Hello! I just finished up my freshman year and I’m mapping out the classes I’ll be taking the rest of my semesters. However, I’ve run into this problem that I will not have completed the prerequisites for the MCAT before I would like to take them. I’m currently planning on taking the MCAT my junior year and applying for medical school senior year. But by taking the MCAT’s junior year, I wouldn’t have completed physics yet.
Here’s my current plan:
Sophomore Year Semester 1:
orgo 1 plus lab
Semester 2
orgo 2 plus lab
cell bio
Junior Year Semester 1:
physics 1 plus lab
genetics plus lab
Semester 2:
physics 2 plus lab
ecology plus lab
Senior Year Semester 1:
anatomy
biochemistry
Semester 2:
physiology
*this is simply my science schedule, I go to Fordham University and have many many core classes that I also need to fulfil which I plan to add in.
I’m at a cross roads of when I should study and take the MCATs, any advice on this predicament? My plan sophomore year is to focus on orgo because it is a very time consuming subject, hence why I’m not doubling up on sciences until second semester because cell biology does not have a lab.
I thought about taking physics over the summer but then I would not have time to study for the MCAT’s. What should I do?
You need to start physics during your sophomore year or in summer school between sophomore and junior year.
You may want to take it sophomore year, 1st semester. All pre med students I have known have taken 2 science classes each semester, including the one that they took Orgo 1.
I am no expert but I have gone over this issue with my freshman premed son. I’d put genetics in 1st semester sophomore year and biochemistry in 1st semester junior year because the new MCAT includes biochemistry topics.
Unless you plan for a gap year you should take MCAT by June following Junior year.
Whatever else you do, you should not take the MCAT until you’ve finished biochem. About 1/3 of the B/B (Biology and Biochemistry) section of the MCAT is devoted to biochem questions.
Move biochem to junior year. Push ecology back to senior year. Take physics junior year.
Take the MCAT spring of junior year after you’ve finished all your pre-req courses.
Although it might be nice to have a dedicated block when you have nothing else going on to study for the MCAT, it really isn’t necessary.
First off, take ecology later. I’m assuming that’s just a requirement for your major?
As stated above, 2 lab science classes should be very doable. 2 w/lab + 1 no lab should also be doable.
That means you could do the following:
Sophomore Year
Semester 1:
-orgo 1 plus lab
-physics 1 plus lab
Semester 2:
-orgo 2 plus lab
-physics 2 plus lab
-physiology
Junior Year
Semester 1:
-cell bio
-biochemistry
-genetics plus lab
Semester 2:
-Easy stuff so you have time for MCAT because now you’ve managed to fit everything in
so is it possible for me to take physics junior year and still take my MCATs then too? @WayOutWestMom
Hello everyone, update: even if I wanted to do physics with orgo i actually have no way of doing that since all the physics lectures fall at the same time as orgo!!! so im really at a loss here
https://aamc-orange.global.ssl.fastly.net/production/media/filer_public/f8/bc/f8bcec72-4ac3-4e5a-8c27-631d2096c569/combined_mcat-content_new.pdf
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
First-semester biochemistry, 25%
Introductory biology, 65%
General chemistry, 5%
Organic chemistry, 5%
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
First-semester biochemistry, 25%
Introductory biology, 5%
General chemistry, 30%
Organic chemistry, 15%
Introductory physics, 25%
Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
Introductory psychology, 65%**
Introductory sociology, 30%
Introductory biology, 5%
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
Foundations of Comprehension, 30%
Reasoning Within the Text, 30%
Reasoning Beyond the Text, 40%
You should be ok with physics in junior year. It’s not as critical to MCAT success as Biochemistry.
Assume you are taking some courses related to Psychology / Personality and Stats. Because if you look at the info in AAMC both are needed to do well in MCAT exam.
Some courses are easy to conclude from the above info but some are hard to conclude (biology). In general schools pre-med requirement sheet should list the courses offered there.
General chemistry 2 semesters
Organic chemistry 2 semesters
Biochemistry 1 semester
Physics 2 semesters
Psychology 1 semester
Sociology 1 semester
Math / Stats 2 semesters
Biology
For Biology, besides 1 year of Intro bio (AP), it is good to take courses but which one is more beneficial (since MCAT includes that topic) may be people with experience and subject knowledge can shed light. Among the course like
Genetics, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Anatomy, physiology, ecology etc.,
If a student wants to do only 1 course between Cell Biology or Molecular Biology, which one is a better option based on what MCAT covers/expects?
is it better to do biochemistry my second semester sophomore year or do it first semester junior year?
You definitely need to complete Biochem before starting MCAT study. How is your Physics background? Did you take AP Physics or SAT 2 Physics? If you did and scored well, then you don’t need to take college Physics for MCAT. Physics on MCAT is pretty lite. Genetics is not needed for MCAT either.
Do it second semester sophomore .
In general finish OChem and BioChem sooner than later. Many schools OChem is a pre-req for BioChem and for any Cell or Molecular Bio courses. You listed OChem and Cell in the same semester which some other school don’t allow.
@hi456378
You need to check course pre-requisites at your college. At many colleges. you need to complete 2 semesters of Ochem before you can enroll in biochem.
It’s possible to take physics junior year and still take the MCAT that spring. The bulk of the physics questions on the MCAT are classical mechanics (physics 1). Physics 2 is electricity & magnetism and an into modern physics (quantum model of the atom, radioactivity, etc)
Is Cell Biology or Molecular Biology needed for MCAT? If optional and recommended cell o molecular is more useful for MCAT?
MCAT not MCATs or MCAT’s… 
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. I'm currently planning on taking the MCAT my junior year and applying for medical school senior year. But by taking the MCAT's junior year, I wouldn't have completed physics yet.
[/QUOTE]
Along with the above suggestions, some students take the MCAT junior year, in April or May, when most/all of that spring semester is over.
Re: applying senior year. Actually, you need to apply during the SUMMER before senior year. Apply in early June.
depending on the syllabi my guess is cell bio is more useful than molecular