MD & DO Should I apply this cycle?

[lostandconfusedpremed]

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Hello all, I am currently a junior undergraduate student in CA. I have taken the MCAT and gotten a 515. Additionally, I have 100 hours shadowing, 200 hours clinical volunteering, and 200 hours of non-clinical volunteering. I intend to apply with these numbers as is. Additionally, I am a philosophy major with a 3.7 cum gpa. However, I have not really started any of my prerequisite courses. I intend on taking them over my senior year and over the summer. Furthermore, my science GPA is quite poor since I have only taken one stats course, which I got a C in. I'm working on Biology courses right now to improve it. With that being said, should I apply this cycle? I really do not want to take a gap year.

 

[Faha]

You should not apply this cycle without having any prerequisite courses on your transcript.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

You should not apply this cycle without having any prerequisite courses on your transcript.

Agreed.

 

[lostandconfusedpremed]

Agreed.

What if I were to take physics as well this semester? Would that be enough?

 

[wysdoc]

What if I were to take physics as well this semester? Would that be enough?

You probably need 2 years to take courses plus get your activities up to the amount you need.
The application process itself is grueling and expensive so you don’t want to do it twice

 

[lostandconfusedpremed]

Got it. I was just thinking that since schools allow you to finish prerequisites until matriculation that I could make it work, but I will take your advice.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

What if I were to take physics as well this semester? Would that be enough?

How did you prepare for the MCAT if you didn't take any of the prerequisites beforehand? This includes physics.

 

[lostandconfusedpremed]

How did you prepare for the MCAT if you didn't take any of the prerequisites beforehand? This includes physics.

I self-studied.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I self-studied.

Here's your challenge. You now have 3 years to get into medical school or else you have to retake the MCAT, but the prerequisites require at least 2 years to sequence your chemistry coursework (gen chem, organic, biochem). What is your plan to complete this since you are graduating next year? Are you just going through a fifth year undergrad?

Pre-screening requires us to check for your prerequisites. If we notice you have an MCAT score but no prereqs, we'll have to discern what courses you have taken that give us confidence you have the right foundation to succeed in the science coursework. Some schools have eschewed formal coursework, but they want to see evidence you have attained the science competencies and foundations from your transcript.

 

[lostandconfusedpremed]

I do not quite understand your question, but I was planning on taking summer classes as well. This should allow for four semesters of chem courses. I hope this answers your question.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I do not quite understand your question, but I was planning on taking summer classes as well. This should allow for four semesters of chem courses. I hope this answers your question.

Great, but you have five semesters of chemistry courses, plus physics and biology to fit (and labs). Biochemistry is included in the MCAT content, so if you are down that one, I guess that's okay. Also, some schools want psych and sociology, and you probably ought to take an ethics course. (You got stats, so that's great.) Have you talked with your prehealth advisors about this plan? That's why they're there.

 

[lostandconfusedpremed]

I am taking all of my bio courses this semester. Additionally, I have taken quite a bit of psych and sociology already. Lastly, I am an ethics major. I feel I can fit physics in quite easily compared to chem.