need advice from current applicants

[VirtuoJ]

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I'm currently a junior, and I'm debating whether to take Biochem my senior year. I am debating whether to take it because some of the medical schools that I'm applying to highly recommend it. My pre-med advisor told me that since my grades for my science classes and MCAT scores are high, I don't need to take Biochem if I don't want to since medical schools will realize that I have sufficient science knowledge to be prepared for the biochem taught in medical school. However, I want to know the perspective of current applications on this issue. Does taking Biochem really help for medical schools that highly recommend biochem if you already have high science course grades and high MCAT scores?

Also, I'm in the process of deciding which schools to apply to now. I've narrowed it down to 17 schools (5 In-State, 12 Out-of State). Is that too much? Money really isn't an issue, and I'm applying to a lot because I want to get into more than one so I have options to choose from. A lot of those 17 are top 20 ranking schools, so I'm not sure if I can get in or not. I really don't have any "safety" schools since the UC schools are really competitive for CA residents. Is that a good idea or should I add some "safety" schools? I need help choosing those schools that I'm applying to.

I would really appreciate any advice. Thanks!

 

[MedPuck]

I don't think biochem will be necessary because you will take it in medical school. It sounds like your science gpa is high enough, so don't bother unless you are interested. Maybe take a class that interests you more while you have the option. As far as schools go, I think 17 schools sounds like a good number and I hopefully you will not have to deal with the AMCAS fiasco we all have this year. Although there aren't "safety" medical schools, make sure you apply to a good range of schools, even though your scores are high. Stranger things have happened than very qualified applicants overestimating their likelihood of gaining acceptance into top 20 programs and having no place to attend because they put too much stock in the top schools! This way you will increase your chances. Good luck and best wishes! 😀

 

[InTheWoods]

Don't worry about Biochem. Most people I know didn't take it - the only reason you'd want to is to get an edge when you get to med school, and that isn't really a good reason.

I wouldn't worry to much about the safety schools. Most people I know who applied to "safety" schools (myself included) didn't even get interviewed. If your stats are much higher than the school's average, they probably realize you won't be there (unless you really love the school and express that).

 

[LR6SO4]

As for Biochem, I took it in college and was glad I did. Biochem in med school was fast and furious and I was glad I had the background from undergrad. We had a high percentage of people fail it first year in med school. Some of my friends had never taken it before and did fine though, it's the same as anything else in medschool, if you put the time in you WILL pass. Biochem is not rocket science just pure memorizing.

As for safety schools, Cali has more applicants than any other state I believe and I know that in-state schools are very competitive for you guys. We have a TON of Cali students in my class-probably about 15-20 and we are in Michigan! So don't count out the 'backup' schools out of state, mine has had lots of CA students for a while now so it might even be an 'edge' out here in the Midwest. Good Luck.

 

[med student]

I took biochem in college and I am extremely glad I did because I am taking biochem and physio right now in medical school and we are moving at an extremely fast pace. The fact that I have taken biochem before has allowed me to focus more time for physio. So for this reason I would take biochem in college.

 

[Voxel]

Here's some advice from a 4th year med student.

1) If you really want to take biochem, take it in your spring semester of your senior year. That way having already been accepted to medical school, you can study it hard without worrying about grades and with the knowledge that you will be taking it as a 1st year medical student.

2) Cali schools are incredibly hard to get into. Apply to atleast 5 backup schools that are not in the top 20. You never know what can happen and you say that money does not matter. If that is the case, apply to as many programs as possible and then take your pick for interviews and acceptances.

 

[japhy]

As others have stated taking biochem as an undergrad is not a necessity, but it does give you a huge leg up in med school. Right now I am in the middle of biochem and I am very glad I have seen the material before. At my school biohcem is 8 weeks long. They cram 1 year of material into that 8 wks! 2 lectures every day. You can learn the material, but it is quite difficult simply because of the speed and volume. If you have the time to take biochem I recommend it, but like the 4th year said, take it in the spring when you don't need to worry about grades.

 

[VirtuoJ]

Thanks for all the input. It really helps. I think I'll end up taking Biochem, not because I like it, but because I have space to fit it in my schedule and I don't want to feel behind in med school.

Also, I was under the impression that grades all of senior year don't really matter. But from reading a couple of the above posts, it seems like grades for the fall semester of senior year does matter. Do med schools want you to update them with your fall grades?

 

[Ibis]

VirtuoJ-

Here are some safety schools I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND you consider in your list:

Finch, NYMC, MCP Hahnemann, ST. Louis Univ., George Washington, Jefferson, Temple, Meharry and Med. College of Wisconsin.

Although your stats may be competitive, cover your bases!! I've seen this happen far too many times; a seemingly competitive applicant without an acceptance, due to a narrow range of schools selected. Good luck!! 🙂

 

[USeF]

Originally posted by Ibis:
•VirtuoJ-
Although your stats may be competitive, cover your bases!! I've seen this happen far too many times; a seemingly competitive applicant without an acceptance, due to a narrow range of schools selected. Good luck!! 🙂 •••

I'm one of those people Ibis is talking about. I applied to the two more competitive state schools in FL and 12 'ranked' schools out of state. My advisor, and some previous applicants assured me that I'd be a shoe in. Well, I'm sitting here in Jan with no acceptances. Not sweatin' it though, because I have 4 waitlists/holds, 1 to hear back from and a handfull that haven't rejected me yet.
Maybe it would've been nicer to get an acceptance from a non-ranked private (the easiest schools to get into), but I'm patient and optimistic.

as for fall grades, I sent mine in to the schools that placed me on hold (as opposed to waitlist) and that I'm very interested in. Hopefully they'll tip the scales in my favor.

Biochem. mm... I love biochem, and enjoyed toxicology even moreso, so I'm biased 🙂 It was good for me, studying for the MCAT and all that summer.

 

[rajneel1]

i think some schools may require to take it before you enroll. UCI comes to mind but i am not sure. also i would highly recommend applying to more schools, at least 25 since you are coming from cali. the UCs are fickle and you can never tell about interviews. i have friends with great volunteer work who are on hold for interview at ucsd and a friend with great stats (3.96, 35) and volunteer work that never got an interview at UCSF. so you never know cause the UC's suck like that. also, there are alot of out of state schools that are better than the UCs (more opportunities, better locations, more innovative curriculum, etc.) so don't give up on those. and don't just apply to top 20 schools. because you never ever know. they are all looking for something else. numbers won't get you in everywhere. and , yes apply to atleast 5 safety schools. MCW is a good one cuase it is actually a good school but they like cali people. and like chicago med (interview here only if need be), NYMC, Albany med, etc. hope that helps.

 

[Wednesday]

Definitly add more out of state schools that like CA residents. Everyone will tell you that the admissions process is random but you have no idea how random until you are actually in it. ESPECIALLY in California! I have been repeatedly suprised by the interviews I am getting (and not getting). Add a few more schools, especially if money is no object. Remember, if you end up being a Baylor21, you can always decline interviews! In addition to the schools already mentioned, you should look at Michigan (they seem to take a lot of Californians with high stats) and Tulane.

As for Biochem, I took an eight week accelerated course over the summer. I think it's worth it because it is fascinating! But we didn't have to memorize anything, which I think is the worst part of biochem. As for fall grades, it seems like people have trouble concentrating (for good reason!) during fall semester of their application year, so if you are going to take it, probably best to take it in the spring. Schools usually issue acceptances on the condition that you complete your current coursework with grades that are simular to your previous grades. Although yoiu probably have to really screw up to lose an acceptance.

Good luck!

 

[VirtuoJ]

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

The 17 schools I have on my list so far, just to give you guys an idea, are: UCSF, UCLA, UCSD, UCD, Stanford, Harvard, Cornell, Duke, Yale, Columbia, Hopkins, Penn, WUSTL, Northwestern, UChicago, NYU, and Vanderbilt.

It seems like many of you agree that I should apply to more. Besides those mentioned above, do you guys know of any other schools that like CA residents (that aren't in my list above)? Thanks!

 

[rincon]

If you check with your pre-med advisor often they have stats showing where applicants from your school have success. I also believe that one of the charts in the MSAR has info regarding the state residencies of accepted students at each school, although you'll have to check for sure...I too would suggest a few more safety schools for you...you never know what the admission committees are looking for...especially in CA.

 

[ccryder]

I took a full year of Biochem in college and am grateful I did because some schools I applied to required biochem (i.e. U Washington). I'm not sure any of the schools you're planning on applying to require it but if you're on the fence about taking the course I would definitely check each school's requirements and recommendations.

You have some pretty hard-to-get-into schools on your list. I might pick a few more that aren't top 20 or California state schools.

 

[Ibis]

Dude, that's a highly competitive list of schools you got there!! If your wise, you'll add some of the schools we mentioned above. But regardless, godspeed to you, my young jedi knight!!!!!!!!! 😛 😛 🙂 😀

 

[Dr.G]

Hi- in answer to your question about Fall grades- none of the schools I applied to saw them before they accepted me (I'm waiting on 2 non-rolling schools, but they did not ask for them). However- since you are a strong applicant you may be asked to apply for merit scholarships - and your Fall grades are taken into consideration for most of those.

 

[UCLA2000]

VirtuoJ You really need to add about 10 more schools to your list if you only plan on applying to those schools. Just about all of the schools that you listed are top 20 schools. I'm sure you're a great applicant, but med school admissions has alot to do with luck. I have a friend with a 35 MCAT and a 3.9 gpa from UCLA with tons of research experience who currently has 0 acceptances, and has been rejected by almost every school he applied to. Like you, he only applied to the top programs because he figured that he'd be a hot item. Don't take chances.