<p>Wanted to see what you thought. I'm thinking of taking Calc I over this summer and taking Calc II over next years summer. Do you think that it would be necessary to take Calc II right after taking Calc I, or is it fine to take Calc II one year later. This setup is due to a schedule conflict. I would be taking Calc I summer of Freshman year and Calc II summer of Sophomore year going into my Junior year. What do you think?</p>
<p>Also, would taking the year of Calculus over the summer dissapoint the med school adcoms? Will it hurt me?</p>
<p>I would like to know too. I will be an entering freshman and I plan on taking Calc I this summer at Yale, due to the possibility of having such a large course load my freshman year.</p>
<p>What the adcoms want to see is the ability to do (very)well in science/math while engaged in a challenging course load. Doing (very) well means a science/math GPA of 3.6-3.7+. Challenging course load means multiple science/math in the same semester, ideally with more than one lab.</p>
<p>So what you are asking is "which is more important" since you don't think you can achieve both at the same time.</p>
<p>In my opinion on the best trade off: </p>
<p>Get the grade. A lower GPA will mean you don't get the opportunity to explain your summer schedule change. You can always tell them about the scheduling problems that made the summer work necessary but not if you don't make the first round of cuts.</p>
<p>but keep in mind:
Do not start a course and drop it if your school shows a "W" on transcripts.</p>
<p>Do not take these courses at a different institution. Major red flag and you are going to need reqs from your current faculty. If you haven't been in their class they usually can't write one (but not always).</p>
<p>During the fall, I am going to be taking Human Anatomy Lab, Organic Chemistry I, College Physics I, and a Gen Ed. (possibly Gen. Psychology 101). This courseload is fine for me, I can get a high grade in all of these classes, but they will require the balance and managment of time. If I add Calc I to this coursework, everything will become much more difficult. That is why I want to Calc I in the summer and Calc II the following summer. I will be taking Calc at my current undergraduate institution. </p>
<p>If i were you i'd postpone Human anatomy until Junior year, and replace that with Calc. Actually make that senior year...why are you rushing??? Junior year should be nice and cozy for Physics, and let your sophomore year be easy for the workload and completing ardous task of Ochem with flying colors. Is there a specific reason you are rushing so much tho? Do tell so we can work it out further...but for now this is something what your soph year courseload should look like:
Ochem, Calc 1, Gen Ed, and maybe some type of english or another course to work towards your major. 2nd semester = ochem lab, calc 2, another gen ed? or continuation of the previous basic course you took , another course toward your major. Then junior year you should take physics, biochem, and more courses to work towards your major. Thats how the basic strategy that most use at my future institution, and how my plan looks like. El sol - what school are you from? I'm very interested in your scheduling and such, as im premed also, well going into premed next year, and i have done MASSIVE research on the whole game. Lets keep in touch and see how you and I both fair :)</p>
<p>If I follow your suggestion I would only have half a semester of physics under my belt before I take the April MCAT during my Junior year. I believe that by taking Calc in the summers it would free up the space to take core MCAT tested science classes during the fall and spring semesters. Calc isn't on the MCAT, neither is Anatomy, but I want to take Antatomy during the Fall so that I can get more medical experience with the medical examiner. Well, that's my reasoning.</p>
<p>My Physics teacher who is/was a pre-med gave me a recommendation. Take bio and chem Freshman year, and orgo and physics sophmore. And as soon as you can take the MCAT after taking Orgo so its fresh in your head. My physics teacher took it a few years doing this. He got a 32, and he felt he could have done much better but his version focused more on Chem and not Physics (his specialty). I also asked him about taking calc in the summer he says its fine. He is taking the MCAT again this April, and will apply to med schools in the upcoming fall.
Btw, He didnt apply last time with that 32 on the MCAT and that was 5 years ago so some med schools are making him retake it.</p>
<p>Makes sense to take your core pre-med classes during the academic year and take the calc (which is recommended not required) during the summer. Thanks for sharing the insight that your physics teacher offered.</p>