What to do? Moment of weakness

[spcwounder]

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I'm having a moment of weakness and am second guessing what I'm doing.

I've been out of school and working in an unrelated field for 3 years. I've enrolled 3 classes at my local university; environmental health, the final general chemistry course (for a refresher) and a molecular cell biology course. I know the first two classes are going to be easy, but I'm afraid the mol. biology will kill me. My overall undergrad GPA is 3.4 with a 3.3 science. Since I've already graduated is it even worth taking these courses? Am I wasting time that I should be spending on the MCAT? The last day to drop any class is this Sunday.

Tentatively my plan is to work my butt of in these course and take the intensive MCAT prep course to prepare for the Sept MCAT. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[SCooFS]

Molecular bio is typically much easier than gen chem. I would drop the gen chem refresher, as your mcat prep course will be designed to be a much better refresher and cut out information that will not be tested on. That is unless you are wanting to replace a previous bad grade

 

[JeBrAs]

Your GPA is fine, especially if you can get an equivalent of a 26+ on the new MCAT, you will get in somewhere. Focus on doing well on the MCAT, that should be your main priority right now. A good MCAT can really increase your options with the current GPAs you have. It all depends on which Osteopathic schools you are trying to get into, if you want to get into the most competitive programs then try to bring up both GPAs up 1-2 points and get an MCAT equivalent of a 28+. If I was in your shoes, I would not take the classes and instead just focus all of my time and energy on doing well on the MCAT. But if you think you can juggle taking classes, preparing for the MCAT and working on your applications/essays, have fun.

 

[j4pac]

I think that you really can only hurt yourself at this point. Your GPA looks good enough assuming that you can get a strong GPA. If your goal is to get into medical school...I would focus on doing whatever it takes to rock the MCAT.

I honestly thought that Mole Cell wasn't bad...it was actually the first Biology course that I really enjoyed. But I don't know if your school has a reputation of being difficult.

 

[BorntobeDO?]

I'm having a moment of weakness and am second guessing what I'm doing.

I've been out of school and working in an unrelated field for 3 years. I've enrolled 3 classes at my local university; environmental health, the final general chemistry course (for a refresher) and a molecular cell biology course. I know the first two classes are going to be easy, but I'm afraid the mol. biology will kill me. My overall undergrad GPA is 3.4 with a 3.3 science. Since I've already graduated is it even worth taking these courses? Am I wasting time that I should be spending on the MCAT? The last day to drop any class is this Sunday.

Tentatively my plan is to work my butt of in these course and take the intensive MCAT prep course to prepare for the Sept MCAT. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Memorize everything in the MCAT book, and then understand it. People tell you MCAT is a concept test, but reality is that its memorization and conceptual. You need both. I didn't dedicate enough time to just route memorizing and hence my rather weak science scores. Especially being out of school for several years (I was out over 4 years before my MCAT retake) this is the biggest challenge IMO. Just do it! Memorize everything, you will have no regrets.

 

[MarshMedic]

My word probably doesn't carry much weight as I have not applied yet, but I think you'd be better off putting the time into the MCAT. When I took my Kaplan course I was working half-time and had a cell/mol bio course. I feel I was over extending myself and could have performed better on the MCAT. Cell bio was useful, but if you have to work full time you really need to put all of your free/remaining time into the MCAT. I put alot of time in, but wish I could have put more in as I fell 2 points from my goal. Whatever you choose just don't take Gen Chem while working and preparing for the MCAT.

Also, as a side note, my cell bio course wasn't difficult and was probably my favorite postbac course.

 

[spcwounder]

I already received a 3.3 in the first half of Gen Chem and a 4.0 in the second half, so J4PAC is right ... I could only hurt myself in terms of GPA. Maybe I just drop the Chem courses and work on the MCAT.

 

[SCooFS]

Yes. It is typically a bad idea to use school courses to prepare for the mcat compared to what you can learn in a formal mcat course. If you can get an A in chemistry, bio should be relatively easy

 

[FutureD0C17]

I don't understand, if anything, wouldn't it have been wiser to enroll in Chem I as a "refresher" since you only got a B+ there? Why mess around with an A already in the books.? I also think Chem is more difficult than molecular bio.

 

[spcwounder]

I dropped the Chem class and signed up for a lecture seminar to maintain full time enrollment. Everyone here made a good point. Why mess around when I already have a 4.0 on the books, it could only hurt. Not to mention I'd be better off studying 5+ more hours a week vs sitting in an introduction course.

I guess I just need to have some confidence in myself. I know I can relearn any of the Chem topics I'm rusty on.

 

[doapplicant2015]

I would take no classes and move your MCAT up a month if you're planning on applying this cycle.

Rock the MCAT and you will be fine without another class