<p>rising sophmore
biochem major</p>
<p>I hadn't considered taking the MCAT before my junior year (an August testing), but the idea is becoming more and more attractive.</p>
<p>so...</p>
<p>option 1:
Take physics 1 & 2 summer after sophmore year WHILE studying for MCATs. With both of these tasks on my hands, i would not have time for any clinical/research opportunities. However, i'm rather ahead of most students my age in this regard, so i'm not terribly worried. Classes end around beginning of August, so there would be a couple weeks for intensive studying before the exam, and physics would be nice and fresh in my mind.
Then be done with it (hopefully), go abroad, and be happy.</p>
<p>option 2:
Take physics 1 & 2 summer after sophmore year and do something clinical or perhaps some research. Then go abroad for my fall semester. Come back, do my studying for MCAT with my normal courseload, and take the MCAT in April.</p>
<p>Option 1 seems best to me as long as i am disciplined enough to study hard for the MCAT while doing well in physics (which i think i am). </p>
<p>what do you experts think?</p>
<p>thanks all,</p>
<p>ps- BDM i know you dislike summer classes but its really my only option as i'm determined to go abroad.</p>
<p>EC's trump. MCATs in April.</p>
<p>PS: Study abroad does not usually mandate summer courses. I don't know what your particular situation is.</p>
<p>Well, i guess i'll explain then...so my school uses three core intro biology classes that i have to take, and you can't take the first one until spring of freshman year. That means i have to take two semesters of biology my sophmore year (each with a lab), and two semesters of Ochem soph. year (also with labs). I am also doing research on the side in the med school. We are required to take our physics lab at the same time as physics 1 & 2. This means i can't do physics during my soph. year because that would leave me with three sciences, three labs, and additional research on the side (and other required courses).</p>
<p>As i said, i want to go abroad fall of my junior year. However, i was told that you can't do your premed requirements while abroad. So i don't really see any alternatives to taking physics during the summer.
advice?</p>
<p>Take a 5th year...</p>
<p>Seriously. If you're that set on going abroad, then just push everything back. </p>
<p>By the by, I'm not knocking semesters abroad. I really wish I had done that while in undergrad.</p>
<p>Again, it depends on where he is. There do exist schools where a fifth year is really shockingly abnormal.</p>
<p>How good was your physics prep in high school? Or can you push biology back into your junior year? What are the classes? Etc.</p>
<p>I do think it is rather abnormal to take 5 years at my school, but i'm not positive. Anyways, i don't have the money for an extra year of tuition, unfortunately.</p>
<p>I don't think i can push biology back to my junior year simply because of my major. I will need to take biochemistry in my junior year.
The two biology classes i have yet to take are:
Cells and Proteins
Organisms and Ecosystems</p>
<p>As for physics, my high school preparation is average at best. No AP Physics classes, and i definitely didn't have the greatest teacher.</p>
<p>I understand what you're saying, EC's are obviously extremely important. I'm just worried about studying for my MCATs when i have a full courseload on my hands, with final exams that will be approaching quickly at that time.</p>
<p>Don't touch ecosystems before the MCAT if you can help it. What does the Organisms part of the course cover?</p>
<p>See if you can find a Kaplan guide to Physics somewhere over the next year or however long you have until you have to choose courses and such. If the principles on there are familiar to you, then do whatever you want.</p>
<p>Bottom line: you're a premed and a science major. You're going to have to deal with heavy workloads. Unfortunately that's just the balance that premeds have to strike.</p>
<p>This is from my course guide thingy
Organisms and Ecosystems:</p>
<p>homeostasis, including endocrine and autonomic controls; function of neurons and nervous systems; function of organ systems involved in circulation, excretion, osmoregulation, gas exchange, feeding, digestion, and temperature regulation; reproduction and development; behavior, population dynamics, community ecology, and function of ecosystems.</p>
<p>Hm. Sounds like a useful course.</p>
<p>yeah i thought it looked pretty relevant. Doesn't seem like it places too much emphasis on the ecosystem section.</p>
<p>Anyways, i'll talk to some advisors. I'm sure there have been kids at my school in the same situation. I realize its difficult for you guys to dish out advice like this when the norms at different schools vary so much.
thanks for the replies</p>