how does this actually work? (biochem and calc)

[ashjamar]

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Since i know med schools reccomend bio chem and calc i definitely plan on taking them. But what if i take them both my senior year? since those classes and grades wont be on my transcript when i apply will that look bad in comparison to others who have already taken the classes earlier? should i try and squeeze them in in my junior year?




You guys are right,, i didnt look it over before i posted it,, sorry!... what i meant is, what if i take biochemistry and calculus during my senior year? i know those classes are recommended, so i was wondering if anyone else thought that that would be a disadvantage...my bio, general chem and organic chem will be done by fall of my junior year, before i take the mcat.... and thanks Mobius1985 for answering!

 

[Mobius1985]

Some med schools recommend Biochem, and a very few require it. Some allow you to substitute it for Orgo II. Many schools require Calculus or Statistics. Some require Calc I, and a few want you to take Calc II also. Check your MSAR (Medical School Admission Requirements) book, and see what is true of the schools you intend to target.

If you plan to take them senior year, and have registered for them at the end of junior year, they should show up on your transcript (at least at my school they did). Regardless, on your AMCAS form, you are instructed to enter your future classes, so med schools that care will know you intend to take them. You will not look worse than others who've already taken the classes. Before matriculation, you will be sending a final transcript from your undergrad school, so the med school will know that you've completed the classes.

 

[FlowLimited]

Since i know med schools reccomend bio chem and calc i definitely plan on taking them. But what if i take them both my senior year? since those classes and grades wont be on my transcript when i apply will that look bad in comparison to others who have already taken the classes earlier? should i try and squeeze them in in my junior year?

First off, the prerequisite courses aren't "recommended," they're required. Secondly, you want to take all your prerequisites (or at least bio, chem, and calc) senior year while you're in the process of applying? Are you saying that your plan is to take the MCAT before you've seen any of the material?

 

[wandernkind]

First off, the prerequisite courses aren't "recommended," they're required. Secondly, you want to take all your prerequisites (or at least bio, chem, and calc) senior year while you're in the process of applying? Are you saying that your plan is to take the MCAT before you've seen any of the material?

I am not exactly sure what you mean when you compare taking the MCAT without seeing the material and taking bicohem and calc your senior year. You know biochemistry and calc are not on the MCAT right? Oh, I see you have bio, chem. . .you should read a post completely before you reply.

 

[Bacchus]

OP you're going to get mixed answers. Edit your post with some commas or make it biochem. Right now you could mean biochemistry or bio, chem, and calc.

 

[FlowLimited]

OP you're going to get mixed answers. Edit your post with some commas or make it biochem. Right now you could mean biochemistry or bio, chem, and calc.

Agreed. It's terribly confusing as to whether the OP is simply the typical forum-goer who writes without punctuation, or whether "bio chem" is actually "biochem."

If the OP means biochem, yes, taking it your senior year is just peachy.

 

[FlowLimited]

Oh, I see you have bio, chem. . .you should read a post completely before you reply.

Not reading the post completely is hardly the reason for the confusion.

 

[tabletop]

Some med schools recommend Biochem, and a very few require it. Some allow your to substitute it for Orgo II. Many schools require Calculus or Statistics. Some require Calc I, and a few want you to take Calc II also. Check your MSAR (Medical School Admission Requirements) book, and see what is true of the schools you intend to target.

If you plan to take them senior year, and have registered for them at the end of junior year, they should show up on your transcript (at least at my school they did). Regardless, on your AMCAS form, you are instructed to enter your future classes, so med schools that care will know you intend to take them. You will not look worse than others who've already taken the classes. Before matriculation, you will be sending a final transcript from your undergrad school, so the med school will know that you've completed the classes.

Really? you won't look any different than people who've already taken it? What if you listed it as intended, but for some reason couldn't take it?

Also, on AMCAS, where you list your courses, can you specify which requirement each course fulfills. For example, if the school requires 1 year of bio, you would list your bio classes and specify that they should satisfy the bio requirements.

Or, I guess more pertaining to my case, we need a full year's worth of English/Writing (3 quarters for me). two of my quarters I took writing classes. yes, they were most definitely writing classes. But their course code and title of the class in no way implies that they are writing courses. So, when they show up on the transcript, most people outside my university have to ask me what they are. If I put these on my AMCAS, is there any way to indicate that they are writing courses, meant to satisfy the English requirement? I just wouldn't want to be rejected pre-secondary because they misinterpreted them.

And to the OP (just so I don't feel like I'm hijacking his thread), biochem was actually my favorite course, but it's true it won't help you out too much for the mcat. neither will calc I. The only thing about calc I is that it's basically a gpa boost (assuming you've had exposure to calc in high school), so to get the best run out of it, you should take it as early as possible.

 

[Mobius1985]

1) Really? you won't look any different than people who've already taken it? What if you listed it as intended, but for some reason couldn't take it?

2) Also, on AMCAS, where you list your courses, can you specify which requirement each course fulfills. For example, if the school requires 1 year of bio, you would list your bio classes and specify that they should satisfy the bio requirements.

Or, I guess more pertaining to my case, we need a full year's worth of English/Writing (3 quarters for me). two of my quarters I took writing classes. yes, they were most definitely writing classes. But their course code and title of the class in no way implies that they are writing courses. So, when they show up on the transcript, most people outside my university have to ask me what they are. If I put these on my AMCAS, is there any way to indicate that they are writing courses, meant to satisfy the English requirement? I just wouldn't want to be rejected pre-secondary because they misinterpreted them.

1) It certainly happens that folks enter an intended class on AMCAS, and can't take it due to class not being offered, time conflicts, etc. If it's not a prerequisite, it's no big deal. If it is a prerequisite, your last chance would be to squeeze it in the summer before matriculation. If you don't do that, the med school will not permit you to matriculate. The completed class grade will show up on the final transcript that you submit after graduation.

2) On AMCAS there is no spot to put in what requirement is met by that class. You are supposed to enter the information exactly as it appears on your official transcript. However, it is my understanding that there is a master book that lists all courses in US colleges, describes them, and makes them equivalent to more accurately named courses. AMCAS has been known to change a category (under "Course Class") during the certification process (which makes it more clear). If any doubt remains, the admissions office has been known to call you, ask what you are doing to satisfy a given requirement, and give you a chance to explain.

Some Secondary applications have you relist your coursework, specifically asking what class you took to satisfy XXXX requirement.

 

[Bacchus]

I've corrected the post title. The OP is talking about biochemistry and calculus.