Would it hurt my chances later on if I try now and fail?

[xpinchx]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Right now I'm a Junior transfer student at a university. With the way things are, I'll graduate in 3 years including this one (total of 5 years). Here's how my pre-reqs line up as I remember them:

This year:
Sem1: Chem I
Sem2: Chem II, BioI
Summer: Bio II

Senior year:
Sem1: Orgo I, Phys I, Genetics
Sem2: Orgo II, Phys II

Victory lap:
Sem1: Biochem, electives
Sem2: Electives, wrap up/retake C's.

I need something like 15 elective credits of upper-level bio classes in there, most of which I'll take my super-senior year. My original plan was to take the MCAT in August of my 5th year so I have that whole summer to study for the MCAT (plus I'm starting a little even now.) Then take a year off after year 5 to go crazy with volunteering and research and shadowing.

With the rate I'm going I'll have a decent amount of volunteer work and shadowing done by the time I graduate. So let's say I graduate on time (5 years) and have the MCAT finished with a decent-ish score (let's say, ~30) and a good GPA. If I don't get into any schools with my first MCAT score, will I be better off if I had just waited for that extra year off to study hardcore and rock on the MCAT and use my spare time to get my EMT and gets tons of volunteer experience?

My normal philosophy is "it can't hurt to try," but I'm just curious if I'd be better off waiting and applying for the first time with a stellar application. 😕 Thanks for any help/advice.

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

You shouldn't just apply for the heck of it. If you can do a good job without the year off, then do it. If you can't, then you can't. Just go ahead with your shortest plan, but make sure quality is the name of the game, not "how fast can I get stuff done" cuz that usually results in sacrifice of something. If you find that you can't handle it, then apply later.

"Only a fully trained Jedi Knight, with the Force as his ally, can conquer Vader and his Emperor."

 

[alwaysaangel]

I dunno - the way I see it your MCAT won't be the issue. I don't honestly see someone taking an entire summer to focus on the MCAT doing much worse than someone who studies a whole year part-time. There is a limit to everyones abilities - I think if you really focus on your MCAT studying that summer you'll do just fine.

Make sure to keep your GPA above a 3.5 (including all classes taken at other schools - I recommend making your own excel spreadsheet so you can have a record of you GPA as its calculated by AMCAS. I did that and I was exactly right on what they calculated it as).

The main problem I see with your plan is you not getting and volunteering/shadowing in BEFORE your year off. If you're applying that year off you really need to have already done those things. Research not so much, but clinical experience DEFINITELY! Then doing more for your year off is great - but you need some in there before you turn in your AMCAS.

Otherwise I think you're heading in the right direction and have a generally good plan.

 

[xpinchx]

What exactly do people mean by "clinical experience"? I've been working at UofM for about a year now (and plan on continuing it) as a patient attendant (sitter.) I'm technically non-clinical staff (no scrubs) but I'm in constant contact with patients. Would that count as clinical experience?

 

[alwaysaangel]

What exactly do people mean by "clinical experience"? I've been working at UofM for about a year now (and plan on continuing it) as a patient attendant (sitter.) I'm technically non-clinical staff (no scrubs) but I'm in constant contact with patients. Would that count as clinical experience?

Usually as long as you've been in a clinical setting and seen what its like to be a doctor you're good.

 

[premedtim]

I dunno - the way I see it your MCAT won't be the issue. I don't honestly see someone taking an entire summer to focus on the MCAT doing much worse than someone who studies a whole year part-time. There is a limit to everyones abilities - I think if you really focus on your MCAT studying that summer you'll do just fine.

Make sure to keep your GPA above a 3.5 (including all classes taken at other schools - I recommend making your own excel spreadsheet so you can have a record of you GPA as its calculated by AMCAS. I did that and I was exactly right on what they calculated it as).

The main problem I see with your plan is you not getting and volunteering/shadowing in BEFORE your year off. If you're applying that year off you really need to have already done those things. Research not so much, but clinical experience DEFINITELY! Then doing more for your year off is great - but you need some in there before you turn in your AMCAS.

Otherwise I think you're heading in the right direction and have a generally good plan.

Do you happen to have that spreadsheet handy AA? 🙂

 

[A Tree]

You shouldn't just apply for the heck of it.

Emphasis on the heck of it--I might even use stronger language. OP, don't plan to apply twice, and don't plan to get C's! Do your best, as they say in the Boy Scouts...

 

[alwaysaangel]

Do you happen to have that spreadsheet handy AA? 🙂

PM me your email and I'll send it to you when I get home from work tonight at 5.

I do have to warn you my grades are in it still. I'm too lazy to delete them - plus it will give you a better idea of how to use it. You just have to enter the grade value (i.e 3.7 for A-, 3.3 for B+) and the credits. I have it split to give you each years GPA and to give you the overall science and overall total GPAs.

You will probably have to adjust which cells feed into the Science total but as long as you can do slight changes to excel formulas it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Law2Doc]

Right now I'm a Junior transfer student at a university. With the way things are, I'll graduate in 3 years including this one (total of 5 years). Here's how my pre-reqs line up as I remember them:

This year:
Sem1: Chem I
Sem2: Chem II, BioI
Summer: Bio II

Senior year:
Sem1: Orgo I, Phys I, Genetics
Sem2: Orgo II, Phys II

Victory lap:
Sem1: Biochem, electives
Sem2: Electives, wrap up/retake C's.

I need something like 15 elective credits of upper-level bio classes in there, most of which I'll take my super-senior year. My original plan was to take the MCAT in August of my 5th year so I have that whole summer to study for the MCAT (plus I'm starting a little even now.) Then take a year off after year 5 to go crazy with volunteering and research and shadowing.

With the rate I'm going I'll have a decent amount of volunteer work and shadowing done by the time I graduate. So let's say I graduate on time (5 years) and have the MCAT finished with a decent-ish score (let's say, ~30) and a good GPA. If I don't get into any schools with my first MCAT score, will I be better off if I had just waited for that extra year off to study hardcore and rock on the MCAT and use my spare time to get my EMT and gets tons of volunteer experience?

My normal philosophy is "it can't hurt to try," but I'm just curious if I'd be better off waiting and applying for the first time with a stellar application. 😕 Thanks for any help/advice.

In general it's better to line all your ducks in a row before pulling the trigger. Make one shot count. There is no set time table and no right time. When you've done everything you think you need to to make yourself competitive, it is time to apply, not before.

 

[szhao]

i think you will do fine, i wouldn't worry about the mcat, to be honest just put your heart and sole into it, then your going to do well. don't plan on failure, think positive. MCAT will be fine, but make sure you give your self enough time to go through some of the prep material. honestly, i this is probably just me but however much i push back something i get the same result, which is why i never study a lot for a test.