<p>hi, I am going to be a freshman at UCLA this fall and i was interested in going premed. How do you recommend that I approach the prerequisite courses for med school? Should I try to finish taking all of them in my first two years so i'll be prepared for the MCAT? or should i space them out over the four years? what classes do you recommend that I take first or is any random order is okay?</p>
<p>btw, I am feeling a little angst b/c my high school was not that strong in the sciences. I don't feel as confident having to take physics and chem b/c I do not know that much on the subject yet. Do you think I am already screwed because I am going to be a complete beginner when I take the premed classes with barely any background knowledge of the subjects at all? or is that okay, I just have to work a little harder? I am truly interested in becoming a doctor and that's what I am willing to do.</p>
<p>What gpa should I strive to at least get in college in order to possibly attend one of the more prestigious and competitive med schools? a 3.5+ or a 4.0? plus, are their two different gpas med schools look at, your science gpa and then your overall gpa with your major and your ge?</p>
<p>You should have your premed prerequisites completed by the time you apply to med school, which means by the end of your junior year. There are two GPA's (science and cumulative) that med schools look at. And for competitive med schools, you should strive for 3.8 or above.</p>
<p>I kinda have the same problem, I'm thinking of these 2 course plans:</p>
<p>1)freshmen: bio, chem, humanities, math(2a).
sophmore: bio, orgo, math(2b).
junior: physics
-This one has easier course load, but I can only take MCAT once at the end of my junior year.</p>
<p>2)freshman: bio, chem, humanities, math(2a)
sophmore: bio, orgo, math(2b), physics
-this has harder course load, but I can take MCAT at the end of my sophmore yr and I can retake if I need to.</p>
<p>Do you think taking physics and orgo in the same year is really pushing it? How hard is college physics? is it algebra-based or calculus-based?
I don't know whether to take physics sophmore yr or junior yr.</p>
<p>I'm a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. A typical sequence for biology/pre-med students is to take:</p>
<p>1st year: Chem I&II and Bio I&II
2nd year: Orgo I&II and Physics I&II
3rd year: 2-3 more bio courses; then the MCAT either in the spring or summer</p>