Gen Bio vs Upper Bio Courses (Pre-Reqs)

[UnsophisticatedUndergrad1]

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Hi everyone,

First, I posted this on the pre-DO page because I’m considering both options. I’m sure there will be a lot of overlap, but i figured I might as well ask here, too!

I noticed that many schools nowadays are listing the bio pre-req as “biology with lab” (instead of listing the Gen Bio sequence). I took Gen Bio I during my first semester of college, in which I got a C-. Then during my third semester, I took intro to botany, and got a D-.

I was initially planning on just taking the entire Gen Bio sequence again, but as a current undergrad (I’m a senior), I realized that I’ve taken upper level bio courses and gotten A’s in them (an Infectious Diseases course in our undergrad pathology department, for example). So I was thinking—if I just took upper level bio courses with labs instead of retaking gen bio, would this be seen as skipping pre reqs? Of course, cell bio, micro, and even neuro come with their own sets of challenges, especially to someone who may have a little less solidity in the foundations of bio, but is this even a possibility or should I just stick with taking Gen Bio instead?

I’ve also thought about just taking Gen Bio II, and then jumping into the upper level labs.

Thanks!

 

[Weirdy]

Hi everyone,

First, I posted this on the pre-DO page because I’m considering both options. I’m sure there will be a lot of overlap, but i figured I might as well ask here, too!

I noticed that many schools nowadays are listing the bio pre-req as “biology with lab” (instead of listing the Gen Bio sequence). I took Gen Bio I during my first semester of college, in which I got a C-. Then during my third semester, I took intro to botany, and got a D-.

I was initially planning on just taking the entire Gen Bio sequence again, but as a current undergrad (I’m a senior), I realized that I’ve taken upper level bio courses and gotten A’s in them (an Infectious Diseases course in our undergrad pathology department, for example). So I was thinking—if I just took upper level bio courses with labs instead of retaking gen bio, would this be seen as skipping pre reqs? Of course, cell bio, micro, and even neuro come with their own sets of challenges, especially to someone who may have a little less solidity in the foundations of bio, but is this even a possibility or should I just stick with taking Gen Bio instead?

I’ve also thought about just taking Gen Bio II, and then jumping into the upper level labs.

Thanks!

Call / email the admissions of the program you are interested in.

If they have hard requirements of gen bio, there's no way to get around it.
Some places are more flexible so they may let you get away with just your upper level bio.

Either way, you need to call and confirm from the source so you don't screw yourself during the application process.