Taking the MCAT before actually taking all prerequisite classes a bad idea?

[BlueAether]

I've got two options. A, finish my bachelors, and then take all the prerequisites, and then take the MCAT at the beginning of summer prior in the year prior to med school. As in,take the MCAT July 2010, while applying to get in Fall 2010.

Or....I can study myself, without actually taking the classes, which is what I do for the most part anyway. I'd be doing everything I normally would if I were in the class, except I wouldn't actually be studying and being tested for a grade. At least not yet. Doing this would allow me to study and learn the material and take the MCAT. I can do Biology/English related subjects easier than Chemistry and Physics. I hear O Chemistry however is quite difficult.

Gah, poor planning.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[MilkmanAl]

As in,take the MCAT July 2010, while applying to get in Fall 2010.

That's not possible. Your primary app is due in the middle of November, if I recall. I'm going to assume that's a typo, though. Taking the July MCAT is just fine.

Take the pre-reqs before you take the MCAT. It's the smart thing to do.

 

[BlueAether]

Hmm, poor planning seems to have gotten the better of me yet again. This is going to push things back. Or, I can set aside my majors classes, and take the pre-requisites, then take the MCAT, and finish up the major. Either way, I'm thinking I'm looking at an extra year than I intended. It's annoying because I know I have to take the MCAT and apply more than a year ahead of when I intend to take the classes.

Now I see why everyone majors in Biology and Chemistry, it's the only way to fit it all in on time.

Hmm, no, I think it better to finish the Undergrad, then spend an extra year doing the science pre's, THEN, taking the MCAT, waiting a whole year, maybe traveling or something, then hoping I get some calls for interviews. It's not ideal, but it seems to be the best option. I don't want to have to take it multiple times.

 

[Poliscidoc]

Hmm, poor planning seems to have gotten the better of me yet again. This is going to push things back. Or, I can set aside my majors classes, and take the pre-requisites, then take the MCAT, and finish up the major. Either way, I'm thinking I'm looking at an extra year than I intended. It's annoying because I know I have to take the MCAT and apply more than a year ahead of when I intend to take the classes.

Now I see why everyone majors in Biology and Chemistry, it's the only way to fit it all in on time.

Hmm, no, I think it better to finish the Undergrad, then spend an extra year doing the science pre's, THEN, taking the MCAT, waiting a whole year, maybe traveling or something, then hoping I get some calls for interviews. It's not ideal, but it seems to be the best option. I don't want to have to take it multiple times.

I am kind of in the same boat. Graduate May 2011 take MCAT in June and apply after that.. Don't worry about it though, volunteer or doing something productive. I am thinking about going to do one of the SMP just to stay fresh.. Best of luck to you!

 

[sustentacular]

Hmm, poor planning seems to have gotten the better of me yet again. This is going to push things back. Or, I can set aside my majors classes, and take the pre-requisites, then take the MCAT, and finish up the major. Either way, I'm thinking I'm looking at an extra year than I intended. It's annoying because I know I have to take the MCAT and apply more than a year ahead of when I intend to take the classes.

Now I see why everyone majors in Biology and Chemistry, it's the only way to fit it all in on time.

Hmm, no, I think it better to finish the Undergrad, then spend an extra year doing the science pre's, THEN, taking the MCAT, waiting a whole year, maybe traveling or something, then hoping I get some calls for interviews. It's not ideal, but it seems to be the best option. I don't want to have to take it multiple times.

You might want to try and get in at least the year of inorganic chem while you're in undergrad still.. it's a prerequisite for organic chemistry and that could delay you even more if you're expecting to be able to take all the prerequisite classes at the same time.

Also you could use your "year off" to do some shadowing and volunteer work.

 

[BlueAether]

Oh yea, I already plan on taking my second Bio/Chm classes, I've taken the first. And the major I'm in is a Bachelors in Radiation Therapy. The problem for that is that all time is spent either in class or actually doing Clinic work, so that's why finding time to squeeze in another class is so difficult. I knew I wanted to go into health are, only recently did I decide I wanted to go further.

 

[jwrigh69]

Horrible idea. Take all pre-reqs before taking the MCAT and still study as much as possible. Biochem and Genetics will help you. No reason to rush the MCAT and do poorly.

 

[BlueAether]

Horrible idea. Take all pre-reqs before taking the MCAT and still study as much as possible. Biochem and Genetics will help you. No reason to rush the MCAT and do poorly.

Thanks for being blunt. I dunno, I guess I'm in some kind of rush. I've got this annoying mentality of wishing I'd started sooner. Guess I have to realize I'm gonna age regardless, best make the best plan I have available to me instead of trying to cut corners and regret it later.

So, if I take the classes and MCATS by say, the beginning of summer, THEN, send in all my stuff, would I be in a good position as far as all my grades and requirements for the following fall semester? I dunno, I'd be just finishing up my second class of Organic Chemistry, then having maybe, I dunno, a month to really review everything I just finished, before taking the MCAT. It seems like a good idea. EVerything would have been taken within a year or so of taking the MCAT, so it'd be fresh. I don't think I'd need such an extensive review period, or I can hope not. Would say, August be a bad time?

I hear such bad things about August. August is dreaded, everyone's already been admitted by then, all the spots are filled, etc, etc.

 

[TexasPrincess]

I put off applying for a year in order to finish prereqs. I am glad I did. Make sure you take Anatomy and Physiology. The best thing you can do for yourself is really learn the material in the classes so you wont need much review after you take them before the test. I sugest taking the MCAT in June if you can. I waited till the end of orgo 2 to sign up for the June date, and missed getting a spot. That pushed me to July 30. Personally I am glad to have had the extra time to study. I am just worried about being late in the cycle.. You want to take your prereqs first in order to maximize your MCAT score, especially since it is a big part of the screening part of applications. The MCAT is tough for people who have taken all the prereqs. Good luck!

Thanks for being blunt. I dunno, I guess I'm in some kind of rush. I've got this annoying mentality of wishing I'd started sooner. Guess I have to realize I'm gonna age regardless, best make the best plan I have available to me instead of trying to cut corners and regret it later.

So, if I take the classes and MCATS by say, the beginning of summer, THEN, send in all my stuff, would I be in a good position as far as all my grades and requirements for the following fall semester? I dunno, I'd be just finishing up my second class of Organic Chemistry, then having maybe, I dunno, a month to really review everything I just finished, before taking the MCAT. It seems like a good idea. EVerything would have been taken within a year or so of taking the MCAT, so it'd be fresh. I don't think I'd need such an extensive review period, or I can hope not. Would say, August be a bad time?

I hear such bad things about August. August is dreaded, everyone's already been admitted by then, all the spots are filled, etc, etc.

 

[Magnetek Blue]

This is the same situation I was in. I took Physics I and II my freshman year, but other than that I had none of the pre-reqs. I took Biology I in spring my senior year of college, then Chem I and Anatomy that summer. I spent the next year doing pre-reqs, and this summer I'm applying and studying for the August 14th MCAT. I don't have Orgo II yet, but that is hardly holding back in the ways of the MCAT. I'm scoring quite well without it. Just get the ExamKrackers books, and you'll be fine.

I'm taking Orgo II and Biochem this fall, so I'll still meet the January deadlines for finishing pre-reqs. In the spring, I have no plans. If I get an early acceptance, I'll just take the time off to do whatever I please. If not, I'll seek out opportunities to better my application in case I don't get accepted.

 

[Symone]

I'm in the same boat. I'm a sophomore psychology major and I haven't completed any pre-requisites. My plan was to receive my BA then do a fifth year focusing on pre-requisites. 👎 I guess that's a bad idea. I better get started.

 

[GoSpursGo]

As others have said, absolutely make sure you take all of the pre-reqs before you take the MCAT. It's much better to maybe take a safe route that takes an extra year than cut corners, wind up burning out/screwing up your MCAT and wind up having to take MORE than a year coming back from it.

 

[Seraph 84]

Yes, it is a bad idea. I wish people wouldn't rush this process.

 

[Optimalsauce]

I'd also consider a bad idea.

I took all pre-reqs except Orgo 2 before taking the MCAT, and my physics pre-reqs were 8 years stale.

I agree with a poster a few above, genetics and biochem definitely help.

But I definitely felt at a disadvantage not knowing any Orgo 2, which is basically 60%+ of the orgo on the MCAT. And my knowledge of physics was definitely lacking

 

[sike08]

I'm in the same boat. I'm a sophomore psychology major and I haven't completed any pre-requisites. My plan was to receive my BA then do a fifth year focusing on pre-requisites. 👎 I guess that's a bad idea. I better get started.

yeah that is a horrible idea lol .

as for the OP, i believe majoring in a non science degree is actually a plus for your app. i have constantly been finding that most adcoms want very well rounded students. if you truly believe you want to enter medicine without a science degree, it is definitely worth the time you will spend taking those pre-reqs on your MCAT. there is no shame in being a fifth year senior, im considering it because i had to take a few intro science classes in my first two years of undergrad. good luck OP.

 

[BlueAether]

I'd also consider a bad idea.

I took all pre-reqs except Orgo 2 before taking the MCAT, and my physics pre-reqs were 8 years stale.

I agree with a poster a few above, genetics and biochem definitely help.

But I definitely felt at a disadvantage not knowing any Orgo 2, which is basically 60%+ of the orgo on the MCAT. And my knowledge of physics was definitely lacking

I can't stand Physics. Not in the least. I can't even see how, for the most part, it relates to medicine. But yes, I'm going to take the pre-req's first.

 

[CTAATGT]

I can't stand Physics. Not in the least. I can't even see how, for the most part, it relates to medicine. But yes, I'm going to take the pre-req's first.

Word. I'm taking the MCAT on September 12, but I haven't even taken the last two of the three Physics classes I need (I've only taken Mechanics). Meh...

 

[JaDud6PG]

I took my MCAT without having taken any anatomy or physiology courses. I did well enough to get in.

But in hindsight, I would not have done it that way. Take all pre-req's and all recommended classes before tackling the test.

 

[Food]

I can't stand Physics. Not in the least. I can't even see how, for the most part, it relates to medicine. But yes, I'm going to take the pre-req's first.

Because physics requires you to take information, determine which of this information is required to solve a problem, then determine which laws to apply, and in what order. Here's a hint. If you're planning on doing well on the MCAT, embrace physics. Trust me, you need to really delve deep into the subject if you want to do well; I don't mean learn all this useless physics you don't need for MCAT - just understand the stuff that you do need, really well.

As for how physics relates to medicine...optics is a great example. I'm pretty sure most ophthalmologists know focal lengths, lens structures, everything really well for the human eye. Also, to understand blood pressure at various extremities (arms compared to legs, etc), you need to understand the physics of fluids and flow. You probably also need similar concepts to understand how the body manages to create any blood flow in capillaries when the aggregate cross sectional area of capillaries in certain capillary beds is greater than venous/arterial cross sectional area. This also applies to understanding the relationship between osmotic pressure and blood pressure in capillary beds (btw this is all MCAT material).

What else...oh! To fully understand action potentials and transmission of action potentials, it helps to understand some E&M - although I admit it's not entirely necessary if you just need the fundamentals. But it certainly helps.

My point is don't forget that the human body is just biological machinery - physical laws govern this machinery and that is why physics is on the MCAT.

 

[BlueAether]

I shouldn't have said that in that way. I understand how it applies in a small number of ways. Such as hearing and vision, but aside from that, I really don't see how it applies, and there are far more practical methods of learning how to analyze a questions and determine what is needed to solve it, methods that don't require you to memorize a huge number of seemingly abstract formulas.

Oh, and don't worry, I've decided to take the pre-reqs first.