First time posting and need answers on classes

[mamadog]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I'm a second semester sophomore who is majoring in applied health science with the intention of applying to DO school. I need advice on classes. So far I have taken two semesters of college biology: Organization of Life: Genetics and Cell Biology and Diversity of Life: An Introduction to Zoology and Botany.

I have also taken two semesters of college chemistry:

General Chemistry. Stoichiometry, introduction to reaction types, Lewis structures, gases and condensed phases, solutions, chemical equilibria (gas phase and solution), thermodynamics, and kinetics. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. Prerequisites: high school algebra and chemistry.

Introductory Chemistry II. Introduction to principles of thermodynamics, kinetics, and chemical equilibrium (gas phase and solution), electrochemistry, polymers, and an introduction to organic and biochemistry. Three lectures, three hours laboratory.

My question pertains to my chemistry classes. The first semester I took General Chemistry but the second semester I switched to Introductory Chemistry. I switched after my pre-health professions advisor told me I could switch with no issues, but now I am concerned that was a mistake, and that I should have taken the second semester of General Chemistry (see description below).

Inorganic Chemistry. Atomic structure (nuclear and electronic), chemical bonding models, solid state, acid-base theory, electrochemistry, coordination compounds, periodic and physical properties of the elements. Three lectures, three hours laboratory.

If I need to go back and take the second semester of General Chemistry than I need to know so I can take it next spring and then the following year, my senior year, take both semesters of Organic Chemistry. If I don't have to take the second semester of General Chemistry than I can take two semesters of Organic Chemistry and one semester of Biochemistry. I have only four years to finish my degree due to other circumstances that cannot be changed, and when I say I have four years I mean I have four years and nothing more. It's not that I'm trying to cut corners to be slacker in asking this question, it's that I am trying to capitalize on the time I have left and make wise class decisions.

Even with switching my chemistry class last spring it was probably a blessing in disguise since I ended up with mono last spring. Switching from General Chemistry to Introductory Chemistry did help me keep my GPA up, but I'm sure hoping it didn't leave me having to make up a missed class.

Thanks for any and all help.

 

[kelminak]

Firstly, why are you interested in DO schools so early into your college career? You have plenty of time to get your GPA high enough to apply to MD schools.

Secondly, does your college offer a year long intro to bio track? Genetics and Cell Bio are definitely useful and would likely count for the prereqs that you'd need, but you'd also want a good framework of general bio information for the MCAT. I took Intro Bio 1 & 2, Cell Bio, Genetics, and Organic Evolution all as separate courses. Med schools require six credits of biology and I don't believe they're picky as to which ones, but you also don't want to put yourself at a disadvantage studying for the MCAT.

Thirdly, you're going to want to take the second semester of general chemistry. Going back to the MCAT, there's content from it on there and your intro class likely doesn't cover it (I don't understand why you switched in the first place?). You could honestly do Organic Chemistry without the second semester of Gen Chem, but it'd be a little bit harder. Inorganic chemistry isn't going to be extremely useful for anything medically-related AFAIK. Gen chem, ochem, and biochem are all you really need. Speaking of which, you need to plan to take at least three credits of biochemistry as it's increasingly becoming required.

 

[QueenJames]

Yeah man.. you would have to take the second semester of gen chem. You can sprinkle in easier science classes later on in undergrad to pad your GPA. But definitely do it after you are good to go with your pre-reqs and MCAT if you have space in your schedule. Slow and steady wins the race!

 

[mamadog]

Firstly, why are you interested in DO schools so early into your college career? You have plenty of time to get your GPA high enough to apply to MD schools.

Secondly, does your college offer a year long intro to bio track? Genetics and Cell Bio are definitely useful and would likely count for the prereqs that you'd need, but you'd also want a good framework of general bio information for the MCAT. I took Intro Bio 1 & 2, Cell Bio, Genetics, and Organic Evolution all as separate courses. Med schools require six credits of biology and I don't believe they're picky as to which ones, but you also don't want to put yourself at a disadvantage studying for the MCAT.

Thirdly, you're going to want to take the second semester of general chemistry. Going back to the MCAT, there's content from it on there and your intro class likely doesn't cover it (I don't understand why you switched in the first place?). You could honestly do Organic Chemistry without the second semester of Gen Chem, but it'd be a little bit harder. Inorganic chemistry isn't going to be extremely useful for anything medically-related AFAIK. Gen chem, ochem, and biochem are all you really need. Speaking of which, you need to plan to take at least three credits of biochemistry as it's increasingly becoming required.

 

[mamadog]

My GPA is high. I switched because I am bouncing back and forth between DO and PA. I still haven't made up my mind which way I want to go. The classes are a little different for either direction. At my school the PA's take the same chemistry class that the nursing students take which is the introductory chem class, and once again after my bout with mono it is probably a good thing I did switch. I have already taken anatomy, research methods, biostats and am currently in physiology. If I go back and take the second semester of gen chem I will not have time to take biochemistry. If I can go right into organic I will be able to take one semester of biochemistry.

In answer to your question of why I'm interested, I'm interested because mapping out the next two years so I'm ready to go would be the smart thing for me to do. Like I said, I don't have time to mess around or make mistakes with classes I don't need, or that won't help me.

 

[BugzBunnyDoc]

Majority of schools made/are making biochem a prereq course now especially with it being emphasized on the mcat now. Also, I do not think that taking organic chemistry in your senior year will be the best decision unless u plan on taking a gap year and then applying. It is a prereq course and one that most schools want to see prior to making a decision (especially since most students do the worst in orgo). I would consider taking intersession courses (winter or summer) and getting general chem 2 done then.

 

[deleted610572]

If you're going to MD or DO you'll need gen chem and most likely Biochem. Take gen chem 2 at a cc over the summer

 

[Cardboard101]

Don't medical schools frown on taking pre-reqs over the summer and at CCs?

 

[deleted610572]

I took my first two years at an undergrad that included 3 pre reqs and I never got any questions. It becomes a question if you're getting As at the CC then do poorly at the university