Seeking Some Friendly Advice

[Mindundone]

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I apologise for my lengthiness in advance. Here's my situation:

After 2 years at a small private liberal arts college, I am transferring to SUNY Binghamton. Unfortunately, I struggled some during those first 2 years, especially with some of my pre-med classes. My struggling was predominately a result of trying to take a rigorous course load while attempting to manage some health-related issues as a brain tumor/brain cancer survivor...the fact of the matter is that I was not as healthy as the courses I was taking required me to be in order to be successful (I battled chronic headaches & nausea & vomiting several days a week). If any of this sounds familiar, it is because I have in fact posted on here before, prior to my decision to transfer and under a different name...& prior to me having a good idea of what I wanted to do to rectify my predicament.

Since I have finally reached a good state of health & because I remain resolute in my desire to become a physician, I have decided that it would be wisest to essentially retake the pre-med courses in an attempt to show that I am truly capable of doing well in them. However, I find myself in a bit of a conundrum, as my intended graduation year is now 2014 as opposed to 2013.

I initially wanted to matriculate to medical school (I'll apply to both MD & DO) directly after graduation as opposed to taking a gap year, meaning that I would have to take the MCAT in April of my 2nd yr at Binghamton, so I would have the following schedule:
Y1:
S1:Bio, Gen Chem 1, Stats, Neuropsych course
S2: Bio, Gen Chem 2, Psyc, other course

Y2:
S1:Orgo 1, Physics 1, 2 other courses
S2: Orgo 2, Physics 2, 2 other courses

Y3:
S1: 2 upper level bios, 1 or 2 light courses
S2: " " " ", 1 or 2 light courses

OR, If I didn't do this, I would do:

Y1:
S1:Bio, Gen Chem 1, Stats, Neuropsych course
S2: Bio, Gen Chem 2, Psyc, other "

Y2:
S1:Orgo 1, 1 upper level bio, 1/2 other lighter courses
S2: Orgo 2, 1 upper level bio, " " "

Y3:
S1: Physics 1, 1 upper level bio, 1 or 2 light courses
S2: Physics 2, 1 upper level bio, 1 or 2 light courses

So my clarified question is: Which plan do you think is better, to spread the pre-med classes out over 3 years and take a gap yr? Or to take orgo w/ physics in my 2nd year & try to matriculate directly to med school?

Thanks again! 🙂

I find myself overwhelmed by some of this at the moment and any input would very much be appreciated.

Thanks!

~Sara
Neuroscience major

 

[SexyDoctor]

Have you thought about taking an extra year? I wouldn't want to overload with such heavy classes your first year at your next school. It won't harm you to push your date back to 2015. There's nothing wrong with that. As someone who has a chronic condition (not at the level of your severity), it's important to take things slow and not to push things so hard. There's only so much a person is capable of before crashing. I don't think it's a wise choice taking all those classes in only a span of two years. The fact that you seemed overwhelmed should tell you something. Listen to yourself 🙂

 

[Tapepsi]

Bio, chem, and physics your first year? 😱 No way in the slightest is that a good idea. Pick 2 of those 3 (preferrably bio and chem). You want to get it right this time and risking lower grades b/c you've taken on a heavy load should not be an option. Consider taking either physics or o. chem over the summer term. B/c I didn't decide I wanted to enter medicine until the end of my freshman year (and I didn't declare a major yet either), I took bio and chem sophomore year, o. chem I and II during the summer after my sophomore year, and physics + major classes junior year. It worked out well and I was able to maintain a high GPA (x > 3.9).

Good luck and congrats on your recovery!

 

[Mindundone]

Thanks for your replies so far!

A better question for me to ask I guess is if it's better to take Physics in my 1st yr with 2 intro sciences or if it's better to take physics with orgo in my 2nd year?

Thanks again! 🙂

 

[Tapepsi]

A better question for me to ask I guess is if it's better to take Physics in my 1st yr with 2 intro sciences or if it's better to take physics with orgo in my 2nd year?

Out of those 2 options, it is better to take physics with orgo your 2nd year. There's a higher chance of getting good grades and a lower chance of overwhelming yourself.

Although I still say that if you are willing to take a summer course (and mine was only 8 weeks for o. chem I and II), I'd recommend taking o. chem or physics over the summer right after your first year. 2 classes + 2 labs done before your second year = a lot more course room to take other major requirements.

 

[Mindundone]

Bump...edited post 🙂

 

[strawberifields]

+1 for orgo with physics, but I've never known anyone to take a year off and regret it, and I've heard PLENTY that didn't and wished they had, or even wished they'd taken more than a year...