Do you really have to take ORGO LAB before med school?

[yalla22]

I have received two interviews for med school so far even though i havent taken orgo lab. Do you all think i definitely need to take it this semester? Is it possible that the schools will just ignore the fact that I haven't taken it???

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[NervousNed]

they will not ignore it, even if they send you an acceptance, and they find out later you did not complete their requirements, they will retract that acceptance, you cannot get around required courses.

 

[foofish]

I have received two interviews for med school so far even though i havent taken orgo lab. Do you all think i definitely need to take it this semester? Is it possible that the schools will just ignore the fact that I haven't taken it???

Required classes are exactly that...required. You don't have to have all the prereqs done by the time you're applying, or interviewing, but they have to be done before matriculation. Your acceptance is contingent upon completing prereqs with a satisfactory grade, graduation, etc.....in the acceptance letters I've received, it specifically spells all that out.

 

[Droopy Snoopy]

Yes, it is assumed throughout the application process that you will continue towards your degree path and finish all requirements. If you're lucky they'll catch it prior to summer semester and send you a note saying take it before matriculation; if you're not, they'll catch it late and some lucky wait-lister will get a call the week before class starts.

By the way, the whole slack-and-hope-they-won't-notice attitude is pretty immature and something you need to correct soon.

 

[alwaysaangel]

they will not ignore it, even if they send you an acceptance, and they find out later you did not complete their requirements, they will retract that acceptance, you cannot get around required courses.

Exactly what he said! They are currently interviewing you on the assumption that you WILL do the remaining prereqs and will probably do about as well in them as you did in all your other classes. If you don't they will retract the acceptance. You have to send an official transcript before matriculating and they WILL notice. Don't try to beat the system or you're going to be very sad when you show up for orientation and they tell you they've rescinded your acceptance.

 

[Wizard of Oz]

Yes, but it's easy.

 

[docdude]

There are a few that don't require it: USC, UCSF
Some will waive it: UCSD and UCI have been known to do this in the past
Some don't notice: I've been accepted to two places that require it before application, and I haven't done it yet (taking it now).

I think one factor is masters or upper education work - I was told at one admissions office that if you've taken what they consider higher level course work, they will waive it. But I think it is safe to just take it (I'm taking it, and I've already been accepted to a school that doesn't require it at all). I think if you have a good excuse for them to waive it, try, if you've somehow gotten in under their radar, take it anyway to be safe.

 

[GohKhordi]

"By the way, the whole slack-and-hope-they-won't-notice attitude is pretty immature and something you need to correct soon."

.....? 👎 Please don't make such judgemental comments. This a forum where we share information, not try to teach each other life lessons. You're not Dr.Phil. And thankfuly so because you have no idea who you are talking to, and therefore can't make any such judgements.

Yalla22- If you were considering Penn Med- they do not have any specific pre-med requirements. So if you have taken upper level science courses, then perhaps they will get the feel that your overall knowledge in the sciences is appropriate, and the lab could be excusable.

 

[Eric Lindros]

By the way, the whole slack-and-hope-they-won't-notice attitude is pretty immature and something you need to correct soon.

Hey, don't fault people for thinking of things that you haven't though of

 

[spicedmanna]

OP, yes, most medical schools require it upon matriculation. I do not think most schools are in the business of making exceptions to pre-requisite class work.

 

[Tired]

".....? 👎 Please don't make such judgemental comments. This a forum where we share information, not try to teach each other life lessons.

So says the random new member in their first post . . .

 

[Droopy Snoopy]

I am Dr. Phil; prove I'm not! Thank you for educating me about the nature of this forum. Considering you joined it what, an hour ago? It wasn't my intent to be judgemental, but it sometimes happens in this type of one-dimensional atmosphere that it comes across that way. It just sounds like the OP is like, "Tell me now that I've got two interviews that it's OK to slack off," an attitude that could potentially reap an extremely negative impact on his admission to medical school -- not just regarding OChem but in other areas potentially. Of course at certain schools there is some leniency given etc., but isn't it better to be safe than sorry?

 

[Wizard of Oz]

Back when I first applied for medical schools, Kansas was requiring TWO semesters of organic lab. 😱 The undergrad schools had a special organic II lab just for med students. Even chemistry majors didn't have to take the course.

So be happy that you just have to take one. Like I said before, it's not a hard class. If memory serves, it just took a lot of time. 👍

 

[sprinkibrio]

They will find out if you don't take it, as in this summer when your transcripts/proof of graduation is sent and they will kick you out. They are accepting you because they assume you will take it. And don't expect them to call you up and make you take it. If you got into med school they're thinking you should be a little bit more capable than that.

What is easy in the mean time will make your life more miserable than any orgo lab down the road.

 

[sprinkibrio]

.....? 👎 Please don't make such judgemental comments. This a forum where we share information, not try to teach each other life lessons. You're not Dr.Phil. And thankfuly so because you have no idea who you are talking to, and therefore can't make any such judgements.

Just wait until you have to interact with people like this (most of the population). Maybe your third year when you're not so surrounded by other genuinely good, honest people like in college (at least on the outside). They will piss you off for thinking they are so unique that they can get away with something, fly under the radar, or bend the rules. NOT COOL and does not merit standing up for.

 

[[pj]]

Back when I first applied for medical schools, Kansas was requiring TWO semesters of organic lab. 😱 The undergrad schools had a special organic II lab just for med students. Even chemistry majors didn't have to take the course.

So be happy that you just have to take one. Like I said before, it's not a hard class. If memory serves, it just took a lot of time. 👍

i took two qtrs of ochem lab.
just put in some time doing prelab stuff and it's pretty cake (slight exaggeration).

 

[MedChic]

Back when I first applied for medical schools, Kansas was requiring TWO semesters of organic lab. 😱 The undergrad schools had a special organic II lab just for med students. Even chemistry majors didn't have to take the course.

So be happy that you just have to take one. Like I said before, it's not a hard class. If memory serves, it just took a lot of time. 👍

does this mean med schools don't care about orgo lab 2 and only require 1 semester of lab?

 

[chad5871]

does this mean med schools don't care about orgo lab 2 and only require 1 semester of lab?

Okay. MOST medical schools require two semesters of Organic Chemistry PLUS lab, meaning 2 FULL SEMESTERS of lab. That is the requirement. It's called a requirement because it's REQUIRED. (In other words, you have to do it).

 

[Captain Fantastic]

Okay. MOST medical schools require two semesters of Organic Chemistry PLUS lab, meaning 2 FULL SEMESTERS of lab. That is the requirement. It's called a requirement because it's REQUIRED. (In other words, you have to do it).

I disagree with the two FULL SEMESTERS of lab comment.

Most medical schools require only a total of 8 hours of organic chemistry, including a laboratory experience. That could be a four hour organic 1 course (lecture and lab) plus a four hour organic 2 course (lecture and lab). That could also be a three hour organic 1 lecture, a three hour organic 2 lecture, and a two hour organic laboratory course covering both topics, etc.

Depending on your undergrad you will have different options. The important part is to have 8 hours and a laboratory experience.

 

[MedChic]

Okay. MOST medical schools require two semesters of Organic Chemistry PLUS lab, meaning 2 FULL SEMESTERS of lab. That is the requirement. It's called a requirement because it's REQUIRED. (In other words, you have to do it).

um okay, I was asking a legitimate question based on something someone else implied: that Kansas USED TO require 2 labs.
no need for a "tone"

 

[chad5871]

um okay, I was asking a legitimate question based on something someone else implied: that Kansas USED TO require 2 labs.
no need for a "tone"

Sorry. It's hard to convey emphasis on forums sometimes. I wasn't trying to have a "tone" (not intentionally anyway). It just seemed that a simple question was becoming WAY too complex and I thought I would attempt to answer to the best of my knowledge.

On a somewhat related note:
How many pre-meds does it take to screw in a light bulb?

 

[Droopy Snoopy]

Sorry. It's hard to convey emphasis on forums sometimes. I wasn't trying to have a "tone" (not intentionally anyway). It just seemed that a simple question was becoming WAY too complex and I thought I would attempt to answer to the best of my knowledge.

On a somewhat related note:
How many pre-meds does it take to screw in a light bulb?

One, but s/he waits until the night before to cram it in there! 😕 Get it, like with an exam? OK that's really lame.

 

[chad5871]

One, but s/he waits until the night before to cram it in there! 😕 Get it, like with an exam? OK that's really lame.

I get it - it wasn't TOO lame. 😉

Yes, the answer is one, but only only if they have a GPA higher than 3.8 and scored higher than a 35 on the MCAT. Otherwise, no pre-meds get to, and the room stays dark.

 

[cooldreams]

if you want to go to medical school and waste your life, you must start the eroding process in the orgo chem lab and get cancer like all of the rest of us! 😀