Does Microbiology count as a Biology semester?

[dahlmarino]

So far at the CC level I've taken a Cellular Biology course and a Microbiology course. I'm wondering if this will count as 2 semesters of Biology (both with lab) or just one? I really have no idea if Micro is generally considered a Biology course by med schools.

I've also taken both Anatomy and Human Physiology. Do those count as anything?

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[mililani]

No. You really need to see an advisor.

 

[eablackwell]

The above poster is correct. While all of those count towards your BCPM gpa, none of them satisfy the 2 semesters of biology requirement.

You really need bio 1 & bio 2. I don't know of any exceptions for those classes.

The only exception I often see for prereqs is biochem in place of orgo 2, and still that is only for specific schools.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

Given I'm planning on applying nearly only DO schools, my pre-med advisor as well as the schools I have contacted have said that these classes would count as the Bio pre-req.

University of Utah actually requires one of your Bio pre-reqs to be Cell Bio.

 

[DrMidlife]

Prereqs vary by school. There are some MD schools that have no requirements at all - they let you figure it out. There are also some MD schools that have at least another year of bio requirements or recommendations beyond the first year of bio. But if you look at the MSAR, you'll see that the trend is still a year each, with lab, of bio/chem/ochem/physics. If you want to be on the safe side, you won't do your prereqs at a CC or outside the US, and you'll watch your target schools' websites for changes in admissions requirements.

MCAT topics, on the other hand, don't vary much. If you're taking coursework that sounds like the prereqs, and/or your plan is to get away with something other than the normal prereqs, better look at the MCAT topics. http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/preparing/start.htm

If you're not sure about the coursework you're taking, compare it to the coursework recommended for premeds at some big schools (like Michigan, Northwestern, UWash, WUSTL etc). Find the syllabus, see what the topics are, see what the textbook is, etc.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Econ2MD]

No. You really need to see an advisor.

I've read quite a lot on this forum on this topic and perused several schools' websites. Some specifically require a complete introductory course in biology, whereas others only require so many credits in the subject with no specific requirement. The safest path would be to contact schools you are interested in applying to and ask them. While you are on the line, you might ask their opinion of CC prerequsite coursework. This seems to be a hotly debated topic, but my conclusion is that most schools like to see at upper-level science coursework done at a 4-year school unless you have a really good reason not to (cost, location, etc.) There are a lot of good threads on this topic on SDN.

There are also many opinions on advisors here on SDN. I feel fortunate to have a good one, but many feel the advice they receive from premed advisors is worthless at best. Do your own research...verify everything.

 

[dahlmarino]

I've read quite a lot on this forum on this topic and perused several schools' websites. Some specifically require a complete introductory course in biology, whereas others only require so many credits in the subject with no specific requirement. The safest path would be to contact schools you are interested in applying to and ask them. While you are on the line, you might ask their opinion of CC prerequsite coursework. This seems to be a hotly debated topic, but my conclusion is that most schools like to see at upper-level science coursework done at a 4-year school unless you have a really good reason not to (cost, location, etc.) There are a lot of good threads on this topic on SDN.

There are also many opinions on advisors here on SDN. I feel fortunate to have a good one, but many feel the advice they receive from premed advisors is worthless at best. Do your own research...verify everything.

Always sound advice. I'm at a CC because I'm going through the Surgical Technology program before I go on to my Bachelor's (I'd say that's not a horrible reason, right?), but as far as I can tell only the only classes I've taken that are actual pre-reqs for med school are Gen Chem I and GC1 Lab, and maybe Biology foundation for Physiology (which, according to Michigan State's Pre Med program, counts as one of the required semesters). Now that my full time school/full time work schedule is about to clear up for the summer I'll be talking to advisors at my school and at prospective schools I'm looking at next.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

There aren't a lot of colleges/universities in Arkansas that offer a general biology I and II course. That said, we have plenty of biology majors distributed throughout the state, and we have residents becoming doctors. That said, they're getting into medical schools, and likely they're getting in without Bio I and II. Where I went to college biology majors had vert. zoo., invert. zool, botany, microbiology, ecology, genetics, cell bio., and embryology along with two electives. No where in there were bio. I and II, and I know people that went from there to medical school.

If the med school says have bio. I and II then you take it. If it says take eight hours of biology then take eight hours and be done with it. Anymore is up to you.

 

[dahlmarino]

There aren't a lot of colleges/universities in Arkansas that offer a general biology I and II course. That said, we have plenty of biology majors distributed throughout the state, and we have residents becoming doctors. That said, they're getting into medical schools, and likely they're getting in without Bio I and II. Where I went to college biology majors had vert. zoo., invert. zool, botany, microbiology, ecology, genetics, cell bio., and embryology along with two electives. No where in there were bio. I and II, and I know people that went from there to medical school.

If the med school says have bio. I and II then you take it. If it says take eight hours of biology then take eight hours and be done with it. Anymore is up to you.

Honestly, I have yet to see a college that actually has courses titled Biology I and Biology II. But then, I've really only been looking at 4-year schools in and around Michigan, so I don't know how that compares to the rest of the country in this regard.

 

[Econ2MD]

Honestly, I have yet to see a college that actually has courses titled Biology I and Biology II. But then, I've really only been looking at 4-year schools in and around Michigan, so I don't know how that compares to the rest of the country in this regard.

I think some schools require "a complete introductory course in biology". One school I attend has bio I and II and another has general bio, zoology and botany in a three semester sequence. Both I'm sure meet the requirement.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

I think some schools require "a complete introductory course in biology". One school I attend has bio I and II and another has general bio, zoology and botany in a three semester sequence. Both I'm sure meet the requirement.

Same: one school had all sorts of crazy zoology/A&P/Pathophys courses, the other school I attended had Bio 1&2. School one boasts a higher med school matriculate:applied ratio than school two (of course there are variables, but I'm just saying...)

 

[crazy87]

.

 

[popopopop]

^You really need to check. It's probably a yes.