<p>Is it acceptable to take Physics over summer school? I plan on taking Physics at UPenn this summer to get it out of the way. Will this hurt me for the Mcats because I did not spend an entire year on Physics? So far I have taken Bio/Chem as a freshman. As a sophmore I will take OChem. If I take Physics over summer school, then by the time I am a sophmore I will done with my pre-med reqs and I can take the Mcats before my Junior year starts. I don't want to take Physics along with OChem, because that means 9 hours a week in the lab and it will harm my gpa. </p>
<p>This is how my next 4 Years look:
Freshman
Bio/Chem</p>
<p>Summer after Freshman Year and Before Sophmore Year
Physics</p>
<p>Sophmore Year
OChem</p>
<p>Summer After Sophmore Year and Before Junior Year
Study for the Mcats for 3 months, then take the Mcats, before school starts</p>
<p>Junior Year
Microbiology is the only science I take
Retake Mcats if Neccessary
Work on Med School Apps</p>
<p>Summer After Junior Year
Submit all my medical apps AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, LITERALLY THE DAY THEY START ACCEPTING APPS</p>
<p>They usually recommend not taking prereqs in summer term, as it’s not really very demonstrative of your ability to manage a hard course in the context of a full courseload. I mean, if orgo was your only course, I’m sure you could devote enough time to it without even overstressing to make a solid A in it.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s a big deal. MCAT physics is basically synonymous with high school physics. If still maintains a tough courseload throughout his four years, does it matter that he takes some over the summer?</p>
<p>A couple summer pre-req classes aren’t going to kill him. I’d try to take at least one of the two courses during the normal year if possible, but hey do what is necessary (you are a non-science major after all).</p>
<p>My daughter debated taking Physics over the summer as well (at Penn oddly enough) and was told the same thing by her pre-med advisor at Columbia. The advisor thought that it was not a good idea - even at a school as well regarded as Penn - unless there was a particular reason, not just to lighten the load by getting something out of the way. At the time she was trying to figure out how to go abroad for a year, still do everything she wanted to do academically and stay on track to go directly to medical school from undergrad.</p>
<p>^^Too true… I would only advise it if your school has at least a relatively strong premed program. If thats the case then its USUALLY a pretty safe bet that your premed advisor knows what he/she is talking about…</p>
<p>Ok so I went to my pre-med advisor and asked him about taking courses over the summer, just generally speaking. He said that taking 1 or 2 pre-reqs over the summer is perfectly acceptable especially if you have a good reason for doing so, any more than that and it starts sending up red flags. As for whether or not his judgement can be trusted, considering that he was on the adcom at the University of Mississippi Medical Center I have no reason to question his judgement.</p>