Anyone done exceptionally well in sciences?

[donnie_dlewis]

---

Members do not see this ad.

...for example, in upper level biology, biochem, organic chemistry , calculus I&II, physical chemistry, genetics. if yes, how much of a positive contribution has it made to your application.

maybe there's too much subjectivity involved to answer this post accurately. i personally can't say yes to the question asked in the title of this post, but i'm just interested in getting an idea of how much better such students fare in the admissions process.

some schools recommend the courses i listed above, but i'd suspect that most schools would be satisfied to see solid grades in just the regular science prerequisites. wouldn't that be enough to dispel any undue worries on their part regarding a particular applicant's ability to keep up in a medical school's science curriculum? i think it should be, but as i've mentioned, i'm interested in hearing how folks who've done exceptionally well in the sciences above the standard prerequisites have fared in admissions. thanks!! =D

 

[baylormed]

...for example, in upper level biology, biochem, organic chemistry , calculus I&II, physical chemistry, genetics. if yes, how much of a positive contribution has it made to your application.

maybe there's too much subjectivity involved to answer this post accurately. i personally can't say yes to the question asked in the title of this post, but i'm just interested in getting an idea of how much better such students fare in the admissions process.

some schools recommend the courses i listed above, but i'd suspect that most schools would be satisfied to see solid grades in just the regular science prerequisites. wouldn't that be enough to dispel any undue worries on their part regarding a particular applicant's ability to keep up in a medical school's science curriculum? i think it should be, but as i've mentioned, i'm interested in hearing how folks who've done exceptionally well in the sciences above the standard prerequisites have fared in admissions. thanks!! =D

Let's see, my sciences grades are kind of scattered. My first two years I got mostly B's in my sciences (along with a C and a D that I retook and made a B+), though I got an A in biolab 1 and biology 2, and pre-calculus. Then my junior year I got straight A's in genetics, genetics lab, physics 1 and organic lab, but I messed up o-chem 2 and made a C+ (bad story). I hope my junior year shows my ability to medical schools and that they don't rely too much on freshman year especially. So, after telling you my story my question goes along the same lines, whether this last year good grades will help me. Maybe Lizzy M can help us!!!!!!

 

[Law2Doc]

...for example, in upper level biology, biochem, organic chemistry , calculus I&II, physical chemistry, genetics. if yes, how much of a positive contribution has it made to your application.

maybe there's too much subjectivity involved to answer this post accurately. i personally can't say yes to the question asked in the title of this post, but i'm just interested in getting an idea of how much better such students fare in the admissions process.

some schools recommend the courses i listed above, but i'd suspect that most schools would be satisfied to see solid grades in just the regular science prerequisites. wouldn't that be enough to dispel any undue worries on their part regarding a particular applicant's ability to keep up in a medical school's science curriculum? i think it should be, but as i've mentioned, i'm interested in hearing how folks who've done exceptionally well in the sciences above the standard prerequisites have fared in admissions. thanks!! =D

Med schools are looking for diversity, and thus will take students of all majors. I've not noticed any advantage for those who were science majors over those who just did merely the prereqs. The days of the premed needing to being a bio/biochem major are pretty much over. While hardcore science majors may have demonstrated an ability to excel in the type of courses seen in the first two years of med school, they may not bring as much to the table in the later two years, when interpersonal and communicative people skills predominate. Thus I would say one's advantage in the med school admissions process will be nil.

 

[big_smiles]

I have a 3.98 in the sciences, yet no love from most schools. Another rejection today. UGHHH I hate it!
So it depends on your ENTIRE application.
At an interview, I seen the sheet in front of the interviewer and one column was "academics" and I got average. So, it's not everything, but I am sure it helps, as with a lot of things on the applications.

 

[omgwtfbbq?]

I have a 3.92 in my biochem major, a 3.85 in my english major, 4 years research on biosensors, all those fun upper division genetics, cell biology and stuff, hospital research, published a collection of short stories and i only got 2 interviews, and one was a state school that gives everyone an interview. I applied to 11 schools. So... nope, i think its all freakin' random.
totally random. so just do what you love and do it well and then apply and hope for the best and see. Of course, tomorrow I get my acceptance/rejection letter from AECOM and i'll let you know if it worked! heh. good luck, just enjoy what you study

 

[akinf]

What the hell. That's some pretty hardcore stuff. DId you do no extracurriculars or something or did you bomb the MCAT, because I would expect Stats like that get you more interviews than that. That being said, I am from Canada, and the way they take students in the US is unfamiliar to me, so my opinion may not be all that credible.

 

[MoosePilot]

I have a 3.98 in the sciences, yet no love from most schools. Another rejection today. UGHHH I hate it!
So it depends on your ENTIRE application.
At an interview, I seen the sheet in front of the interviewer and one column was "academics" and I got average. So, it's not everything, but I am sure it helps, as with a lot of things on the applications.

Average? Is your non-science really low?

I'm sorry 🙁

I did not do exceptionally well. I didn't apply myself. I have a great MCAT and an interesting background and got into a couple of schools this year.

 

[big_smiles]

Hey, I saw your profile, MoosePilot, and congrats on the MCAT. It HAD to help. Plus your experiences, a definite plus. I had a 3.95/3.98/31. MCAT not as shining as yours. I know there are less interview spots come January, but 6 rejections in a short amount of time hurt 🙁
Good luck, hey we're in med school, I guess we can't be picky. 🙂 Well maybe you can be a little more picky.

Thanks though, good luck!

 

[MoosePilot]

Hey, I saw your profile, MoosePilot, and congrats on the MCAT. It HAD to help. Plus your experiences, a definite plus. I had a 3.95/3.98/31. MCAT not as shining as yours. I know there are less interview spots come January, but 6 rejections in a short amount of time hurt 🙁
Good luck, hey we're in med school, I guess we can't be picky. 🙂 Well maybe you can be a little more picky.

Thanks though, good luck!

Hey, getting into one is all that matters. I would have taken any of mine and been happy, but getting into where I think I'll fit best is money!

 

[silas2642]

I have a 3.98 in the sciences, yet no love from most schools. Another rejection today. UGHHH I hate it!
So it depends on your ENTIRE application.
At an interview, I seen the sheet in front of the interviewer and one column was "academics" and I got average. So, it's not everything, but I am sure it helps, as with a lot of things on the applications.

Agreed that it is random and that numbers are not everything. I have a 3.6/30, and four interviews out of six school that I returned secondaries to. To the OP, do well in your classes, but don't obsess about grades because it is only one part of yoru application.