Only one semester of Intro BIO offered at my CC

[burner0192]

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Hello SDN,

My community college offers only one semester of Intro BIO w/lab. The course covers all topics found in the two-semester sequence offered at other colleges. Should I take the second semester of general BIO (e.g. BIO 2) at another community college or an upper division BIO class like Cell and Molecular Biology to satisfy the premed requirement of two BIOs w/lab?

 

[KnightDoc]

Hello SDN,

My community college offers only one semester of Intro BIO w/lab. The course covers all topics found in the two-semester sequence offered at other colleges. Should I take the second semester of general BIO (e.g. BIO 2) at another community college or an upper division BIO class like Cell and Molecular Biology to satisfy the premed requirement of two BIOs w/lab?

I don't know how to break this to you, but unless it's an 8 credit course, a one semester 4 credit course plus lab at a CC will not come close to covering what will be covered in two 4 credit courses plus lab at a 4 year university. I wouldn't bother taking it at all, because it will not adequately prepare you for upper level classes nor will it cover what a med school expects to be covered in a one year intro to bio course.

Bio 2 at another CC will go more in depth on some of the topics covered in the first class, but you will have gaps left from whatever the first class didn't cover. In any event, med schools do not like prereqs taken at CCs. This is one of the reasons why. You will not be doing yourself any favors going this route when it's time to apply.

 

[Blueprint Med School]

Don't take prereqs at CCs if you can avoid it.

Kevin W, MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors