Applying to US schools without Physics Pre-req

[TeamCanada]

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This being my first post here, I want to say that this board has been a phenomenal resource during the AMCAS application process. I'm a Canadian student and relatively unfamiliar with the application process in the States, so no doubt a lot of the insight I've found here has been helpful in allowing me to decide which schools to apply to and how to give myself the best chances in my application.

That said, I haven't been able to find a direct answer to what is my biggest concern about applying to the US. Unlike Canadian schools, American schools have pretty stringent undergraduate course requirements. As a first-year undergrad, I was relatively free to branch out from the Sciences in the courses I took, so I ended up doing politics in first year instead of the general physics course. I completed my B.Sc. in Psychology/Biology and am now doing a M.Sc. in Neuroscience. I have the pre-reqs in Bio, Chem, Orgo and Calc, but never ended up taking Physics.

My question is: are there any special circumstances under which MD admissions committees disregard this requirement? My decision not to take Physics had nothing to do with not being able to do well but was just a lack of planning. In fact, the strength of my application is definitely my academic record and research experience. My GPA and MCAT should be in the upper range of any school I apply to, and I obviously have a good enough understanding of science to be able to handle general physics (again, I showed this by doing very well on my MCAT). I am also wondering whether it would help to call individual schools and explain my situation before I submit my application, to see if they will consider me.

I thought I might add that I'm only interested in applying to top tier and research intensive US schools (e.g. Stanford, Columbia, John Hopkins, etc.) and maybe some schools will be more or less lenient than others. Taking undergrad Physics now really isn't an option either.

I also apologize if there is a similar post elsewhere. I searched for a while, but didn't find what I was looking for.

Thanks in advance!

 

[NickNaylor]

Highly doubtful. Maybe if you took some upper level physics courses they might accept them in lieu of general physics. Why can't you take the course now?

 

[shaggy alfresco]

No, you'll need two semesters of physics (you may be able to substitute a higher level physics if you've already taken Physics 1 & 2 in high school, but you still need 2 semesters of physics.

I am not sure why it's not an option now? Sign up and take it. Otherwise, you will not be able to matriculate to any of those schools.

 

[flatearth22]

As long as you have the physics prereq before you matriculate to med school you should be fine. One of my friends AP'ed out of physics and ended up taking both physics 1 and 2 in his 2nd semester of senior year after already being accepted to medical school because they didn't take AP's. If for some reason you haven't taken it by the time you matriculate you could try and defer your acceptance by taking a job as a research assistant or doing a year of AmeriCorp or something while taking the course.

On a sidenote - Canadian schools sure are strange. They don't have strict course requirements yet they have minimum required scores for the writing section for the MCAT...lol.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Yes, you will have to take physics if you're accepted to a US med school. American MD schools are very strict on pre-reqs. It's likely that some will accept upper-division physics courses instead of basic physics, but the two semesters is stringent. The good news is that you won't need to take them before you apply, just before you matriculate.

 

[TeamCanada]

Yes, you will have to take physics if you're accepted to a US med school. American MD schools are very strict on pre-reqs. It's likely that some will accept upper-division physics courses instead of basic physics, but the two semesters is stringent. The good news is that you won't need to take them before you apply, just before you matriculate.

Ah thanks everyone. This actually clears a lot up. So even if Physics is not listed as one of my courses on AMCAS I will still be considered? What I meant is that it wouldn't be an option to take Physics before I apply (because I would have to delay my application by a year). Taking an undergrad Physics course during the second year of my Master's is doable though, just not something that will make my PI happy :S

 

[rhesuspieces]

Ah thanks everyone. This actually clears a lot up. So even if Physics is not listed as one of my courses on AMCAS I will still be considered? What I meant is that it wouldn't be an option to take Physics before I apply (because I would have to delay my application by a year). Taking an undergrad Physics course during the second year of my Master's is doable though, just not something that will make my PI happy :S

You'll list it under "future coursework." No one really combs through your courses to make sure you have all the pre-reqs until you are all lined up to matriculated.

 

[theWUbear]

You'll list it under "future coursework." No one really combs through your courses to make sure you have all the pre-reqs until you are all lined up to matriculated.

Agreed. There are many schools that do Summer physics 1 and 2, so worst case scenario you can use your last summer right before starting medical school taking physics 😀 at least you won't be making a thread about how to prestudy 😛

 

[Whatyousay]

There are some schools that actually don't have a physics pre-req (i.e. Baylor), so if you REALLY don't want to take physics, you can try to hunt those schools down.

 

[TeamCanada]

Thanks guys. I'm thinking the best solution is actually taking Physics I and II the summer before. That way I'll know I got accepted before I take extra courses.

 

[Northwesterly]

Um, this is probably a bad idea. If you want to minimize the possibility of pointless classwork, sure. But lots of summer classes run from mid-June to early/mid August, and med schools have orientation anywhere between early July and September. It could all work out fine, but it could also be an acceptance-withdrawing disaster, or prevent you from moving to your new school's city until the week classes start.

I took intro-level physics and bio in high school and taking the pre-reqs ten years later was pretty boring, but it's just one those things you have to deal with.

Thanks guys. I'm thinking the best solution is actually taking Physics I and II the summer before. That way I'll know I got accepted before I take extra courses.

 

[theWUbear]

Um, this is probably a bad idea. If you want to minimize the possibility of pointless classwork, sure. But lots of summer classes run from mid-June to early/mid August, and med schools have orientation anywhere between early July and September. It could all work out fine, but it could also be an acceptance-withdrawing disaster, or prevent you from moving to your new school's city until the week classes start.

This is also a good point. There are a couple schools that start in July. You'd be screwed in that situation. Know that in making your plans.

 

[blizzah]

I would definitely take it during the year to be safe. You will have to take it eventually, so take it as a night course and get it over with.

 

[ebeans]

Physics is required at all schools, to the best of my knowledge as well.

 

[Spectar]

Physics is required at all schools, to the best of my knowledge as well.

No it isn't.

 

[HomeSkool]

@ebeans, your very first move on SDN was to necrobump a 7-year-old thread? Damn, dude.

 

[mtn_dew0verdose]

@ebeans, your very first move on SDN was to necrobump a 7-year-old thread? Damn, dude.
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I'm friggin dying here