okay to test out of chem 1?

[body]

My first post here ever. Exciting.

I'm 22, nearly 23, and a first-year graduate student in a three year MA program. I just caught the I-want-so-badly-to-be-a-doctor bug. Really, it came out of nowhere, completely unexpected. I was one of those folks who rolled their eyes any time I met someone in undergrad who was pre-med. I was like, "Really? A doctor? That's so cliche. Do you want to be a ballerina, too?" Pot, kettle, blah blah blah.

I have always been interested in health and health sciences, and I'd consider advanced nurse practice before. Just never doctoring. That was for other (white, rich, naturally gifted in math and science) people. But a crazy fascination for the human body in all its strangeness and beauty and disorder and order has gripped me. Part of this fascination comes from dealing with chronic illness and being from a family with a myriad of autoimmune health issues.

Okay, so. I have none of the necessary science pre-requisites, and I'm trying to figure out how best to go about completing them. I *think* I would be able to test out of the 1st year of chemistry (have passed CLEP for local cc, but there's a different, school-specific test I'd need to take for the state school). Is this a bad idea? I would take advanced level chemistry after O-chem to make up for not having actual classwork in Chem 101/102.

Any responses would be appreciated. I've found it very informative to look through old posts, so thank you in advance.

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[stolen_biscuit]

I have none of the necessary science pre-requisites, and I'm trying to figure out how best to go about completing them. I *think* I would be able to test out of the 1st year of chemistry (have passed CLEP for local cc, but there's a different, school-specific test I'd need to take for the state school).

I know it's early in the process, but do you have a target school or two? If so, I would call admissions and ask. Med schools differ in whether or not they accept CLEP courses. Often times, however, you don't need to have certain classes; they just want you to take a given number of hours/semesters in a department. In that case, your 2 OChem courses would count as your 6 hours (plus 2 lab hours).

I would take advanced level chemistry after O-chem to make up for not having actual classwork in Chem 101/102.

I would not do this, unless you just want the process to take longer. 😉 Advanced chemistry is never a requirement as far as I know. Even OChem is typically not a prereq for entrance to medical school; most pre-meds take it because it's integral to their degree. It is, however, quite useful as you will need some OChem knowledge for the MCAT. Assuming you do well, it can also show the ad coms that you can handle difficult science coursework.

Best of luck!

 

[Beandog]

My first post here ever. Exciting.

I'm 22, nearly 23, and a first-year graduate student in a three year MA program. I just caught the I-want-so-badly-to-be-a-doctor bug. Really, it came out of nowhere, completely unexpected. I was one of those folks who rolled their eyes any time I met someone in undergrad who was pre-med. I was like, "Really? A doctor? That's so cliche. Do you want to be a ballerina, too?" Pot, kettle, blah blah blah.

I have always been interested in health and health sciences, and I'd consider advanced nurse practice before. Just never doctoring. That was for other (white, rich, naturally gifted in math and science) people. But a crazy fascination for the human body in all its strangeness and beauty and disorder and order has gripped me. Part of this fascination comes from dealing with chronic illness and being from a family with a myriad of autoimmune health issues.

Okay, so. I have none of the necessary science pre-requisites, and I'm trying to figure out how best to go about completing them. I *think* I would be able to test out of the 1st year of chemistry (have passed CLEP for local cc, but there's a different, school-specific test I'd need to take for the state school). Is this a bad idea? I would take advanced level chemistry after O-chem to make up for not having actual classwork in Chem 101/102.

Any responses would be appreciated. I've found it very informative to look through old posts, so thank you in advance.

I've checked it out quite a bit ( I have 60 CLEP/DSST credits to my bachelors degree)
You'll need labs, so CLEP won't work for that reason, and according to all my research, they'll likely not accept it.
There's some stigma against CLEP/online learning, and with the competition as heavy as it is in the medical field, you'll get nowhere with that route.

Where is Ochem NOT required? That's a new one for me.

 

[LifeTake2]

Even OChem is typically not a prereq for entrance to medical school; most pre-meds take it because it's integral to their degree. It is, however, quite useful as you will need some OChem knowledge for the MCAT. Assuming you do well, it can also show the ad coms that you can handle difficult science coursework.

Best of luck!

1) OChem1 is a requirement for all US medical schools I'm aware of. Some will let you not do OChem2; but they often want something else such as BioChem.

2) You need more than 'some' OChem for the MCAT. You don't have to master the subject, but it has the ability to be very predominate on the BS section so you want to know it.

 

[stolen_biscuit]

There's some stigma against CLEP/online learning, and with the competition as heavy as it is in the medical field, you'll get nowhere with that route.

I would have to agree with the online part! (Frankly, having taken a non-science online course myself, I can see why they are stigmatized.)
As for CLEP, I would personally still make the call to the med school. If it's fine with them, I think it's a waste of time to take it. Here is a link Catalystik posted as to AP credits that gives an idea of acceptance: http://students.rice.edu/images/stu... allopathic medicine- updated summer 2010.pdf
I'm not retaking anything I tested out of unless a school I am interested in wants me to; we're all non-trads here and have a billion other things on our plate. Better safe than sorry does typically work out though. 😀

1) OChem1 is a requirement for all US medical schools I'm aware of. Some will let you not do OChem2; but they often want something else such as BioChem.

My bad - brain fart! (This is why I shouldn't multitask.) It's upper level Bio that's typically not required.

2) You need more than 'some' OChem for the MCAT. You don't have to master the subject, but it has the ability to be very predominate on the BS section so you want to know it.

I know MCATs vary, but I didn't find much OChem. Much of what is classified as that category (for the MCAT, I mean) falls under the umbrella of Biochem and is therefore hit on in Bio classes also. I thought the rest of the OChem (reactions/techniques) listed as in-scope was pretty basic (and by basic, I don't mean easy!).

 

[EdLongshanks]

My first post here ever. Exciting.

I'm 22, nearly 23, and a first-year graduate student in a three year MA program. I just caught the I-want-so-badly-to-be-a-doctor bug. Really, it came out of nowhere, completely unexpected. I was one of those folks who rolled their eyes any time I met someone in undergrad who was pre-med. I was like, "Really? A doctor? That's so cliche. Do you want to be a ballerina, too?" Pot, kettle, blah blah blah.

I have always been interested in health and health sciences, and I'd consider advanced nurse practice before. Just never doctoring. That was for other (white, rich, naturally gifted in math and science) people. But a crazy fascination for the human body in all its strangeness and beauty and disorder and order has gripped me. Part of this fascination comes from dealing with chronic illness and being from a family with a myriad of autoimmune health issues.

Okay, so. I have none of the necessary science pre-requisites, and I'm trying to figure out how best to go about completing them. I *think* I would be able to test out of the 1st year of chemistry (have passed CLEP for local cc, but there's a different, school-specific test I'd need to take for the state school). Is this a bad idea? I would take advanced level chemistry after O-chem to make up for not having actual classwork in Chem 101/102.

Any responses would be appreciated. I've found it very informative to look through old posts, so thank you in advance.

Even if you find a school or two that will let you in without making you go back and take chem I - it's a bad idea. The brain learns by repetition and you are going to be tested over chem I topics again and again. Go ahead and take it. This isn't a race and the winner is not the one who makes it into medical school 1 year earlier.

 

[Beandog]

Even if you find a school or two that will let you in without making you go back and take chem I - it's a bad idea. The brain learns by repetition and you are going to be tested over chem I topics again and again. Go ahead and take it. This isn't a race and the winner is not the one who makes it into medical school 1 year earlier.

Agree.

By not taking the "whole set" Chem 1&2, Org 1&2, Bio 1&2 and Phy1&2, WITH LABS, you've just lowered your options down to a small percentage of schools, and mostly the lower tier also. Also, how well have you learned the material (which will show on your MCAT).
To the OP - just because you're willing to take this route doesn't make it advisable. You're in heavy competition - there is nothing that gives you an advantage by taking AP or CLEP for these courses.

I have 60 CLEP and DSST in my bachelors, but none or them in the required courses. (also online BS degree) Do it the traditional way with the required prereqs.

 

[chrissyxf]

My undergrad institution didn't really have chem 1 (everyone tested out, and i do mean everyone....they made chem 1 pass/fail and a complete joke and covered everything from chem 1 in chem 2 in a total of 1 semester). This was at an ivy league school so you would think we'd have a way around this and for some med schools, a letter from our school explaining the situation was fine. Unfortunately, as a non-trad, i found obtaining a committee letter (and thus the explanation) was not possible so I had to take chem 1 after graduating...this was a) expensive and b) a total waste of time since I had already done more difficult coursework. Just take chem 1 and save yourself the trouble and money down the road! 🙂