Anatomy at Community College or Uni?

[Rmaurer754]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey guys. My university offers an anatomy class worth 3 credits, but the community college near me offers it for 4. My adviser told me that medical schools would prefer seeing a 4 credit anatomy class rather than a 3 credit. However, the 4 credit course would be offered over the summer...

I understand this isn't a super serious choice I'm making here, but which option should I choose? Any opinions would be great.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Won't matter. Anatomy is not a prerequisite and nobody in their right mind would say "well, if he had taken 1 extra unit in anatomy then he'd be worth interviewing/accepting."

 

[deleted577188]

hahahahahahahaha this is gonna get funny quickly

 

[GUH]

Do whichever one you're more likely to earn an A in.

 

[vs127739]

I know it's more expensive, but I think it's definitely in your best interest to take Anatomy (and even Physiology) at University level. That would look great on your AMCAS applications. See if you could avoid the introductory courses and get yourself into the fire of a full blown anatomy course. You'll thank yourself on the MCATs and first year at Medical School. 🙂

 

[vs127739]

I know it's more expensive, but I think it's definitely in your best interest to take Anatomy (and even Physiology) at University level. That would look great on your AMCAS applications. See if you could avoid the introductory courses and get yourself into the fire of a full blown anatomy course. You'll thank yourself on the MCATs and first year at Medical School. 🙂

Plus I'm sure you can get an A in either level. 🙂

 

[mehc012]

Take whichever one offers a real lab experience. Some of the smaller programs actually have real anatomy labs, whereas the unis with tons of students do not. Or vice versa. But to me, that would be a difference worth considering, not the number of credits.

 

[gyngyn]

Hey guys. My university offers an anatomy class worth 3 credits, but the community college near me offers it for 4. My adviser told me that medical schools would prefer seeing a 4 credit anatomy class rather than a 3 credit. However, the 4 credit course would be offered over the summer...

I understand this isn't a super serious choice I'm making here, but which option should I choose? Any opinions would be great.

You are taking anatomy in college? Human anatomy?

 

[D4C]

I know it's more expensive, but I think it's definitely in your best interest to take Anatomy (and even Physiology) at University level. That would look great on your AMCAS applications. See if you could avoid the introductory courses and get yourself into the fire of a full blown anatomy course. You'll thank yourself on the MCATs and first year at Medical School. 🙂

I wonder if there's any subtle differences at a community college vs. a university for anatomy. I think the community college will teach it like this: "the leg bone attaches to the...hip bone!" I suspect the university can only be one step above: "the femur attaches to the...hip bone!" But who knows.

 

[nellbot2000]

You are taking anatomy in college? Human anatomy?

Won't matter. Anatomy is not a prerequisite and nobody in their right mind would say "well, if he had taken 1 extra unit in anatomy then he'd be worth interviewing/accepting."

It always seems like there is a lot of negative opinions on SDN when people ask about taking an anatomy course in undergrad. I know it isn't a requirement for medical school, but I thought it was a useful course when I took it.

@Rmaurer754 if you think you'll enjoy taking it and that you can do well in it then just take it at your university.

 

[gyngyn]

It always seems like there is a lot of negative opinions on SDN when people ask about taking an anatomy course in undergrad. I know it isn't a requirement for medical school, but I thought it was a useful course when I took it.

@Rmaurer754 if you think you'll enjoy taking it and that you can do well in it then just take it at your university.

I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed it. It's just hard to picture. It's difficult to find good anatomists for medical school. I'm wondering who they get to teach this. Is there a lab? Virtual lab? 3 units?
I took classes that I enjoyed that had little to do with medicine. I'm just wondering technically how they pull this off in college.

 

[nellbot2000]

I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed it. It's just hard to picture. It's difficult to find good anatomists for medical school. I'm wondering who they get to teach this. Is there a lab? Virtual lab? 3 units?

My university had a human anatomy course that was taught by a retired physician, it was 4 credits with an on campus lab. We had two human cadavers and the lab portion was taught by graduate students. Eventually the university hired on an anatomist to run the lab portion, this was about a year or two after I took the course. I took the advanced anatomy lab my senior year which was led by the anatomist, we did the dissections for the lower level lab course. It was a great experience. I definitely think that I was fortunate to be attending a university that offered such an extensive anatomy program to undergraduates.

 

[gyngyn]

My university had a human anatomy course that was taught by a retired physician, it was 4 credits with an on campus lab. We had two human cadavers and the lab portion was taught by graduate students. Eventually the university hired on an anatomist to run the lab portion, this was about a year or two after I took the course. I took the advanced anatomy lab my senior year which was led by the anatomist, we did the dissections for the lower level lab course. It was a great experience. I definitely think that I was fortunate to be attending a university that offered such an extensive anatomy program to undergraduates.

Interesting. Thanks for a new late stage career plan!

 

[mehc012]

I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed it. It's just hard to picture. It's difficult to find good anatomists for medical school. I'm wondering who they get to teach this. Is there a lab? Virtual lab? 3 units?
I took classes that I enjoyed that had little to do with medicine. I'm just wondering technically how they pull this off in college.

I took one over the summer...cadaver lab and everything. The prof didn't contribute much, but he pretty much just had us watch Acland's and memorize the med school anatomy textbooks, plus 1 cool case study every week, so...I'm absolutely and utterly solid on muscles, bones, plexuses, major nerves and vessels, and organs. I will need a lot more depth on sensory nerves and also any minor blood vessels. I'll let you know after MS1 exactly how much mine was missing!

 

[xffan624]

I took one over the summer...cadaver lab and everything. The prof didn't contribute much, but he pretty much just had us watch Acland's and memorize the med school anatomy textbooks, plus 1 cool case study every week, so...I'm absolutely and utterly solid on muscles, bones, plexuses, major nerves and vessels, and organs. I will need a lot more depth on sensory nerves and also any minor blood vessels. I'll let you know after MS1 exactly how much mine was missing!

If you are already introduced to Acland, you're ahead of the game. Acland was my best friend in anatomy lab. You'll be ok.

 

[mehc012]

If you are already introduced to Acland, you're ahead of the game. Acland was my best friend in anatomy lab. You'll be ok.

I basically screenshotted the entire video series into flashcards...it was wonderful!
But seriously, Aclands + textbook tables + computer dissection simulator = the best set of flashcards I have ever made in my life. I have high hopes that they will be a good foundation when I get to that stage in a few years.

 

[gyngyn]

I took one over the summer...cadaver lab and everything. The prof didn't contribute much, but he pretty much just had us watch Acland's and memorize the med school anatomy textbooks, plus 1 cool case study every week, so...I'm absolutely and utterly solid on muscles, bones, plexuses, major nerves and vessels, and organs. I will need a lot more depth on sensory nerves and also any minor blood vessels. I'll let you know after MS1 exactly how much mine was missing!

Please do!

 

[Rmaurer754]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I didn't think it was that big of a deal in the first place...just wanted some input. 🙂