Do I need recent coursework?

[PygmyPuff]

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A friend of mine met with a pre-med advisor at her state school and was told since she is non trad and hasn't taken course work in 2 years that she wouldn't be considered competitive. They recommended that she take some upper level bios to show that she can still do well.

I'm also nontrad and haven't taken coursework in 4 years, will be 5 years by the time I matriculate. Is that going to hurt me in the admissions process?


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[njtrimed]

A friend of mine met with a pre-med advisor at her state school and was told since she is non trad and hasn't taken course work in 2 years that she wouldn't be considered competitive. They recommended that she take some upper level bios to show that she can still do well.

I'm also nontrad and haven't taken coursework in 4 years, will be 5 years by the time I matriculate. Is that going to hurt me in the admissions process?


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It could. My top choice wanted to see recent courses, so I ended up enrolling in grad classes after I had already applied. Every school is different, though; I got interviews and ultimately acceptances into a few schools that never knew I started taking classes again, but the school I really wanted only accepted me after I finished the semester with a 4.0.

 

[DBC03]

A friend of mine met with a pre-med advisor at her state school and was told since she is non trad and hasn't taken course work in 2 years that she wouldn't be considered competitive. They recommended that she take some upper level bios to show that she can still do well.

I'm also nontrad and haven't taken coursework in 4 years, will be 5 years by the time I matriculate. Is that going to hurt me in the admissions process?


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It often depends on the school and particular courses. UNC chapel hill requires 30 additional hours of coursework if your prerequisites are 5 years old. I haven't determined if you have to take a certain amount in each subject or just 30 hours of upper level science (calling tomorrow). Some schools couldn't care less about physics but will require up to date biology (Johns Hopkins). It varies. My classes will be over 15 years old upon matriculation (if I am accepted this cycle), so I'm getting up to date as quickly as possible.


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[PygmyPuff]

It often depends on the school and particular courses. UNC chapel hill requires 30 additional hours of coursework if your prerequisites are 5 years old. I haven't determined if you have to take a certain amount in each subject or just 30 hours of upper level science (calling tomorrow). Some schools couldn't care less about physics but will require up to date biology (Johns Hopkins). It varies. My classes will be over 15 years old upon matriculation (if I am accepted this cycle), so I'm getting up to date as quickly as possible.


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In thinking about it, my prerequisites were all completed within the first two years of my degree. So those classes are over 5 years old, I took them 2009-2011.

Do you think most of the MD programs are the ones looking at this? I'm pulling for DO since I think that's my best shot. Would they care as much? Should I just start calling my top choices to find out?


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[DBC03]

In thinking about it, my prerequisites were all completed within the first two years of my degree. So those classes are over 5 years old, I took them 2009-2011.

Do you think most of the MD programs are the ones looking at this? I'm pulling for DO since I think that's my best shot. Would they care as much? Should I just start calling my top choices to find out?


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I'm wondering if they care more about five years from graduation date or from date of the actual classes. I don't know the answer, but will try looking it up. I have no idea on DO classes. Have you looked into a few? Start looking up the admissions requirements for each school and see. If you have a pre-health advisor, check with that person as well as they often have a good idea about what is required.


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[wholeheartedly]

Obviously check with the schools you are interested in, but the local ones I contacted indicated that a strong performance on the MCAT would be sufficient indication that someone has stayed up to date. Anecdotally heard from some others that if you've been working in a sience field, that can overcome some time lapsing since your degree.

 

[PygmyPuff]

Obviously check with the schools you are interested in, but the local ones I contacted indicated that a strong performance on the MCAT would be sufficient indication that someone has stayed up to date. Anecdotally heard from some others that if you've been working in a sience field, that can overcome some time lapsing since your degree.

I took the mcat last year so that's pretty recent. I haven't been working in a science field though. I started emailing a few places so hopefully I'll get responses back about this!


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[Goro]

A friend of mine met with a pre-med advisor at her state school and was told since she is non trad and hasn't taken course work in 2 years that she wouldn't be considered competitive. They recommended that she take some upper level bios to show that she can still do well.

I'm also nontrad and haven't taken coursework in 4 years, will be 5 years by the time I matriculate. Is that going to hurt me in the admissions process?


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Knowledge decay is a real thing. Do you think you can ace the MCAT now, based upon your past coursework? And it's not just knowledge that decays over time, it's the skillset(s) required for adequate learning that needs to be exercised as well.

 

[PygmyPuff]

Knowledge decay is a real thing. Do you think you can ace the MCAT now, based upon your past coursework? And it's not just knowledge that decays over time, it's the skillset(s) required for adequate learning that needs to be exercised as well.

Welcome back, @Goro!

I took the MCAT last year

 

[futuremdforme]

I didn't take new coursework, just aced the MCAT (and prior GPA was ok). 100% did not hurt me. If you have a good GPA and can ace the mcat (ie self-motivated to suck it up and study a lot) then I would say it is not necessary. You might lose out on a few schools, but you can definitely get in if the stats are there.

 

[Kirank]

Need advise please!!
Should I be keeping any hope up from any DO schools with low CGPA 3.2 and Sgpa 3.19 with upward trend and 511 mcat 129 in cars. I am currently in masters program. Canadian applicant.