What are downsides to scheduling all pre-med coursework during freshman year?

[rumspringaends]

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[pitutinho]

Unless your brother gets AP credit for Chem 1/2 it's just not possible to get Orgo 1/2 done since at virtually almost all schools Chem 1/2 is a prerequisite. Also don't forget that your brother has to take Calculus so the only way he could even start Phys 1 in his first semester as a freshman would be if he earns AP credit for Calculus. If these are the only classes your brother plans on taking then he should be fine as the most he could take in a semester would be three but depending on the teacher and whether or not these will coupled with a considerable amount of ge's then this could prove to be burdensome depending on the type of student your brother is

 

[music2doc]

Umm... high possibility of failure. Also, death by suicide. Ochem + Gchem in one semester do not mix...and most schools won't allow it. If he actually wants to become a physician, he needs to take this seriously and not try to rush it. Yes, I understand he may be deployed but rushing prereqs just won't work. Further, he's going to have to find time for clinical experiences for more than just one year. If he's looking at deploying soon, it may make more sense to wait on college for now or simply take geneds until he is deployed. Once that's all out of the way, he could start working toward medicine.

 

[Astarael]

Pitutinho brought up the most difficult problem-you cannot enroll in general chemistry and organic chemistry concurrently. The other problem is that you left out English, which typically has a one year requirement, and calculus, which many schools require one semester of. So even with Bio, Chem, O Chem, Physics, and English, you're looking at 40 credits. Fitting that in two semesters would be 20/semester, which is just an awful idea.

 

[rumspringaends]

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[capn jazz]

Most schools take MCATs within 3 years of application.

Some are 3 years at matriculation (aka 2 years from application) - SUNY Downstate is one.

Some are 1 year at application - SUNY Stony Brooke does this.

To be honest, I don't think it's possible to learn for the first time, and master well enough for the MCAT, all the material in one year.

He'd be better off taking Gen Chem 1-2 and Physics 1-2 during first year, going abroad, and then coming back and taking Bio 1-2 and OChem 1-2 senior year, studying for the MCAT over the summer, and taking one year off while applying.

 

[ucsfstudents]

It's better to spread the premed courses over a few years rather than trying to take them all in 1 year. There is no reason to rush. He can finish the rest when he gets back. Too many classes at once is a recipe for failure and unecessary stress.

 

[rumspringaends]

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[JESSFALLING]

I think this is a VERY bad schedule. He should lighten the summer loads because that is where he is going to have trouble.

If he does not have any more time, then I would recommend revising as follows:

Summer - Gen Chem 1
Fall - Gen Chem 2 + Bio + Physics
Spring - Organic Chem 1 + Bio + Physics
Summer - Organic Chem 2
++++++++++++++++++

 

[pitutinho]

I think this is a VERY bad schedule. He should lighten the summer loads because that is where he is going to have trouble.

If he does not have any more time, then I would recommend revising as follows:

Summer - Gen Chem 1
Fall - Gen Chem 2 + Bio + Physics
Spring - Organic Chem 1 + Bio + Physics
Summer - Organic Chem 2
++++++++++++++++++

I agree with this proposed schedule if he absolutely has to get these classes done within a year but don't forget he MUST also complete English and Calculus and in the case that he hasn't then Phys 1 would need to be pushed to the spring (or fall if he could get it done in the summer along with Chem 1) but as other posters have mentioned this would be a pretty daunting schedule for most people especially if he has to work and has kids to manage + a wife etc. If he's not careful then taking on this schedule could potentially ruin his chances for med school if he doesn't achieve a good gpa and I'm pretty sure most people would agree that would not be an easy schedule especially due to his circumstances and living conditions.

 

[capn jazz]

He can't do that. He works for the State Department (security guard), he's older, has wife, has kids, wife has a job, they need to be together because one person cannot manage all kids, one of his inlaws who lives with them needs dialysis every few days and can't drive, he wants to apply before subconscious or conscious age discrimination sets in, etc. Think about it - he's so non-traditional that he asked me to post this question for him LOL.

Regardless, this is one more year off compared to his original plan. It's not the end of the world.

 

[beckmancoulter]

Not sure if this was mentioned but most schools don't accept online coursework.

 

[rumspringaends]

Summer - Gen Chem 1
Fall - Gen Chem 2 + Bio + Physics
Spring - Organic Chem 1 + Bio + Physics
Summer - Organic Chem 2

The problem might be that Gen Chem-2 is usually offered in the Spring at most universities and Org Chem 1 is usually offered in the Fall - at least that is my understanding.

 

[rumspringaends]

Not sure if this was mentioned but most schools don't accept online coursework.

The online courses at his university (English, Calculus) don't show up as online courses either on the transcript or on the syllabus - so he may be okay? He could also squeeze these two courses in somewhere else.

 

[Person0715]

When will he be able to squeeze in preparing for the MCAT while taking orgo 2?

 

[rumspringaends]

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[Stumpyman]

Reply to title: Depression, Suicidal thoughts, suicide


Anyways, I'm joking, I've seen people literally do a bachelor's degree in 2 and a half years with stellar stats.

 

[rumspringaends]

Reply to title: Depression, Suicidal thoughts, suicide


Anyways, I'm joking, I've seen people literally do a bachelor's degree in 2 and a half years with stellar stats.

How in the world does anyone manage a bachelor's degree in 2 & 1/2 years? And manage stellar stats with it??

 

[capn jazz]

I guess if he does well in his pre-med classes, he will do well on the MCAT too.

This is not true. Studying for the MCAT involves more than just taking the prereqs.