Staying Productive This Summer?

[PremedGunner]

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How does this sound for summer after freshman year (didn't get into research 🙁),

1. MCAT studying (won't have free time for this again) 👍

2. Orgo pre-learning with orgo as a second language (so I can cruise through the semester)

3. And obviously the clinical/nonclinical volunteering, hobbies, etc. 😴

4. What else?

What are your plans? I'm obviously still brainstorming. 😀

Good luck on finals!!! 😱

 

[PressPforPi]

How does this sound for summer after freshman year (didn't get into research 🙁),

1. MCAT studying (won't have free time for this again) 👍

2. Orgo pre-learning with orgo as a second language (so I can cruise through the semester)

3. And obviously the clinical/nonclinical volunteering, hobbies, etc. 😴

4. What else?

What are your plans? I'm obviously still brainstorming. 😀

Good luck on finals!!! 😱

Yeah I would say that you have gunning down to a tee. 😛

For me, I'll be doing two summer classes, volunteering at a rehabilitation center (love volunteering here!), doing a summer program to encourage reading among young children, and shadowing.

As far as shadowing is concerned, I have no idea what specialties to consider. I mean, I love the opportunity to just listen to patient's stories and try to get to know them. (I do this now at a General Surgeons office but I'm limited because the hospital won't let me see any of the actual surgeries 🙁).

 

[two thirty]

Enjoy your summer. 🙄

Volunteer if you want, but don't prestudy for ochem and the MCAT.

 

[MetabolismASE]

Enjoy the summer and I dont see whats bad with pre studying Ochem do it =)

 

[Political]

If you want to be productive for orgo, pre study and understand Molecular Orbital theory, i swear that was the hardest part of orgo and its the first thing you learn in orgo aswell, everything else, like the actual chemical reactions you can save till you actually start them in class.
and yeah shadow and volunteer and stuff, but dont pre study for the MCAT, it'll be a waste of time

 

[CaliGirl14]

Dude studying for the MCAT after freshmen year? That's not gunning, that's just plain ole dumb. You're walking straight into a major burn-out.

 

[Isoprop]

If you want to be productive for orgo, pre study and understand Molecular Orbital theory, i swear that was the hardest part of orgo and its the first thing you learn in orgo aswell, everything else, like the actual chemical reactions you can save till you actually start them in class.
and yeah shadow and volunteer and stuff, but dont pre study for the MCAT, it'll be a waste of time

What kind of organic chemistry class did you take where you had to know so much about MO theory? I mean that's cool and all, but after tutoring ochem students from a variety of universities, I can tell you that is not the norm. There were only a few instances where prof's would get into MO theory (aromatics is the only biggie that comes to mind). And it's not that bad at all.

 

[gettheleadout]

When exactly do you plan on taking the MCAT, OP?

 

[MissionSeeker]

How does this sound for summer after freshman year (didn't get into research 🙁),

1. MCAT studying (won't have free time for this again) 👍

2. Orgo pre-learning with orgo as a second language (so I can cruise through the semester)

3. And obviously the clinical/nonclinical volunteering, hobbies, etc. 😴

4. What else?

What are your plans? I'm obviously still brainstorming. 😀

Good luck on finals!!! 😱

Have you ever consider to help Physicians and nurses in an Under-served community?
There are lots of programs that provides these kind of opportunities, it might be expensive, but worth it. That is why there are Fundraising opportunities and opportunities to make donations letters to help you out with the trip.
I will be going to Panama this Summer and later to Guatemala. It will be a great experience. 🙂

 

[highhigh]

When exactly do you plan on taking the MCAT, OP?

Yup, when?just curious about that.

 

[iSeeKnowledge]

Have you ever consider to help Physicians and nurses in an Under-served community?
There are lots of programs that provides these kind of opportunities, it might be expensive, but worth it. That is why there are Fundraising opportunities and opportunities to make donations letters to help you out with the trip.
I will be going to Panama this Summer and later to Guatemala. It will be a great experience. 🙂

That should be an awesome experience! How in the world did you come across such an opportunity?

 

[PremedGunner]

junior year i will take it but i want to blow the pants off of it so why not start now? peace my brothas

 

[Tapepsi]

junior year i will take it but i want to blow the pants off of it so why not start now? peace my brothas

How about...study the o. chem section for the MCAT prep. Killing two birds with one stone! Also, I'd volunteer this year at a local hospital/clinic as it will be much easier for you to get in a shadowing experience next summer since they know this is something you really want.

 

[Glucagon]

Dude studying for the MCAT after freshmen year? That's not gunning, that's just plain ole dumb. You're walking straight into a major burn-out.

junior year i will take it but i want to blow the pants off of it so why not start now? peace my brothas

Still dumb. You can rock the exam with proper preparation...have fun this summer dude, cause it only gets more hectic as you progress throughout college.

 

[loveoforganic]

What kind of organic chemistry class did you take where you had to know so much about MO theory? I mean that's cool and all, but after tutoring ochem students from a variety of universities, I can tell you that is not the norm. There were only a few instances where prof's would get into MO theory (aromatics is the only biggie that comes to mind). And it's not that bad at all.

We ended gen chem with some MO theory and reopened organic with it pretty early in at my uni

 

[MissionSeeker]

That should be an awesome experience! How in the world did you come across such an opportunity?

By attending Medical Conferences and going around the booths. 👍
I am located in CA, so i don't know if these programs are located or eligible for other states. Let me know if you are interested and i'll PM you some programs that are into helping underserved communities. 🙂

 

[bajastapler]

hyperconjugation baby! only thing you'll ever need to know
hahaha

but ya ... if ur a freshman just relax a little and do ECs that actually interest you. There's more time for the "pre-reqs" when your an upper-classman 🙂

and no offense, but I think your better of studying for the MCAT once you have a strong background in science/math. maybe start prepping for the verbal? but other than that I'd just chiiiill

 

[estradiol9]

and no offense, but I think your better of studying for the MCAT once you have a strong background in science/math. maybe start prepping for the verbal? but other than that I'd just chiiiill

I agree with this statement. I suppose it's never really too early to start prepping for the verbals section but what is the point of studying for the science sections? Take the prerequisite courses first, then study. No need to rush into taking the MCAT and no need to burn yourself out preparing for it years ahead of time.

 

[BenUstudent]

My Summer will consist of a hybrid version of SN2ed MCAT 3 month study plan mixed with a kaplan course (with MCAT in a box), EK's, TPR hyperlearning, NOVA physics.

Also working part time on the weekends, I plan to study 5-6 hrs a day (M-F) and try to manage some me time to avoid burn out.

 

[Astarael]

junior year i will take it but i want to blow the pants off of it so why not start now? peace my brothas

How much do you remember from your junior year of high school? That's how much you'll remember of what you studied this summer when it comes time to take the MCAT.

In other words, don't even bother.

 

[Political]

We ended gen chem with some MO theory and reopened organic with it pretty early in at my uni

Same thing here, resonance, antibonding, etc. were all taught within the first month of orgo. (since you have have understand the bonding of carbon atoms to actually understand the reactions apparently)
Honestly it was that part or orgo i had the most trouble with since it was the most "out of the box" conceptually.

 

[Isoprop]

heh, maybe it's a regional thing. You can definitely teach delocalization, bonding, resonance, etc. without hitting MO theory that hard. I've never seen it stressed so hard that people would recommend pre-studying for it. At most, profs here seem to say "here's another way to look at this" or "here's the reason why this happens" and talk about it for a few minutes. Some ignore it altogether because hybridization is good enough to explain everything (until later).

 

[45408]

I just worked every summer. Studying for the MCAT now isn't going to help.

 

[loveoforganic]

heh, maybe it's a regional thing. You can definitely teach delocalization, bonding, resonance, etc. without hitting MO theory that hard. I've never seen it stressed so hard that people would recommend pre-studying for it. At most, profs here seem to say "here's another way to look at this" or "here's the reason why this happens" and talk about it for a few minutes. Some ignore it altogether because hybridization is good enough to explain everything (until later).

You certainly can. It just provides some additional insight into what's going on (e.g. what the electrons are actually doing in an SN2 reaction). I'm sure there are other things outside of MO theory that could be trimmed from organic too and still allow for students to arrive at the correct answers for some problems. I'm sure different schools just have different views on what they deem necessary/important knowledge.

 

[unhappytnt]

I am taking OChem I in June, followed by MCAT studying in July-August-early September. It doesn't get any more productive than that. 😱