Undergraduate Course Sequence

[daisy:)]

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I am entering my junior year of undergrad this fall and recently came back to the pre-med track after dabbling in therapy for a semester. I am not behind, per se, but I do need to maximize my time between now and next Spring (MCAT) to make sure that I am adequately prepared for the test, all while balancing my schedule to maintain my GPA. I still have the following classes to take...
- Gen Chem II
- Physics II (weak Physics I background)
- Organic I and II
- Biochem

Option #1: Take Gen Chem II online through a community college this summer in order to be ready for the Organic sequence this fall/spring. That would leave Physics II to take later, probably the next fall, along with Biochem. If I were to do this, I wouldn't have content from either as a basis for MCAT prep.

Option #2: Take Physics II this fall (I've heard it is helpful for Organic) and Gen Chem II this spring, leaving the Organic sequence for the following fall/spring to take at the same time as Biochem. This would leave me with no basis in Organic for the MCAT other than self-study.

Option #3: Go insane whilst taking Gen Chem II online this summer and then taking Physics II along with Organic I this fall, leaving Organic II for the spring and Biochem for the next fall.

Essentially, which option is the lesser of three evils? Which option would maintain the best balance between a stable GPA and adequate MCAT prep? Or, if there is another way to rework these classes that is more efficient, please let me know!

 

[confidentandgood]

Why the rush to take the MCAT next spring as opposed to next summer or winter? It sounds like you have a lot of coursework on your plate (that I'm guessing you'd prefer to take before the exam). Best to have a firm grasp on the subjects before launching into full-out review.

I wouldn't recommend taking a pre-req at a community college if you don't have to. You could pair Gen Chem II with Physics II, giving you adequate time to review Physics I as necessary this summer. That would leave room for Organic I and Biochem in the spring, and if you'd feel comfortable reviewing Organic II on your own (it's completely doable), you could take the exam at the end of next summer. If not, take Organic II next fall and tackle the exam in the winter.

If you take simpler courses on the side (or even lessen your credits) you can make time for steady MCAT studying over the course of a year, which makes it that much easier to review the material.

 

[daisy:)]

Why the rush to take the MCAT next spring as opposed to next summer or winter? It sounds like you have a lot of coursework on your plate (that I'm guessing you'd prefer to take before the exam). Best to have a firm grasp on the subjects before launching into full-out review.

I wouldn't recommend taking a pre-req at a community college if you don't have to. You could pair Gen Chem II with Physics II, giving you adequate time to review Physics I as necessary this summer. That would leave room for Organic I and Biochem in the spring, and if you'd feel comfortable reviewing Organic II on your own (it's completely doable), you could take the exam at the end of next summer. If not, take Organic II next fall and tackle the exam in the winter.

If you take simpler courses on the side (or even lessen your credits) you can make time for steady MCAT studying over the course of a year, which makes it that much easier to review the material.

Thank you for your advice! Here's the kicker: I go to a small, private university that only offers courses at certain times.
- Chem II: Spring ONLY
- Physics II: Fall ONLY
- Organic I: Fall ONLY
- Organic II: Spring ONLY
- Biochem: Fall ONLY

 

[confidentandgood]

Thank you for your advice! Here's the kicker: I go to a small, private university that only offers courses at certain times.
- Chem II: Spring ONLY
- Physics II: Fall ONLY
- Organic I: Fall ONLY
- Organic II: Spring ONLY
- Biochem: Fall ONLY

Organic I is doable without Gen Chem II. That being said, I think taking Gen Chem II online would be the best choice if you want to get it out of the way. Just be sure to check with your schools of interest; not all of them accept online labs. If you don't feel comfortable with three sciences in a semester, consider Physics II + Organic I in the fall, Organic II in the spring, and Biochem in the fall. If you want to take the MCAT next summer and have to leave out a course, I would say Biochem is the safest bet. You can self-study that one.