Elementary biochem? Physics with cal?

[andalusite_angles]

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I'm not really sure which chem and physics prerequisites to take that will give my med school application the best chance of going into the "let's meet this person" pile and not the "lol nope" trash bin - I have at least three years to make it pretty, decorate it with glitter, and tie a bow on top. I have only one school (southeastern, in-state) I can feasibly attend until my child graduates from high school - yes, I realize most people apply to boatloads of schools and still don't get accepted. I'm a single parent with joint custody and moving is not an option. Unless I wait 8 years.

Chemistry:
My university offers elementary organic chem (200 level) and elementary biochem (300 level) that satisfies the second year of chemistry requirements. Should I instead take the traditional organic I & II and then biochem I & II? Certainly I'll take the lengthier courses if it is in my best interest, but I don't want to risk more Bs and spend the $$$ if the juice ain't worth the squeeze. Is elementary biochem sufficient for the MCAT?

Physics:
I last took trig based physics 15 years ago and made a C (before I learned how to study). Never took physics II. Should I audit? Retake it because it has been so long? Take Physics I with Calculus instead? I figure I could use edX for a Calculus review, as I haven't thought about a derivative in 16 years. I remember enough physics to make lame jokes about not getting out of my chair, and enough to understand trauma concepts (such as ballistics and cavitation or car vs tree and resultant injuries)... hardly sufficient to carry over to physics II or rock the MCAT.

If it makes a difference for recommendations, here is more background info: I am a registered nurse with 10 years experience (critical care/trauma/ED) currently enrolled in a brick & mortar NP school with 14 months til freedom. I'm planning to do research for one of my electives. By the time I graduate, my NP rotations will include at least 350 clinical hours precepting with physicians, so I'm assuming that can count towards shadowing. My undergrad cGPA is 3.6 with an upward trend. I'm unsure of my sGPA because I don't know which nursing courses count (pathophysiology, pharmacology, med/surg?, psych?, ob?). My fairly irrelevant grad school GPA is a 4.0. My graduation plan is to take a night shift critical care NP position and knock out my med school prereqs during the day. I've done things like volunteer at Special Olympics and disaster relief work when my community was ravaged with tornadoes a few years ago, but I'm starting to look for consistent volunteering that I can do, and hopefully something that I can involve an 11 year old with and use it as a growing opportunity for BOTH of us. My hometown doesn't have a community free clinic, and we have a LOT of working poor, but unfortunately I don't have the time or resources to start one or I'd make that my pet project. I am also planning to take 300 level A&P courses (I took the 200 level series for nursing school), partially for the gpa boost, mostly for the knowledge gaps. Same thing with a few other biology courses like genetics and cell bio.


I appreciate any guidance offered!

 

[Blueprint Med School]

First, med school prerequisites are pretty consistent across the board. You'll almost always have to take the following courses to matriculate into medical school:

2 semesters gen chem + lab
2 semesters gen physics + lab
2 semesters gen bio + lab
2 semesters orgo + lab
1 semester biochem
2 semesters english/writing
Some schools will also require 1-2 semesters of math (calc/stats)

I don't know if the courses you are mentioning will satisfy these prerequisites. You should try to talk to a premed advisor (maybe email the premed advisor at your undergrad) and figure out what will satisfy what. If you can, try to talk to the professors of the courses you are mentioning to see if they know if premed students typically take their courses, and if it will be sufficient for the MCAT.

Your background as a nurse will help tremendously for your application. You already have more experience in the field than any resident and your GPA is solid. Your grad school GPA will also help.

Every course that could fall under the category of "biology, physics, chem, math" will count towards your science GPA. This means almost all the courses you mentioned will count towards your sGPA, except for psychology. Courses like psychology, sociology, etc, typically fall under social sciences. Sometimes, you are able to make the argument for more biology-focused psychology courses.

Kevin W, MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

 

[Ell19]

Take traditional Orgo 1&2, and you can either take biochem 1 or elementary biochem (you only need 1 semester of biochem). Just take physics without calc, there's no reason to take physics with calc as it will just be a more difficult class.

Medical schools do not exactly discriminate between "crap" classes and "harder" classes, it generally comes down to your grade in the course. However, the MCATs have a LOT of biochemistry and organic chem. You need 2 semesters of orgo, so it sounds like elementary orgo will not meet medical school requirements.

Additionally, reach out to a premed advisor at your school!

 

[MilkshakeDuck]

If a class was 15 years ago most schools will ask you to retake them anyway, especially if grades are low. That would also put you at a major disadvantage as far as the MCAT because the info isn’t fresh (physics is barely on it but is important in refreshing math skills). I think maybe take a sample from the reqs of your top 5 schools and see what they ask for. Also talk to a pre-med advisor! Sometimes they’re useless but this is a basic question they could handle.

 

[andalusite_angles]

Looks like I’ll be taking the traditional organic chem courses, retaking trig based physics, and then figuring out elementary vs traditional biochem course as I get closer.

Thank you all for the helpful responses!

 

[DO_or_Die]

Fellow RN here.

I took stats for nursing school which fulfilled the math requirement at the school I am matriculating to.
take trig based physics (unless you're good at calculus), there's no need to kill yourself for the grade and calc based physics is not on the MCAT.
Personally I would only take a human physiology course (not anatomy) if the school offers it and do not take a course that is listed for nursing/pre professional as most schools won't accept them
TAKE BIOCHEM BEFORE THE MCAT -enough said, my MCAT was incredibly biochem heavy.
Take genetics if you can as I felt it was both interesting as I work in pediatrics and see a lot of these very rare disorders as well as it was useful on the MCAT.
I took the prerequisites over about a 2.5year period while working pediatric trauma. My experience was a plus at every interview that I had.
Good luck and feel free to reach out to me if you have any other questions!