New Course Requirements

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A lot of places already require biochem, so if a school doesn't yet, I wouldn't expect them to tack in on before they collectively change requirements once the 2015 MCAT is introduced. Further, I haven't personally seen anything suggesting that schools actually will require the social sciences courses for admission. Seems very plausible though considering their inclusion in the 2015 MCAT.
 
medception said:
Does anyone know when and which schools will start to require biochemistry, psychology, and sociology?

I'm planning to apply next summer (I graduated May 2012), and while I have taken two semesters of both biochemistry & psychology, I have not taken any sociology courses. I'm not sure I feel like spending more money I don't have for two extra courses just to apply next summer (June 2014)....
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No schools require psychology or sociology, and I doubt they ever will. Neither is particularly valuable in med school.

College biochem can provide a foundation for med school biochem, so some places do require that. Statistics is the other college course some places like to see.
 
Indiana (IUSM) is requiring psychology, sociology and biochemistry beginning with applicants to the class of 2014.
 
medception said:
Does anyone know when and which schools will start to require biochemistry, psychology, and sociology?

I'm planning to apply next summer (I graduated May 2012), and while I have taken two semesters of both biochemistry & psychology, I have not taken any sociology courses. I'm not sure I feel like spending more money I don't have for two extra courses just to apply next summer (June 2014)....
Click to expand...

The best solution is to get the MSAR and ask your schools of interest regarding whether sociology is a requirement. It shouldn't be a problem, but with the 2015 changes, you can't be too sure.
 
Law2Doc said:
No schools require psychology or sociology, and I doubt they ever will. Neither is particularly valuable in med school.

College biochem can provide a foundation for med school biochem, so some places do require that. Statistics is the other college course some places like to see.
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I'm pretty sure a decent amount of schools do require them already and many are going to after 2015.
 
God damn it, I really don't want to take psych or biochem. I wonder if AP credit for psychology counts.

I'm a bio major, so the premed classes don't necessarily get in my way too much, but it's becoming really hard for majors outside of biology to fulfill these in addition to their college's and major's requirements...

Let's not forget that some people want to take some interesting classes outside of what the premed curriculum requires...

Bio 1/2 + 2 labs: 10 credits
Chem 1/2 + 2 labs: 10 credits
Physics 1/2 + 2 labs: 10 credits
Orgo 1/2 + 2 labs: 12 credits
Math + Stat: 8 credits
That's already 50 credits at my university on top of the university/major requirements. Also, biochemistry 1/2 + 2 labs is another 12 credits for the medical schools that want a year of it. Sociology + psychology is another 6. Every college might as well start a premed major.

Good luck to the humanities majors, engineering majors, and people who have interests outside of science classes.
 
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Plue00 said:
God damn it, I really don't want to take psych or biochem. I wonder if AP credit for psychology counts.

I'm a bio major, so the premed classes don't necessarily get in my way too much, but it's becoming really hard for majors outside of biology to fulfill these in addition to their college's and major's requirements...

Let's not forget that some people want to take some interesting classes outside of what the premed curriculum requires...
Click to expand...

Don't worry, the AAMC will be more than happy to plan out which interesting classes you get to take, like psychology and sociology and biochem!
 
Just an FYI for whoever said Emory I looked them up and saw no Psychology required. There was humanities required though. A lot of things can count for that though.

As for this whole biochem, psych, and soc thing...

I am of the opinion that all schools should either beef up intro bio or start requiring biochem as well. It's quite useful.

For psychology, I don't think the MCAT is looking to test straight up psychological concepts. I think they just want to bring attention to things like cultural competence and how to treat those from a poorer background rather than having questions asking about a specific psychological/sociological concept. I think this because both sciences are ultimately human constructs and there is reason for subjectivity in them. If anything, I think they will resemble the verbal section. Any actual psych majors agree? disagree?
 
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Plue00 said:
God damn it, I really don't want to take psych or biochem. I wonder if AP credit for psychology counts.

I'm a bio major, so the premed classes don't necessarily get in my way too much, but it's becoming really hard for majors outside of biology to fulfill these in addition to their college's and major's requirements...

Let's not forget that some people want to take some interesting classes outside of what the premed curriculum requires...

Bio 1/2 + 2 labs: 10 credits
Chem 1/2 + 2 labs: 10 credits
Physics 1/2 + 2 labs: 10 credits
Orgo 1/2 + 2 labs: 12 credits
Math + Stat: 8 credits
That's already 50 credits at my university on top of the university/major requirements. Also, biochemistry 1/2 + 2 labs is another 12 credits for the medical schools that want a year of it. Sociology + psychology is another 6. Every college might as well start a premed major.

Good luck to the humanities majors, engineering majors, and people who have interests outside of science classes.
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If biochemistry became a requirement, then I would think it would start to replace a little of the organic chemistry requirement (1 semester?). And even if it doesn't, I wouldn't imagine the biochemistry LABS to be required.
 
emagavin said:
Wait you don't have to take biochem as a bio major at your school?
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We have a required course that condenses cell bio and biochemistry together, but that wouldn't count as the biochemistry requirement so I would have to take it again.
 
Plue00 said:
We have a required course that condenses cell bio and biochemistry together, but that wouldn't count as the biochemistry requirement so I would have to take it again.
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Wow that doesn't sound fun at all. Yeah you should take biochem again. It'll be fun since you've already done it.
 
Aerus said:
If biochemistry became a requirement, then I would think it would start to replace a little of the organic chemistry requirement (1 semester?). And even if it doesn't, I wouldn't imagine the biochemistry LABS to be required.
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My college only has two biochem classes (one class and one lab). Guess I'm screwed.
 
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