"English" Classes Requirement

[jove122]

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I've noticed that a number of medical schools require at least one or two English courses. Here's my predicament, and I hope you all can help!

When I applied to college out of high school, I had a score on the AP English exam sufficient to give me credit for the two introductory freshman English/writing courses. While I know that the recommendation for sciences when using AP credit is to take more upper-level courses, I am wondering how strict the approach is for English department courses vs. courses that are writing intensive in another department. Almost all of my classes for my B.A. required at least 3-4 papers (generally ranging 8-15 pp). Additionally, I completed research seminars with extensive writing and two senior essays (for each major) totalling over 100 pages of writing. Seeing my transcript would (I believe) leave little doubt that I had extensive coursework which provided training in communication skills. However, I don't want to expose an Achilles' heel since I have not completed English department courses. (How much effect is there on my ability to do the work in medical school if I wrote about Hegel and Heidegger instead of Shakespeare and Marlowe?!)

While I enjoy reading and writing, I have a lot on my plate and prefer not to add English classes while I do all of my post-bac classes and work if at all possible. Does anyone have any experience with English requirements, 'official' word from schools, or any other help? Thank you!

 

[Scottish Chap]

I got out of it at a medical school with a 6-credit English requirement. For most applicants, I think this prerequisite is a stupid rule, but most schools will want to see that requirement met. If you have a 'top choice' for medical school and they make it clear that they require it, you pretty much need to do what they ask. I called the Director of Admissions to plead my case, and was granted a waiver. It's worth a try. Good luck!

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

If the two English classes for which you received AP credit are listed on your transcript, you should not have any problems at most medical schools. Some don't accept AP credit, so you'll need to check this.

 

[njbmd]

While I enjoy reading and writing, I have a lot on my plate and prefer not to add English classes while I do all of my post-bac classes and work if at all possible. Does anyone have any experience with English requirements, 'official' word from schools, or any other help? Thank you!

This is a question for the schools that you are applying to. Based on their answers you can make an "informed" decision. In this process you have to do some research in terms of things that apply to you specifically. My guess is that there are folks who have AP credit for any number of courses who apply to medical school and find out whether or not they meet required coursework because they did some specific inquiries.

If not, the other question is how wonderful are you going to feel when you have no interviews or acceptances because you didn't meet the requirements for the schools that you apply to because there is something that you would "prefer" not to do?

 

[jove122]

Thanks, everyone. I'm actually working on one English class right now. I just wanted to know some people's experience since I didn't know how literally to take that requirement. I'm more than happy to do the work I need to do, just needed help interpreting the requirement. What I meant by "prefer" was that I'd prefer to beef up my science background rather than work on skills I feel I've developed since my time is at a premium right now.

 

[sindadel]

I guess I'd go by the basic premise that medical schools have to cut an awful lot of applicants before they get to the ones they will interview. Why make it easier on them by failing to take one of their pre-requisites? If they didn't think English was important, they wouldn't require it. Furthermore, since it is not technically tested by the MCAT, although critical thinking certainly is, you could certainly sign up to complete your English requirement the fall you are applying - which would have no impact at all on your post-bac etc.

 

[Premed Mom]

I would email or call the admissions office. I have no English classes but several writing intensive humanities/social science classes. The two schools I applied to with "English" requirements assured me that my other coursework would be acceptable. There's no harm in asking!

 

[jinx520]

I didn't have to do the three "core" English classes as an UG because I tested out of them via my SAT score. I did end up taking 3 English classes; one was Proposal and Grant Writing and another one was Technical Writing. Both of these were really helpful in my science courses but since they were classified as ENGL, they count toward the prereqs. You might want to explore if your school has higher-level English classes which are geared toward the hard sciences. Take those, and you'll have some English credits.

 

[MeowMix]

It is very school-dependent, so ask. At my med school, if your AP English class showed up on your college transcript because it got you out of u/g English, then it counted toward the English requirement. Otherwise, the class had to actually say "ENGLISH" on the transcript in order to count. No writing-intensive class or job experience was allowable.

We had a 3-course requirement; I got accepted and then filled the English requirement with online courses between January and June. They were not going to reject me for missing this prereq, but they would not let me matriculate without it. If you take this approach, plan ahead.

Take the easiest classes you can to get the prereq done. Do not make your life more challenging.