Chemistry pre-reqs

Started by Topo
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T

Topo

Full Member
10+ Year Member
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Hi there,

I need a bit of clarification on the pre-req business for medical school.

Most medical schools state that they need two years of chemistry "with lab", or some go into detail with a more specific "one year of general chemistry and one year of organic chemistry, 'with labs'". The "with lab" portion is what confuses me. I'm assuming that the one year credit of chemistry you take must be accompanied by a lab portion, which also must be one year in length. However, in some instances I have read that it is also acceptable to take one full year credit of, say, organic chemistry, but only have half a year credit of the lab component.

In my current position, I have taken 1/2 year of organic chemistry and 1/2 year of general chemistry, both with lab components. I know for the summer that I need 1/2 year credits more of each. However, the university I am looking into only offers lectures for organic chemistry, without a lab component. Will that be acceptable? I will in theory have "one full year of organic chemistry". It's just that my lab isn't exactly a full year.
 
im pretty sure you must take the labs...Gen Chem I and II Lab and Lecture and O Chem I and II Lab and Lecture..if anything i would advise you to speak with you premed advisor...they may be of some help.
 
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There are, unfortunately, no pre-med advisors in Canadian universities. When I took Ochem I, my lab was on a biweekly basis, for 4 hours, for around 4 months. I'm not sure if that constitutes as 2 credits. The credit for the entire course (lecture and lab) my university gave it was '1/2 credit" which just means it went on for 1/2 a year.
 
I have another quick question:

For general chemistry, if I were to take 1/2 year credit of only lecture, will I be able to void the lab component requirement if I have had extensive research background? I have taken a 4th year research project as well as summer research experiences.
 
Topo said:
There are, unfortunately, no pre-med advisors in Canadian universities. When I took Ochem I, my lab was on a biweekly basis, for 4 hours, for around 4 months. I'm not sure if that constitutes as 2 credits. The credit for the entire course (lecture and lab) my university gave it was '1/2 credit" which just means it went on for 1/2 a year.
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Do you mean once every two weeks, or twice every week? If you had it twice every week for 4 months, then it would probably be okay. Most students usually take lecture (~3 hours per week) and lab (~3 hours, once a week) together for a whole year. But I have heard of labs that meet more often (twice a week) that count for both semesters of lab.

Topo said:
I have another quick question:

For general chemistry, if I were to take 1/2 year credit of only lecture, will I be able to void the lab component requirement if I have had extensive research background? I have taken a 4th year research project as well as summer research experiences.
Click to expand...

I'd say probably not. Research experience is nice, but I don't think it would exempt you from the required labs for the pre reqs. Don't take my word on it, though. I would wait to see if anyone else has an answer for this question.
 
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