Advice on which extra science classes to take?

[ltrain]

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so i am currently working on the pre-med classes i need through the harvard ext school program. this past year i took gen chem I and II and bio I and II. i know i'll be taking orgo this year, but i'm currently trying to pick another class for the fall and i have a few questions i'd love some insight on:

first of all, my science class options are:

comparative functional anatomy of the vertebrates
neurobiology
immunology I
biological perspectives on hiv and aids
human physiology I
introduction to epidemiology

1) any thoughts on which (if any) of these would be most useful with respect to mcat prep?

2) it has been recommended to me to take another science class, both because more classes will help to increase my gpa, and also because i don't have many classes in my "science gpa." but it seems to me that much of the material covered in these classes will also be taught in med school. so is it important to take it now?

3) would med schools look down on taking a public health class (the intro to epidemiology) as opposed to a science one?

4) what about ditching the idea of a science class and taking a language class instead (probably french)? one of my goals is to work internationally and i currently only speak english. it seems like a good time now to work on my language skills. how would med schools look at this?

any thoughts?

 

[ltrain]

bump. any advice or suggestions, anyone?

 

[DD214_DOC]

Dunno. I think human physio would help you most on the MCAT. Other than that, I say take what you want. We already have to take 32 hours of stuff we don't want.

 

[TiggidyTooth]

Definately physiology. It will help loads for the MCAT and it is a course ou will take in medical school too.

Tooth

 

[mshheaddoc]

I wouldn't bank on taking non science classes if you want to increase your GPA. Although most likely these classes won't make you an expert in the subject for medical school, exposure can do nothing but help you. I am not going to say taking biochem will help you in medical school b/c its all med school classes are those that usually people say that no matter what you experience with them, med school is a b*tch and it will kill you anyways 😉

But definitely take the science. Physio is your best bet to help with the MCAT.

 

[ltrain]

hey guys, thanks for the advice. it sounds like physiology would be the most useful. now i just have to decide if i want to sacrifice my saturday mornings (in addition to my weeknight evenings) to the cause of getting into med school 😉

i don't know about you guys, but it seems so frustrating to me to have to take these classes, which i will later have to re-take, just to get in to med school. it seems like a ridiculous hoop to jump through. anyway.

one last question. the intro to epidemiology class is taught through the biology department at the extension school. the class number starts with "bio-". does anyone know if this means it would be included in the science gpa for amcas?

 

[BKMD]

comparative functional anatomy of the vertebrates
neurobiology
immunology I
biological perspectives on hiv and aids
human physiology I
introduction to epidemiology

Human phys. all the way, just took the mcat and some of that stuff was on there.

 

[Sundarban1]

hey guys, thanks for the advice. it sounds like physiology would be the most useful. now i just have to decide if i want to sacrifice my saturday mornings (in addition to my weeknight evenings) to the cause of getting into med school 😉

i don't know about you guys, but it seems so frustrating to me to have to take these classes, which i will later have to re-take, just to get in to med school. it seems like a ridiculous hoop to jump through. anyway.

one last question. the intro to epidemiology class is taught through the biology department at the extension school. the class number starts with "bio-". does anyone know if this means it would be included in the science gpa for amcas?

I was going to take physio, heard it was a great class. However I am working full time and need my weekends!

Regarding the AMCAS question, I just checked the 2005 course list guide and I dont see epidemiology under Bio, however public health is listed, but not under Biology, its listed under "health sciences" HEAL. Maybe you should check further.

 

[ltrain]

I was going to take physio, heard it was a great class. However I am working full time and need my weekends!

Regarding the AMCAS question, I just checked the 2005 course list guide and I dont see epidemiology under Bio, however public health is listed, but not under Biology, its listed under "health sciences" HEAL. Maybe you should check further.

yeah, i feel you on the weekends...i'm in the same situation. plus i think i'll want them free for mcat prep in the second half of the year and then i wouldn't be able to take physio 2.

epi is listed as "BIOL E-210" in the online course catalog. were you looking at a hard copy?

i had decided to go with the epi, both bc it relates to the current work i do, and bc it's the most convenient to my schedule, but if it's not going to count for bmcp, well then i'll have to see.

thanks for all the replies!