<p>I know that most of you are against taking pre-meds taking summer classes because that time can be used productively to do research, volunteer, shadowing, etc. Do med schools object to students taking pre-med prerequisites during the summer time. I'll explain what I mean. My school (Stony Brook) only lets pre-meds start taking bio in spring of freshman year. As a result, bio will conflict with my soph schedule and prevent me from taking physics. I was wondering, if I could take physics or animal anatomy during the summer between fresh and soph yr. while performing research. I am not doing this to finish everything ASAP, but there are other higher level bio classes that I would want to take in the future. Sure some can argue that it would be a waste of time, but I want to do an MD/PhD in molecular bio. So the more exposure and knowledge that I attain during my college tenure, the easier and quicker it will be in the future it will be for me to become involved in research projects. Please provide thoughts and feedback.</p>
<p>Some medical schools are reputed to understand (correctly) that summer courses tend to be less rigorous. Whether they under- or over-compensate is not clear.</p>
<p>So overall it is a bad idea in itself. I just wanted to do this to optimize my MCAT score. I mean I read how genetics and animal physiology are great courses to take and with my school's weird bio program I can only take them in junior year. By that time I would have probably taken the MCAT at least once.</p>
<p>Take the mcat in april of your junior year. Problem solved.</p>
<p>I know what you mean but I don't think I can pull off the perfect score on my first try. So I sort of want to take the exam twice. Even though it probably is not recommended. I also want to get rid of the exam ASAP so that I could relax and focus the remainder of my attention on research, since I already have a lab and keeping my GPA up.</p>
<p>It's HIGHLY not recommended.</p>
<p>Don't go in with the mentality that you will retake later on because your just giving yourself an excuse to do poorly. Start studying your ass off the first time so you don't have to take it the second time.</p>
<p>So most ppl only take the MCAT once and that is it? I am just curious. It is not like the SAT where ppl say to take it twice. I know that the SAT and MCAT are totally different, but the idea behind taking it is not the same?</p>
<p>The idea/mentality is the take it once. ONCE. This isn't the SAT's which everyone seems to take 3 times.</p>
<p>... who says that about the SAT's? SAT's should be taken once, too.</p>
<p>With MCAT's that's even more true, since medical schools don't even pretend to just take your highest score, which undergraduate schools do.</p>
<p>You're preaching to the choir. I took the SAT's once during my junior year of HS and that was it. But everyone else on CC seems to be taking and retaking and retaking the SAT's.</p>
<p>Sorry to hijack the thread, but I think it is better than making a whole new one. I have a question about summer classes, and if I should also and try to take them also.</p>
<p>Because of scheduling issues I am only able to take bio w/ lab my first semester. And because of more scheduling issues I was only able to take chem my next semester. And because in my college, freshman chemistry lab is a separate credited class I also couldn't take the lab because of another scheduling issue.</p>
<p>I am going to be severely behind in taking my premed classes. Because of my major study abroad is basically a must and 99% of the students always go for at least a semester so that is going to put me even more behind.</p>
<p>So the only way I can see getting my premed class timeline somewhat back on track is to take the chem lab during the summer and a math class so that I can free up room for me to take bio and chem at the same time during the first semester of my sophomore year, that way I can begin taking orgo the second semester of my sophomore year.</p>
<p>I don't see how I could avoid this because due to me most likely going abroad my first semester junior year I won't be able to take any premed classes thus putting me even farther behind. I want to take the MCAT the second semester of my junior year so I can apply to med school. And I have to take the premed classes before I take the MCAT so what should I do. I might even have to take classes the summer before my junior year to really get caught up.</p>
<p>And where are people getting the idea that summer classes are easier than normal ones? I have always heard that they are harder because they try to cover the same amount of material in a shorter amount of time. I also wouldn't be taking the classes at a CC, but at my own college.</p>
<p>This is how I kind of see my schedule going.</p>
<p>Freshman: 1 sem of bio w/ lab, and chem w/ no lab, math</p>
<p>Summer: Chem lab(missed from prev. year), math</p>
<p>Sophomore: 1 sem of bio and chem w/ lab, 1 sem orgo w/lab, 1 sem of physics w/ lab</p>
<p>Summer: Orgo w/ lab, maybe math or another english class</p>
<p>Junior: 1 sem abroad, 1 sem of physics and maybe another BCPM class due to me being a non-science major, MCAT taken</p>
<p>Senior: Apply to med schools interviews etc.</p>
<p>Summer classes often have easier curves. Learning the material is harder, but that doesn't matter. It never matters. What matters is the curve.</p>
<p>Take the summer courses if you like, but just be aware that it'll interfere with some things which would have been really big plusses on your medical school application.</p>
<p>If you're okay possibly having fewer options when the time comes to pick, then more power to you.</p>
<p>If you'd rather keep your options open and are willing to wait a year, then do that.</p>
<p>You think I should spend an extra year in school to finish up my classes? Wouldn't that end up costing a lot more money to an already expensive venture. And you don't think it is that feasible to pursue research and clinical experiences during the summer?</p>
<p>Obviously not. But since this way you can actually use your senior year, take MCATs April of your senior year and then apply. Get a job for the intervening year.</p>
<p>And some experiences? Sure. But not in the depth you need and want, not if you're balancing a tough courseload too.</p>
<p>What about taking non pre-med preq. during the summer, such as history or art? I mean to like ease your course-load during the year.</p>
<p>They still interfere with other priorities.</p>
<p>what if a person takes english before the freshman year, during summer classes. Its not like there's anything else to during summer before freshman year.</p>
<p>What is with the obsession with summer courses? Are you guys just itching to pay extra tuition or something?</p>
<p>lighten up your courseload for the regular semester. i'm taking physics this summer, but contrary to popular belief, it's harder than the regular year (no curve, goes by faster, same difficulty tests)</p>