<p>In terms of science and math courses, do you think this schedule would be appropriate/beneficial for an aspiring doctor? I know many people take Bio + Chem their freshmen year, but I feel much stronger in Bio + Physics than I do in Chemistry. Thanks for any advice!</p>
<p>Freshmen:
Biology
Calculus I and II
Physics
Psychology</p>
<p>Sophomore:
Chemistry
Statistics (one semester)
Physiology</p>
<p>Junior:
Organic Chemistry</p>
<p>Senior:
Biochemistry</p>
<p>As long as you’re taking all of the required courses, and you take the subjects on the MCAT before you take it, you will be fine. Good luck!</p>
<p>With that schedule you are running up against some practical application deadlines. If you wait till after Organic, a summer MCAT after junior year would (or at the very least could) be problematic for a student not planning a gap year. If, OTOH, you are planning on a gap year…it doesn’t matter.</p>
<p>When do you plant to take the MCAT? After you junior year?</p>
<p>Because starting Jan 2015, biochem will be included on the MCAT along with genetics and cellular/molecular bio. </p>
<p>There will also be an a brand new section on human behavior that will include intro psych and intro soc, plus possibly some other topics (medical ethics?). Don’t forget to add those courses to your schedule.</p>
<p>You don’t need Calc 2 (unless your major or school requires it). Stats would be a more useful substitution.</p>
<p>I plan on taking the MCAT at the end of Junior year. I don’t not plan on taking a gap year, and instead want a 4 year plan. My schedule will also include many bioethics courses since that is my major. Thanks wayoutwestmom! I really don’t want to take Calc II (although I’m technically in it this year -BC Calc), and would much rather take stat courses. </p>
<p>@curmudgeon, when do you suggest I take orgo/take the MCAT?</p>
<p>A June MCAT leaves you zero time for a re-take, if needed. I also think things are jammed up for studying for the MCAT either before, or immediately after classes are over.</p>
<p>IOW, I think the traditional way works best for most. Orgo as a soph. Bio and Chem as a freshman. MCAT prior to June of application year.</p>
<p>Should I take:
Freshmen: Bio, Chem, Calc I, Stat
Sophomore: Organic Chemistry, Psychology
Junior: Physics…etc.
instead?
Chemistry is what is really scaring me though. I don’t want to mess up my GPA with Bio, Chem, and Calc.</p>
<p>Just take Calc 1. Should be doable with Calc BC under your belt. That being said…my kid found plenty of med schools to apply to and she never took a day of Calc in college. I or II. Just used her Calc BC credits and then Stats at college.</p>
<p>Take Physics as a soph.</p>
<p>So it is fine to double up on Bio + chem freshman year, and then double up with Orgo and Physics sophomore year?</p>
<p>Many, many students do it exactly that way.</p>
<p>Really?
Thank you! :)</p>
<p>It is kinda the “go to” schedule. If it ain’t broke, …</p>
<p>I’m assuming your school doesn’t award calc credit for AP? I only took 1 semester of math in college because I had AP credit.</p>
<p>I think I may be able to get credit, but I would prefer to take Calc I and a Stat course. </p>
<p>Also, I was looking to the courses I’d have to take and my fresh. year would look like this:
Bioethics class (required)
PE (required)
Writing Course (required)
Biology (with lab)
Chemistry (with lab) **also, chem is notorious to be a killer</p>
<p>isn’t five courses and two labs a bit too much?</p>
<p>Is that both semesters or just first semester?</p>
<p>2 classes w/labs plus 2 additional lecture/discussion classes is a pretty standard courseload for one semester. </p>
<p>PE should be a non-issue. All you really have to do is show up & participate to pass. (And unless things have changed drastically, PE is usually graded on a variation of P/F.)</p>
<p>Well that is just for first semester, but second semester would be the same.
Oh, haha. I didn’t think it was standard. 
Yes, I guess I shouldn’t be counting PE as a class…
Should I also add Calc I + Stat. to my schedule?</p>
<p>but then that wouldn’t be feasible either since I would be going over the 18 credit limit…</p>
<p>You have time, better to start a little slow and get the feel for college than to bite off too much first sem of fr year and have to start a thread here about your poor first year.</p>
<p>Take 2 premed + their labs and 2 other classes (+PE), don’t add anything else.</p>