Are POST BAC Core classes enough to succeed in Med School?

[businessmd06]

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Hey All,

With no real science background does someone who takes the post bac core -

Gen Chem 1 +2

O Chem 1+2

Bio 1+2

Phy 1+2

Assuming you do well in these have enough of a science background then to succeed in med school?

These are the classes most structured post bac's offers.... does anyone feel anything is sorely missed and should be taken to better prep for med school?

 

[Pemulis]

I'm currently a student in a formal post-bac for career changers where we take exactly the curriculum you just mentioned. With one or two exceptions, nobody in my class has taken college level science before.

I've talked to many alumni of our program, and as a rule they do EXTREMELY well in med school and in getting into top residencies. So I would say yes, it's enough to be ready for med school success, provided you are taking the courses at a reasonably decent school and put in the effort to really learn the material (which of course you'll need to do to get the grades and MCAT scores for admissions anyway, right?)

 

[junebuguf]

In short--yes. Assuming you study hard and do well in the basic pre-reqs. I'm in an SMP and currently taking med school classes. All you need in the pre-reqs. Orgo is virtually worthless.

 

[sappho_sapphics]

Hey All,

With no real science background does someone who takes the post bac core -

Gen Chem 1 +2

O Chem 1+2

Bio 1+2

Phy 1+2

Assuming you do well in these have enough of a science background then to succeed in med school?

These are the classes most structured post bac's offers.... does anyone feel anything is sorely missed and should be taken to better prep for med school?

Some students have, but schools (look at admissions) ask for at least one semester calculus, at least one semester to one year of classes outside of the sciences (i.e. sociology, etc), some ask for one semester or more of psych, some want at least one year foreign language. Again, take a look at the admissions for some medical schools (top tier to lower tier to get an idea).

As a general suggestion, I would say that taking at least one year of upper division biology may help.

 

[relentless11]

In short--yes. Assuming you study hard and do well in the basic pre-reqs. I'm in an SMP and currently taking med school classes. All you need in the pre-reqs. Orgo is virtually worthless.

Don't make too many assumptions yet. Pharmacology/Toxicology does use OChem and Biochem, albeit basic reactions. Ever wonder how a beta-lactam ring works for penicillins? Ah yes, chemical mechanisms come back...the ole arrow pushing game. 😉 Anyway, I agree, pre-reqs alone will be sufficient, assuming you absorb and integrate it well, for med school and the MCAT.

It is however always helpful to have more background knowledge. Such as physiology, and biochemistry. I found taking the MCAT a whole lot easier (and faster) with a lot of science background. But others have done quite well with just pre-reqs. Depends on the person I guess.

In terms of med school courses, subjects not taken during your pre-reqs may prove very useful too. In addition to ochem/biochem helping out for pharm/tox, I found microbiology, molecular biology, cell biology, physiology, immunology, and biochem quite useful for general and systemic pathology. Essentially, look up on google for "The Tree of Medicine". All your basic sciences feed into pathology, which will be a very important course for you.

Don't take those courses for granted. Ones knowledge of the basic sciences can be useful, especially if you ever find yourself in academic medicine, where a med student or resident asks you a question that may involve basic sciences since the med student forgot their basic sciences😉. However I must say, zoology and botany were almost completely useless to me..lol. Zoology however allows me to converse with vet students...to some extent 😀 .