Work + prereqs + MCAT...another timeline question...

[wdwrn]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Just when I think I've got my act together as far as planning, something happens where I change my mind. I am a non-trad going back this January to do a piecemeal post-bacc and was going to go very slow and wait to apply in 2017, but now I'm thinking, I'm going to put the pedal to the metal and apply in 2016. I currently work as an RN doing 3 12's (nights) at a hospital...I pick my days so I'm lucky to have this flexibility (some nights it's slow and I can have anywhere from 3-6 hours of downtime as well). I am wondering if the following plan is too much, or doable (note that I already have taken Bio I/Chem I):

Spring 2015 - Bio II/Gen Chem II (working FT)

Drop to PT (24 hours/2 shifts week) at some point before or during summer and:
Summer 2015 - Physics I + II (both courses in 10 week summer session)

Fall 2015: Organic I/Biochem I (still working 24 hours/week)

(start an MCAT classroom prep course near end of year/December)

Spring 2016: Organic II and MCAT prep

...May/June 2016: MCAT and apply

I am very concerned about the MCAT while working PT and in school, especially Organic II. Does this seem doable at all? Does anyone think it's possible to just study for MCAT Spring 2016 and then take Organic II in summer or fall after I apply?

Would love any opinions. I am aware it means no social life, and that's fine. I do want to know if it's realistic to do this and crush it, more or less. I cannot afford to really drop PT but would figure things out, however, it's not an option for me to quit my job so please, don't advise that. 🙂 ...and thank you so much for your responses!

 

[kraskadva]

Personally, I've found that life rarely turns out exactly as you plan it...
So...while your schedule looks do-able to me, I have no way of saying if it's do-able for you. You have to take it as it comes.
Not to say a plan is bad, and by all means, go ahead and give this one a shot, but be prepared to be flexible.
Drop a class if the workload is too much. Pick up another if you think you can manage it.
Don't flip out if you aren't ready to apply in 2016, just keep chugging along and be ready to go for 2017.
An extra year is never the end of the world.
Best of luck.

 

[threesparrows]

When are you taking the labs that accompany these courses? If you are taking the labs concurrently, I think this is going to be a very tough schedule. I would advise applying in 2017 unless you are a super-efficient person who can run on 4 hrs sleep for an entire year. It might work fine for the first semester, but I imagine you will get more and more run down just when you need the energy to make a good push studying for the MCAT.

 

[threesparrows]

Also don't underestimate the time involved in putting together good written components of your application—you will need time for your PS, and for secondaries, and you're not going to be early in the cycle if you follow this plan.