Non-Required Prereqs

[musashi]

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I've started the journey of taking my prereqs and will apply to medical school in 2008. Until recently I taught high school history and geography and so my background is liberal arts all the way. I guess that makes me a non-trad student as well as a non science backgroud student. In a sense a "double" non trad student lol. I was wondering since I don't have a solid foundation in chemistry and physics I've been thinking about taking the basic or intro course first for both of these courses and then the required course. Should I audit these classes or take them for credit? How would admissions view that? If I do take them for credit and do well does that factor in to my gpa? If I audit them will they show up on my transcript?

 

[Law2Doc]

I've started the journey of taking my prereqs and will apply to medical school in 2008. Until recently I taught high school history and geography and so my background is liberal arts all the way. I guess that makes me a non-trad student as well as a non science backgroud student. In a sense a "double" non trad student lol. I was wondering since I don't have a solid foundation in chemistry and physics I've been thinking about taking the basic or intro course first for both of these courses and then the required course. Should I audit these classes or take them for credit? How would admissions view that? If I do take them for credit and do well does that factor in to my gpa? If I audit them will they show up on my transcript?

Confused. Aren't the prereqs all intro/basic?

 

[MollyMalone]

Confused. Aren't the prereqs all intro/basic?

At my school at least, there was a one semester chemistry or bio for non-majors that was more basic than the regular Gen Chem/Bio 101 -- perhaps that's what the OP is talking about?

I don't think I'd bother with doing that. If you are worried about doing well in the prereqs, then I think a better solution is to avail yourself of the professor's office hours, get to know your TA's, and set yourself up with whatever free tutoring options are available right from the get go. Do it preemptively before you start to have trouble. You can always stop going if you find that you are doing well.

Good luck!

 

[t-funk]

I may be mistaken, but I believe he/she is talking about courses such as 'descriptive physics' or 'chemistry for non-majors' etc. Personally, I think that the pre-med prereqs start at a basic enough level that you should be fine as long as you are not taking calc-based physics. Just study your a** off in the beginning until you feel like you are caught up with the rest of the class. I took organic II six years after organic I and studied every night until I felt like I was caught up.

 

[musashi]

I apologize for not clarifying my previous post. I do not have a background in chemistry or physics. I never took those classes in high school and even if I had I've been out 15 years. At the University of Texas at San Antonio where I'll be attending they have a Basic Chemistry course and an Introductory to Physics class. I thought that would help prepare me for when I take the Chem/Physics for science majors but I could be off the mark. Is the consensus among forum members that one should just go ahead and take the "for science major" courses instead of the basic/intro? This would help my timeline, but I also need to get good grades to be competitive. I assumed (perhaps naively) that those courses would give me a solid foundation and set me up for success in the "for science majors." Then again, with discipline and determination I could get through those classes and make decent grades. For those of you who started the prereqs and didn’t have a solid foundation in chemistry and physics did you have a lot of trouble? Moreover, do you feel you would’ve done better to take a intro/basic course 1st or just jump right into the grinder? Thanks for the advice from those responding.

 

[t-funk]

Although I have never taken any of those courses, I have had friends who were TA to those courses. From what I have seen, they seem to be so watered down that the information that you will gain from them will not directly apply to to real deal. Oftentimes, there is little to no math and everything is very qualitative. I wouldn't suggest taking them, just make sure you are up on your math (or could be quickly) and get ready to work hard!

 

[silkworm]

I don't know the quality of those specific classes, so they could be useful or just a waste of time. I was a TA for one such course and from my admittedly limited experience, it's just not organized well since most people, including the professors, regard it as a unimportant, fluff class. Of course, you could encounter a very good professor who is committed to making science cogent and interesting for non-majors.

Since you've never taken any classes in sciences, it's understandable that you have trepidations. How about listening in on the lecture of the "science-major" classes to see if you are comfortable following the material and then make a decision?

 

[Lshapley]

I agree with the other posters that taking the chem or physics for non-science majors is not a good idea. My little cousin is taking a bio course like that at Bryn Mawr and all she is doing is writing papers about the scientific method. I don't think you would find it very helpful.

If you are afraid of doing poorly or being overwhelmed because of the layoff, why don't you do a first semester at 1/2 time? That is what I am currently doing because I graduated in 1996 and I wanted a transition into this new life rather than an abrupt start. It is working out very well for me (on the road to A's, or high B's at the worst). I have not heard anywhere that adcoms look down on this, as long as you do transition to being a full time student at some point or having other things going on during the semester (volunteering, working part time).

Let me know if you have any questions. Your timeframe looks pretty similar to mine.

lee