When is the best time to take physics?

[BurstingEagle]

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[BlueCircle]

I am in a similar position. I won't be taking physics until my JR year. Most take it sophomore year though.

 

[loltopsy]

Never.

 

[Elevencents]

I'd definitely recommend taking physics 2 prior to taking the MCAT. It's really not that bad of a course as far as time put in, so don't be afraid to take it with Ochem. I did that exact same thing.

 

[iforget2]

I took physics 1 along with its lab and also ochem 2 along with its lab in the spring of my sophomore year (just finished actually). Taking the 2 together was tough, but I think taking ochem and ochem lab with any other combination of classes will be hard anyways.

 

[Lya]

I think it varies depending on schools and students. Some schools offer hardcore physics that many students struggle in, while some people are generally strong in math/physics that they can take physics with other upper level courses. So, for your question, I would ask your peers at the same institution. They will have more unbiased answers for you when you try to finalize your class schedule.

The bottom line is that it's good to finish all the physics courses before your MCAT. For instance, if you see multiple electromagnetism passages in your real test day, your physics 2 will come in very handy.

So, in short, if you are studying for MCAT during the summer between junior and senior years and then take it before senior year, I think it's fine to take physics during the junior year. However, I agree that most people take it during the sophomore year so that they can take MCAT before their junior year. It's up to you. If you can study physics 2 on your own during the summer after your sophomore spring semester, you will probably do fine in MCAT and even find physics 2 "easier" or "more tolerable" during your junior fall semester. Some non-trads have been out of schools so long, but they still manage to study these materials on their own, so I know it's possible to take MCAT before you take that physics 2.

Just my opinion =]

 

[Urnathok]

I'm taking it my junior year, right before the MCAT, along with one straggler semester of biology. Took Inorganic as a freshman, Organic as a sophomore.

No real rhyme or reason about the order in relation to the test. I took General Chemistry first since I started as that major, then organic immediately after to see how I would do there, along with botany, and now physics is just the last hurdle.

 

[phunky]

Does your school have a separate Physics class specifically for Life Science majors? If so, that class will be an absolute joke and you shouldn't consider it to be more work than any other class. Now, I am a bit biased as a mathematics major in an algebra-based physics course, but it's soooo elementary.

 

[mehc012]

Yeah, Physics is the most straightforward of all the prereqs...I wouldn't worry too much. I mean, it's not that the prereqs are insanely difficult courses, they're all intro levels. Just make sure you don't overload with upper-levels at the same time, because sometimes if you fall behind in one class, you lose standing in the others as you try to play catch-up in the hard ones!

 

[Belle Melodie]

I will be taking Physics I and Ochem I together in the fall and Physics II and Ochem II in the spring. I will also be taking the MCAT in the spring (if all goes well).

I think if you dedicate each course its necessary time.. you will be fine.

 

[yehhhboiii]

I don't understand why people who haven't taken physics think that their advice is relevant in any way. I took calc based physics and organic at the same time during freshman year. I did fine in my chem classes but was average in physics. It was a real struggle, especially doing the two labs at the same time with the error analysis for every lab report. I suggest that you take it in junior year when you've had more time to get used to college and can compete better against your more experienced peers. it will be fresher in your mind as you take the mcat which is good because a lot of the other courses are basically memorizing facts.

my mcat exam had nothing from physics 2 but your exam will be different