Pre-Med Class Order Suggestions

[dcolon_et06]

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Hey everybody. I just had a questions I was hoping someone could give me advise on. Hopefully this goes here. I am a Senior in Highschool and have had my mind set on medicine for as long as I could remember. Ive volunteered in the hospital that my mother works for (Kaiser Permanente Fresno, CA) since I was 14 (17 now) and have always loved and admired how doctors are able to perform the art of healing others with such passion and precision. Although Ive maintained such high goals of becoming a doctor, my freshman and sophmore year GPA is the main reason why I will be forced to attend a Community College before transfering to UC Davis instead of going straight through (2.6 average for those two years because of seriousness issues... did a lot of summer self-evaluation and stepped up to a 3.9 as my junior year average w/ all Honors/AP and a 3.7 average this senior year so far = 3.4 4-year average). Now with that said, I am 100% positive that I will be focused during college especially since I know it will be worth something and it will be work for something I like doing. I understand that the pre-med req classes are : 2 years Chem, 1 Math (Calc), 1 Eng, 1 Bio, and 1 Physics. I honestly dont trust the advisors at the community college after all the research Ive done online about the Pre-Med and Med School process. I was wondering if someone could possible outline a reasonable order in which I should take these classes (in a two year outline) that would put me in the best position for success (shooting for 4.0 because im pretty sure city colleges dont look too nice in med school evals) with the least stress. I understand that the road will be hard but I am dedicated to whatever may stand before me. This is my first time on the forums so thanks for everyones time.

 

[DrBowtie]

All your HS stuff won't matter so start off strong.
It isn't the best to take your premed requirements at CC considering they are viewed as not as strong as a Uni. That said I think this is the best way to do it.

Frosh Year:
Bio 1+2, Gen Chem 1+2, Calc, English

Soph Year:
Orgo 1+2, Physics 1+2

Physics and Bio can be switched based upon your strengths.

 

[SeminoleFan3]

I took my prereqs at a CC (some at San Diego CC to be specific). I took Physics and Gen Chem together, and then Bio and Organic. I know a lot of people don't take physics first because it's sterotypically harder, but it really helped me to get a grasp on what was happening in the others sciences. Plus, Physics and Organic might be tough at the same time. Good luck.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

Frosh Year:
Bio 1+2, Gen Chem 1+2, Calc, English

Soph Year:
Orgo 1+2, Physics 1+2

Yeah I agree with this.

 

[dcolon_et06]

Thanks very much for the replies 🙂 . Ill wait to get a couple more opinions to finalize my decision.

 

[Law2Doc]

Thanks very much for the replies 🙂 . Ill wait to get a couple more opinions to finalize my decision.

Agree with Brett B. But I caution that if you find that you can more easilly get A's if you spread those classes into 3 years instead of 2 (and thus push the cycle back a year), and maybe take english in that first year and push back a science, you might want to consider it, as it is not a race and you need to have competitive grades more importantly than finishing on a specific schedule (especially so as you already had a slow start).
Also, if your physics requires or uses calc, that's an added reason to take that class in the later year. And some schools consider organic to be an upper level chem, and so require you to take the Gen chem first anyhow, as there are a few concepts from that class that may be built on in organic. So you may not have a whole lot of flexibility in the order anyhow, just how much you want to spread them out.

 

[dcolon_et06]

Would taking that first year of english or any other lesser work class that isnt a science be ok if I take it this summer? I understand that it requires a lot of hard work because you really cant miss anything or you fall behind quickly but I figured that taking one easier required class per summer might make the year load easier. Or will this instead look bad in any certain way to med officers?

 

[DrBowtie]

You can do it if you want, but I would take a full 15 hour semester each semester so personally I wouldn't waste the summer with the 1 class. Summers are mainly used for working on the soft factors of your app or working.

 

[Flopotomist]

I would agree with Brett.. a few other things to consider -

Start getting involved in a few extra curricular activities that really EXCITE you. Do something NOT because it will get you into school, but because you love it. This will give you something to write about on your personal statement, plus give you something to talk about in your eventual interviews.

Also, take your school work VERY seriously. Many people slack off a bit early in college, and then struggle hard to get the GPA up later. Remember, in college there are a few advantages that you didn't have in highschool that can help you with your GPA:

1. Choose your classes carefully. If you are not a morning person, do NOT take an 8 am class. Talk to students - which profs are good, which are not. Don't take 20 units of hard classes. Leave yourself plenty of time dedicated in your schedule to study (eg, schedule your classes a few hours apart so that you are forced to study)

2. Separate your academic social group from your personal social group - that is, form study groups with people that you JUST study with, this will increase the amount of studying that you do.

3. Remember that you can drop a class if you need to - don't suffer in a class that you are going to get a C in.

4. Get involved in research (if that interests you) ASAP.

5. Start thinking about who you want to write you letters of recommendation NOW. In a few years, you can have them write "I have known this applicant for 3 years..."

6. Choose a major based on what interests you - and take a broad spectrum of classes. You do NOT need to be a bio major to get into medical school. I can not emphasize this enough. If you are interested in Music - be a music major that takes the min. science classes. Again - your GPA will be better if you take classes you like, you can speak passionately about what you studied, plus you can have a good time. (I was a Philosophy major, loved it). Remember, this is the last time you will be able to study a dabble of everything, so take fun cool classes.

7. If you are in a program that requires a thesis, or you are doing any type of project with extensive research / writing - consider making it publishable. If you have to do the work anyways, why not do it well enough to submit to a journal. I am amazed that more people don't submit their very high quality work.

8. Prepare early for the MCAT. If you follow Brett's schedule, you should be able to start a prep course in your junior year and TAKE THE APRIL MCAT.

9. In the pre-req courses, don't "just" get an A. That is not enough. Remember, you will need to actually understand the material well enough to perform well on the MCAT. SOOO.. Make your flashcards and your notes well so that you can reuse them when you do your MCAT prep.

10. Get clinical experience. Sounds like you have already started this, but as a "traditional" applicant, you will be competing with people like me (non-trad). Many of the non-trads have tons of clinical experience, make sure you can compete on paper with this.

OK.. those are a few of my suggestions... Good luck!

 

[MollyMalone]

I've noticed that we're getting a lot more pre-college traffic lately. I think Brett and Flop's posts should be merged and made into a sticky for them. Or a link in the FAQ. Or something.

Good advice, guys! 🙂

 

[dcolon_et06]

Man I honestly dont know how to thank you guys enough. Awesome posts and responses. This will help clear up the major issue I had and please believe that I plan to stay active with outside activities and focus on maintaining a 4.0 while I'm at city college (which shouldn't be too hard considering high school friends wont be a distraction anymore and I'm typically a insider (non party animal). Thanks again guys.

 

[omgwtfbbq?]

hey, i would advise against taking your prereq's at a community college if you can avoid it. its not that I think the science is going to be sub-par (i think the humanies and social sciences are at CC's, but i've had experience with them at CC's and universities and that just my opinion), but med school admissions are so arbitrary at times, you just dont' want to put yourself behind. a lot of adcoms see CC pre-req's as sub-par. A few schools on their websites directly advise against it. That being said if you HAVE to take it at a community college, realize that most sins can be forgiven for a stellar mcat score. so make sure you know the material really well. I like Brett's breakdown of the order to take the classes in. I'd also suggest throwing in a biochem course (or biochem major). A lot of schools like the looks of it, and if you're looking in a life science major thats best suited for funneling you into medicine biochem is good for it. You get a lot of advanced cell bio, a good intro to metabolism, and I'd also suggest getting involved with research you like. Something lab related. Its cool if you have other non-related research interests, but get a little lab time in.

Also, if you have non science interests keep them up. I'm a writer and I kept that up all through college. It was always my "non science" interest, but it was the biggest topic of conversation at all my interviews. it was something i loved. And now, I'm bringing it into my medical career by planning on writing non-fiction and creative nonfiction books about science. So don't be worried about nurturing things you love because of what future adcoms may say. if it makes you grow as a person and you have the basic things adcoms want, you'll be fine.

You sound like you're already savvy when it comes to clinical volunteering, and i'd suggest keeping it up.

And just a word to you since you did poorly in high school at first - i was almost the exact same as you grade-wise in high school, and i'm graduating suma cum laude this semester from college. the academic experience is so different and so much better, so just put the hs grades behind you and move forward. And if you can get into a different local university with your grades (not a community college) I would really urge you to do so. I had about the same gpa as you and while i didn't get into Yale or anything , i was able to get into a local university.

 

[TypeA]

Some univ's will counsel you while you are in attendance at another school if you have the desire to transfer to their institution. I know UT Austin does this as I took advantage of it many years ago. Why don't you see what UC Davis has to say? Perhaps you can get it straight from the horse's mouth?

 

[NonTradMed]

All your HS stuff won't matter so start off strong.
It isn't the best to take your premed requirements at CC considering they are viewed as not as strong as a Uni. That said I think this is the best way to do it.

Frosh Year:
Bio 1+2, Gen Chem 1+2, Calc, English

Soph Year:
Orgo 1+2, Physics 1+2

Physics and Bio can be switched based upon your strengths.

This is the standard curriculum for most premeds, but I suggest genetics and biochem along with the above. At my school, genetics was required for premed and I didnt' realize it wasn't at most other schools, but I think it worked well for me. Genetics is covered on the MCAT and a good working knowledge of it really helps. Biochem is good too because if you sucked at orgo, pick it up with biochem (at least that's what I did).

Also, try to space your hard classes out if you don't think you can handle the load. I didn't and I had to spent an extra long time making up for poor performance on critical classes. I know people say you can screw up, get sub-3.0 and work yourself up to a decent grade again and get into med school, but try to get it right the first time. I suggest making sure you do well in your pre-reqs and especially anything that goes into your science GPA. In the long run, it's easier to make up for deficiencies in extra curriculars than deficiencies in grades---trust me on this!!

Good luck. 👍

 

[Dov]

I wouldn't take any of your pre-med requiremets at community college. A lot of medical schools will not accept them.

I had a rough time in high school my first two years also (GPA as low as 1.6). DO well next year. Take courses that will transfer and will complete some gen ed requirements (ie history, philoshophy, social science, english). Save the BCPM (Biology, Chem, MAth, Physics for after transfer. Most importantly, dont give up. I never thought I could get into medical school. I though I would be pumping gas for a living sophomore year in HS. IF your heart is into it and you work your ass off, everything will fall into place. Believe me on this one.

Best of Luck