Classes that prepare for medical school?

[gotterdammerung]

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I have taken all of the pre-reqs and also need no more classes to graduate: However, I can still go to school next semester with tuition covered. Of the following classes I have not taken, which would be most helpful?

Neurobiology
Infection & Immunity
Embryology
Premed Latin and Greek

I also am wondering whether statistics would be a good class to take in general (even if the school does not require it).

 

[britsmedicine]

Take infection/immunity, embrylogy, and try to take biochem, anatomy, human phys, or genetics. In other words, take upperlevel bio classes. They seem to really help. I have several neighbors and friends in medschool and they said that the courses I listed were EXTREMELY helpful for med school when they took them at their undergrad institution.

Good luck!

 

[funtertaining15]

I'd like some insight on Neurobiology, since I'm taking the intro class for that topic this year (2nd year).

 

[funtertaining15]

Take infection/immunity, embrylogy, and try to take biochem, anatomy, human phys, or genetics. In other words, take upperlevel bio classes. They seem to really help. I have several neighbors and friends in medschool and they said that the courses I listed were EXTREMELY helpful for med school when they took them at their undergrad institution.

Good luck!

Your signature quote is awesome.

 

[Nandrolone]

Genetics and biochemistry certainly help.

 

[Ashley1989]

I'd like some insight on Neurobiology, since I'm taking the intro class for that topic this year (2nd year).

I would like some insight as well into Neuroanatomy. My professor invited me to take it in the fall, but Cell and molecular biology is a pre req. he said that since I've taken other heavy classes with him he would waive the pre req, but I'm still nervous! I would be taking it with O-Chem, Cell and molecular biology, and a two unit research type class..

 

[gotterdammerung]

To clarify, I have taken all of the other major classes to prepare for the mcat/med school (physiology, anatomy, biochem, genetics, histology, etc.)

 

[funtertaining15]

To clarify, I have taken all of the other major classes to prepare for the mcat/med school (physiology, anatomy, biochem, genetics, histology, etc.)

May I ask what your major is?

 

[Ashley1989]

To clarify, I have taken all of the other major classes to prepare for the mcat/med school (physiology, anatomy, biochem, genetics, histology, etc.)

I've seen a few schools where statistics was "highly recommended" so it might be a good idea to check out some of the schools you're interested in and see what they say on their website.

 

[Marcus Brody]

Definitely don't do latin. 😱 Huge waste of time. I don't think it's ever an issue, you pick it up as you go.

Honestly, the most helpful are going to be your pre-med requirements, above all Biology and biochem.

Beyond that though just look up professors for classes like the ones below on ratemyprofessor.com (serious) and see if there is anyone amazing teaching them. Any one of them would be helpful but a great prof makes a huge difference. I chose a lot of my most helpful and enjoyable classes this way.

Molecular Biology
Genetics
Cell Bio
Anatomy/Physiology
Exercise Physiology
Kinesiology/Biomechanics
Medical Terminology
Any communication class, I took "Interpersonal Communication"
Psychology
Sociology
Ethics
Statistics

 

[gotterdammerung]

I am just a biology major, but I have taken a lot of classes not required thus far that I felt would be good preparation for medical school or just because I simply thought I would enjoy them.

 

[britsmedicine]

Your signature quote is awesome.

lol. I kinda live by that.


But that neurobio class sounds interesting.

 

[san2]

if you are a nonscience major, my recommendation is to do only the minimal prereq's of general biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics and a semester of calculus.

after that, dont take classes just for the sole reason of preparing for medical school. If you really wanna prepare, then invest in Kaplan Lecture Series Books and Online Kaplan lectures (the cost will be certainly far far far less than registering for courses) and start cracking at them. If you are able to get through anatomy including neuroscience, biochem, physiology, and hematology in the Kaplan path book before M1, you will not only have a very strong background going into M1 but also you will have a good exposure to USMLE.

Much better than taking classes. I was a nonscience major and did the minimal prereq's and then did this Kaplan lecture series books my senior year of college to prepare for med school. Words cannot describe how much it helped me

 

[circulus vitios]

if you are a nonscience major, my recommendation is to do only the minimal prereq's of general biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics and a semester of calculus.

after that, dont take classes just for the sole reason of preparing for medical school. If you really wanna prepare, then invest in Kaplan Lecture Series Books and Online Kaplan lectures (the cost will be certainly far far far less than registering for courses) and start cracking at them. If you are able to get through anatomy including neuroscience, biochem, physiology, and hematology in the Kaplan path book before M1, you will not only have a very strong background going into M1 but also you will have a good exposure to USMLE.

Much better than taking classes. I was a nonscience major and did the minimal prereq's and then did this Kaplan lecture series books my senior year of college to prepare for med school. Words cannot describe how much it helped me

Just a note: some schools have additional requirements beyond gen bio. RVUCOM, all of the public schools in Texas, U Arizona @ Phoenix, etc. I've e-mailed a few of them and asked if they make exceptions. Their standard response is something along the lines of "biology coursework is important for medical school and most matriculants take 24+ credits of biology." So much for supporting non-science majors and academic diversity...

 

[Bangersandmash]

To clarify, I have taken all of the other major classes to prepare for the mcat/med school (physiology, anatomy, biochem, genetics, histology, etc.)

You don't have much left do you?

I've seen embryology as a recommended class for many med school websites. I would say Infection and Immunity would be the next most important.

And a medical terminology class can be beneficial, but certainly not as much as a science class teaching you what you need to know. I am a classics minor and in addition to taking Latin (which very minimally helps with roots), medical terminology is a bit more helpful, but nothing can substitute for the actual learning of the body.

 

[funtertaining15]

Yeah; I'm a declared biology major, but I'm thinking of changing it to Neuroscience and behavioral biology. Intro to Neurobiology doubles as a req for NBB and an optional req for biology majors, so I have to decide by the end this semester 🙄

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[funtertaining15]

Just a note: some schools have additional requirements beyond gen bio. RVUCOM, all of the public schools in Texas, U Arizona @ Phoenix, etc. I've e-mailed a few of them and asked if they make exceptions. Their standard response is something along the lines of "biology coursework is important for medical school and most matriculants take 24+ credits of biology." So much for supporting non-science majors and academic diversity...

do you think neuroscience and behavioral Bio falls under that category?

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[gyngyn]

If you haven't taken stats/epidemiology, it's the most important aspect of lifelong learning overlooked by the requirements to med school. Way more important than calculus.

 

[boshtrich]

I would say neurobiology would probably be the most useful. You will forget most of the things from the Infection and Immunity course by the time you take the class in medical school (most schools have it after anatomy and biochem, by which time you have forgotten all prior knowledge). Neurobiology will probably cover topics from both neuroscience and neuroanatomy, which are both important for Step 1, and medical school in general.

 

[gotterdammerung]

Thank you for all of the input! Good thing I still have a few weeks to think about it.

 

[circulus vitios]

do you think neuroscience and behavioral Bio falls under that category?

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It depends on the school.

 

[mimelim]

None of those classes will help you for medical school. Do something interesting with your time.

 

[ShenanigansMD]

None of those classes will help you for medical school. Do something interesting with your time.

Definitely agree here, you'll learn all that stuff any way. But stats might be good just to get familiar with it, I'm not sure how well that's covered in med school.

 

[redpanda]

None of those classes will help you for medical school. Do something interesting with your time.

Agreed. One semester of whatever biologically related undergrad course = 1 day of med school class. The benefit is marginal at best if your objective is to have more knowledge for med school. Take something that you enjoy, or, if your study skills are weak for some reason, take something that will force you to improve your study skills.