I start my junior year at a university next month and somewhere in the middle of the summer I decided that pre-med was something I wanted to do. (It wasn’t a spur decision, but it was something I didn’t think I was capable of until recently.) I haven’t started any of the pre-reqs and I know that it’s going to be quite a long road for me. I want to do psychiatry, hence the psych major and was wondering if anyone had any advice, tips, or just more general information to give. My advisor said that we’d talk more pre-med over the course of my fall quarter and get a plan going, but this fall I’m only taking psych courses for my major and a calc class.
I am sure it is doable. But first how did you do in the first two years?
There’s a saying that pops up about med school admission process: It’s not a sprint, but a marathon. So assuming what you’ve already done is competitive GPA wise you’re okay.
Random thoughts about where you’re at
Med schools will break down your GPAs by year and cumulatively and also look at your science grades (bio, chem, math, physics).
What’s your cumulative GPA?
What’s your science GPA to date?
Any premed reqs filled?
Any ECs?
Any profs that could write you a strong LOR at this time?
The earliest you’ll probably apply is at end of senior year. You may have to stay in school an extra year. I’m not sure how you could sequence premed reqs (bio, chem physics) since you’re starting third year with only major reqs and a calc course.
Keep in mind premed reqs (bio, chem, physics) don’t prepare you for MCAT. So somewhere in your planning you’ll need to work in time to prep on own or take a formal course (eg Princeton Review)
Good luck
See if you can change your fall schedule to include bio and/or gen chem. You really do need to “get going” otherwise you’re going to run out of time as an undergrad.
I don’t know where you’re going to school, but if you’re receiving aid, then that aid probably will not pay for add’l years.
I just checked and you’re going to a UC. If you’re on a Cal Grant, that will ONLY cover 2 years. You need to get your schedule changed.
Next summer, plan on taking some summer classes at your local CC or CSU that aren’t science premed prereqs. You could take sociology or (if needed) stats. If at a CSU, you could take a psych class that you couldn’t fit in this year while making room for premed prereqs.