What classes to take and not to take together? Advice...

[_formidable_]

I have looked at several forums about this question--but they are mostly directed towards undergraduates.

I would like to finish my Pre-Reqs in 2 years. I am trying to figure out the best way to go:

Information about me:

Past: Dual Degree Accounting and Business No Sciences class (Except behavioral which I got A's in. ) --worked 3 jobs during colleges, lots of extracurriculars, sports, executive boards, as well as volunteering.

HS- All A's ( Chem, Physical Science, Biology, Environmental Science)

Currently Self-studying Physic ( Plus auditing a class), Biology, and Chem) until I start courses in the Fall. W. I am going to start taking pre-reqs at a community college because -- I just graduated and CANNOT afford to go back to a 4 year. Reached out to a handful of hospitals, low-income clinics, and doctors ( yesterday) awaiting responses for shadowing.

So, with that being said...

Does anyone have a list already made? What sciences should and should not be taken together? I plan on leaving my full-time job and going part-time. So I should be able to handle it--I love science.

A schedule over the course of 4 semesters! Pre-reqs DO Route... If anyone can help!

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[Lorchik]

I am almost in the same boat. I have an MA in Finance from European University which medical schools do not see as qualified as a US College bachelor degree. Trying to finish all pre-req in 2 years. All advice is welcomed.

 

[kraskadva]

Well...the hangup you might run into is the 5 semester Chem series - specifically whether your school a) offers all classes all semesters and b) how they have the course pre-reqs set up and whether they will allow you to go out of sequence.

If you went to my school, you couldn't do the pre-reqs in 2 years, unless you got a waiver, so it would look like this:
Fall 1: Bio1, Chem1, & (pick 1) Physics 1 or Psych/Soc or Math/Stats
Spring 1: Bio 2, Chem 2 & (pick 1) Physics 2 or Psych/Soc or Math/Stats
Fall 2: Orgo 1 & (pick 2) Physics 1 or Psych/Soc or Math/Stats
Spring 2: Orgo 2 & (pick 2) Physics 2 or Psych/Soc or Math/Stats
Fall 3: Biochem & MCAT prep + optional Genetics/cell bio/etc.
...because each "1" pre-req and biochem is only offered in the fall, and each "2" is only offered in the spring.

Now if your school offers both "1" and "2" in both fall and spring, then I would go with this...
Fall 1: Bio1, Chem1, & (pick 1) Psych/Soc or Math/Stats
Spring 1: Bio 2, Chem 2, Physics 1
Fall 2: Orgo 1, Physics 2, (pick 1) Psych/Soc or Math/Stats or Genetics/cell bio/other upper level bio.
Spring 2: Orgo 2, Biochem, & MCAT prep + optional Genetics/cell bio/other upper level bio.

 

[_formidable_]

I am almost in the same boat. I have an MA in Finance from European University which medical schools do not see as qualified as a US College bachelor degree. Trying to finish all pre-req in 2 years. All advice is welcomed.

--thats unfair. So, European University skips undergrad?

 

[_formidable_]

Well...the hangup you might run into is the 5 semester Chem series - specifically whether your school a) offers all classes all semesters and b) how they have the course pre-reqs set up and whether they will allow you to go out of sequence.

If you went to my school, you couldn't do the pre-reqs in 2 years, unless you got a waiver, so it would look like this:
Fall 1: Bio1, Chem1, & (pick 1) Physics 1 or Psych/Soc or Math/Stats
Spring 1: Bio 2, Chem 2 & (pick 1) Physics 2 or Psych/Soc or Math/Stats
Fall 2: Orgo 1 & (pick 2) Physics 1 or Psych/Soc or Math/Stats
Spring 2: Orgo 2 & (pick 2) Physics 2 or Psych/Soc or Math/Stats
Fall 3: Biochem & MCAT prep + optional Genetics/cell bio/etc.
...because each "1" pre-req and biochem is only offered in the fall, and each "2" is only offered in the spring.

Now if your school offers both "1" and "2" in both fall and spring, then I would go with this...
Fall 1: Bio1, Chem1, & (pick 1) Psych/Soc or Math/Stats
Spring 1: Bio 2, Chem 2, Physics 1
Fall 2: Orgo 1, Physics 2, (pick 1) Psych/Soc or Math/Stats or Genetics/cell bio/other upper level bio.
Spring 2: Orgo 2, Biochem, & MCAT prep + optional Genetics/cell bio/other upper level bio.

Thank you so much--this is perfecttttt! Exactly what I was looking for. I will start reaching out to the schools to see how the course offerings work *crosses fingers*

 

[Lorchik]

Well...the hangup you might run into is the 5 semester Chem series - specifically whether your school a) offers all classes all semesters and b) how they have the course pre-reqs set up and whether they will allow you to go out of sequence.

If you went to my school, you couldn't do the pre-reqs in 2 years, unless you got a waiver, so it would look like this:
Fall 1: Bio1, Chem1, & (pick 1) Physics 1 or Psych/Soc or Math/Stats
Spring 1: Bio 2, Chem 2 & (pick 1) Physics 2 or Psych/Soc or Math/Stats
Fall 2: Orgo 1 & (pick 2) Physics 1 or Psych/Soc or Math/Stats
Spring 2: Orgo 2 & (pick 2) Physics 2 or Psych/Soc or Math/Stats
Fall 3: Biochem & MCAT prep + optional Genetics/cell bio/etc.
...because each "1" pre-req and biochem is only offered in the fall, and each "2" is only offered in the spring.

Now if your school offers both "1" and "2" in both fall and spring, then I would go with this...
Fall 1: Bio1, Chem1, & (pick 1) Psych/Soc or Math/Stats
Spring 1: Bio 2, Chem 2, Physics 1
Fall 2: Orgo 1, Physics 2, (pick 1) Psych/Soc or Math/Stats or Genetics/cell bio/other upper level bio.
Spring 2: Orgo 2, Biochem, & MCAT prep + optional Genetics/cell bio/other upper level bio.

Thank you so much. This info is very useful. I have another question. Do you apply for the undergraduate, associate or bachelor degree in college? Can you derivative at school from their main courses? I was thinking for B.A.S. in Health Services Administration or Biotechnology A.S. Degree. Once again thank you.

 

[kraskadva]

Thank you so much. This info is very useful. I have another question. Do you apply for the undergraduate, associate or bachelor degree in college? Can you derivative at school from their main courses? I was thinking for B.A.S. in Health Services Administration or Biotechnology A.S. Degree. Once again thank you.

So, Associates (2yr) and Bachelors (4yr) are both undergraduate programs. Which one you pick is up to you, but I would suggest enrolling as a Bachelor's student, regardless of whether you complete that degree, because it makes it easier to get the appropriate classes.
You can take different class than are required for a particular major, but it's best to pick a major that overlaps with the majority of the courses that you want to take, since (especially with upper levels) many courses are restricted to students in that major.
However, since you are starting with foreign degrees, you're in a different situation than an American student. You should probably start looking here (https://forums.studentdoctor.net/th...chool-with-a-foreign-bachelor-degree.1228071/) and here (https://students-residents.aamc.org...ool/article/applying-international-applicant/) for advice.

 

[Lorchik]

So, Associates (2yr) and Bachelors (4yr) are both undergraduate programs. Which one you pick is up to you, but I would suggest enrolling as a Bachelor's student, regardless of whether you complete that degree, because it makes it easier to get the appropriate classes.
You can take different class than are required for a particular major, but it's best to pick a major that overlaps with the majority of the courses that you want to take, since (especially with upper levels) many courses are restricted to students in that major.
However, since you are starting with foreign degrees, you're in a different situation than an American student. You should probably start looking here (https://forums.studentdoctor.net/th...chool-with-a-foreign-bachelor-degree.1228071/) and here (https://students-residents.aamc.org...ool/article/applying-international-applicant/) for advice.

Thank you so much! That's a lot of help. The forum has tons of information but your straight forwarded answers are just to the point. Once again thank you.

 

[WGSgrad]

Well...the hangup you might run into is the 5 semester Chem series - specifically whether your school a) offers all classes all semesters and b) how they have the course pre-reqs set up and whether they will allow you to go out of sequence.

If you went to my school, you couldn't do the pre-reqs in 2 years, unless you got a waiver, so it would look like this:
Fall 1: Bio1, Chem1, & (pick 1) Physics 1 or Psych/Soc or Math/Stats
Spring 1: Bio 2, Chem 2 & (pick 1) Physics 2 or Psych/Soc or Math/Stats
Fall 2: Orgo 1 & (pick 2) Physics 1 or Psych/Soc or Math/Stats
Spring 2: Orgo 2 & (pick 2) Physics 2 or Psych/Soc or Math/Stats
Fall 3: Biochem & MCAT prep + optional Genetics/cell bio/etc.
...because each "1" pre-req and biochem is only offered in the fall, and each "2" is only offered in the spring.

Now if your school offers both "1" and "2" in both fall and spring, then I would go with this...
Fall 1: Bio1, Chem1, & (pick 1) Psych/Soc or Math/Stats
Spring 1: Bio 2, Chem 2, Physics 1
Fall 2: Orgo 1, Physics 2, (pick 1) Psych/Soc or Math/Stats or Genetics/cell bio/other upper level bio.
Spring 2: Orgo 2, Biochem, & MCAT prep + optional Genetics/cell bio/other upper level bio.

+1

The only problem I see with the second schedule is that it leaves you no time to study/sit for the MCAT AND apply early. (From what I have heard, Biochem and Orgo 2 are tough and I don't know that I could do both and study for the MCAT.) My personal work around would be taking Chem 1 the summer before...

Summer 2017: Chem 1
Fall 2017: Chem 2, Bio 1, Physics 1
Spring 2018: Orgo 1, Bio 2, Physics 2
Fall 2018: Orgo 2, Biochem, Social Psych/Soc
Spring 2019: Study/Sit for MCAT...time for retake if necessary
June: AMCAS

There are probably a ton of different ways to work this out, this is just the schedule I would consider to have enough dedicated study time for the MCAT and a retake if necessary. It seems like time and time again, if the timing of the MCAT gets thrown off, folks end up having to wait another cycle, or apply with a poor score, or end up making rash choices (like going Caribbean).


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