Higher Level Bio Courses

Started by snoozeandlose
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snoozeandlose

Full Member
7+ Year Member
How helpful to the application are the following courses? I only have taken the prereqs and didn't do too well the first time; retook and got A's and B's on them.

Biochemistry
Human Physiology
Microbiology
Anatomy

Given the difficulty of these courses, is it okay to get a B or higher?
 
A/P probably not important since they most likely teach it differently than they do in med school

biochem - some schools require it (KCUMB)
micro - could be helpful in the long run, not sure any schools require it


all in all, A's and B's are fine in any course. move along
 
I would say Biochem would be immensely helpful for the application. Having this foundation will not only be good for the MCAT (if you haven't taken it yet) but it is also helpful for other classes in medical school that will progress quickly. Additionally, this might be required or heavily recommended by several schools.

Human Phys and Anatomy could be helpful for the app, but those classes are generally several credits and as @baxt1412 said, you will learn them in medical school. Unless you want to take the time now to take these classes, I would say pass on this. If you wanted to decide between the two (if that's an option) I would go with physiology.

Micro might be helpful too, but not a make or break decision.

Personally, I only took Animal Physiology and Biochemistry out of these options and I have received one acceptance so far.

In sum, it is your decision. Just make sure you double check you have fulfilled all classes required/recommended by the schools you are interested in.

Don't forget about Genetics.

Best of luck.
 
If you havent taken MCAT yet, then I have heard that biochemistry, human physiology, and microbiology will help since the new MCAT has those topics on it. The courses are not required but they will help. As the poster above me mentioned some school do require biochemistry so definetely take that to be safe.
 
DaddyBex28 said:
I would say Biochem would be immensely helpful for the application. Having this foundation will not only be good for the MCAT (if you haven't taken it yet) but it is also helpful for other classes in medical school that will progress quickly. Additionally, this might be required or heavily recommended by several schools.

Human Phys and Anatomy could be helpful for the app, but those classes are generally several credits and as @baxt1412 said, you will learn them in medical school. Unless you want to take the time now to take these classes, I would say pass on this. If you wanted to decide between the two (if that's an option) I would go with physiology.

Micro might be helpful too, but not a make or break decision.

Personally, I only took Animal Physiology and Biochemistry out of these options and I have received one acceptance so far.

In sum, it is your decision. Just make sure you double check you have fulfilled all classes required/recommended by the schools you are interested in.

Don't forget about Genetics.

Best of luck.
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I've gotten many C's, a couple of D's and 3 F's. The F's were in Orgo I which I retook and got an A. I only need to retake 2 more classes: physics 2 and intro to bio 2.

My stats (given I get As on retakes of physics and biology):
3.1 cgpa/ 3.0 sgpa/ 32 mcat

Will it be fine if I still don't take the upper level biology courses? I am really not looking forward in taking them and don't really want to if I don't have to.
 
snoozeandlose said:
I've gotten many C's, a couple of D's and 3 F's. The F's were in Orgo I which I retook and got an A. I only need to retake 2 more classes: physics 2 and intro to bio 2.

My stats (given I get As on retakes of physics and biology):
3.1 cgpa/ 3.0 sgpa/ 32 mcat

Will it be fine if I still don't take the upper level biology courses? I am really not looking forward in taking them and don't really want to if I don't have to.
Click to expand...

Look at the schools you are most interested in, and see what their requirements are. Then go off of that. For example, one of my top schools required Genetics...so I had to take Genetics.

If you don't want to take upper level bios, then don't. But you may not be as strong of an applicant if you only do re-takes. Some adcoms might think you aren't ready for the rigors of med school. Just my two cents though...

Your MCAT is strong, you just need to bring up that sGPA higher than a 3.0. I would shoot for a 3.2, but that would require more classes.

I would be cautious of doing the "bare minimum" needed to get into school.
 
DaddyBex28 said:
Look at the schools you are most interested in, and see what their requirements are. Then go off of that. For example, one of my top schools required Genetics...so I had to take Genetics.

If you don't want to take upper level bios, then don't. But you may not be as strong of an applicant if you only do re-takes. Some adcoms might think you aren't ready for the rigors of med school. Just my two cents though...

Your MCAT is strong, you just need to bring up that sGPA higher than a 3.0. I would shoot for a 3.2, but that would require more classes.

I would be cautious of doing the "bare minimum" needed to get into school.
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I concur, you not wanting to do upper level science classes raises concerns about your intentions about medical school... Why don't you want to take upper level bio courses? They will be the most applicable to medical school.
 
snoozeandlose said:
How helpful to the application are the following courses? I only have taken the prereqs and didn't do too well the first time; retook and got A's and B's on them.

Biochemistry
Human Physiology
Microbiology
Anatomy

Given the difficulty of these courses, is it okay to get a B or higher?
Click to expand...

All of these classes are great and fascinating subjects. Don't judge how you'll do on your upper div bio based on your prereq performance. I did "worse" in the pre reqs because it just wasn't oriented to human biology but once I got into the upper div class I loved it and performed well.

Don't be afraid to take these classes because of grades. As others have said, you want to prove to med schools that you are ready for their curriculum, that entails taking these courses and doing well in them.
 
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