Orgo Lab Requirements

[tennisgal]

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Hi!

I've taken Organic I and II lectures as well as Organic I lab and additional upper level chemistry credits. Do med schools require that I take OrgoIILab for admission? It's not required for my major and I haven't taken it. I know many bio majors take it because they need to, but is it a med-school pre-req?

Thanks!

Stacey

 

[Morsetlis]

A few schools require at least 1 Ochem lab. I don't remember any that requires 2 Ochem labs, but some require "one year of organic chemistry with lab"...

 

[tennisgal]

A few schools require at least 1 Ochem lab. I don't remember any that requires 2 Ochem labs, but some require "one year of organic chemistry with lab"...

that whole "one year with lab" thing is so unclear, which is what lead me to this question...does the "one year" qualify just the "ochem" or the "ochem with lab"
I know it may sound irrelevant, but for me its the difference between having to take this very time consuming course and not being able to work at my job or not having to take it and being able to work my job.

 

[tremulousNeedle]

The key is that most med schools require 2 credits hours of lab for each of the basic sciences (sometimes not physics) and at many schools the organic chemistry lab is worth 2 credit hours.

If your o chem 1 lab was only worth 1 credit, you'll have to do research on individual programs to see if this is enough.

-senior medical student / admissions committee interviewer

 

[tennisgal]

The key is that most med schools require 2 credits hours of lab for each of the basic sciences (sometimes not physics) and at many schools the organic chemistry lab is worth 2 credit hours.

If your o chem 1 lab was only worth 1 credit, you'll have to do research on individual programs to see if this is enough.

-senior medical student / admissions committee interviewer

Thank you for this clarification! My O chem 1 lab was worth 2 credits. I guess this means I don't need to take it? Will this put me at a disadvantage against those who have taken it?

 

[tremulousNeedle]

Probably not, unless the school specifically asks for a "full year" w/o specifying the credit number, in that case you should call the program and clarify the issue.

Schools look for their prerequisites on the AMCAS. Then they look for upper level courses such as genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, etc. I would think an o chem 2 lab is unlikely to be a 'making or breaking' point.

Out of all the AMCAS applications I have looked at, I have never cared about the lab commitment to o chem 2.

 

[tennisgal]

Probably not, unless the school specifically asks for a "full year" w/o specifying the credit number, in that case you should call the program and clarify the issue.

Schools look for their prerequisites on the AMCAS. Then they look for upper level courses such as genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, etc. I would think an o chem 2 lab is unlikely to be a 'making or breaking' point.

Out of all the AMCAS applications I have looked at, I have never cared about the lab commitment to o chem 2.

Cool. Should I worry about being an anthropology major and not having that many upper level sciences?

 

[Morsetlis]

You should have all your pre-reqs. You should have a high GPA. After that, upper-div classes and "anthropology major" don't matter.

The brightest guy I knew went to Harvard med with an Econ BA.

 

[tremulousNeedle]

I agree that it doesn't really matter what your undergraduate degree is. However, I would caution Morsetlis's advice about upper level science courses.

Schools usually electronically screen applications into 3 groups based on GPA, MCAT, and possibly a couple other objective data points, these 3 groups are automatic interview invitation, automatic reject, and further screening. If you fall into this 'further screening' category, many schools look at your application much closer. During this process they will evaluate your AMCAS/transcripts for more difficult courses, usually upper level science courses (they'll also search your application for a bunch of other stuff). This will be used to give added insight into your ability to do well in medical school (though I don't necessarily believe these directly correlate).

So while a paucity of upper level science courses is not a deal breaker, it can help you if you are on the bubble.

-senior medical student / admissions committee interviewer


You don't have to minor in a basic science, but a couple of the following might be helpful to your application; biochem, genetics, micro, cell bio, etc.

 

[Morsetlis]

So while a paucity of upper level science courses is not a deal breaker, it can help you if you are on the bubble.

I would then caution them about how hard upper-div biochem and chem classes are if they're already on the bubble.

I agree that upper-div science are useful and interesting: after all, I took a bunch of them as BCH major. However, I also think that I would've had a higher GPA as an Econ, Bio, or Anthropology major.

 

[tremulousNeedle]

People can be on the 'bubble' for reasons other than grades (no research, no volunteer, etc.), in which case these advanced courses could help. Also, most people don't know that they are or were ever on the bubble; it's an adcom thing, not an advertised thing.

And sorry to say, but medical school courses are hard, so if you can't handle undergrad biochem, first year medical school biochem will be wonderful (not necessarily harder, but definitely more information in a shorter time period).


When adcoms review your application (the further review category) they look to see that you challenged yourself, amongst other things. While this can be accomplished in many ways; they will definitely look to see how hard your coursework was.

I am not sure from what background Morsetlis is writing, but my experience is from working with seasoned admissions committee members as well as reviewing AMCAS applications and interviewing applicants myself. I am not telling you to take an upper level science course. What you need to do is weigh all of this advice and gauge whether or not you want to take an upper level science course knowing that your need to do well in it to maintain your GPA. Each of these posts gives you something to think about, now it is time to figure out which direction to go. Good luck.


-senior medical student / admissions committee interviewer