Bioethics Class?

[pillowsnice]

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Has anyone who has taken a Bioethics course find the information useful for interviews and MMI's? I haven't taken a ethics class yet and only have one semester left of undergrad. However, I feel like I can find all the necessary information for interviews and such by reading and researching on my own. Does it look better to have the course on my transcript?

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

I say only take it if it's something that really interests you. In terms of interview prep, in my opinion, I don't think it's necessary. You're right that there are plenty of ways to prepare for MMIs on your own, including sample questions you can find online. It may also be helpful if you can find someone to do mock interviews with who knows the application process (like a premed advisor) and can give you honest feedback.

I don't think schools are expecting you to come to the table with an extensive knowledge of bioethics. Rather I think they want to understand your judgment and assess your ability to weigh the options when a scenario isn't necessarily clear-cut.

 

[Womb Raider]

Definitely take it 100%.

 

[Xyzcannon18]

I would take it. It's certainly interesting either way and the way of thinking is used in many aspects.

 

[pillowsnice]

The class is at a time when it would interfere with the rest of my schedule, forcing me to move around some stuff including my research lab time. Is it really that necessary/recommended?

 

[WedgeDawg]

I took a few because I thought they were interesting (and I minored in ethics). They were marginally helpful for MMI but not like a silver bullet or anything.

 

[Womb Raider]

The class is at a time when it would interfere with the rest of my schedule, forcing me to move around some stuff including my research lab time. Is it really that necessary/recommended?

Is this your last semester or something? If it's a huge PITA to register this semester than just take it another time. If it just involves juggling some classes around then do it. Ethics are a HUGE part of medicine/being a physician - almost all incoming med students have a very poor (if any) background in ethics. Taking the course will open your eyes to a huge range of issues that you may not even know exist. Even if you are aware of the ethical issues, it will give you a new ways to think about them.

 

[Bermie]

Can't speak to whether or not it is helpful for interviews. However, I think it is important to note that most philosophy or ethics courses have very little to do with learning "all the necessary information". I loved my Biomedical Ethics course and all my philosophy classes because they were about 10% learning information and 90% discussion and conversation within the class. I have done a fair amount of philosophical reading on my own, and none of it is nearly as challenging or worthwhile as a classroom experience.

 

[mordac21]

Take it because it's interesting. I took bioethics, but it didn't really help me during my MMI's at all. Since my course was an upper-level in the philosophy department, the focus was on issues that were far more abstract than what you'd ever encounter in an interview.