<p>After this semester, I'll be a junior in college. I've recently become interested in medical school. Is it too late? I haven't taken any course that usually is required for pre-med undergrads (no calculus, physics, biology, biochemistry, organic or inorganic chemistry, etc). Can I fit this all in before application time? More importantly, can I do all of this in time to be prepared to take the MCAT next year? I can't afford to pay full price for too many summer courses. </p>
<p>Secondly, do I have to declare a second major? I'm currently a philosophy major. Am I going to be looked at as being the same quality as a biology major if I just take the pre-med courses as electives even though I'll end up with a non-scientific bachelor's degree?</p>
<p>It’s not too late to decide to go pre-med… but I think it’d be tough to fit ALL the reqs into the next two years, and even more tough to be ready for MCAT in a year. You’re going to want to think about taking at LEAST an extra semester.</p>
<p>You need a year of chem to take organic. You should take organic before you take the MCAT. I don’t think you could take the MCAT next year, because you would just be finishing general chem. </p>
<p>You don’t have to declare a second major, you can get in as Philosophy (which will also add some diversity to your app). It’s fine to have a non-science degree and just take the pre-med courses.</p>
<p>IMHO you do not have time to take the required courses and do well. You will need to take an additional year of coursework. You do not have to take the pre-med requirements before you graduate. You do have to take them for graded college credit.</p>
<p>You could consider taking some or all of the pre-med courses at a institution other than your current alma mater. </p>
<p>The reason so many pre-meds are science majors is because that facilitates scheduling.
A biology or chemistry major has to take all the pre-med courses anyway.</p>
<p>A philosophy major who performed well in pre-med courses would be well regarded by med school adcoms. Getting into medical school is the hardest part of becoming a doctor.</p>
<p>There are medical schools other than the Ivies, Hopkins,Wash.U. St.Louis, etc. Consider all paths to your dream.</p>
<p>As a junior I can probably register for general chemistry and biology pretty easily since I can register earlier than all of the freshmen trying to get into the class. Because of that, getting the classes isn’t a problem. That gives me next spring to take all of the premed courses that require a prerequisite class (at my school that would be, I believe, organic chemistry and calculus).</p>
<p>I am thinking of a possible schedule like this.</p>
<p>Summer '09
Precalculus trigonometry</p>
<p>Fall '09
Philosophy class
Philosophy class
Biology
Chemistry</p>
<p>Spring '10
Philosophy class
Philosophy class
Physics
Organic chemistry</p>
<p>Summer '10
Calculus</p>
<p>I can definitely have all of the premed classes done before my senior year (unless I’m missing a class or two), which then lets me spend my senior year finishing my BA in Philosophy. I’ve taken 20 credits two semesters in a row now, so I’m no stranger to a deceased social life if that needs to be the case (though it may not be possible with substantially harder science classes). What do you guys think? Is the above feasible? My only problem with that outlook is that I’m not sure where it allows me to be well-prepared for the MCAT, unless I don’t take it until around this time next year.</p>
<p>If I apply to med schools as a senior and have all of those classes and the MCAT done, I should be fine - but you guys know more than me on this since I just started researching this process.</p>
<p>Also, if I can afford it, I can add some courses to Summer '10 - courses that would look compelling to admissions (biology 2? genetics? biochemistry?)</p>
<p>After reading BDM’s post, I may also take an english course, as pointless as it seems considering I have 6 english credits from AP tests.</p>
<p>Can’t believe I missed that. All right, well in that case, how is that going to affect my application process if I take the MCAT early in my senior year and I’m still in the process of taking the second year of some of my requirements when I apply? Is it going to make it harder to get in even if I do well in all of the courses preceding the application deadline?</p>
<p>Also, are they really going to kill me for not taking english classes considering the fact that I’d have a BA in philosophy, which is extremely heavy in writing?</p>
<p>Some schools will be very stringent on the English requirement. Some won’t.</p>
<p>At all schools, you will be SEVERELY disadvantaged if you take the MCAT during your senior year, thus delaying processing of your application until ~October.</p>
<p>Taking prerequisites during your senior year is a relatively minor problem, but if you’re doing a lot of them – in particular, organic chemistry, which is important – then that will also harm your application.</p>
<p>Summer '10
Take the MCAT?
Calculus 2
Organic Chemistry 2
Organic Chemistry 2 Lab</p>
<p>Or, if they don’t offer these advanced classes during summer (somewhat likely), 4 philosophy classes</p>
<p>Fall '10 - Spring '11
Finishing what wasn’t offered at the times above/exit requirements/Finishing BA</p>
<p>With this sort of schedule (highly tentative since some courses may not be so convenient as far as when they’re offered), when would be the best time, as far as what classes will be completed and have their grades on my transcript, to fill out apps?</p>
<p>I would think most schools would offer those courses during the summer ( I know mine does anyway). However, the courses themselves aren’t the problem, it’ll will be the number of courses you are taking during the summer.</p>
<p>Looking at your Summer 09, that would be 14 hours at my school, with the labs counting as 1 credit hour, but taking up at least 3 hours of scheduled time. Summer sessions are run at an accelerated pace. A 3 hours credit class at my school is normally either 1 hour on MWF, or 1.5 hours on T,TH. During summer school though, 3 credit courses are 1.5hr and 4 days a week. Labs are are 2 hours and 2 days a week. So essentially with that schedule, you’d be in class at least 18 hours a day for 2 days, and 20 hours for 2 days. So, you see how that’s a.) very intense b.) virtually impossible (because it’s doubtful, all those classes won’t overlap in scheduling time.) c.) why no one does this.</p>
<p>Most of the people that I know only take 2-3 classes at the most during the Summer.</p>