organic I and this summer I am going to take Chem I & II and Physics I& II ( I was able to take orgo before chem because I have already taken chemistry it just wasn't labled general chemisty). I was going to take Orgo II in the Fall. I already have the Biology requirement complete.

I know this seems like a lot but I like to push myself and it's hard for me to see waiting another. I will be 26 in a month and I am ready already! haha.

Okay, with the being said. I know that I am ready, but will admissions think that I moved too quickly. I do not want to ruin my changes just because I wanted to push through. Taking 4 summer classes (2 each session) is a lot and taking kaplan (which ends in June). I would love to hear some feedback, experiences, advice. Thanks in advance!

I don't think "pushing through" will have any affect on the adcoms decisions at all. I do, however, think that you're setting yourself up to possibly not do as well on either the 1. MCAT or 2. in your classes. The only thing I would hesitate about is doing it all at once. The MCAT is a BEAST on it's own. I know tons of people take it while taking classes, but they're not normally learning the material on the MCAT while studying for the MCAT. You don't want to compromise your GPA or the MCAT to get started earlier. BUT, if you think you can handle learning physics/chem while studying for the MCAT, go for it! I don't think much of Organic II is on the MCAT anyway.... GOOD LUCK!

 

[DrHoneyBee]

I don't think "pushing through" will have any affect on the adcoms decisions at all. I do, however, think that you're setting yourself up to possibly not do as well on either the 1. MCAT or 2. in your classes. The only thing I would hesitate about is doing it all at once. The MCAT is a BEAST on it's own. I know tons of people take it while taking classes, but they're not normally learning the material on the MCAT while studying for the MCAT. You don't want to compromise your GPA or the MCAT to get started earlier. BUT, if you think you can handle learning physics/chem while studying for the MCAT, go for it! I don't think much of Organic II is on the MCAT anyway.... GOOD LUCK!

Thanks for the response! I would like to just go for it but your right I am a little nervous about taking classes and the kaplan classroom. Maybe I don't need to take kaplan if I am taking the classes? Has anyone taken pre-req's over the summer right before the MCAT's? How did you study?

 

[deleted92121]

This summer, I decided to take both Gen Chem I & II at my local CC, for time reasons, as well as College Algebra and Microbiolgy at the CC (I figure Micro could help me out somewhat). Then in the Fall, I am taking Principles of Biology, O-Chem I, and Anat and Phys 217 and two of my major courses (exercise science). Between Fall and Spring Semester (Winter break..duh!) I will be studying for the MCAT. The spring semester will consist of O-Chem II, Physics II, Genetics, and one or two major courses. Plus, I will continue to study for the MCAT, shadow/volunteer, and work.

I do best in high pressure situations..plus while all of these topics are fresh in my mind I will be ready to take the MCAT..I hope.

dxu

 

[ULTRA nerves]

I agree with the previous message that the MCAT is a beast on its own. There is not only academic preparation, but one has to deal with the stress that comes with the MCAT. 8 hour-exam was not a joke. However, if you are good at test-taking and in physical sciences then maybe you might be in a better situation. Please don't let one opinion stop you from achieving your goals; by any means, with your motivation is something to admire. 🙂 😀

If you want my honest opinion...taking both chem, physics and MCAT all in one summer seems aLOT. I hope that you are thinking things through carefully and know what you are getting into. Since a year long worth of chem and physics are condensed into summer, class pace will be faster than it would be during the fall or spr and you might be in the lab once or twice a week for each class. With that said, don't forget lab-write ups, problem sets, studying for exams, volunteering, shadowing and lastly MCAT practice. The trick is to do well in both and I wish you the best of luck.

About Kaplan, I took the PR and thought that their classes were good , but know of many people who only utilized their test materials due to their busy schedules. I learn well by going to classes so I attended more than 90% of the PR classes; it did take a chuck of time away from studying for my school work. Looking back though, I think practicing with actual exam materials was much more effective in increasing my scores.

 

[Nate]

You can do it! Stay focused and dont fall behind, this will be good prep for what med school is like and may even be a good thing to the adcoms. Plan to study 4-6 hours a day and dont forget to take a break here and there. good luck

 

[DrHoneyBee]

I agree with the previous message that the MCAT is a beast on its own. There is not only academic preparation, but one has to deal with the stress that comes with the MCAT. 8 hour-exam was not a joke. However, if you are good at test-taking and in physical sciences then maybe you might be in a better situation. Please don't let one opinion stop you from achieving your goals; by any means, with your motivation is something to admire. 🙂 😀

About Kaplan, I took the PR and thought that their classes were good , but know of many people who only utilized their test materials due to their busy schedules. I learn well by going to classes so I attended more than 90% of the PR classes; it did take a chuck of time away from studying for my school work. Looking back though, I think practicing with actual exam materials was much more effective in increasing my scores.

I have been questioning the Kaplan MCAT classroom. Since I will be taking Chemistry and Physics over the summer the material should be fresh in my mind. Would taking practice tests be more effective?? Has anyone used the MCAT audio osmosis???
BTW, thanks for all of the opinions!!

 

[shminger]

I have been questioning the Kaplan MCAT classroom. Since I will be taking Chemistry and Physics over the summer the material should be fresh in my mind. Would taking practice tests be more effective?? Has anyone used the MCAT audio osmosis???
BTW, thanks for all of the opinions!!

I really liked the Kaplan classes because it helped my improve my test taking skills which was valuable for me.

 

[ULTRA nerves]

I have been questioning the Kaplan MCAT classroom. Since I will be taking Chemistry and Physics over the summer the material should be fresh in my mind. Would taking practice tests be more effective?? Has anyone used the MCAT audio osmosis???
BTW, thanks for all of the opinions!!

I also used the audio osmosis and it helped me on physical sciences...I listened to it whenever I was driving to places and save time.

Would taking practice tests be more effective? It will depend on you. Are you a good test-taker? Or will you need to someone to refresh the materials you have studied in the past? For me, I took the practice tests and figured out my weak areas based on the problems I got wrong. Then I went back and reviewed them and took another test...so on and so forth. When I tried reviewing the materials all at once, I couldn't figure out where to start and how to end, so I just jumped into the pool and relied on PR classes to refresh my mind on old topics. I hope that helps.

 

[Spankete87]

Will taking tests be enough? I think that the PS section of review for the MCAT should be pretty easy since these concepts will be fresh in your mind and since the MCAT questions tend to be easier than your average college class test in physics/gen chem. It all depends on how much you remember from Orgo/Bio and how Verbal is for you. Verbal tends to be either difficult or easy for most people. I didn't study for verbal at all and I took the PR class. THat night of class was a waste of time for me because I started off at a 10 on my first MCAT in verbal. FOr some people, however, this section is really hard and having someone to help you with it, is really valuable. THe class was valuable to me because I hadn't taken any of the classes on the MCAT in at least 2 years, so I needed someone to make me review those ugly concepts every night. I think the class would have been less beneficial to me if all I needed was a review. I could've done that with a book. I needed the quizes and forced tests as motivation to study. 😉