Are the "recommended" courses on MSAR really required?

[radioactive15]

do the medical schools imply that they expect you to take the courses they mark as recommended?

I'm referring to the English and Math. Many schools I look at have them as recommended and NOT checked as required, but then when reading some of the descriptions, it says exceptions will be made for some of these classes based on MCAT performance and coursework, which leads me to believe that they are actually required.

Will not taking the recommended courses listed on MSAR prevent you from being admitted or matriculating?

This doesn't refer to the recommended sciences, mainly the non science courses marked as recommended.

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[To be MD]

do the medical schools imply that they expect you to take the courses they mark as recommended?

I'm referring to the English and Math. Many schools I look at have them as recommended and NOT checked as required, but then when reading some of the descriptions, it says exceptions will be made for some of these classes based on MCAT performance and coursework, which leads me to believe that they are actually required.

Will not taking the recommended courses listed on MSAR prevent you from being admitted or matriculating?

This doesn't refer to the recommended sciences, mainly the non science courses marked as recommended.

No, they're just recommended. They're not required.

🤣

 

[Goro]

What part of "recommended" don't you understand?

 

[gyngyn]

I wish the MSAR wouldn't even ask us for recommended courses. It just drives the already hyper-vigilant into a frenzy.

We probably get 50 calls a year asking the same thing OP, you are not alone.

 

[aldol16]

Since med schools are switching to competency-based admissions, set courses that are required are disappearing quickly and instead are replaced by recommended tracks, etc. So I think that recommendations now hold more weight than before because many of the old pre-requisites have become "recommended."

 

[tskbdmnd]

This might be helpful. It's for AP tests but it lists when a class is not required.

http://oaa.rice.edu/files/2014/01/AP-Credit-Allopathic-Medicine-Summer-2015-27wt667.pdf

It's a year old though.

 

[radioactive15]

This might be helpful. It's for AP tests but it lists when a class is not required.

http://oaa.rice.edu/files/2014/01/AP-Credit-Allopathic-Medicine-Summer-2015-27wt667.pdf

It's a year old though.

I found this too, which is also old, but somewhat helpful.

http://www.premedlife.com/uncategor...it-and-u-s-medical-schools-requirements-2179/

 

[Crayola227]

I was given the advice that I should do any and all coursework "recommended" by my state schools, or any other schools where I had my best chance of admission/or I wanted super bad

seems like most liberal arts schools require up to college algebra and some English credits regardless

if you haven't had a year of biochem, I recommend that of all the "recommended" classes you might otherwise skip

that and statistics
I think a firm grasp of stats will make you a better doctor.

People who hadn't had the full biochem sequence in undergrad FAILED so hard in my med school
You don't want to be seeing a full year's worth of upper division level biochem for the first time when you have 12 weeks to learn it ALL
Best "recommended course" time I ever spent in all of undergrad

You can check and see how your particular schools do biochem to see if you'll be screwed by not having the whole undergrad year

 

[Spector1]

check the med school website for more more detailed instructions and clarifications rather than relying on msar if you're confused about something