IUgrad said:
Hi, flighterdoc,
I took Gen Chem I for college credit my senior year of high school (7 years ago). My premed adviser said I should go for Gen Chem II; however, I barely remember anything from Chem I, so I am taking it again next semester.
As for biology and physics, I only took what was required in high school, the first class of each - I didn't take the advanced class of either in high school.
I'm a pretty good math student (which I've been told is helpful for physics), but I've only had Calc I. I didn't know if I might need to take more calculus in preparation for physics or not.
I really appreciate your advice!
I'm finally getting started this fall, and I'm really nervous (and excited)!
Unless you're dead set on going to a school that requires a calc based physics (and there might be one or two out there) don't bother with calc, or calc based physics. Take the trig based (non engineering) physics. The MCAT is all trig based, you dont need calc for it at all (and the prep material won't cover calc).
OK, so you need a full series Chem (General/Org), Physics (trig based) and Bio. I found Bio the easiest, Org (taking it now) the worst, gen chem in the middle. I took engineering physics (and calc) back when I got my undergrad degreee, and will be taking physics again (it was offered by the engineering dept, not science, and I was advised to take it over) - no problem, physics is kind of simple for me.
So, I'd take the classes in this series (my opinion only):
Semester 1: Gen Chem 1 Bio 1
Semester 2: Gen Chem 2, Bio 2
Semester 3: Org 1, Physics 1 (trig)
Semester 4: Org 2, Physics 2 (trig)
The chem classes is the critical path - work the physics in around it if you need to for scheduling purposes. But, for the MCAT, Org 2 and Physics 2 are probably the least necessary (if necessary at all), so I'd try and work them in around the MCAT.
Good grades, and a good score on the MCAT, are the key issues to work towards.
If you want some other classes to buff your app, try microbiology and maybe molecular genetics, but DONT WORRY if you don't take them, they're not needed for the MCAT (the MCAT questions are covered by the basic-8 courses, or basic 6). A few schools want Biochem, if you're not into a lot of chemistry, find another school
And, checking on various school requirements is actually pretty simple, right now - they mostly all have web sites that list their requirements (under admissions), so find out if a school you would consider has some requirement other than the basics - for instance, the DO schools tend to require some social sciences or psych classes, english, etc. As mentioned, a few schools require biochem, and there might be some that require calc or calc based physics. Find out now.
And, two things to remember: It's NEVER too late to become what you should have been; and the process is a marathon - not a sprint.
Good luck!