Premed Forum FAQs: Read First

[GoldShadow]

Thank you for stickying it, and thanks for all the positive responses everyone.

[Pharmagal]

Sorry! I haven't read the last book yet. So, my point of view of dumbledore is based on the early few books. 8-)

[pakbabydoll]

Thanks man, your a life saver!!

[collegedreamer08]

Is one year of Calculus a must?
An absolute necessity?
How about only one semester?

[Steeler]

The first post contains a link to questions about Calculus:
Calculus AP Credit

[madamebovary]

im not sure but most recommend one sem calc 2 + one sem of stats

[collegedreamer08]

Oh. Sorry - missed the link.
Useful information.
This means I have to work hard to get a four/five on the AP Calc AB test. Hm. So it's a semester of Calc II and one of Stat. Thanks =D

[collegedreamer08]

Alright. I read through a lot of the links. Wow. I am definitely printing these and saving them once (if) I get into college (early).
Question:
Would this be a good courseload (I know, I'm getting ahead of myself, only a high school senior and all...but I like to have a plan)?
Sem1: Bio, Calc
Sem2: Bio
Sem3: Chem
Sem4: Chem, Orgo
Sem5: Orgo, Physics
Sem6: Physics, Stat
Plus other courses - maybe biochem or anatomy or something.
And if the general college population takes four to five classes a semester, how can someone finish a major, let alone two?!
As for ECs: I'm already volunteering in an ER now...I'll just continue in the same place throughout college (b/c I'll be home and rack up like 1000+ hours =D)
And research (I'm working on that now). How many years of year would you recommend? And would it be prudent to completely change research topics? Like going from HIV to depression?
And the MCATs questions (because I couldn't find them in the forum).
How many times do most applicants take them? From what I've been reading, many take them the April before the June application opening and that's it. Can we take them more than once like the SATs?
Do all the scores show up?
And if so, when are possible months (this I could not find). I know of April and August. Any others?
Anddd. That's it for now. I think. Thanks in advance! You guys rock!

[GoldShadow]

Pretty much all those questions can be answered by the links, go through them again. And I suggest you stop worrying about some of these things until after you've started college! Enjoy the time off between senior year of HS and freshman year of college.

[bluedevilmike]

1.) It's ridiculous to plan a courseload this early.
2.) Most students find a way.
3.) Was the ER comment a question?
4.) As much as you can. And new topic, old topic, whatever.
5.) Up to three. Just like the SATs, all scores show up. Unlike the SATs, medical schools do not even pretend to only take your highest. You could take them more than once but (like the SATs) this is a bad idea.
6.) Don't know. There are many throughout the year.

[hpa10]

^ how is taking the sat's more than once a bad idea?

[bluedevilmike]

1.) Many undergraduate schools claim to only take the highest SAT score, but this is simply not a credible claim. Two candidates; one a 1370/1510; the other is just a 1510. The first one is either unprepared the first time around or got lucky on the second one.
2.) Extra takes are a significant waste of time and resources.
3.) You don't get retakes in college.


Just prepare adequately and take them when you're ready.

[sports61kh]

about the yr of physics, do med schools require the one w/ calc or just alg/trig based?

also, i was wondering if AP Calc A,B,C corresponded to calc I,II,III in college?

[sports61kh]

^ (10 chars)

[shades_children]

So it's a semester of Calc II and one of Stat.

Two semesters of calc will do, too. At least, they did for me, but I applied to very few med schools.

about the yr of physics, do med schools require the one w/ calc or just alg/trig based?

I think algebra/trig-based is sufficient. But I can't really remember.

also, i was wondering if AP Calc A,B,C corresponded to calc I,II,III in college?

Sort of. Loosely.