Three questions about pre-reqs

[sjlamb77]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I'm finishing up my degree this semester, but it's a semester early so I still have scholarship for next semester. I'm also in liberal arts, but have recently decided to pursue med school. I have three questions:

1) I don't have any of the 8 science classes required for med school, but since I'm finished with my degree, I can take up to 17 hours next semester. Will trying to take 4 science classes in one semester kill me? I've always taken 17-19 hours, along with working about 30-40 hours/week, but I know sciences are typically more dense than having a variety of courses.

2) If I do go ahead and take 4 sciences, which ones are most useful for the MCAT? Theoretically, I can take 4 science courses next semester, then 2 in the summer, and the remaining two in the fall. I believe med school apps are due in the fall, so I'll have to take my MCAT with only 6 of the 8 courses. For clarification, the school I'm looking at requires a year of Bio, Chem, OChem, and Physics. I only have microbiology under my belt. I have a friend that just took the MCAT having had no physics, just self taught, and made a 30. Should I focus on the chemistries in particular? Bio and physics seems easier to teach myself in preparation for the MCAT.

3) Scheduling four science courses is also difficult. We have what's called CAP classes, which are basically weekend courses that are taught in long segments to help out with people's busy schedules. Do med schools frown upon any kind of altered classes, such as summer courses, weekend courses, or online courses?

 

[TarHeelEMT]

1) I added a biology major as a second semester junior. I did what you're talking about for several semesters, and it was brutal but doable if you're a masochist and really dedicated.

2) It's been a while since I took the MCAT. I'll have to punt.

3) Certainly not under your circumstances and not likely under any circumstances unless it's somehow a weaker curriculum (which I doubt)

 

[sjlamb77]

haha I am a bit of a masochist for school. I think this setup would be necessary if I want to have a shot of getting into med school in 2014. I'll really be pushing it.

 

[TarHeelEMT]

There is no harm in a year off if you're struggling.

 

[sjlamb77]

I agree, and I'm prepared to do that if it doesn't work out. I also really want to stay in the city I'm in for several reasons, which obviously limits me to one medical school, although it isn't necessarily a very competitive one. I just don't want to work an extra year at some mundane job (liberal arts degree... *sigh*) if I really don't have to.

 

[theseeker4]

I'm finishing up my degree this semester, but it's a semester early so I still have scholarship for next semester. I'm also in liberal arts, but have recently decided to pursue med school. I have three questions:

1) I don't have any of the 8 science classes required for med school, but since I'm finished with my degree, I can take up to 17 hours next semester. Will trying to take 4 science classes in one semester kill me? I've always taken 17-19 hours, along with working about 30-40 hours/week, but I know sciences are typically more dense than having a variety of courses.

2) If I do go ahead and take 4 sciences, which ones are most useful for the MCAT? Theoretically, I can take 4 science courses next semester, then 2 in the summer, and the remaining two in the fall. I believe med school apps are due in the fall, so I'll have to take my MCAT with only 6 of the 8 courses. For clarification, the school I'm looking at requires a year of Bio, Chem, OChem, and Physics. I only have microbiology under my belt. I have a friend that just took the MCAT having had no physics, just self taught, and made a 30. Should I focus on the chemistries in particular? Bio and physics seems easier to teach myself in preparation for the MCAT.

3) Scheduling four science courses is also difficult. We have what's called CAP classes, which are basically weekend courses that are taught in long segments to help out with people's busy schedules. Do med schools frown upon any kind of altered classes, such as summer courses, weekend courses, or online courses?

Make sure the CAP classes are the same course number as the standard courses to make sure they are recognized as the actual pre reqs you need. Other than that, courses scheduled at "non standard" times won't hurt at all.

I would start slower than that myself, since college level sciences are new to you. I would start with bio and general chem, maybe physics as well, if you can back off work if the schedule ends up being too much. You need to take the four chems in sequence most places anyway, so you can't double up.

You will be applying two summers from now, not next fall, if you want a realistic shot at admissions. You will want to take the MCAT in the spring before you apply, AFTER all the pre reqs, and with at least a month or three dedicated study time. You will want to have your application ready to submit in June, NOT the fall. As you can see, with the time it will take to get the pre reqs done, then study for the MCAT, and then apply in June, puts you applying in 2014 for matriculation in Aug 2015. Remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint, and struggling to get in a year early could push you back three years when you end up having to retake pre reqs, take upper level sciences to prove you can get As in science courses on your first try, retake the MCAT, etc.

Relax your timeframe and you will not only have an easier time, but be much more likely to complete this successfully. Good luck!

 

[sjlamb77]

Thanks for the advice seeker! You're probably right that I need to wait a year for the 2015 cycle. An extra year just seems like a long time to me right now, but if I took the MCAT in May or June I'd totally bomb it. My biggest concern is finding a job that I would enjoy until then. I work lots of random jobs to make ends meet, and I wish I could be an EMT or MA, but I don't really have a whole semester and the extra money to get certified in those. Do you know of any entry level jobs in science or healthcare? It would be great experience to be some kind of research/lab assistant, but that might be a long shot with a liberal arts background.

 

[theseeker4]

Thanks for the advice seeker! You're probably right that I need to wait a year for the 2015 cycle. An extra year just seems like a long time to me right now, but if I took the MCAT in May or June I'd totally bomb it. My biggest concern is finding a job that I would enjoy until then. I work lots of random jobs to make ends meet, and I wish I could be an EMT or MA, but I don't really have a whole semester and the extra money to get certified in those. Do you know of any entry level jobs in science or healthcare? It would be great experience to be some kind of research/lab assistant, but that might be a long shot with a liberal arts background.

Not sure what the opportunities are in your area, but ER scribing is definitely possible, and there are usually nighttime med tech courses you could take while taking the pre reqs. Getting a research job at your university might be possible, or a job at the med school or hospital in clinical research. Your background could hold you back, but I got a job as a chemist with a History degree and the med school pre reqs, so anything is possible.

 

[sjlamb77]

Since I'll have some time for a couple extra courses, what does someone think would be best to take? My options would be things like cell biology, biochem, anatomy, etc. I've heard biochem is especially helpful. I also haven't taken calculus, but for the school I'm looking at, it isn't a requirement.

 

[bluestreaks]

Yeah biochem kind of integrates the other science classes and makes you more fluent in them. So when you take the MCAT, you can focus more on answering the questions since you're really fluent in the language.

Still, you're leaving time to study for the MCAT right? I think the most helpful thing was taking every single AAMC practice test, and that takes time.

Also, I admire your determination and work ethic!

 

[sjlamb77]

Thanks! One thing I've gathered from the forum is to try to take 3 months to study for the MCAT, so I'll try to keep that in mind. Maybe I could span that over 3-5 months while I take biochem, or take biochem in spring 2014 then study for the MCAT in May and June. Either way, I'll definitely try to have plenty of dedicated study time for it. I seem to have great luck on standardize testing, scoring higher than friends who are smarter than me, so hopefully that combined with all of these classes being really fresh on my mind, plus study time, will equal awesome MCAT score. Gonna shoot for our early acceptance program.