For classes planning to take, can I take them summer after senior year?

[fastfingers]

I want to hold off my genetics and cell biology until after I apply to med school and get accepted. However, I can't seem to fit it into my schedule. I know a lot of schools recommend that I take genetics and cell biology prior to matriculation (and some even require). Can I take those classes during the summer after I have already graduated from the undergraduate college? Would med schools still factor the fact that I'll be taking the classes even though it's summer after senior year? I need to take other classes to fulfill major and minor requirement, so I don't think I'll be able to fit it into my schedule.

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[tiedyeddog]

I want to hold off my genetics and cell biology until after I apply to med school and get accepted. However, I can't seem to fit it into my schedule. I know a lot of schools recommend that I take genetics and cell biology prior to matriculation (and some even require). Can I take those classes during the summer after I have already graduated from the undergraduate college? Would med schools still factor the fact that I'll be taking the classes even though it's summer after senior year? I need to take other classes to fulfill major and minor requirement, so I don't think I'll be able to fit it into my schedule.

So you don't need those classes for a degree? Don't even do them. Just relax that summer. From how I understand it, you would most likely already have or not have acceptances by the time your start those classes during the summer. Med schools have already decided your fate. It will not help in any way for your to say, during your interview in the winter, that you will take those classes. Also, from what I understand, those classes won't really help you out that much for med school. The detail in med school is so much more that doing it in undergrad won't really touch the amount needed to be known in medical school.

Good luck and I wouldn't do it, sounds like a waste of money/time.

 

[235009]

i don't think any med school requires cell bio or genetics....i'd be surprised if you can name one.

"recommend" is BS...i got into a school that "strongly recommends" biochem...which i never took

if you can't fit them in don't take them ...not a big deal

 

[fastfingers]

My state med school actually requires genetics. I heard that if they recommend the class and you say on your application that you'll take it eventually, they won't hold it against you as much. On the application under future classes, do I just list classes? or does it specifically ask me what I'll take in the Fall semester and what I'll take in the Spring semester?

 

[sixpence]

i actually had a very similar post and didn't really get a good response so im curious what anyone else has to say.


This is what OU requires btw -- Histology, Genetics, Embryology, Cellular Biology or Comparative Anatomy (any of these) - one semester

 

[shnuffles]

if you do have to take them, why do you want to wait to take them? for your gpas sake? in addition to what everyone else has said, i think you'd really regret doing that bc you want to rest your brain in the months before starting med school. i can't imagine going straight from graduation to summer classes (intense ones, too!) then right to med school. yikes! no thank you! i don't know how far you are along in your college career, but i have to say, by senior year, most people are really, really in need of a break from school. good luck!!!

 

[fastfingers]

Well, with my major and minor, I really have no room for the classes. I just planned out my schedule and it seems as if I'll be fullfilling my major for the next 2 years up till grauation. Cell bio, genetics and biochem wil be electives that I don't have room for.

 

[235009]

easy. drop he minor...it's useless

 

[RySerr21]

easy. drop he minor...it's useless

Good point. You can do this, or if you are unwilling to drop the minor for whatever reason, you CAN take courses the summer after you graduate. The only problem is youd have to make sure the course completed in time. Schools often have set dates in the summer that you have to have completed all course requirements by, and its not necessariyl the first day of classes. Ive seen dates as early as June and also some in July......you would need to check with your school and ask what date you need to have met all requirements and then cross check that with the date of your summer school.

 

[fastfingers]

Well, I think the summer school end at the end of July. Does all school have a final date or just some?

 

[RySerr21]

Well, I think the summer school end at the end of July. Does all school have a final date or just some?

Well for every school you need to finish your requirements before you matriculate. The specific date will vary though.

 

[pietachok]

Depending on what your minor is, it might be easier on you to take a course to complete your minor over the summer rather than taking a course to fulfill med school pre-reqs...if your undergrad institution will allow that.

As someone else has pointed out, most schools have made a decision on your application by the summer. You are hurting yourself by not having taken the class already--although they might consider the fact that you have committed to taking the class in the summer, it is not the same as having given them a grade in the course. The reason they ask for an upper level bio course isn't just to prepare you for med school, it's also to see how you perform. You are less competitive if you can't show them you can handle it by the time you apply.

If you have taken tons of other upper level bio/science courses and just not these specific ones, that is probably less of an issue.

 

[fastfingers]

Hmm, I see what you mean. I do agree that having at least one upper science course is important, but putting it in would cause me to take way too many courses. Has anybody had experience with not taking upper level bio course and how that affected them when it came to interview or admission process?

 

[fastfingers]

A friend said to me, if you have a 4.0 bcpm gpa, med schools would prolly assume you'll get an A in that upper level bio course. is there any truth to that?

 

[JennaQ]

If I recall correctly, there is at least one medical school that requires Genetics as a pre-requisite. I'll leaf through my AMCAS book one more time just to make sure. You can always call the medical schools you have in mind or check their front page to see if they require Genetics or Cell Biology. You could also check AMCAS.

 

[fastfingers]

I know OHSU requires genetics, but I'm hoping to take it summer after senior year so I can acquire my minor. I really wanted to get a bus minor so I could hopefully get into an MBA program a little easier.

 

[slowbutsteady]

So you don't need those classes for a degree? Don't even do them. Just relax that summer. From how I understand it, you would most likely already have or not have acceptances by the time your start those classes during the summer. Med schools have already decided your fate. It will not help in any way for your to say, during your interview in the winter, that you will take those classes. Also, from what I understand, those classes won't really help you out that much for med school. The detail in med school is so much more that doing it in undergrad won't really touch the amount needed to be known in medical school.

Good luck and I wouldn't do it, sounds like a waste of money/time.

???

Are you assuming the OP has already applied the previous June and he is at the very end of the cycle? If so, I agree totally. But I assumed he was proposing taking the courses at the beginning of the new cycle.

Med schools cannot accept anyone until October 15th. And very few interviews happen before September. The OP will have time to get his summer grades into some of his secondaries, and can submit them separately to the other schools to which he has applied.

Not that i am advocating taking the classes, but if the OP thinks they will help his app, go for it. The will count toward his GPA, so get As!!!

 

[RySerr21]

???

Are you assuming the OP has already applied the previous June and he is at the very end of the cycle? If so, I agree totally. But I assumed he was proposing taking the courses at the beginning of the new cycle.

Med schools cannot accept anyone until October 15th. And very few interviews happen before September. The OP will have time to get his summer grades into some of his secondaries, and can submit them separately to the other schools to which he has applied.

Not that i am advocating taking the classes, but if the OP thinks they will help his app, go for it. The will count toward his GPA, so get As!!!

the OP said in the first post that he is thinking of taking said courses the summer AFTER he applied and (hopefully) was accepted. They most definitely will not help out (or hurt) the GPA.

 

[fastfingers]

the OP said in the first post that he is thinking of taking said courses the summer AFTER he applied and (hopefully) was accepted. They most definitely will not help out (or hurt) the GPA.

Yep, that's what I meant. I know it won't hurt or help my GPA (most likely hurt however, since I'm holding on to a 4.0 BCPM gpa). To clarify, I'm thinking of applying at the end of my Junior year, and I'm still at the end of my Sophomore year trying to plan ahead (planning when to take biochem).

Thanks.

 

[justdoit31]

OP- you might verify that you can finish a summer course before orientation for medical school... I know my undergrad goes through July 30th for summer session and my medical school starts orientation on July 28th... just a thought

Also- as a senior finishing I am so excited about the break- it is amazing how much harder the last semester is than all the other ones (even with easy courses!)... I just want it to all be done!

 

[fastfingers]

The question is that I'm not sure what med school I'll go to in the future, so there's no way for me to know now. What's the earliest cutoff date ppl know of?

 

[aggieallure]

Go to the websites of the schools you're applying to and search for the academic calendar. This will at least give you an idea of when you need to be done with any classes you decide to take.

My orientation is mid-July, and matriculation is tentatively set for July 6th. I have no idea when the grade cut-off is, though, because I've already graduated. Hope that helps.