Do I really need all MD prerequisites?

[muchomaas]

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Has anyone here gotten into a school without actually having taken all of the standard MD prereqs?

I told all the schools I'd take Bio 102 w/lab this Spring, but damn does it feel like a waste of my time when I've taken several upper level Bio classes and have been working in a Bio lab for 2 years.

I kind of want to email schools and ask them how much it really matters, especially because I might be able to do a great research project in a new lab instead of taking the class. But I don't want schools to think I'm going back on my words or half-assing it, and I haven't gotten any acceptances yet.

 

[CielloStelatto]

i haven't, but.. if you've taken extra upper level bio classes, why not try calling the schools. i think multiple schools just say x semesters of biology, vs. 101 and 102.
ask if they'll accept an upper level course for the bio requirement. worth a shot.

 

[JacobSilge]

Yes, it is possible. I placed out of bio 101 and 102 and took several upper level courses and it was no problem at all. The only possible sticking point would be if none of the upper level bio courses had a lab component, but even then you could probably get away with "independent study" lab research credit.

 

[harvman11]

yes, you really don't need it but if you told them you're taking that class it's probably considered bad form to back out. It's also somewhat school dependent I'm sure, but I only have 1 semester of gen chem (2 semesters of biochem though). I also didn't take gen bio, only have 1 semester of bio lab, and only took 1 semester of physics. Yet I've been accepted to multiple programs, including Wash U and Michigan.

The thing is, I'm also a biology/engineering major, and I've done research in bio labs for 2 years. The way I see it (and I imagine the schools I applied to saw it as well), they just want to make sure you have the background to understand the material, and if you demonstrate that then you'll be fine.

 

[Shifty B]

So, I applied to medical schools many years ago, but I suspect the same still holds true. These rules are just ways to weed down the number of applicants. So, they go through the applications and check the box for "Has enough biology classes" and "> 3.7 GPA" or whatever. Then, if you have checks in all the boxes they might invite you for an interview. Once you get that far, no one is going back to say, "Well, he really had 2 biology courses but only one of them had a lab". I doubt they notice or would even care, they just need to limit the number of applicants.

Once you have the interview, the rules are only guidelines. If they like you, you're in and your prerequisites will never be heard of again. I would discourage you from wasting both your time and their time by contacting them about insignificant changes to your senior year courses. Quite frankly it doesn't matter.

 

[muchomaas]

Huh.

Well everything you guys have said makes a lot of sense. But I did call one school, and they said I had to take General Bio, full year. I was probably just talking to an administrative person though, so I don't know how much stock to take in that.

I agree that if I were to be accepted into a program, they probably wouldn't care. But it's tough playing this game without an acceptance.

Harvman, did you not even fill out that you were going to take physics or bio lab 2 on your app? That's surprising to me that they wouldn't have given you some guff for that.

 

[harvman11]

I didn't put that I was going to take any extra classes on my AMCAS, and on the few schools' applications that asked specifically if I had the pre-reqs (Emory comes to mind) I just explained that I felt I had a full grasp of the background material covered in those classes.

I do have AP credit for the physics classes, but I only took 1 semester of physics while in college. No one said anything about it, though to be honest I was somewhat expecting some trouble from it. Maybe I got lucky.

As for the bio lab, I just relied on the fact that I've been working in genetics/biochem labs. If I had decided to take them as independent study classes I would've been fine, but I really needed the money so I did them for pay. I did explain this on my application in the economically disadvantaged section, so maybe that's why I didn't hear anything about that one, but I honestly don't know.

 

[Shifty B]

Of course you shouldn't lie on the application, and you shouldn't totally ignore requirements. But you should definitely take those prerequisites listed on web sites with a grain of salt. Some of them are very specific and may say "two semesters of general chemistry", but if you tested out of general chemistry and took 2 extra semesters of analytical chemistry instead, consider yourself having completed the requirements. If you took 10 engineering courses instead of "two semesters of physics" you're probably ok.

I think this is the biggest problem at places where degree course requirements are different, or if you do a course of study like engineering. It's also a problem if you test out of a lot of basic courses with AP classes (which many people do). I mean, should you go back and retake biology 101 and 102 because one medical school requires it? Not really.

Also, just keep the good faith of the process in mind. If when you filled out the application you thought you were going to do it, then it's ok. I don't think you are obligated to notify the school about small unanticipated changes. I don't think they are going to send their applicants an email when their Dean leaves to go to another school. Just keep that in mind.