Chemistry/Biochemistry Pre-requisites?

[Trickster]

Hello all,

My university does not offer a "General Chemistry II" class since we crammed everything into one semester. However, I have taken second and third-year Biochemistry classes (with labs). Will this fulfill the General Chemistry requirements for most schools?

I've contacted AMCAS and some individual schools about this already, but I'm too impatient to wait for their replies, so I've decided to ask you folks 😀

Thanks in advance...

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[DALABROKA]

What is the second course required for chemistry majors?

 

[Allygator89]

The schools I have dealt with look at the fact that you received credit for it. Such as taking the organics in one semester instead of two... As long as you have completed it, have gotten credit for it in one way or another (to allow you to go higher in chem classes) then you should have no problems....

 

[pillowhead]

it probably should, but they may want you to take some non-bio based chemistry since biochem is so different than say analytical or physical chemistry. i think it will just be up to the individual schools on that. If you ace your MCAT physical sciences, i'm sure they'd overlook it. I took an advanced gen chem as well where they crammed it all in to one semester, but I had taken AP chemistry, analytical chem, and made a 13 on the physcial sciences so the adcoms just told me not to worry about it.

 

[wolferman]

To fulfill the chemistry requirement, you typically need a year of inorganic and a year of organic. If your school doesn't offer General Chemistry II, then take some other inorganic chemistry class like Thermodynamics, Physical Chemistry, or an inorganic chemistry lab. That's what I ended up doing to get the second semester of inorganic chemistry.

 

[phil413ru]

My school only offers one semester General chemistry. Thus, I have only taken one semester Gen chem, but two semester O-Chem and one Biochem. I did take any additional Inorganic classes. I have already applied and interviewed at several med schools. I have been fully accepted at two, and "conditionally accepted" at top choice (Military--need to clear medical). I did not have problem. If it would calm nerves, take analytical or something. Unless you are applying Md/PhD, it shouldn't matter. Or--you can have your school write a letter to schools upset by this issue, explaining why they only offer one class.
Best luck!

 

[Adcadet]

my undergrad college let me test out of the first semeser of general chem (though I did not get credit for it). The chair of the chem dept. wrote a letter explaining that I tested out of it based on the ACS exam, and the general chem II lab is equivilent to a two semester lab, and I was freed to take other classes. The letter also stated that "we have been doing this for the past 30 years, and have never had a problem with a medical school not accepting this letter...". Sure enough, I had no problems, as I could fill in a semester of biochem to make up the credits.

 

[UCLA2000]

Originally posted by Trickster
Hello all,

My university does not offer a "General Chemistry II" class since we crammed everything into one semester. However, I have taken second and third-year Biochemistry classes (with labs). Will this fulfill the General Chemistry requirements for most schools?

I've contacted AMCAS and some individual schools about this already, but I'm too impatient to wait for their replies, so I've decided to ask you folks 😀

Thanks in advance...

Most schools don't care as long as you've made it up with some sort of challenging chemistry course. In order to be sure you should really give them a call.

Patience is the ONE THING that you can't afford to lose. You're going to be sitting there for months waiting for your MCAT score, and sitting there for months waiting for your med school accepts...etc. You really need to have alot of patience in this process or you'll go nuts.