Timeline Help!

[MyOwnPath]

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I'm Trying to make a timeline for applying to osteopathic medical school, and I need some help. Currently, I know that I need to apply June of the year before I want to start, and I need everything finished by then to be reviewed early and have a better shot of admission. I still need:
1. Take orgo I and II, and physics I and II. (this will take one academic year, starting this fall, 2012, and I will be finished May 2013)
2. Take MCAT

So I figure the earliest I can start is fall 2014 (I'm non traditional, already graduated college). Does this sound about right? When should I take the MCAT? I was hoping I could take it after I was finished with classes so I could study for it full time but I don't think I can do that and still have it finished and scored by June 1st, 2013. Anyone have some advice for a good timeline?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[MedPR]

I'm Trying to make a timeline for applying to osteopathic medical school, and I need some help. Currently, I know that I need to apply June of the year before I want to start, and I need everything finished by then to be reviewed early and have a better shot of admission. I still need:
1. Take orgo I and II, and physics I and II. (this will take one academic year, starting this fall, 2012, and I will be finished May 2013)
2. Take MCAT

So I figure the earliest I can start is fall 2014 (I'm non traditional, already graduated college). Does this sound about right? When should I take the MCAT? I was hoping I could take it after I was finished with classes so I could study for it full time but I don't think I can do that and still have it finished and scored by June 1st, 2013. Anyone have some advice for a good timeline?

Thanks in advance!!

I was kind of in your place a year ago. I knew I needed to take some classes (for different reasons), and also that I needed to retake my MCAT.

I ended up studying for my MCAT during the spring semester (took it on 4/5) because of my work schedule and I will be applying this cycle. I would say taking your MCAT as late as June/July will be fine considering you can submit your AACOMAS before you have your MCAT score.

Definitely study MCAT full time if you can, but if not you can still get a good score while doing other things (work and school etc)

 

[Iliketoytles]

I'm Trying to make a timeline for applying to osteopathic medical school, and I need some help. Currently, I know that I need to apply June of the year before I want to start, and I need everything finished by then to be reviewed early and have a better shot of admission. I still need:
1. Take orgo I and II, and physics I and II. (this will take one academic year, starting this fall, 2012, and I will be finished May 2013)
2. Take MCAT

So I figure the earliest I can start is fall 2014 (I'm non traditional, already graduated college). Does this sound about right? When should I take the MCAT? I was hoping I could take it after I was finished with classes so I could study for it full time but I don't think I can do that and still have it finished and scored by June 1st, 2013. Anyone have some advice for a good timeline?

Thanks in advance!!

So you're going to take Orgo I/Physics I this fall 2012, and Orgo II/Physics II next Spring 2013.

You'll need to study for the MCAT in the spring. Fortunately, taking Physics II/Orgo II in the Spring will be a fantastic way to study for the MCAT at the same time. You'll be studying for the mcat by studying for your classes, and vice versa. Most people have to find time to study for the MCAT while taking classes during the semester, so you'll be fine.

Take the MCAT in May. If you don't do well, then retake it in June. You'll get your scores back by July, latest (June if your May MCAT turns out good), which is still plenty early. After you take your MCAT, work hard on filling out your primary so you can submit that ASAP.

 

[MyOwnPath]

So you're going to take Orgo I/Physics I this fall 2012, and Orgo II/Physics II next Spring 2013.

You'll need to study for the MCAT in the spring. Fortunately, taking Physics II/Orgo II in the Spring will be a fantastic way to study for the MCAT at the same time. You'll be studying for the mcat by studying for your classes, and vice versa. Most people have to find time to study for the MCAT while taking classes during the semester, so you'll be fine.

Take the MCAT in May. If you don't do well, then retake it in June. You'll get your scores back by July, latest (June if your May MCAT turns out good), which is still plenty early. After you take your MCAT, work hard on filling out your primary so you can submit that ASAP.

Sounds good, but I also have to study for verbal, gen chem, and biology. Is it really important to submit the app June first? Aren't the deadlines Until like February of the NEXT year?

 

[Iliketoytles]

That's what I'm saying though... You'll have to do outside studying for mcat while taking classes. So physics and Ochem review will primarily be done in class, gchem bio and verbal has to be done outside, on the weekends or something. (technically you should start doing verbal now, since it's not subject based).

You can risk submitting late. There will be people here who say they got in after submitting their app in January. But are you going to take that kind of risk? Don't postpone your entire application just for the mcat. Your chances greatly reduce if you apply late.

 

[YiSheng]

Sounds good, but I also have to study for verbal, gen chem, and biology. Is it really important to submit the app June first? Aren't the deadlines Until like February of the NEXT year?

Most schools go by rolling admission, so the sooner they receive your primary, the sooner they will send you secondaries. Some interviews start as early as September, so imagine the chances of you being accepted when they have 135 seats open vs 20 seats open.

 

[COMedic2Doc]

Do your absolute best to have your primary as complete as possible by June 1st of the year that you want to apply. My own course is an exception to the plan that I would prefer due to my recent return to the US and not being in a place to take the MCAT while abroad. However, that doesn't mean that my primary isn't still going in at the beginning of June and the only thing waiting is my MCAT score (plus I do have significant ECs, as in atypically significant). That being said the best plan is to be complete when you submit in early June. Of course you don't want to sacrifice grades so this might mean evaluating your course load so that you can squeeze in studying for the MCAT as well.

 

[MyOwnPath]

Do your absolute best to have your primary as complete as possible by June 1st of the year that you want to apply. My own course is an exception to the plan that I would prefer due to my recent return to the US and not being in a place to take the MCAT while abroad. However, that doesn't mean that my primary isn't still going in at the beginning of June and the only thing waiting is my MCAT score (plus I do have significant ECs, as in atypically significant). That being said the best plan is to be complete when you submit in early June. Of course you don't want to sacrifice grades so this might mean evaluating your course load so that you can squeeze in studying for the MCAT as well.

Well I'm only going to take Physics and Orgo, so Spring, 2013, I will be in Orgo II and Physics II (with labs). I suppose I can start MCAT studying in my free time when not working full-time and not studying for classes. So how's this look:

1. Fall 2012 - Orgo I and Physics I (Sept-Dec)
2. Spring 2013 - Orgo II and Physics II (Jan-May)
3. Spring 2013 - Starting in January, MCAT studying in free time.
4. Take MCAT in May??

How long in advance do I need to take the MCAT? Is May a good month to take it in? If it's scaled based on other people's scores, I assume some months are "easier" than others as well?

 

[Iliketoytles]

Well I'm only going to take Physics and Orgo, so Spring, 2013, I will be in Orgo II and Physics II (with labs). I suppose I can start MCAT studying in my free time when not working full-time and not studying for classes. So how's this look:

1. Fall 2012 - Orgo I and Physics I (Sept-Dec)
2. Spring 2013 - Orgo II and Physics II (Jan-May)
3. Spring 2013 - Starting in January, MCAT studying in free time.
4. Take MCAT in May??

How long in advance do I need to take the MCAT? Is May a good month to take it in? If it's scaled based on other people's scores, I assume some months are "easier" than others as well?

It takes a month to get your scores back, so if you take it early May, you'll get it back early June. If you take it late May, you'll get it late June. Realistically, as long as you get your score in June, you'll be early... since it only takes a few days for AACOMAS to receive your MCAT scores, and you don't need the score to submit the application. Your primary will all be received together this way.

Your plan looks good. The only thing I advise is that you start doing verbal in the Fall. That's what I'd do in retrospect... since verbal was my kryptonite.