analytical chem vs. A&P or microbio from community

[rwk66]

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Hey all,

I posted on a simillar subject this morning, but now have another questions. I am a non-trad student who is lacking a science background(degree in info science/work on computers). I've pretty much finished all prereqs(will do so this fall), and am just looking for some summer courses to beef up my transcript.

This summer, I could take one or more of the following:
-Analytical Chem from my school(Pitt)
-Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 from community college
-Microbiology from community college

Unfortunately I cannot take the bio classes from Pitt because they are only offered in the daytime, when I work.

What would be best to help my transcript/MCAT scores? My premed advisor says analytic from Pitt because med schools look down on community college classes and wouldn't pay those grades much mind.

Thanks in advance!

 

[doctorcynical]

You can't have analytical chemistry without anal.

 

[jlee9531]

community college classes are fine. many people have taken almost all of their prereqs at a CC and have gotten interviews to good med schools with Hopkins being one such example.

some premed advisors try to scare students about community college and how med schools tend to look at them, unfortunately what they say isnt necessarily the truth. if you have a time conflict with something as responsible as working then i dont think any med school would look down on you for taking science classes at a CC. and even if there wasnt a conflict...for most of the schools...they still wouldnt look down on ya

 

[apar01]

(Anal)ytical chemistry for me was a very difficult subject. More often than not you will have lab portion of the course which takes up so much time - both doing labs and writing reports. I go to UT Austin and simply put it was one of the hardest courses I have taken.

That being said, if you can get through that course, especially at your school, medical schools will see that and know that you proved yourself in an advanced science.

But above all else, just take what interests you. It really doesn't matter if it is taken at a community college or a big university.

 

[rwk66]

Thank you all for your insight, it has been very helpful in my decision making!

 

[Sweet Tea]

Originally posted by apar01


But above all else, just take what interests you. It really doesn't matter if it is taken at a community college or a big university.

Exactly what I was going to say. Schools really aren't going to care if your classes were at Big Name U or Podunk CC...especially since you're a non-traditional applicant.

You have 3 very different courses listed there, and I took all of them in undergrad. Analytical chem was a required class for me and I hated the entire semester (although some loved it). If doing titrations and playing with the Henderson-Hasselbach equation sounds like a good time to you, then pick that one.

I did a concentration in A&P (mostly squid stuff-- no help in med school!) and I worked in a micro lab for a year, so I'm preferential to those choices. They will be of greater use to you in med school. A&P might be the most helpful b/c it'll get you used to describing things as being "posterior dorsolateral". The sudden onslaught of new vocab was difficult for some people in my class.

You should take whichever class you like the best-- any of the 3 will be meaty enough to put on your app. Good luck to you!

 

[doctorcynical]

Originally posted by Sweet Tea
Exactly what I was going to say. Schools really aren't going to care if your classes were at Big Name U or Podunk CC...especially since you're a non-traditional applicant.

You have 3 very different courses listed there, and I took all of them in undergrad. Analytical chem was a required class for me and I hated the entire semester (although some loved it). If doing titrations and playing with the Henderson-Hasselbach equation sounds like a good time to you, then pick that one.

I did a concentration in A&P (mostly squid stuff-- no help in med school!) and I worked in a micro lab for a year, so I'm preferential to those choices. They will be of greater use to you in med school. A&P might be the most helpful b/c it'll get you used to describing things as being "posterior dorsolateral". The sudden onslaught of new vocab was difficult for some people in my class.

You should take whichever class you like the best-- any of the 3 will be meaty enough to put on your app. Good luck to you!

ECU is that a DO school?

 

[Sweet Tea]

Originally posted by doctorcynical
ECU is that a DO school?

okay troll, you're getting reported for this one. first of all, you're trying to insult me when i haven't said the first thing to or about you. second of all, you're trying to insult a whole group of medical professionals who (once again) haven't done anything to provoke you. blatant flaming is a TOS violation.

actually, i really should thank you. you're annoying as hell and i'd be damned glad to never see a post from you again.

 

[peterockduke]

Take Physiology. I had at least 20 questions on physiology on my MCAT. If I knew physiology, I would have gotten a 13-15 - I'm not exaggerating here. Those were the only questions I missed. I had no idea that there were so many phys questions.

If there was a second choice, then go take microbio, it has a lot of general topics covered on the MCAT.

I'd take both.

Do NOT take anatomy (i had that, it was not helpful) and analytical chemistry (course + lab). THere was ONE question on the whole exam that had to do w/ A chem and it was just a Beer's law question. Worthless, anyone would know this.
- All you had to know is that absorption was based on concentration in a solution ===== WOW! That isn't common sense anyway.