<p>As a freshman right now, the primary classes of concern I'm taking right now is chem 2 and stats (I took calc 1 last semester). For my sophomore year, I plan to take orgo and bio the first semester, and then inorganic and bio 2 my second. I have yet to take physics 1 and 2... now, it is my understanding that most people finish these prereqs before the end of their sophomore year so that they could use the whole summer after that year to study for the MCAT. </p>
<p>Is this typically how it works? if so, what should I do right now because I don't plan on taking physics 1 and 2 on top of organic and bio? When should I plan on taking the MCAT?</p>
<p>Hey dnation,</p>
<p>Current applicant here (well, guess I should say future med student 
). Here’s the timeline I used. There are lots of timelines available on this thread–just use the search function to find them.</p>
<p>Freshman year: gen chem 2 with lab in the fall, gen chem 3 with lab in the spring (together these = inorganic chemistry with lab) [note: when AMCAS/med schools require a year of “inorganic chemistry” they really mean general chemistry, NOT upper level inorganic chemistry classes that typically follow organic chemistry and occasionally physical chemistry.]</p>
<p>Sophomore year: orgo 1 in the fall, orgo 2 with orgo 1 lab in the spring (together these = organic chemistry with lab) as well as genetics in the fall and cell bio in the spring (together these = biology)</p>
<p>Junior year: physics 1 with lab in the fall, physics 2 with lab in the spring (together these = physics with lab) as well as animal physiology with lab in the fall (which rounds out my biology lab requirement) with biochemistry in the spring for good measure.</p>
<p>MCAT prep: January-April of junior year, tested in May of junior year. Aim to test in April, May, or June (the earlier the better.)</p>
<p>If you prepare adequately, there’s absolutely no reason to spend more than a few months (a semester tops) studying for the MCAT. One exception to that idea might be if you decide to take a prep class that meets once a week for a long period of time rather than one that meets a few times a week for a couple of months (this seems to be more standard). </p>
<p>Application timeline: the earlier the better, in my opinion. That’s also the general consensus of this board, and these people have been ridiculously successful applicants.</p>
<p>As long as you’ve taken all the prereqs by the time you want to take the MCAT (maybe you could postpone one or two of them until senior year, but I wouldn’t recommend it), you’ll be fine. If you set it up right, you can academically coast through senior year and leave plenty of room in your schedule for applications (which you should really try to finish in the summer!) and interviews. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for info. So, by your timeline, you studied for the MCAT while taking physics 2, which is a prereq to the MCAT?</p>
<p>I think its a prereq insofar as you need to understand it, or be learning the two simultaneously (as I chose). I don’t think you necessarily need to have completed the class in order to take the MCAT though because you’ll cover all the pertinent information from physics 2 while you’re preparing. So having completed physics 2 before MCAT prep might make MCAT prep easier (in that you won’t have to focus on learning material for the test you may not have gotten to in a class yet), I personally don’t think its completion is necessary for success.</p>
<p>Gotcha. What did you do during the summers after freshman and sophomore year? For the one coming up for me, I think I might take some time off and get a job. For the summer after my sophomore year, I’m thinking about taking some classes relevant to my minor.</p>
<p>*For my sophomore year, I plan to take orgo and bio the first semester, and then inorganic and bio 2 my second. *</p>
<p>So, now are you going to take OChem II your second semester instead of inorganic?</p>
<p>mmm let’s see. Summer after freshman year, I lived at home with my parents and had a nearly full time job (30-35h/week) waitressing at a country club. Hung out with my friends, went to the pool, went on road trips, all the quintessential summer stuff. Nothing school-related at all.</p>
<p>Summer after sophomore year I studied abroad in Italy for a month, spent a month at home hanging out with my friends and family, and then moved back to school a month early to take on a considerable leadership position within Greek Life. </p>
<p>Summer after junior year I spent most of it in my college town working on clinical research with an oncologist I shadowed for quite some time. I was also busy applying to medical school, volunteering, and working to develop a nonprofit organization I started during junior year.</p>
<p>This summer I’m taking it easy because med school orientation starts in July!</p>
<p>I made it a point to relax and have fun as much as possible. I decided early on it wasn’t worth stressing myself out just to try to make myself into a better applicant. I focused on doing things I cared about, doing them well, and having a great time along the way. As a result, I have (what I think is) a well-rounded resume that reflects how I decided to spend my time as an undergrad. I am quite proud of the things I’ve done!</p>
<p>Kristin</p>