<p>should I try to finish chem, bio, org chem, and phsyics by end of sophomore year so I can start preparing for MCAT earlier? But that would mean taking chem and bio at the same time my freshman year, and I hear that bio sci builds off of chem.
Otherwise, I would just take MCAT probably April of Junior year -- is that late for first take?</p>
<p>You're a little ahead of yourself, but first off, people only take the MCAT once. The only reason to take it a 2nd time would be if you bombed it. The general consensus is that you take it once, and you take it when you're ready.</p>
<p>Most premeds take bio and chem freshman year. Bio isn't difficult, you need no chem background.</p>
<p>Yeah, I'd say it's not a huge deal to have two lab courses the same semester (I've done three in a semester, and that wasn't pretty, but two is definitely manageable). That said, I didn't finish my pre-med requirements until the end of junior year, and I had no problem feeling prepared for the MCAT. I took the MCAT that was given at the end of May, but I know a number of people who took the April test back when it was only offered a couple of times a year even though they were technically still finishing their final physics course, and it wasn't considered a big deal.</p>
<p>I got all my prereqs done by end of sophomore year. By no means necessary, but definitely doable.</p>
<p>I can only tell you based off what I know, which is my own experiences. I would definitely think about about that before you commit to finishing everything so early. I took calc, bio, and chem last year (my freshman year), and am taking physics this summer. My only premed class left is orgo this coming semester (sophomore year) and then I'm done. I decided to go this route b/c I wanted to study for the MCAT all next summer and then take it right before my junior year started (mainly b/c I was worried about balancing MCAT studying, going abroad, and my schools difficult classes). I did this mainly, however, so I would apply ED to a med school I'm really interested in. If you don't have a really good reason to justify taking it all so early, I wouldn't. And if I could do it over again I think I would change my scheduling. Or at the very least I'd take orgo/bio together soph year instead of such a heavy load fresh yr. I'm only at a 3.0 GPA right now, which is taking a ton of work to pull up from.</p>
<p>I would definitely consider your school as well in this decision. It might be an easier load to manage at a state school. Either way, best of luck. Just seriously consider it before you make your load too hard. Freshman year is harder than you think until your already in it.</p>
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Most premeds take bio and chem freshman year. Bio isn't difficult, you need no chem background.
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<p>be careful about ur generalizations...at my school gchem was a prerequisite to bio and as a result you weren't allowed to take bio freshman year</p>
<p>VH has an excellent point. Committing yourself to this idea before your freshman year is not sensible. If you absolutely crush your freshman year, then you can step it up for soph year if you wish.</p>
<p>There is no advantage to completing the prerequisites early. Harmless to do so, but you don't gain anything. The most important thing is to pace your course selection so that you do well. If this leads to finishing your science in the first couple of years, fine. But do not rearrange your plans just to do it.</p>