HELP! I need 1 more semester hour of physics!

[Soba]

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While reviewing my undergrad transcript, I found out that I have only 7 semester hours of Physics. My PHYS 102 - ELEC & MAG with lab - is worth 4SH, but my PHYS 101 - Mechanics with lab - is only worth 3SH. And no, I have no idea why.

Question:
1. Some medical schools demand "1 year of physics," but others require "8SH of physics." Would my two courses be enough with the former group, or am I completely out of luck?

What should I do? Possible courses of action:
1. I e-mailed my undergrad to see if they could provide me with a letter explaining that PHYS 101/102 constitute 1 year worth of physics and explaining why PHYS 101 is only worth 3SH. In case a school points out the deficiency, I could provide that letter with my secondary application... It's better than nothing, but it's still not much.

2. Take another physics class. I might have to take an online class because the nearby schools do not offer the course at this time. If some don't accept online course, then so be it. Maybe wait until fall semester opens up, and then take one, and send the transcript to the schools as soon as possible even if it doesn't count toward my AMCAS gpa?

3. If I take physics class, can I take an equivalent of PHYS 101, or do I have to take a different class?

Any advice is welcome. Thanks!

p.s. Has anybody else had a trouble like this? I searched the forums, but found no similar case...

 

[245399]

Usually as long as you take the standard one year sequence for your school with labs then you are good to go.

This is not that uncommon and I imagine that other people have applied to medical school from your college with no problem in the past.

 

[WannaBeMD89]

That's weird how your school only requires 7 hours of Physics and even more weird that you would take that form of physics before you took general physics 1 and 2. As far as the school accepting that, it's up to each individual school. I would contact the schools you plan on applying to and talk with them and explain your situation. If they say they will accept it, get it in writing 😀 lol cause you never know what could happen.

 

[Brent8927]

I had a related experience. I took two quarters of physics as an undergrad, back before I was pre-med, but at my undergrad the first quarter of physics did not include a lab. When I entered my post-bac program I completed the sequence (and partially repeated material since the post-bac program was semester-based).

However, I was worried about not having a complete year of physics lab, so I spoke to my program advisors. They all felt I would be perfectly fine, especially since students from my undergrad definitely go on to medical school, but they also felt it's still better safe than sorry, especially when it wouldn't take too much additional work. So they set up an independent study physics lab course for me to enroll in (only the title was special, I basically just attendend the normal physics lab). So now I have a full year of physics lab.

I'm pretty sure you would be 100% OK, but to be safe try calling some of the schools you plan to apply to. Even better might be e-mail so that you have it in writing.

If you did want to take more physics, I'm not quite sure how you should go about it. Hopefully the admissions officers you speak with can tell you.