non-trad student question

[stillundecided]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello,

For the non-traditional pre-med students out there, can anyone tell me if the medical schools would require you to re-take any core courses(chem, phy, math, etc.) if you had taken them more than 5 years ago?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Robz]

none of them asked me to retake any classes. I can only imagine them saying that you in a context if you got a poor grade AND you did not get into medical school.

I am a nontraditional student and some of my core classes like chem and bio I took in 95/96 era. Physics and Orgo in 99. No one asked me to take them over again. Just make sure you did well in them.

 

[Sessamoid]

I was also a non-traditional. At the time I entered medical school, the last physical chemistry I'd had was over 10 years prior. It wasn't even college. I placed out of my freshman chemistry from AP credit. It's not even an issue, so don't worry about it.

 

[TexasRose]

I'm a nontrad as well. Some of my prereq's are from '95, but no one has asked me to retake either.

I've heard of schools having a 7 year limit, but not actaully encountered it anywhere. It would be a good idea to check with the schools you intend to apply to and see if they have that rule.

Theresa

 

[deleted6669]

I am retaking most of my prereqs because they date to 1987 to 1991. I don't have to but I need to relearn this info for the mcat and I think doing it this way is probably better for me than trying to relearn all of it in a kaplan course.also adcoms want to see current scholastic efforts to make sure that you can still hack it if you have been out of school for a while.

 

[Nutmeg]

My understanding is that they require that your MCAT score be no more than 3 years old, and that this is how they can be sure you haven't forgotten your coursework. You'll be fine.

Good Luck🙂

 

[lola]

i took my prereqs in 93-95. schools didn't seem to have a problem with it, although i should add that i obtained a masters degree more recently and took a couple of biology classes while in the program. duke is the only school i encountered with an actual policy on when you took your coursework.

 

[Amy B]

A friend of mine used pre-reques from 1992 with no questions asked. I think the only thing that has an expiration date is MCAT. I think the earliest you can use this year is 2000. Although some schools have a 2 year only expiration date.

 

[harrypotter]

emedpa: did you get good grades on your prereqs?

i'm thinking about retaking mine too but have heard many pros and cons about it...

thanks

 

[gary5]

I talked to an admissions counselor who advised that i retake a few courses. I'm happy I did. It got me used to studying again, and it got me closer to readiness for the MCAT. I took organic and bio.

 

[thackl]

Originally posted by gary5
I talked to an admissions counselor who advised that i retake a few courses. I'm happy I did. It got me used to studying again, and it got me closer to readiness for the MCAT. I took organic and bio.

A counselor nearly talked me into doing the same thing (my PS's are from 91' in HS and 92' freshman yr at RIT). Soooooo glad I didn't. I would be getting ready to take the MCAT this yr instead of starting med school.

 

[OrthoFixation]

I only picked up the needed prereqs. Wouldn't even want to think about full bore Physics or GChem again, just for fun. Too much of a time drain.

Soon I will see how adcoms react to '88 classes. I suspect most could care less unless your MCAT reflects poorly.

 

[wallie]

Somewhere on the UMass website, it says they don't like premed coursework to be older than 5 years. I know a few people who have interviewed there with old coursework, but did not get in. Can't say for sure that was the problem though. I think most schools don't mind. I took a few classes just to show that I could still handle academic work. Good luck!

 

[deleted6669]

harry potter:
all A's except a B+ in stats.
the first time around I got mostly B's so I think the review is a good idea.

 

[harrypotter]

thanks emedpa!

 

[castaway]

hey--

my physics and math scores grades were very old when I applied--had no problem getting interviews and getting in. good luck.

 

[gdk]

according to their web site, Duke wants all "science" pre-reqs taken within the last 7 years...

 

[BerkeleyPremed]

When they say they want the pre-reqs to be taken within the past X years...do they mean you should've earned your BA/BS degree within the past X years? Or should you have taken general bio, general chem, o-chem, physics, and math within the past X years?

 

[gary5]

They mean prereqs only. That said, you may be able to get away with less. I took them all 10 years ago. A med school admissions director said that I can get away with taking bio and orgo.