Helpful upper-level classes?

[xnfs93hy]

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Exactly how helpful are upper level science classes in terms of preparedness for medical school? I mean, I know taking some (and, of course, performing well) couldn't hurt, but is it worth my time?

Thanks in advance 👍.

 

[LRAccord624]

From what medical students have told me, taking undergrad versions of medical school classes like biochem or histology is helpful only in terms of familiarity and recognition. Don't take a class thinking it will make a med school class easy, because it won't. BUT when you apply, medical schools like to see that you have taken some upper divisions and done well- shows interest and capability. It has helped me out- I got B's in a couple pre-reqs early on but have since made A's in most of my more difficult upper divisions. Multiple interviewers have told me that looked favorable on my application.

 

[nonsciencemajor]

From what medical students have told me, taking undergrad versions of medical school classes like biochem or histology is helpful only in terms of familiarity and recognition. Don't take a class thinking it will make a med school class easy, because it won't. BUT when you apply, medical schools like to see that you have taken some upper divisions and done well- shows interest and capability. It has helped me out- I got B's in a couple pre-reqs early on but have since made A's in most of my more difficult upper divisions. Multiple interviewers have told me that looked favorable on my application.

i disagree. Taking upper level science courses does not help with admission. What is looked at heavily is the grades in general bio, chem, orgo, and physics since these are the courses that are REQUIRED. These are also the courses that are used to help compare applicants from different majors (with the MCAT of course). Upper level courses are either RECOMMENDED or OPTIONAL. There is a big big big difference in REQUIRED vs. RECOMMENDED/OPTIONAL.

But as for preparedness for med school, while it won't help much, it may help you recognize things faster in med school. One course I heard which maybe beneficial in doing is physiology. I heard from a student that if there is one and only one course he possibly recommends before entering med school it is physiology. Physio will teach a little of cell bio and biochem (the necessary background info to understand these two classes in med school), a long with developing a solid understanding of human body functions which is essentially what med school curriculums are built upon. So if you are so inclined to do an upper level course, I would highly recommend physiology.

But he also told me don't waste my time doing other courses like biochem, histology, cell bio, etc... Do physiology, and you are more than adequately prepared for med school assuming you did well in your required pre-req's and MCAT

 

[homer21]

I have been told by several med students that they teach you everything as if you have never learned it, but it comes so fast that any background in that topic is very helpful. Most students suggest Biochem, cell bio, as far as upper division courses. Anatomy and physiology for lower division, but genetics, histology, and others are helpful as well. With that being said you are probably better off only taking those classes if you will do well in them because if you get B's or lower in them it will significantly hurt your chances of getting in.

 

[J ROD]

biochem, physio, histo

 

[apumic]

Maybe an actual med student's perspective might be helpful here....
A bunch of premeds telling the OP what will/will not help is med school is, umm... what's the word? oh, I know... completely useless!

 

[PinkIvy08]

Not a med student quite yet, but I'd have to say biochem, histology, immuno, and genetics/molecular.

True, med schools teach you everything you need to know, but you'd be foolish to think it's not helpful to have some familiarity with the subject matter before hand. Actually, the histology taught in my post-bacc goes into more depth and is "harder" than it is in an overwhelming majority of med school programs. I think that will translate into giving me more time, come med school, to focus on the loads of other crap I'll be seeing for the first time.

 

[schismal]

I'm finding my Immunology background invaluable right now.

 

[Ischemic]

Taking upper level bio classes can be useful but the emphasis could be different from what you'll see in med school. Disease processes will obviously be of great importance but not so much in undergrad. However, I agree with the statement that any familiarity you have with the subject will be helpful in grasping concepts taught in class, just be prepared to be bombarded with tons AND in depth information regarding the topics. So yeah it'll be somewhat helpful ... you won't be completely lost, and you'll still have to put in tons more work. What I don't recommend is to buy books and try to self study.

Classes that are useful to take before first year: biochemistry and anatomy definitely and maybe physiology. I would include immunology and microbiology but that's mostly 2nd year stuff and the chance you'll remember anything from undergrad after first year is remote but doesn't hurt to take if you're genuinely interested in the topic.

 

[nonsciencemajor]

i see why the med student told me do physio and to do only that before coming into med school.

Physio has a little bit of everything.... biochem (cell physio and basically throughout the course), anatomy (for example, when doing neurophysiology, it would be helpful just to quickly glance over nervous system anatomy on wikipedia or a anatomy book), cell bio (cell physio covers this quite well), and a little bit of pharm sometimes (sometimes briefly talkes about medicines that can prevent or un-do an alteration in normal physiology processes) (all of these enough so that you have a solid understanding and can build upon on this solid understanding in med school)..... and remember medicine is built upon physiology, so to be solid in physio would translate into probable solid performance in path and solid performance in path would translate to good usmle step 1 score...

so while doing undergrad physio may not help, it is more helpful than doing biochem, immuno, anatomy, etc...

 

[yowhatup]

i disagree. Taking upper level science courses does not help with admission. What is looked at heavily is the grades in general bio, chem, orgo, and physics since these are the courses that are REQUIRED. These are also the courses that are used to help compare applicants from different majors (with the MCAT of course). Upper level courses are either RECOMMENDED or OPTIONAL. There is a big big big difference in REQUIRED vs. RECOMMENDED/OPTIONAL.

But as for preparedness for med school, while it won't help much, it may help you recognize things faster in med school. One course I heard which maybe beneficial in doing is physiology. I heard from a student that if there is one and only one course he possibly recommends before entering med school it is physiology. Physio will teach a little of cell bio and biochem (the necessary background info to understand these two classes in med school), a long with developing a solid understanding of human body functions which is essentially what med school curriculums are built upon. So if you are so inclined to do an upper level course, I would highly recommend physiology.

But he also told me don't waste my time doing other courses like biochem, histology, cell bio, etc... Do physiology, and you are more than adequately prepared for med school assuming you did well in your required pre-req's and MCAT

Undergrad upper level science courses are very different from med school courses, so preparing for med school is not worth your time.

But I do agree with non-science major, that if you are so insistent to prepare for medical school, physiology would be the best course to do. Physiology will give you enough background to start off on a good note in biochem, cell biology, and anatomy. With the simply physiology background, you have all the tools in the right place so when your professor teaches you these subjects much more in depth, you will understand how this all applies in the big picture. In addition, the biggest emphasis in M1 is placed on physiology, so while ugrad physiology will come nowhere close to med school physiology, having previous exposure to it will help in grasping the concepts slightly faster. Also the other courses are heavy memorization which you will easily forget. But physiology is heavily built on understanding, which makes memorization easier in physio. This way you will retain more physio.

While I do not recommend taking any upper-level science courses (just to prepare for med school), I would say that if you are so inclined to do one course, do physiology. I would regard physiology as more helpful than biochem, cell biology, immuno, histo, and the other courses listed on this tread to "prepare" for med school. I know a lot of people recommend doing biochem, but honestly that is all memorization, and the chances of you remembering every enzyme you learned in your ug biochem course is very low as you will have forgotten the small minuscule details (which you need to know!) by the time you start biochem in med school. Having a big picture of biochem sure is helpful, but is not worth taking a course on. And in med school, you need to know much much much more than the big picture. However, physio is one of those courses, that once you "get it" it stays with you.

But in all reality, if you don't have to do upper level science courses, don't do them for the sake of preparing for med school. You will be wasting your time.

 

[nonsciencemajor]

Undergrad upper level science courses are very different from med school courses, so preparing for med school is not worth your time.

But I do agree with non-science major, that if you are so insistent to prepare for medical school, physiology would be the best course to do. Physiology will give you enough background to start off on a good note in biochem, cell biology, and anatomy. With the simply physiology background, you have all the tools in the right place so when your professor teaches you these subjects much more in depth, you will understand how this all applies in the big picture. In addition, the biggest emphasis in M1 is placed on physiology, so while ugrad physiology will come nowhere close to med school physiology, having previous exposure to it will help in grasping the concepts slightly faster. Also the other courses are heavy memorization which you will easily forget. But physiology is heavily built on understanding, which makes memorization easier in physio. This way you will retain more physio.

While I do not recommend taking any upper-level science courses (just to prepare for med school), I would say that if you are so inclined to do one course, do physiology. I would regard physiology as more helpful than biochem, cell biology, immuno, histo, and the other courses listed on this tread to "prepare" for med school. I know a lot of people recommend doing biochem, but honestly that is all memorization, and the chances of you remembering every enzyme you learned in your ug biochem course is very low as you will have forgotten the small minuscule details (which you need to know!) by the time you start biochem in med school. Having a big picture of biochem sure is helpful, but is not worth taking a course on. And in med school, you need to know much much much more than the big picture. However, physio is one of those courses, that once you "get it" it stays with you.

But in all reality, if you don't have to do upper level science courses, don't do them for the sake of preparing for med school. You will be wasting your time.

i am glad to know i am doing physio.... looks like its the best higher level course to do 😀

 

[xnfs93hy]

Nice. My school offers Physiology as an upper level course, so I'll definitely look into taking it this summer 👍.

 

[rredfern]

Would one recommend viriology and pathogentic microbiology? They offer those at my school and I wonder if they would be benifical.

 

[Zona Pellucida]

Biochem - Cell Bio - Genetics - Immuno

 

[nonsciencemajor]

As said before I got accepted to several med schools having done only the required pre-req's and MCAT.

i am not taking biochem as a course to prepare for med school. I am simply using this website:

http://themedicalbiochemistrypage.org/

and making sure I know everything on this website. This website I believe is a good enough foundation needed to do well and to build upon for biochem in med school. And besides those who took the course, this is all they will remember as well i believe...

but I am doing physio as my only upper level science class, and i can understand what yowhatup means when says that once you get it, you get it. Physio I find to be far more understanding, and once you understand it, it will be very easy to remember... thats exactly why i am taking only physio as an upper level course, and I am glad I am doing it.... the course really drives home the solid understanding needed for physio

Biochem I find to be mostly all mindless memorization... and thats probably what a course in biochem will teach you as well

so just do physio as a course, and if you are concerned about biochem, look at the website

I think if people are so inclined to do upper level science course, it should be definitely physiology over any other course... no doubts about that

 

[mddoc201333]

As said before I got accepted to several med schools having done only the required pre-req's and MCAT.

i am not taking biochem as a course to prepare for med school. I am simply using this website:

http://themedicalbiochemistrypage.org/

and making sure I know everything on this website. This website I believe is a good enough foundation needed to do well and to build upon for biochem in med school. And besides those who took the course, this is all they will remember as well i believe...

but I am doing physio as my only upper level science class, and i can understand what yowhatup means when says that once you get it, you get it. Physio I find to be far more understanding, and once you understand it, it will be very easy to remember... thats exactly why i am taking only physio as an upper level course, and I am glad I am doing it.... the course really drives home the solid understanding needed for physio

Biochem I find to be mostly all mindless memorization... and thats probably what a course in biochem will teach you as well

so just do physio as a course, and if you are concerned about biochem, look at the website

I think if people are so inclined to do upper level science course, it should be definitely physiology over any other course... no doubts about that

Yes that website I have seen before and used it extensively. I would have to agree with you, that looking over this website is better than doing a biochem course, especially if your school starts off with biochem. This website will help you retain much more than a year of biochem at undergrad where there is a focus on many unnecessary details that makes it a biochem course and not a medical biochem course.

it is a manageable website to do, and will give you a very solid foundation for biochem.

I would also have to agree with you that physio is one of those courses that either you get it or you dont. I did physio, and it was very beneficial as when you are learning cell bio, you understand the big picture of why it is important to know details in cell bio. The same applies for biochem and anatomy. If you did physio, you will know how it applies in the very big picture, which is actually the purpose of the pre-clinical years. Also, if you had physio, you will just have a gut instinct on what to focus on specifically when you study these classes.

 

[andrew3077]

I've taken Cell Bio and I'm in Microbiology and Genetics now, and I feel that I'd rather have the knowledge than not have it, even if we cover it in a day in Med school. However, my school specifically tells Pre-Meds NOT to take Anatomy, which scares me since I have no background in it whatsoever.

 

[JonathanMD]

I'm one of the people that recommends taking it all (if you have time):

Biochemistry
Anatomy
Physiology
Histology
Genetics
Microbiology
Immunology
And even, Biotechnology

(In that order.)

I took it all and I feel it's really helping me.

But don't fool yourself, the speed and detail at which they cover each subject is a step above undergrad. And besides being already familiar with a lot of the content and subjects, one of the biggest benefits that I've noticed is being able to see the big picture from subject-to-subject right from the start, as we cover the material.

I'm sure everyone's heard the advice, "Think about ever subject clinically." Being able to see the big pictures of the subjects is the first step on thinking clinically.

(There are definitely people who do fine with only taking the pre-requisites.)

 

[yowhatup]

I'm one of the people that recommends taking it all (if you have time):

Biochemistry
Anatomy
Physiology
Histology
Genetics
Microbiology
Immunology
And even, Biotechnology

(In that order.)

I took it all and I feel it's really helping me.

But don't fool yourself, the speed and detail at which they cover each subject is a step above undergrad. And besides being already familiar with a lot of the content and subjects, one of the biggest benefits that I've noticed is being able to see the big picture from subject-to-subject right from the start, as we cover the material.

I'm sure everyone's heard the advice, "Think about ever subject clinically." Being able to see the big pictures of the subjects is the first step on thinking clinically.

(There are definitely people who do fine with only taking the pre-requisites.)

I would put physio on top

physio

>
>
>

biochem
histology
microbio
anatomy

 

[mddoc201333]

the website non-science major listed is a good enough website with good enough background to build on when one enters med school. I would recommend studying that website intensively before entering school regardless of whether one had biochem or not. It is not long either, so its not like you are wiling your time away studying before med school starts. But it is a good website to have mastered before coming in.