Help! Can I do medicine with no biology background

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kafui

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I need to know if it is possible to gain admission into any med school with a bachelors degree in psychology. I have no biological science background except for core general science courses I took as part of my psychology programe. I hope someone can be of help... thanks
 
kafui said:
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I need to know if it is possible to gain admission into any med school with a bachelors degree in psychology. I have no biological science background except for core general science courses I took as part of my psychology programe. I hope someone can be of help... thanks

As long as you take the pre-req courses you will be fine. Most med schools like a med school class that is not the same mold (ie all biology majors). Your background in psychology will be an asset to you and your class. The pre-reqs are ( one year of bio, one year of chemistry, one year of organic chemistry, and one year of physics), these classes are usually non-negotiable. Good luck. 👍
 
Yup, as long as you take the pre-reqs, you'll be fine, but your bachelor's in psych likely won't cover all the bases since you probably didn't take orgo, etc. And in addition to what the dude above said, you might also need some calculus, some biochem, and some upper-level biology. It varies slightly from med school to med school so be sure to look closely at their requirements. I was a non-sci major and had to supplement my major reqs with quite a few additional courses. If you've already graduated, perhaps a post-bacc program might be a consideration.
 
History major here. Just take the required classes - chem/orgo/bio/physics. Some schools require other stuff so you need to research each program's specific prerequisites. Anything extra won't help you anyhow - all that you need for med school is a good memory, a good attitude, and high level of reading comprehension.
 
iatrosB said:
As long as you take the pre-req courses you will be fine. Most med schools like a med school class that is not the same mold (ie all biology majors). Your background in psychology will be an asset to you and your class. The pre-reqs are ( one year of bio, one year of chemistry, one year of organic chemistry, and one year of physics), these classes are usually non-negotiable. Good luck. 👍

An asset? I doubt it, I think it will be a liability. It is much easier to build upon knowledge that you have seen, then if you are coming from a completely unrelated field with different mentality. Really someone who had biochem, anatomy, embryology courses, will be in much better shape, than somebody coming from english, psychology and so forth. As well biology program tends to be more intense and hardcore than english, psych, literature, history and so forth. Hands down biology majors will have an edge.
 
of course you can. there's very little science involved in the practice of medicine.
 
Well I think non-bio people can do just as well. I knew someone who had majored in DANCE, fer cryin' out loud and had been a dancer. Man, she rocked her postbacc courses and went on to Cornell. 👍
 
ain't that tha' truth! it amazes me that med school even requires these prereqs in the first place b/c you use almost zero chemistry, physics, or orgo in med school. and the 1% you do use is so basic anyone even with a high school background would pick it up easily.

all you need is lots of discipline. a photographic memory doesnt hurt either but certainly ain't required.
 
scootad. said:
ain't that tha' truth! it amazes me that med school even requires these prereqs in the first place b/c you use almost zero chemistry, physics, or orgo in med school. and the 1% you do use is so basic anyone even with a high school background would pick it up easily.

all you need is lots of discipline. a photographic memory doesnt hurt either but certainly ain't required.

I disagree. You need the prereqs; otherwise, students don't have the fundamental knowledge to understand many of the concepts in medicine. I want physicians treating me to understand why they are doing things rather than memorizing from a 'cookbook'.

Non-biology majors struggle at first, but they all catch up. As mentioned above, it's easier to build on a science background than it is to learn it the first time. The best method of learning is repetition. With each cycle, students pick up a little more.

One example is the anatomy of the eye. A fairly easy concept right? How many medical students come to the ophthalmology rotation saying that the 'sclera' is injected? Essentially, most of the students I've worked with say this. The sclera is the white part of the eye, but there are two membrane structures sitting on top: Tenon's capsule (rarely does a medical student know this) and the conjunctivae. I did the same thing as a medical student. I studied eye anatomy, but did not understand the relationship of Tenon's and the conjunctivae to the sclera and other structures until I studied how to do surgery on the eye. Each time I go back to study anatomy, I learn a little more and understand more about the important relationships.

Another example is physics, if you go into rad onc, radiology, ophthalmology, vascular medicine/cardiology, and many others, then a good knowledge of physics actually makes you a better physician.
 
Andrew_Doan said:
One example is the anatomy of the eye. A fairly easy concept right? How many medical students come to the ophthalmology rotation saying that the 'sclera' is injected? Essentially, most of the students I've worked with say this. The sclera is the white part of the eye, but there are two membrane structures sitting on top: Tenon's capsule (rarely does a medical student know this) and the conjunctivae. I did the same thing as a medical student. I studied eye anatomy, but did not understand the relationship of Tenon's and the conjunctivae to the sclera and other structures until I studied how to do surgery on the eye. Each time I go back to study anatomy, I learn a little more and understand more about the important relationships.

I fail to see the relationship between knowing physics and organic chemistry to knowing the layers of the eye.

You learn the layers of the eye by studying the layers of the eye, not by studying physics, then chemistry, then orgo, then the layers of the eye. Sorry, it doesn't make sense to me. It's like saying you have to study history, poetry and music before you study anatomy, because then you understand more. Those subjects have no relation to each other.

Also, physics for rads is very basic. You don't need to take two semesters of optics, magnetism, inertia, velocity and acceleration, etc. to understand how an X-ray machine works. Heck, you don't even need to know how imaging equipment works to be able to interpret the results.

Pre-requisites are like the MCAT. Hurdles to make sure that only people that want it badly enough make it. It's like engineering. I studied hard concepts for four years to get my engineering degree. In almost 10 years as an engineer, I never once (not once!) used those concepts. Only the most basic concepts were used, not the concepts I learned in my last two years of engineering school.

I'm not disagreeing with studying physics, bio, chem and orgo before med school. I think anyone who considers himself a professional or a "doctor" (in the academic sense, not the medical sense) should have a basic understanding of basic sciences and some humanities as well. I just don't agree with the fact that those basic sciences are essential to learning medicine or becoming a good physician. That base is just to make a graduate more well-rounded (part of the "aura" that physicians are smart cookies that know a lot).
 
Shinken said:
I fail to see the relationship between knowing physics and organic chemistry to knowing the layers of the eye.

My example of eye anatomy was to point out how repetition helps us learn more. Each time we cover a topic again, we walk away learning a bit more.

You do need physics in ophthalmology. Physics is important in understanding how to manipulate the cornea in surgery, how the laser works for certain situations, and how to properly use the laser. We do not need calculus based physics, but an understanding of basic fluid properties, optics, and energy is helpful in the study of medicine.

Organic chemistry is important to understanding molecular structure and learning the language that will help one study biochemistry. Even the process of learning chemical synthesis is similar to the algorithms used when solving medical problems and medical science.
 
Shinken said:
Also, physics for rads is very basic. You don't need to take two semesters of optics, magnetism, inertia, velocity and acceleration, etc. to understand how an X-ray machine works. Heck, you don't even need to know how imaging equipment works to be able to interpret the results.

PETs, MRIs, cat scans (u can interpret results w/o understanding, but getting results?)
 
tupac_don said:
An asset? I doubt it, I think it will be a liability. It is much easier to build upon knowledge that you have seen, then if you are coming from a completely unrelated field with different mentality. Really someone who had biochem, anatomy, embryology courses, will be in much better shape, than somebody coming from english, psychology and so forth. As well biology program tends to be more intense and hardcore than english, psych, literature, history and so forth. Hands down biology majors will have an edge.

I heartily disagree. My class is filled with English, history, music, art, and lit majors, along with computer science, chemistry, and physics majors...these are people who probably excel at pretty much anything they do and have more interests than just biology...many of them now going into ortho, optho, rads, and derm. Anyway, it doesn't matter what your major is - that's just a piece of paper. You can still take upper level science classes along with your major requirements.
 
Hey I am so grateful for all the help, I appreciate it so much. God bless you all.
 
cytoborg said:
I heartily disagree. My class is filled with English, history, music, art, and lit majors, along with computer science, chemistry, and physics majors...these are people who probably excel at pretty much anything they do and have more interests than just biology...many of them now going into ortho, optho, rads, and derm. Anyway, it doesn't matter what your major is - that's just a piece of paper. You can still take upper level science classes along with your major requirements.


I never said that taking basic orgo, basic biology or basic physics was imp. Actually I think its pretty useless. The more imp aspect is those who go through biology program and take other courses, such as anatomy & physiology, biochemistry, embryology, these are much more imp to have. I think we will both agree that if you see material once the second time learning it is easier, than if you are seeing it for the very first time. That is my whole point.
 
tupac_don said:
I never said that taking basic orgo, basic biology or basic physics was imp. Actually I think its pretty useless. The more imp aspect is those who go through biology program and take other courses, such as anatomy & physiology, biochemistry, embryology, these are much more imp to have. I think we will both agree that if you see material once the second time learning it is easier, than if you are seeing it for the very first time. That is my whole point.

You have to consider the burn-out factor as well. I have seen many students do poorly because they have seen the information too many times. Many students do well because the information is new and interesting. Also, medicine is much more than basic sciences. Well rounded people are sucessful physicians because the practise of medicine is both art and science. The first two years of medical school (basic sciences mostly) mean jack for determining a good physician.
 
As someone who's coming from a non science major, I can tell you that it is a hell of a lot harder to be seeing this stuff for the first time. They people who have a good background in the basic sciences (esp. anatomy and biochem) got to spend a lot less time studying these subjects and had more time to focus on other things (like neuro). I don't think anyone could argue that it's easier to learn something a second time. Maybe this will change in second year and I'm sure in third year it will also improve. Right now, it blows.
 
tupac_don said:
Hands down biology majors will have an edge.

Well, if you're saying that taking upper level science classes might be an advantage in medical school, then I agree. I was responding to your comments about major.
 
kafui said:
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I need to know if it is possible to gain admission into any med school with a bachelors degree in psychology. I have no biological science background except for core general science courses I took as part of my psychology programe. I hope someone can be of help... thanks
It's been done many times. At the time I applied, I hadn't completed general biology (I was taking it the year I applied). There are plenty of people in my class who did psychology as undergrads. You can major in anything. As far as the MCAT, I just decided to give up on bio and focus on orgo. Besides, sometimes the bio passages give you so much background that you can make very good guesses. I ended up getting a 10 on the real thing and averaging between 8-9 on practice tests so as long as you work, you'll be fine.

PS Succeeding in med school with little to no bio is another matter. I wasn't a psych major so I don't know how they taught you to study but as long as you're a good memorizer as well as conceptual, you'll be ok (MD = P).
 
Elysium said:
As someone who's coming from a non science major, I can tell you that it is a hell of a lot harder to be seeing this stuff for the first time. They people who have a good background in the basic sciences (esp. anatomy and biochem) got to spend a lot less time studying these subjects and had more time to focus on other things (like neuro). I don't think anyone could argue that it's easier to learn something a second time. Maybe this will change in second year and I'm sure in third year it will also improve. Right now, it blows.

Elysium,

It definitely gets easier each time. For me, ophthalmology was difficult to understand during medical school. It finally got easier to read about ocular diseases and concepts after each year of residency. Hang in there and good luck!
 
cytoborg said:
I heartily disagree. My class is filled with English, history, music, art, and lit majors, along with computer science, chemistry, and physics majors...these are people who probably excel at pretty much anything they do and have more interests than just biology...many of them now going into ortho, optho, rads, and derm. Anyway, it doesn't matter what your major is - that's just a piece of paper. You can still take upper level science classes along with your major requirements.

Just to add a little non-anecdotal corroboration, there have been several studies done by the AAMC (you can find them on the research page at the AAMC website) that show there is NO difference in academic performance in med school by undergrad major of incoming students. The reality is, there is a basic foundation of biology (mostly biochemistry and physiology) and organic chemistry (nomenclature, rather than specific reaction mechanisms) that is helpful to med school. This is, however, covered pretty well by the pre-reqs. Not many undergraduate bio majors actually have embryology or anatomy coursework, and I don't know of any that actually cover the pathology and pharmacology of the second year of med school.
 
Andrew_Doan said:
Elysium,

It definitely gets easier each time. For me, ophthalmology was difficult to understand during medical school. It finally got easier to read about ocular diseases and concepts after each year of residency. Hang in there and good luck!

Thanks Doanie!


🙂
 
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