<p>Her timetable is to take the MCAT course and then the test at the end of this summer, then take physics the following year (senior year). It probably wouldn’t make sense to take the test a year after taking the course. I think, however, it will likely work out, as she was very strong in AP Physics, though it was a while ago.</p>
<p>My impression is that if you don’t take the test, Kaplan will let you retake the course? At least that was the policy (I think) four years ago. So the idea would be that if her practice scores aren’t where she wants them, she delays a year, retakes the MCAT course, and then tries again.</p>
<p>By the way, I should note that according to this particular timetable, it would also delay her app by a year. Moving the test from August to June (or, better yet, April) renders that unnecessary.</p>
<p>I heard someone’s opinion that physics is actually easier part of MCAT. Is that true?</p>
<p>That might have been me. The science content on the MCAT is not very difficult in general, but physics and organic chemistry are especially basic. General chemistry and biology test slightly more complex concepts.</p>
<p>That is interesting answer. Gen. Chem has always been one of my D’s easier subject (she never had Chem AP in HS). She actually was hired by prof. to be a Supplemental Instructor (basically tutor on payroll) because he noticed that. How that could be harder than Orgo? Did not you find that Orgo reguires a lot memorization? Or you have a different approach?</p>
<p>Of course, in school, organic chemistry is much more difficult. But the MCAT tests very, very little organic chemistry and sticks to the most basic of concepts, such that the genchem on the MCAT is more difficult than the organic chemistry on the MCAT. In school, I received an A in genchem and a C+ in organic, so when even I am suggesting that the organic on the MCAT is easier, it really means something.</p>
<p>BDM: She is planning on delaying her application for a year. Is it true that you can’t apply anyway before finishing all of the basic requirements? She has completed organic and everything else but physics. Not sure what the plan is for the year inbetween at this point.
Thanks for the tip about Kaplan. I’ll let her know to ask about that.</p>
<p>Nope, you want your requirements completed at time of matriculation, not necessarily application. Of course, admissions committees rely heavily on that data, so it’s good to have almost all of them done by then.</p>
<p>My point was that you want an MCAT score in hand by June, when you apply (e.g. 15 months before you’d start med school). So the date on which the MCAT</p>
<p>^ lol at least I got a good laugh from the ■■■■■.</p>
<p>Did u not take the english rechoirment Ms. ■■■■■?</p>
<p>EDIT: Sorry for the rude remark, I am just very tired today and I found it offensive that you would post such things as you have to someone who is taking their time to assist others.</p>
<p>Okay, last post to feed the ■■■■■! ""You spelled requirment wrong, duh, so did U.</p>
<p>^Dude do you not get she’s busy…</p>
<p>Be happy she’s atleast willing to help people and actually answer some people. You never mentioned how long you’ve been waiting.</p>
<p>Is there a pre-med counselor at your school or a nearby school or something? Even someone you can e-mail?</p>
<p>I’d say with a 3.3 and 24 MCAT you can apply for DO school or maybe try the Caribbean? </p>
<p>You could take a year off after college, retake the classes you did badly in and improve the MCAT and apply next year.</p>
<p>Hi Everyone,
Sorry I have been MIA. I will answer all my private messages ASAP. Counting down until the end of second year!!!</p>
<p>Hi PND,</p>
<p>I am currently a college student finishing my second year, and I am really interested in applying to Teach for America after graduating. However, I would like to apply to medical school afterwards. Would it be okay for me to apply to TfA and medical schools concurrently? And if not, is there any way for me to take my MCATs before pursuing TfA?</p>
<p>I get the impression premeds think GPA is an absolute and accurate measurement of your abilities. Honestly, it encourages too many people to play the “GPA game,” or in other words, avoid harder classes (which often can be more interesting) to take easier ones. Honestly, it’s quite sickening.</p>
<p>If you truly like pchem, quantum mechanics, abstract algebra, advanced electrodynamics… well sucks for you b/c they are not healthy GPA inflators.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If you truly like these courses, is it more likely that you will do well on it and receive relatively good grades?</p>
<p>If there is any problem in the fairness of the game, it is that not every professor sets the same standard for the A-level work. It is often the case that some high power professors believe that it is more important to set the bar very high and challenge the students. This happens in some well-taught non-science courses as well (e.g., constitution law at my S’s school). Because of the concerns about the potential “damage” to the GPA, premeds tend to shy away from taking any course from a professor who rarely gives out A’s.</p>
<p>Also, many premeds try hard to get into those rarely-found non-prereq GUT courses so that they can devote more of their time to the all important premed BCPM courses. Not intend to insult the athletes at colleges (because most athletes work extremely hard in their specialized area, sport, like getting up at 5 am on most days to row the boat), one premed once said that if you happen to be in a class where you can see tons of athletes who even wear uniform to the class, it is likely you can get a good grade without much effort. Sigh!</p>
<p>The school recognizes the fact that students may be reluctant to explore some subject that they are not familiar with (is it the purpose of taking the course because you do not know it? What is the point of “repeating” a course whose contents you have already familiar with?), it purposely sets up a system that allows any student to take up to 4 courses pass-fail in 4 years, or one course per year. But the premed advisors discourage any premed from doing it (not even for a non-pre-req).</p>
<p>I wonder whether their recommendation is somewhat too strict. Taking a couple of courses pass-fail is quite normal for students who are not on the premed track. The privilege to do so is quite useful because the AP credits are basically useless (unless you graduate in 3 years), and before graduation, the students need to take 4 more courses than the students at most other schools do. (36 vs 32 courses.)</p>
<p>Next year (sophomore year) I’m doing ochem and physics, doing some prep over the summer, then taking the MCAT. My sister, however, frowned upon the idea because she took ochem and genetics her sophomore year with physics her junior and the MCAT in april of her junior year. She said taking biochem really helped her. </p>
<p>Advice?</p>
<p>Disclaimer: from my post above, you may think I am a typical neurotic premed who is constantly concerned about the grade. I am a “neurotic parent” whose child is lucky enough to be not so neurotic. Just learned the other day that he had just auditioned into one opportunity to play with some well-known professional band who will perform in town together a few of college students. All of these happen right before the final. It almost gives us a heart attack! At one time, he traveled to other state during one weekend right before a big test on the next day. So similar events happen before so we are used to it. Well, he has grown up and we need to give him some space to decide what he wants to do.</p>
<p>I took the MCAT before I took two semesters of biochem, and I don’t think it would’ve helped much. A friend ended up taking the exam twice, the second time after taking biochem, and she said it helped a great deal. If you feel prepared off of the intro bio courses, I’d just go ahead and start studying. You can always opt out of actually taking the exam if you feel you’d like more time / additional classes.</p>
<p>“If you truly like these courses, is it more likely that you will do well on it and receive relatively good grades?”</p>
<p>This is a possibility, but it is also unlikely. Those classes are reknowned to be tough for specific reasons. Not only is the material abstract, but also require significant mathematical skill, and large time involvement. The kind of students who are enrolling in those classes are most probably just as intense as you are, and the curve is unlikely to work to your advantage (humanities courses are reknowned to have been inflated relative to engineering/science courses).</p>