Opinion on classes before MCAT

[Vcarop1]

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I just graduated in spring 2013 with a bachelors in chemistry from towson university. The reason I am taking a year or so off is to support my fiancé financially through her masters program. Once that is completed I am focused on applying to medical schools in hopes of getting into a program. I am currently employed by John's Hopkins University within a research lab. I want to take the MCAT before the revamp in 2015 and I want to utilize Hopkins ability to provide tuition reimbursement. I am debating on taking A&P 1 and 2 at a local community college considering that is material on the MCAT that I previously had not studied. However, I also have the opportunity of taking a graduate class or two within Hopkins. I'm not sure which would look better on my application to a medical school. The graduate classes are at the Bloomberg school of public health and not the medical school. An suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated!

 

[didymus]

I don't think you should bother with A&P. There isn't anything really to indicate that having those classes would give you a solid advantage on the MCAT that merely reviewing the animal bio you took wouldn't.

 

[Vcarop1]

Now my GPA for undergrad isn't the best so I wasn't sure if taking additional classes at a community college to boost my gpa would be beneficial compared to taking grad classes to further prove I am fully capable of handling the course load.


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[didymus]

From what I understand, undergrad GPA is looked at much more seriously since grad schools are notorious for grade inflation. If you want to boost your GPA, take upper division undergrad classes; take those that will be more beneficial for the MCAT than A&P, though--consider biochem and genetics, perhaps.

 

[Vcarop1]

From what I understand, undergrad GPA is looked at much more seriously since grad schools are notorious for grade inflation. If you want to boost your GPA, take upper division undergrad classes; take those that will be more beneficial for the MCAT than A&P, though--consider biochem and genetics, perhaps.

Ironically those two classes I have taken haha in my undergrad. Now these undergrad classes would be at q community college as I can't really afford to front the money for a regular university

 

[didymus]

Check MSAR. Many schools accept coursework from community colleges, but not all of them do. Look at the information for the schools you are interested in, and check their policy on classes from CC's. I've done many of the prereqs at a CC, and have done so because I have been told directly from the schools where I will apply that they do not judge the outcomes any differently than those from a 4-year.

I guess it matters less for the person who does well on the MCAT--that is the "proof" of one's abilities adcoms are looking for since it is standardized, and those who went to Harvard are taking the same test as those who went to a CC; a 30 from Harvard is the same as a 30 from CC.

My experience is that the classes I've taken at CC are equally as challenging as those I took at my 4-year institution; only the classes have been smaller and the profs more accessible and interested in my success. YMMV, of course.

 

[Vcarop1]

Looked into the schools I'm mainly interested in and it seems they all accept community college course work. Now I have all my pre reqs these would be additional courses such as micro, immuno, etc mainly to grow my knowledge and to help boost gpa. So it seems like the community colleges might be the way to go?


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[didymus]

Looked into the schools I'm mainly interested in and it seems they all accept community college course work. Now I have all my pre reqs these would be additional courses such as micro, immuno, etc mainly to grow my knowledge and to help boost gpa. So it seems like the community colleges might be the way to go?


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That's great news. It definitely sounds like CC classes are the way to go. I'm doing micro (among others) this semester at a CC and it's a fantastic class! Looking through MCAT study materials, I've seen quite a bit that is now familiar to me because of this course. I think you're making the right call.

Best of luck!