<p>Since you posted your D’s experience, I decide to repost DS1’s experience. Hope that OP and other students would be mindful about IWBB’s statement:</p>
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<p>Some may not be awful mentors. They just don’t like wasting time on pre-meds.</p>
<p>DS1 started his research the summer before freshman year as part of his honors program. His PI was a research professor mainly teaching graduate students. DS1 really enjoyed the working relationship in the group through the 4th semester until he was ready to apply for the honors college research funding for the summer after his sophomore year. One day, DS1 called to inform me that his PI did not want him to work in his lab after the 4th semester. We were startled since he had been very pleased with DS1’s work and awarded him an A for one Biochem course and another one for research. It turns out that his PI was very disappointed that DS1 was still pursuing the pre-med route instead of going for the graduate program with the group. He told DS1 to look for shadowing/clinic experiences during that summer. It was nerve racking. If there was any consolation, his PI told DS1 that he would be willing to write him a LOR. DS1 still visits his lab from time to time, and we still do not know what the PI’s evaluation will be like. But, the summer after the sophomore year turns out to be critical for DS1 to prepare for MCAT/volunteering/shadowing. If he were to continue doing research that summer, it would have been equally awkward to tell his PI about quitting the group sometime down the road. We had heard stories about unwelcome pre-meds. This one is pretty extreme. I am still leery if DS1 should use his PI’s LOR for medical school application. Perhaps, DS1 should have told his PI that he was a diehard pre-med on the 1st day. But, I doubt that many would have the wisdom to do so.</p>
<p>I don’t disagree with you ace, and that’s why it’s important for both the student and the PI to discuss expectations/goals before the two enter into an agreement to work together.</p>
<p>Ok so what I’m getting is that I should make sure that I get a position with a PI who is known to take undergrads under his/her wing and give meaningful positions to premeds. I definitely have a great one in mind, and I’ve even talked to one of his undergrads about researching and she said it was great. I guess if I don’t manage to get a position with him, I’ll ask undergrads about the other PIs they’ve had and verify that they’re good before I ask for a position. </p>
<p>Also, I notice that some of you are talking about researching with multiple profs throughout the years. Is that usual? Or if I like how my research is going, can I just stick with one? Don’t want to let go of a good thing and all that…</p>
<p>Ok thanks. So I’m thinking I’ll start 2nd semester so I can get used to college and everything you all were saying. </p>
<p>And ace said “the summer after the sophomore year turns out to be critical for DS1 to prepare for MCAT/volunteering/shadowing”. When do people who do well usually start studying for the MCAT? Is it helpful to take a prep course? JHU is…well, JHU, so I’m sure it’ll offer some pretty good prep courses. And do I need volunteering other than EMT? I’ll also do shadowing of course, but do I need hospital volunteering?</p>
<p>MCAT prep preferences are a personal choice. Some people like the structure a in-person prep class offers. Some people like the flexibility of an online prep class. Others prefer to set their own schedules and use a wider variety of materials in a ‘do-it-yourself’ approach. Whatever works for you.</p>
<p>MCAT prep shouldn’t take more than few weeks to a few months. Again it’s a personal preference kind of thing. It’s generally advised not to start prepping too far in advance of your test date because you’ll burn out. Ace’s S took his MCAT during the summer after sophomore year. When you will take it is another personal preference. </p>
<p>JHU doesn’t offer “prep” classes, per say. It offers academic courses that include some of the material that will be covered on the MCAT. Usually what people mean by prep classes are classes offered by private test prep companies. (Princeton Review, Kaplan, Examkrackers)</p>
<p>You can start shadowing/clinical volunteering at any time. You don’t need to wait until after sophomore year. </p>
<p>Even if you work as an EMT, you’ll need to do additional clinical volunteering in other medical settings. Those setting don’t have to be in a hospital–a standalone clinic, rehab hospital, a doctor’s office, or a nursing or group home would also be fine. EMT can be a great experience, but it gives you a very limited view of medical practice. You’ll need exposure to different types of medical settings.</p>
<p>One word of advice about MCAT preps is that, they do not at all mean to teach you material for the first time, they just review material that you have already learned in lower division science courses. As in, they will go over what types of questions can be asked on the MCAT, but not the foundations of the concepts. This is why if you have not taken an undergraduate physics class before, I would not learn physics first from an MCAT prep book, because they WILL NOT teach you the foundations of fluid mechanics, electric circuits, gas expansions, motion etc, that you would learn in a physics class.</p>
<p>WayOutWestMom, that’s a good point, I don’t want to burn out. And I’ve always been better studying by myself, so I’ll probably try an online class. </p>
<p>Jweinst1, yeah makes sense. So I’ll make sure I have solid foundations in phys/chem (the ones that were early in HS and I want to make sure I remember). </p>
<p>By the way, for the purposes of MCAT/future in biology, do you recommend skipping introductory level bio? I got a 5 on the AP exam and I checked and I’m allowed to skip. Or should I take it?</p>
<p>Since you will have your 1 year of bio w/lab covered by upper level bio requirements in neuroscience AND JHU allows AP Bio score 5 to skip intro bio, it’s really a personal choice. You might hunt around online for a study guide/review for the Bio I & II finals and see if you can answer most of the questions.</p>
<p>If you feel confident in your knowledge of the topics covered in intro bio, then skip it. </p>
<p>I don’t know about JHU specifically, but at a great many schools Bio 1-2 is huge pre-med weeder class.</p>