Exceed Core Requisites?

[libartsdoc]

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Is it better to do very well in the core medical requisites (Bio, Chem, Phy, Orgo, Cal) or do above average taking additional non-requisites (Genetics, Anatomy, Biochem)? Let’s say for example a student with a 3.8 GPA, but only took the minimum requisites compared to a student who took additional science classes or higher level courses and has a 3.3. Which is better?
Also, would it be wise to contact medical school admissions with this question and realistically expect a response? Thank you in advanced.

 

[CurrySpice]

3.8

It looks best to take additional science classes AND do very well in them. I'm guessing that you're in the 3.3 category from the way you phrased your question. The 3.8 says "this student was an intelligent non-science major who shows competency in pre-medical classes." The 3.3 raises more questions about the student's ability to do well in upper level classes.

 

[libartsdoc]

Ha, well I'm not in either situation yet. I want to focus on being well rounded in my undergraduate years, so I suppose my question boils down to whether med school admissions prefer a student with "just" the core requisites, and master them or is it better to take higher level science courses with a slightly lower gpa,
Though I'd completely agree with you that it is better to take higher level courses AND get the 3.8. 🙂

 

[BadHorse]

Ha, well I'm not in either situation yet. I want to focus on being well rounded in my undergraduate years, so I suppose my question boils down to whether med school admissions prefer a student with "just" the core requisites, and master them or is it better to take higher level science courses with a slightly lower gpa,
Though I'd completely agree with you that it is better to take higher level courses AND get the 3.8. 🙂

I've heard all the arguments and I'm gonna tell you I don't think adcoms scrutinize your class choices as much as everyone on SDN tends to think they do. They've got more than enough material to evaluate you without wondering about why you took sociology instead of physiology. GPA is huge. MCAT is huge. The things you do that make you unique, the things you put into your community and change your world are huge. The things you do to learn about the profession and the fact that you know what you're getting yourself into is huge. Taking genetics? Not so much. If it's a recommended course for a particular school maybe they check to see if you have it, but even then I think it's so minor as to be absurd.

I had a very diverse course load because I only took courses that fascinated me. I did well because I loved everything I was doing, and I think adcoms probably saw all of the random writing, psych, history and political science courses and thought, "huh, he has interests of his own. cool."

 

[StudyShy]

I've heard all the arguments and I'm gonna tell you I don't think adcoms scrutinize your class choices as much as everyone on SDN tends to think they do. They've got more than enough material to evaluate you without wondering about why you took sociology instead of physiology. GPA is huge. MCAT is huge. The things you do that make you unique, the things you put into your community and change your world are huge. The things you do to learn about the profession and the fact that you know what you're getting yourself into is huge. Taking genetics? Not so much. If it's a recommended course for a particular school maybe they check to see if you have it, but even then I think it's so minor as to be absurd.

I had a very diverse course load because I only took courses that fascinated me. I did well because I loved everything I was doing, and I think adcoms probably saw all of the random writing, psych, history and political science courses and thought, "huh, he has interests of his own. cool."

You are a bad horse! 🙂

 

[CerebroDad]

Something else to keep in mind: some schools actually require some of the classes you listed as non-core. For example, I know that a number of schools require biochemistry.

 

[kansaskid]

Do well in the hard classes. Otherwise do well in classes that interest you. If that's hardcore sciences, do it. If it's history, do that. Make sure you take some advanced sciences if you're outside of the sciences as a major, otherwise do what you love. That's what I did and I was pretty successful.