<p>Hey everyone - incoming wall of text =).</p>
<p>I've decided that I want to take the pre-med route. I am about to start my sophomore year at a top 50 uni. The problem is, I have not yet taken any of the requirement courses. I will need to take bio, chem, physics, and org chem. What do you guys think is the best possible way to go about this? I don't have a problem with applying to school during/after senior year as opposed to before it (like most) and taking the MCAT later in accordance with this. (This will leave me with a gap year, I know). Perhaps it's best to have a gap year given I don't have ECs relevant to medicine (also a problem). </p>
<p>Why have I decided to go pre-med? And why haven't I done any of the requirements? Well, hard science was one of those things that I shied away from. I am a Political Science major and am more adept at the social sciences; didn't feel the need to even take many sciences courses as not many are required. After all, I was somewhat worried about tanking my near-pristine GPA (currently 3.92 for freshman year). I have thought about what a degree in PSC will do for me and determined that it is really not the outcome I want (don't want law school/public policy/work as a campaign staffer, etc). It is still my academic interest, I just am not finding anything that it could lead me to. </p>
<p>Science and math do not come as easy to me. Do I hate science? No, I liked biology in high school and did well. Chemistry less so, but it was tolerable and I did well. I did not take physics and have no physics background. I had standard prep. for math, (up to Alg 3/some pre-calc) but nothing more. </p>
<p>I guess with that said, here are my questions:</p>
<p>How difficult will all of the req. courses be for someone without an intensive math/science background? At this point, I haven't taken a math course since high school (so I am probably quite rusty), did not take physics, and haven't had chem or biology since sophomore and freshman year, respectively. </p>
<p>With this in mind, how should I approach the pre-reqs? (In which order, how many at a time, best for MCAT, etc.) I don't want to overwhelm myself with too many and end up not doing well. Perhaps if I fill some in during the summers (after soph and junior year) I can get away with doing 1 at a time (or two at most)? This is why I don't see an issue with having a gap year. </p>
<p>How about ECs? It's probably best to start right away, but what should I be looking for? Again, don't want to overdo anything given I have to take a number of courses that are challenging to me at the same time. </p>
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<p>I want to be honest here and say that I know that this is not an easy path. I still have a lot to learn about what pre-med and medical school is like. This will come with experience and time and only then will I know if it's truly right for me. I will say though, that, I do have enough determination to make it through challenging courses so long as I don't overdo it. </p>
<p>Very much appreciate any comments and advice. Thank you =)</p>