take MCAT w/o 2 semesters physics?

[smc927]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Great responses on my last post - very, very helpful. I appreciate it. <br>
<br>
I'm facing two options. Once is to cram in organic chem this summer and take the August MCAT. The biggest obstacle I see here (besides the challenge of cramming both semesters of org chem into one summer) is PHYSICS .......<br>
I will have taken one physics course, but not the other. Is it possible to take the MCAT and do well, having spent several months using Kaplan (and others) with all med school requirements completed <i>except</i> the seconds physics? <br>
I've read of people who never took the pre-reqs but took the MCAT (for whatever reason, not to get into med school though) and did very well.<br>
Option two is to wait all of next year for the April 05 MCAT. This is when I graduate and would leave me another year before I could actually start med school.<br>
I really don't want to wait another year. I like the idea of graduating med school at age 30, not 31. In the big scheme age doesn't matter, I know. I am willing to do what is best, and not just be impatient at the cost of my MCAT scores, but I would like to get it done!<br>

 

[deleted9493]

It's possible to do well...if you have the cognitive capacity and are mentally prepared to emphasize your Physics study on circuits, optics, magnetism etc.

I hope you're not planning on working during the summer. Trying to do well in organic I & II (over such a short period)...in addition to adequately preparing for the MCAT would take up any free time that you have (especially with organic labs).

If I were you, I would wait out a year but I can also understand your situation. You can do it.

 

[LukeWhite]

smc,

I took an April MCAT without taking physics, though I did take an excellent Kaplan course that incorporated the physics basics. I took the August MCAT that summer after having taken both semesters of physics, and scored exactly the same.

As long as you spend some extra time on the physics (and preferably in a structured environment like Kaplan that focuses on the strategy behind it) you should have no trouble at all. The physics portion of the MCAT is far more conceptual than anything, and as long as you understand the trends and have the most basic of formulas down (kinematics more than anything) you'll be in good shape.

 

[DoctorInSpace]

I will give my $0.02 since you have asked. But overall, I think you need to decide what score is ideal for you, because the difference in taking physics 2 may add 3 or 4 points, depending on how well you actually prepare.

Ok, first of all, i'm a non-traditional student (ie--i'm a first year and 28 years old). I decided late to go to med school, and needed to take all my science classes in one year in a post-bacc program. I took all of organic over the summer before the August MCAT and it worked out fine. I took it while studying for the MCAT. I had all of inorganic, bio and physics already done. I took the MCAT and am actually now a Kaplan teacher (which tells you i must have done well).

When I teach, i find that people do best if they have all the classes. There is one major exception though---the student who puts in a lot of work to overcome the class they didn't take. If you have to be short one class before the MCAT, physics is probably the best one. The reason I say that is because it is pretty concrete....you have a phenomenon, you have a few formulas, and you can answer most of the questions. A lot of the physics on the MCAT is related to the chemistry, such as electic current generated by an electrochemical cell.

If you can really put in the time to learn the second part of physics, and you "get" physics fairly well, then you should be fine. If you are really concerned about it, then you may be better off waiting.....you will feel more confident and do better. Or, a nice compromise---get a tutor, either through your university or Kaplan.

I hope this helps more than it adds to your confusion. Best of luck to you in all of your remaining classes, on the MCAT, and during your medical school application process.