applying to sgu. ross, auc

[nismo]

This might be a question that only the school administrators can answer but if anyone knows the answer to this please reply.

I will complete all of my med school pre-reqs next spring and will have taken human physiology and I am planning on taking another upper bio course such as microbiology or genetics in the summer of 2005. At the end of next fall term I will have completed approximately 116 credits (72 community college and 44 from a 4-year university). I will take my MCAT next April as soon as I am done with my pre-reqs. If things go well I should have a 2.6 gpa from community college and a 3.0 gpa from the 4-year university. However, the past few semesters my grades have been above average (mostly A's and B'c with one C in calculus). But the reason my gpa is so low is because in my first few semesters I received a lot of C's and D's.

My question is, can I apply to sgu, ross, or auc next January before I have completed all of my pre-reqs and before I take my MCAT? The reason I want to do this is because I heard that if i wait till April/May to apply it would be too late. I would like to go to med school in the fall of 2005, and if I was admitted into the August 2005 class I would not have graduated from college but I would have about 116 credits.

I am not planning on doing this but I would like to know if this is possible. It would probably be a better decision to stay in school for an additonal year and not rush things but I would just like to know if this is possible.

[Nimitt]

I think you can do that. I applied to SGU my 2nd semester senior year in January. I didnt graduate until that may and finished my thesis in July. If you are doing prereqs all you tell them is that you are in the progress of finishing it. I started med school that Aug! You just have to send them your final transcript with your degree.

Nimitt
3rd year
SGU

[nismo]

Thanks for the reply. However, if I decide to enter medical school in August of 2005 I won't have my degree because I won't be graduating till December of 2005/January 2006. I was just thinking of not getting my undergraduate degree and entering medical school a year earlier.
My main concern is the MCAT. Are they really going to look at my application before I submit my MCAT scores? And by the time I do submit MCAT scores it will be 2-3 months before the August term begins. I think if they do that there will definately not be any open seats left at that time.

[stephew]

Thanks for the reply. However, if I decide to enter medical school in August of 2005 I won't have my degree because I won't be graduating till December of 2005/January 2006. I was just thinking of not getting my undergraduate degree and entering medical school a year earlier.
My main concern is the MCAT. Are they really going to look at my application before I submit my MCAT scores? And by the time I do submit MCAT scores it will be 2-3 months before the August term begins. I think if they do that there will definately not be any open seats left at that time.

First of all SGU has rolling admissions so if you are applying in april for the next term that should be ok. But you probably wont get seriously reviewed until your MCATs are in. If you had taken them once and the second set were pending they'd probably go ahead with interview etc but barring that, I think they'd wait for your mcats before deciding to offer and interview. I'd get my full degree before going to med school and for sgu you'd have to.

[ikep]

I agree with the previous posts about not being considered until you have your MCAT scores. However taking the MCAT is not dependent on classes. You can buy these MCAT study aids and study from those. Getting a 25 on the MCAt is not difficult. You just have to get in the skin of the test by practising on old tests from previous years. Time management is important during the test and time/question can only be adjusted by taking old tests. I would suggest you take the MCAT this september. Statisticaly competition is less during sept because the people who usually take it are people who got less than stellar grades in May. You could also focus on premed classes first or take a couple during the summer so that you can be considered for an interview.
Whatever you do though, finish your degree. If for some reason you think that medicine is not for you (i have seen it happen) or you don't do well you have something to fall back on.
Hope it helps