I had a few questions regarding some nuances that might help me later in the future.
1.) From what I have seen, the ideal time to take the MCAT is sometime after sophomore year. For some classes (ie intro chem/bio) you have to take them freshman year. However, for other classes that are relevant to the “new” MCAT (sociology, psychology), there is more flexibility regarding when the courses can be taken. Is it best to take them sophomore year right before the MCAT so they are fresh, or would it not really make a difference?
2.) Am I correct in thinking that majoring in a non-STEM subject (ie economy) won’t hurt my chances of getting into a medical school nor will it disadvantage me in terms being behind in information? Or is it better to major in a STEM subject (biology, chem, etc)
For summer activities…
1.) Do medical schools only want you to include medicine-related activities in your application, or will non-medical activities help you equally in regards to a medical equivalent? For example, I would like to hopefully take a finance/business related internship sometime (although I am not yet committed to business), but I wouldn’t want to sacrifice that time (medical school is currently the path I want to take) if a medical related internship/job/research would help me more.
Most pre-meds take the MCAT in the spring of their junior year after finishing all courses that are included on the MCAT.
It really doesn’t matter when you take the social science classes. Everyone does an intense review period before taking the MCAT.
Pre-med is an intention, not a major. You can major in anything so long as you complete all the required pre-reqs. Both of my daughters are med students. Neither were bio or chem majors and both are doing just fine in med school. Both girls have classmates with every imaginable undergrad major. (Theology?–check; Music?–check, Agriculture?–check. English Lit?–check. Spanish?–check. Computer science?–check.)
Med school classes cover heaps of material very quickly. Bio/chem majors start with a slight advantage during the first week or so of class since they may have seem the material before, but med school covers an entire semester of college biochem in about 5-6 days. Once past those initial days–the material is new to everyone.
On your AMCAS application, you have 15 spaces to list everything you’ve done during college–volunteering (both clinical and non-clinical), awards, publications, research experiences, physician shadowing, teaching, jobs, leadership positions, etc. You need to present yourself as well-rounded individual so you will be listing things that are not medicine-related.
If you have to choose between a medicine-related activity and business/finance activity, you should definitely choose the medical one. Med school admission officers want to see a strong commitment to medicine from applicants and doing a finance/business internship will raise questions about your commitment. (Do you want to be a doctor or a banker?)
"From what I have seen, the ideal time to take the MCAT is sometime after sophomore year. "
-From what I have seen, the ideal time to take the MCAT is right after spring finals of junior year.
“If you have to choose between a medicine-related activity and business/finance activity, you should definitely choose the medical one”
-If you have to choose between a medicine-related activity and business/finance activity, you should definitely choose the one that you personally prefer.