Classes to take before medical school

[Dwade06]

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There are a couple of classes my school offers that would be a plus for students wanting to go to medical school. Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Intro to immunology, intro to neuroscience, microbial pathogenesis, and microbiology. Out of these classes which 4 should I take. Please list them in order of most to least importance. Ive already taken Biochem.

 

[Goro]

I recommend

Anatomy and Physiology I and II, > microbiology OR microbial pathogenesis, > intro to neuroscience OR Intro to immunology

What's most interesting to you????

 

[itsthat1guy]

Take classes that you won't have the opportunity to take in med school

 

[AliciaAccepted]

I would recommend Anatomy and Physiology I and II as well as Intro to Immunology as the most beneficial since many students struggle the most with those classes in medical school. That being said, I would recommend that you take the classes that you are most passionate about since you will naturally excel in those. If you have the resources, I would review the professors teaching the courses and any course materials that are available to give you an idea of how the classes are taught and how you will need to study for them. This can provide valuable background information. Strong study skills will also be critical to your success. Good luck!

 

[Cinclus]

Take med school prereqs and courses required for graduation before med school. Then, take what you like. I will add, however, that I felt my medically relevant microbio courses (those that actually had "clinical" or "medical" in the course title) from undergrad and grad school to be helpful during the infectious disease courses in med school. I took a buttload of them, though; that was because I loved them.

 

[pietachok]

Take classes that are of interest to you and that you won't be able to take again. There is every opportunity and incentive to take/study medically relevant material in medical school and beyond as a physician. Conversely, nobody will ever set aside a block of time for your to learn about literature, politics, art, or even quantum physics again, and while it's easy to find an intro spanish course or creative writing class at any community college, there are many classes that aren't routinely offered to non-matriculated students of universities . . . those are the ones I'd take.

 

[knv2u]

Molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry courses are helpful for the MCAT and likely beyond. I think A&P and immunology would be my top picks from your list.

 

[NickNaylor]

All of those courses would be helpful. With respect to actual impact on your experience in medical school, though, it doesn't matter what you take. It's not as if your med school courses will be made substantially easier by taking classes in undergrad. It might make some courses easier initially, but you will still end up studying a ton because there will still be plenty to learn. So, with that said: take what you need to take to help you with the MCAT (A&P) or, if you've already taken the MCAT, then whatever sounds good to you. It won't make a big difference one way or another.

 

[masaraksh]

What are prerequisites, Trebek

Medical school admissions for 400.

 

[Mel Belle]

I'm interested in possibly pursuing interdisciplinary research such as biophysics for MD/PhD. Possibly. Maybe not. Would quantum mechanics be a waste of time to take? (I would also have to take Calc III and Linear Equations) I've had a lot of mixed responses to this. I'm already a physics minor, so I'll be set with physics prereqs.

I'm prepared to hear some "yes, it will be a waste of time" answers. But I figured I'd give it a shot.

 

[Starry]

Take classes that are of interest to you and that you won't be able to take again. There is every opportunity and incentive to take/study medically relevant material in medical school and beyond as a physician. Conversely, nobody will ever set aside a block of time for your to learn about literature, politics, art, or even quantum physics again, and while it's easy to find an intro spanish course or creative writing class at any community college, there are many classes that aren't routinely offered to non-matriculated students of universities . . . those are the ones I'd take.

Completely agree.

Maybe take a class in finance? Spanish is also really useful.

 

[Microglia]

I'm interested in possibly pursuing interdisciplinary research such as biophysics for MD/PhD. Possibly. Maybe not. Would quantum mechanics be a waste of time to take? (I would also have to take Calc III and Linear Equations) I've had a lot of mixed responses to this. I'm already a physics minor, so I'll be set with physics prereqs.

I'm prepared to hear some "yes, it will be a waste of time" answers. But I figured I'd give it a shot.

It will likely help for a biophysics PhD, but there's no real benefits as far as the MD side of things. There's some pretty cool stuff going on with quantum physics in metabolism research.

 

[Mel Belle]

It will likely help for a biophysics PhD, but there's no real benefits as far as the MD side of things. There's some pretty cool stuff going on with quantum physics in metabolism research.

So to clarify, for MD/PhD at least, are you saying quantum mechanics would be useful if I do metabolism-related research? I am interested in neurology, psychiatry, and endocrinology. Heavy biochem kinda stuff.

 

[Microglia]

So to clarify, for MD/PhD at least, are you saying quantum mechanics would be useful if I do metabolism-related research? I am interested in neurology, psychiatry, and endocrinology. Heavy biochem kinda stuff.

It would be useful if you do biophysics research and a biophysics PhD (in any field, not just metabolism, but biophysics of the brain, liver, etc). If you plan on doing your PhD in neuroscience, CMB, MG, etc then it won't be as useful. Basically, if you want your PhD to be in the biophysics concentration, then it will be a useful class to take. But, if you want any other biological non-physics or engineering degree it won't be very useful.

 

[Mel Belle]

It would be useful if you do biophysics research and a biophysics PhD (in any field, not just metabolism, but biophysics of the brain, liver, etc). If you plan on doing your PhD in neuroscience, CMB, MG, etc then it won't be as useful. Basically, if you want your PhD to be in the biophysics concentration, then it will be a useful class to take. But, if you want any other biological non-physics or engineering degree it won't be very useful.

Alright, thanks for the advice!

 

[bulldogmed]

Personal Finance, Healthcare economics, biochem. Don't worry about anatomy and physiology or immunology. Most people don't have it prior to starting, and after the first month, it's all the same anyway.

 

[Mel Belle]

Personal Finance, Healthcare economics, biochem. Don't worry about anatomy and physiology or immunology. Most people don't have it prior to starting, and after the first month, it's all the same anyway.

But does it look better on an application to have A&P and immunology? My school is also going to be offering virology. I plan to take neurobio and microbiology as electives. Biochem is covered with my major. 😛

For the record, I wouldn't just be taking those classes if they look good. I'm interested in them. But if it's not going to look any better on an application then I would like to take something useful that's not medicine-related like personal finance.

 

[mcloaf]

But does it look better on an application to have A&P and immunology?

Short answer: no.

 

[bulldogmed]

But does it look better on an application to have A&P and immunology? My school is also going to be offering virology. I plan to take neurobio and microbiology as electives. Biochem is covered with my major. 😛

For the record, I wouldn't just be taking those classes if they look good. I'm interested in them. But if it's not going to look any better on an application then I would like to take something useful that's not medicine-related like personal finance.

I'm not on an admissions committee, but my first reaction would be no. If you really are interested in those classes, take them. I was a chemistry major and wished I had take more bio classes. But that's because I'm interested in it, not because it would have given me a leg up in med school. Med school has a different focus than UG for classes, so whatever perceived benefit you might think you have in taking something, it's probably actually a lot less simply because your focus is different.

 

[Mel Belle]

I'm not on an admissions committee, but my first reaction would be no. If you really are interested in those classes, take them. I was a chemistry major and wished I had take more bio classes. But that's because I'm interested in it, not because it would have given me a leg up in med school. Med school has a different focus than UG for classes, so whatever perceived benefit you might think you have in taking something, it's probably actually a lot less simply because your focus is different.

Thanks for the response. If they're going to be useless after the first month of med school like you said, then I may as well take that time to explore some classes I wouldn't be able to take in medical school. (Although, I'll probably need to take some of those classes anyway for the required bio-related electives for my major.)