How many pre-req's do I essentially need for med. school (my plan - comments?)

[rom73085]

---

Members do not see this ad.

A little background about myself: I'm 23 (turning 24 in July). I graduated from Emory with a B.S. spring of '07 as an Economics/Religion double major. I was immediately hired by a major investment firm shortly there after and worked as an equities/options/fixed income trader, specializing towards investment guidance. Long story short, after putting a couple months into it, passing all my series exams, and realizing that the finance industry wasn't all it was chalked up to be - not to mention more than the few months of soul searching to get the courage to quit my job and start at square one, I did it.

In August of '08 I began my post-baccalaureate studies in Biomedical Sciences at University South Florida (Close to home, and after researching on this website and talking to my advisor at Emory, it made no sense to go back to Emory and pay the private tuition). I have since completed Gen. Chem I with a 'B' and Physics I with an A as well as both labs (A's in both). I am currently enrolled in Gen. Chem II w/lab and Physics II w/lab, and should be able to secure A's in all those classes. I am also taking a 'Survey of Human Diseases' through the public health school here at USF. After this semester I will have done 21 hours through USF.

Oddly enough, each lecture is worth 3 hours while a lab is worth 1 (I think that is the case at most public schools?) At Emory, each lecture was 4 hours, so I did in fact have more hours, however USF essentially transferred me in with a completed bachelors and 120 hours. This summer I plan on taking Orgo. 1 and 2 with their required labs (Orgo lecture is 5 hours/lab is 1) so I will complete 12 this summer. This fall I plan on finishing Biology 1 w/lab, Biochemistry, and Genetics w/lab (still not positive if I'll take this class or not). I then will finish with Biology 2 in the spring, keeping a very light schedule and studying for MCAT and if all goes well, taking it for the first and final time in April. I will be finishing the program with over 40+ hours of science work.

My undergraduate GPA from Emory was not great. My first two years performance was poor. After my sophomore year my cumulative GPA was a 2.4. I turned my ways around my junior (3.7 gpa) and senior year (3.5 gpa). Regardless, my Emory GPA was a 2.9 (I had two F's on my transcript). When the credits transferred over to USF, they did not include the two F's and I actually have a 3.1~ gpa standing at USF. I assume medical schools will look at my Emory GPA separately from my USF one.

Assuming my MCAT goes well in April, I plan on enrolling in a SMP either at Georgetown or USF's SMP right here in Tampa, Fall of '10. (I will take the summer between the program to have my applications in by August of next year.) My question is, do I need to spend more time at USF in the post-bacc. program, taking more classes? I've looked at a degree outline in biomed. sciences here at USF, and I would only be shy one-three classes of earning a second bachelors. Is it necessary for me to stay at USF for another fall/spring semester, delaying admission to medical school for another year just to take more undergrad. courses? Or, is it best to just go straight into taking classes at the graduate level. Will I be prepared to take these classes at the graduate level? From what I've gathered the worst thing that you can do is have poor performance in an SMP because it essentially shows medical schools that you are not capable of handling the work load.

Basically, is 1 year of Gen. Chem, 1 year of Physics, 1 year of Organic Chem., 1 year of Biology, and a semester of Biochemistry enough to show medical schools that you are capable of handling the undergrad. curriculum or do I need to take a whole extra year of undergraduate courses. I essentially already have everything else completed (English, Statistics, Calculus I, Psychology, etc.). On one hand, I don't want to delay the process and take courses which on one hand, may strengthen my application because of the amount of science courses I have taken at the post bacc. level, or on the other hand may just prolong applying to med. school another year, as well as attending a masters program, and frankly, may or may not benefit my performance in the SMP.

Any advice/tips/comments would be greatly appreciated. I've been perusing this forum for over a year now, and it's great to join you all. 🙂

 

[funkymunkytoes]

Didn't read any of your post, only answering the thread question:

1 year biology with labs
1 year general chemistry with labs
1 year organic chemistry with labs
1 year physics with labs
1 year college level english
1 semester/year of college level math (depending on school, most don't require)

 

[TheMagicCookie]

My undergraduate GPA from Emory was not great. My first two years performance was poor. After my sophomore year my cumulative GPA was a 2.4. I turned my ways around my junior (3.7 gpa) and senior year (3.5 gpa). Regardless, my Emory GPA was a 2.9 (I had two F's on my transcript). When the credits transferred over to USF, they did not include the two F's and I actually have a 3.1~ gpa standing at USF. I assume medical schools will look at my Emory GPA separately from my USF one.


Basically, is 1 year of Gen. Chem, 1 year of Physics, 1 year of Organic Chem., 1 year of Biology, and a semester of Biochemistry enough to show medical schools that you are capable of handling the undergrad. curriculum or do I need to take a whole extra year of undergraduate courses. I essentially already have everything else completed (English, Statistics, Calculus I, Psychology, etc.). On one hand, I don't want to delay the process and take courses which on one hand, may strengthen my application because of the amount of science courses I have taken at the post bacc. level, or on the other hand may just prolong applying to med. school another year, as well as attending a masters program, and frankly, may or may not benefit my performance in the SMP.

Any advice/tips/comments would be greatly appreciated. I've been perusing this forum for over a year now, and it's great to join you all. 🙂

Concerning your first comment about your Emory and USF gpa, the two F's from Emory will still be brought into consideration by amcas regardless of whether USF included them. Did you retake the two courses and USF averaged or replaced the original grade?

Your second question about the prereqs depends on the institution that you are wanting to attend. Most schools require those courses, but some also like a semester of genetics or others. It's best to look at each school's site and get a good feel of what they require.

In my opinion, I would think it best to stick with the postbacc and hold off applying for a year and raise your gpa. It is low and you'll also be needing a pretty stellar mcat to help it out a little. Also, have you started on your ec's such as shadowing, clinical experience, and volunteering? If not, get crackin'! If you have, feel free to post it so that we can give you a better idea about your course of action.

 

[airca12]

If you haven't done so already, it might be a good idea to enter all your courses in a gpa calculator. I used this one: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=602861&highlight=amcas+gpa+calculator but there might be a revised one floating around.

This way you can see how everything breaks down, and you'll also get a distinction between your cGPA and sGPA if you check the BCPM boxes for those classes.

I think you need to take more undergraduate classes to raise your GPA before considering a SMP. And remember that AMCAS will receive all of your transcripts from each institution you attended.

 

[rom73085]

Concerning your first comment about your Emory and USF gpa, the two F's from Emory will still be brought into consideration by amcas regardless of whether USF included them. Did you retake the two courses and USF averaged or replaced the original grade?

Your second question about the prereqs depends on the institution that you are wanting to attend. Most schools require those courses, but some also like a semester of genetics or others. It's best to look at each school's site and get a good feel of what they require.

In my opinion, I would think it best to stick with the postbacc and hold off applying for a year and raise your gpa. It is low and you'll also be needing a pretty stellar mcat to help it out a little. Also, have you started on your ec's such as shadowing, clinical experience, and volunteering? If not, get crackin'! If you have, feel free to post it so that we can give you a better idea about your course of action.

I have retaken both courses I received F's in, and made a B+ in Calculus, and a B in the Chemistry course I received an F in. Unfortunately however, those F's are there to stay on my transcript. Like I said originally, I have taken all the prerequisite math and english courses. I am short with just my science courses.

Yes, I've been browsing different school's admission webpages. The only school so far I've found here in Florida (I do obviously plan to apply out of state), that requires biochemistry is Florida State COM. I have seen on all the other ones, Genetics is not required but is "recommended."

The issue I see with taking more science classes, and "trying" to raise my 2.9 Emory GPA is, each additional class minimally effects it. For example, last semester, I received A and one B, in 9 credits, and assuming I receive all A's this semester with 12 credits, I still don't see these grades highly impacting my GPA. I just don't know if I should stay at USF and take another year of classes, that like I said, may or may not benefit my performance in the SMP. For example, I've read threads where people have stated that they've been out of the sciences for years, and other's have recommended going straight to an SMP, as opposed to going back and working to up their under grad. science classes.

I have steadily been working towards my medically related EC's - currently have done 100+ hrs at a level II trauma ER here Have shadowed several doctors (Around 40 hrs). I've been working as a certified medical first responder for the university with EMT's and Paramedics. I also have my CNA, and will be starting work as a PCT at the same ER in the summer. I have also volunteered over 200+ hours while I was at Emory in non-medically related activities.