Is it useful to take immunology before medical school?

[DiscusKeeper]

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I was supposed to take environmental biology next semester because it's required for my major. However, because I need to take another class in order to graduate that conflicts with environmental, environmental was waived by my adviser.

I'm now down to 13 credits for next semester. I could just take 13 credits and have an easier semester, or I could take an additional online immunology class. The person who teaches it has relatively tough exams, so it would be a fair amount of additional work. I work full-time hours outside of school, so I would end up having a schedule similar to this semester if I took immunology, which means absolutely no free time throughout the entire semester.

My question is would it be better to take immunology (which is not a required course), or would it be better to just have an easier semester?

Context: I'm currently a senior in college, so next semester will be my last. I've already applied to medical school and have interviewed. This class will not be needed to boost my GPA nor will it show up on transcripts sent to medical schools I applied to. The only benefit of taking it would be to better prepare for medical school.

I'd appreciate any advice!

 

[Fluffy123]

I have heard from friends that embryology has helped them a lot in the first year if your school offers that.

 

[UberUdder09]

I have been told that (and I am also taking) Immunology is a good course in preparing for med school. Even if it has zero value after all, I think it is a neat and fun course. I recommend taking it if your school has a good curriculum.

 

[wb100]

I took immunology and thought it was a great course to take in undergrad. I agree with PP that our immunology course didn't go AS in depth at times as far as diseases (we probably learned around 10) but FWIW I could answer Step 1 questions with my FI (who's in his 3rd year in medical school now). At the end of the book chapters there were clinical case problems that we could do which were pretty applicable. We used Peter Parham's book and I think most medical school use that as the text. The class I took in undergrad was taught by the same professor that taught at the medical school (one of the UC's) and he hardly changed the slides from his med school lectures. He said at times we learned more textbook/immune system mechanism and the medical students learned in a more clinical application (diseases) so I think in the end of the day you won't get that much of an upperhand.

 

[Goro]

Starting with grad school, every med student I met pissed and moaned about immunology. My own immunology faculty colleague tells me that this is because it's a very concept based discipline, like Orgo. While most people on SDN don't feel Anatomy is important to take prior to med school ( but I do), I think that an Immunology course will be helpful to you.

I was supposed to take environmental biology next semester because it's required for my major. However, because I need to take another class in order to graduate that conflicts with environmental, environmental was waived by my adviser.

I'm now down to 13 credits for next semester. I could just take 13 credits and have an easier semester, or I could take an additional online immunology class. The person who teaches it has relatively tough exams, so it would be a fair amount of additional work. I work full-time hours outside of school, so I would end up having a schedule similar to this semester if I took immunology, which means absolutely no free time throughout the entire semester.

My question is would it be better to take immunology (which is not a required course), or would it be better to just have an easier semester?

Context: I'm currently a senior in college, so next semester will be my last. I've already applied to medical school and have interviewed. This class will not be needed to boost my GPA nor will it show up on transcripts sent to medical schools I applied to. The only benefit of taking it would be to better prepare for medical school.

I'd appreciate any advice!

 

[jazzcartier]

Yes yes yes. People don't emphasize immunology as much as biochem, but I think it's still up there.

 

[vellez]

I took it, and I found it really helpful. There are few classes I summarily encourage to take; immunology is one of them.

 

[DiscusKeeper]

Thanks to everyone for the advice! I decided to take Immunology next semester. I appreciate the help!

 

[JustAPhD]

Good! I think you'll like it, immuno is a cool subject. It's ridiculous what our bodies can do.

 

[Frogger27]

Immuno was my favorite class in undergrad! Those B and T cells are pretty neat