To take extra classes besides prerequisites or not?

[Ellegra]

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Hi there!
I need a suggestion, please! I'm 38 (hmm) and taking prerequisites for MD or DO school. I'm looking more for DO school.
I will finish my prerequisites in this Fall of 2010 and I will take Kaplan's class for prep. However, I never took any extra classes that recommended like immunology, genetics, biochemistry, anatomy, physiology and so on.
If I will take them, it will take me another year to finish it and I'm not 20. But if I will not take them, I realize that I will have less chances to receive the highest score that will be possible for me.
Is there any chance to score well on MCAT without extra classes?

Hypothetically, if MCAT score will be low than I can take extra recommended classes and retake MCAT 2nd time. Is it a reasonable idea or is it better to take extra and postpone MCAT for another year?

 

[jslo85]

It is not required for you to take any of the upper division classes such as those you listed to apply to medical school. However it is recommended that you do take Biochemistry, Microbiology, Cell Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, etc. if you're trying to become a competitive applicant.

The MCAT will not test you on any material outside the pre-requisites (physics, general chemistry, orgo and general biology) and as such the extra classes will not provide necessary information that you have not been exposed to already. However in my personal experience and from reading those of others as well, taking the upper division sciences courses have been useful in tackling the biology section.

If you are taking Kaplan and your pure concern is that you will not achieve a competitive score for DO school by not taking those upper division science courses, I would personally say that your concerns are unfounded and that Kaplan and your pre-req experiences will be sufficient in preparing you for the MCAT.

Please try to not consider the possibility of taking the MCAT a second time. If at all possible, you should envision yourself taking the MCAT once and only once and doing the best you possibly can. While applying early (in June or July), you can enroll in upper division classes for the fall and winter and spring should you really feel that you should be taking the classes and put them down under predicted coursework and update the medical schools accordingly when final grades do come out.

Good luck

 

[Ellegra]

Please try to not consider the possibility of taking the MCAT a second time. If at all possible, you should envision yourself taking the MCAT once and only once and doing the best you possibly can. While applying early (in June or July), you can enroll in upper division classes for the fall and winter and spring should you really feel that you should be taking the classes and put them down under predicted coursework and update the medical schools accordingly when final grades do come out.

Good luck

I was thinking that if I will take MCAT in late spring 2011, then I will take some extra classes later in the summer, fall and spring... I liked that you expressed the same ideas so I was on the right pathway 🙂
But I still need to figure out if it will be enough to have only prerequisites.

What is the max score possible to get with only prerequisites compare to if a person takes all extra classes?
In other words, is it worth to spend another year (considering age)?

 

[jslo85]

There is no max score difference between someone who only takes the pre-reqs and a person who takes the extra classes. The max score is a 45 and it is within the realm of possibilities for someone with either of the two backgrounds that you have brought up to achieve that.

If you are taking Kaplan, I do not think is is necessary to spend another year taking upper division science courses for the sole purpose of taking the MCAT.

Understand this, Kaplan will give an efficient and a somewhat comprehensive rehash of all the pre-requisite material that has been presented to you in those classes as well as additional information that they deem important for you to know. They will also impart strategies that they have created to allow their students to improve their score. It is arguable whether TPR or Kaplan or EK is better.

 

[JoyceMD]

As long as you get competitive grades, taking upper-level courses will always be a benefit to you for the MCAT as well as Med school.

 

[Ellegra]

As long as you get competitive grades, taking upper-level courses will always be a benefit to you for the MCAT as well as Med school.

I understand very well how beneficial extra classes are. What if you would have to choose and you would have time/age limitations, would you spend another year of studying to be more competitive, or would you take a shot? (I'm just asking for opinion.)

 

[Econ2MD]

I understand very well how beneficial extra classes are. What if you would have to choose and you would have time/age limitations, would you spend another year of studying to be more competitive, or would you take a shot? (I'm just asking for opinion.)

I would not let non-prerequisite coursework delay my application, especially if you are performing well on your practice exams leading up to your MCAT. You can always take the additional coursework in the year of your application and update schools with your progress. If your application is otherwise competitive, I say take the shot.

 

[7starmantis]

Yeah, take the shot for crying out loud.

Seriously, there is no set formula here, taking the kaplan prep is way more than I did, so just do your best, apply now and if you do end up applying again you will only be better, understand the process more, etc etc.

I will second the idea of taking MCAT only once. I had a meager 28Q and applied twice with it. I just didn't feel the risk was worth taking it again. study harder than you ever have, do your best, and take it once.

 

[Ellegra]

OK, thank you!
I guess the smartest way will be to take MCAT and than to take all the rest of recommended courses 🙂

 

[mspeedwagon]

I would decide on this based on how you are doing on practice tests. If you are doing ok, I agree with all the other posters... don't delay. If you are not as happy as you could be and have a glaring weakness then take upper level bio courses in that area. What's one more year? Do it once and do it right.

OK, thank you!
I guess the smartest way will be to take MCAT and than to take all the rest of recommended courses 🙂