Pre-Med vs. Med School

[Alma1989]

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Next year will be my last year before applying to med school (Summer 2016), after which I intend to take a gap year to work before med school. The problem is is that my adviser overstocked my last year full of electives, possibly to help me with similar classes in med school. I'd rather use the last year to conduct research or other clinical activities and am wondering what would be okay to simply not take in undergraduate at all.

*= Cannot remove from schedule, required by major

Fall
Biochemistry II*
Microbiology*
Geology*
Non-molecular genetics

Spring
Evolution*
Histology
Immunology
Anatomy

I'm not worried about handling the workload (I've maintained a 3.9 science so far with similar semesters structured like this), but I'd rather indulge in other medical/research opportunities if possible.

 

[radkat101]

The only class on that list that MIGHT be worth keeping is Anatomy. Even that you could study on your own for FREE if you really felt like you wanted it for med school.

Could you just take evolution in the fall and be done? Keep the GPA up and don't trust advisors. Research and clinical activities sound good.

 

[Alma1989]

The only class on that list that MIGHT be worth keeping is Anatomy. Even that you could study on your own for FREE if you really felt like you wanted it for med school.

Could you just take evolution in the fall and be done? Keep the GPA up and don't trust advisors. Research and clinical activities sound good.

Thanks! That and Immunology were the ones I was thinking. Immunology, at my school, requires a prerequisite of Microbiology and Non-molecular genetics. And, no, I can't move Evolution, because it's only offered in Spring.

Btw, if any of you are questioning why Geology (specifically it's a fossil class) is on Pre-Med course list, it's one of those "Choose from A, B, C, and D" type lists, and one of them has to be an earth science.

 

[ConfusedChemist]

are you only taking 4 classes/term instead of 5? I feel like that alone is easy enough to do some research on the side with

 

[Alma1989]

are you only taking 4 classes/term instead of 5? I feel like that alone is easy enough to do some research on the side with

Right now, no: Animal Phys, Molecular Genetics, Physics II, Ochem Lab, and Sociology 101. That adds up to 15 credits (out of the maximum 19 in my school).

I already disagree with your statement, but you through the word "easy" in there. 😵

All classes are not created equal. Imagine having 5 Psychology classes. Or 5 Liberal arts classes. That is wayyyy not the same as having 5 or even 4 science classes. Imagine a semester where you Ochem, Molecular Genetics, Physics, and Immunology. Half of those classes by themselves would be a murderous amount of memorization.

 

[Goro]

Anatomy >>> Immunology > Histology

 

[MightBeACylon439]

I think taking anatomy and Histo at the same time will be good as they will reinforce each other.

I think you should take all of those classes, maybe not geology. You don't NEED them as they will be taught in med school, but you will be thankful to have a foundation in these subjects once med school roles around. That way a lot of it will just be review and adding to pre-existing knowledge instead of having to learn it ALL from the ground up.

 

[Alma1989]

I think taking anatomy and Histo at the same time will be good as they will reinforce each other.

I think you should take all of those classes, maybe not geology. You don't NEED them as they will be taught in med school, but you will be thankful to have a foundation in these subjects once med school roles around. That way a lot of it will just be review and adding to pre-existing knowledge instead of having to learn it ALL from the ground up.

Got it. And * means, I need it for my degree, so geology stays unfortunately.

 

[Mad Jack]

Anatomy will help a bit with orientation and make your transition slightly easier, but truthfully the level of anatomy covered in a typical undergraduate course barely even scrapes the surface of medical school anatomy. The abbreviated study guide from my next exam is 103 pages long, to give you an idea.

 

[MightBeACylon439]

Got it. And * means, I need it for my degree, so geology stays unfortunately.

Totally missed that! Unfortunately Goro is on this thread, and that will only give him more evidence that pre-meds need to hone in their reading skills.

Well, at least you'll be able to tell everyone at med school about how cool rocks are...

 

[Alma1989]

Anatomy will help a bit with orientation and make your transition slightly easier, but truthfully the level of anatomy covered in a typical undergraduate course barely even scrapes the surface of medical school anatomy. The abbreviated study guide from my next exam is 103 pages long, to give you an idea.

Heh, heh. "Abbreviated."

 

[ConfusedChemist]

Right now, no: Animal Phys, Molecular Genetics, Physics II, Ochem Lab, and Sociology 101. That adds up to 15 credits (out of the maximum 19 in my school).

I already disagree with your statement, but you through the word "easy" in there. 😵

All classes are not created equal. Imagine having 5 Psychology classes. Or 5 Liberal arts classes. That is wayyyy not the same as having 5 or even 4 science classes. Imagine a semester where you Ochem, Molecular Genetics, Physics, and Immunology. Half of those classes by themselves would be a murderous amount of memorization.

My current semester:
graduate level virology
3rd year microbiology, organic chemistry, bioinformatics, and 2nd yr pharmacology

11/12 weeks in and I;m still alive, working a part time job, volunteering, and pulling a 4.0
Also I'm not very smart
It is a murderous amount of memorization, but just time managment and its ok

Bonus is my 4th year will be nice and light

 

[Alma1989]

My current semester:
graduate level virology
3rd year microbiology, organic chemistry, bioinformatics, and 2nd yr pharmacology

11/12 weeks in and I;m still alive, working a part time job, volunteering, and pulling a 4.0
Also I'm not very smart
It is a murderous amount of memorization, but just time managment and its ok

Bonus is my 4th year will be nice and light

Yeah, hats of to ya, that's impressive. But, I still would caution about saying what is a light or heavy course load for someone. It's all relative. A year ago, I have Intro Bio I, Gen Chem I, Calculus, (each of them had a lab) and English 101, and I thought that was a crazy, but now it doesn't seem so bad now.

 

[ConfusedChemist]

Yeah, hats of to ya, that's impressive. But, I still would caution about saying what is a light or heavy course load for someone. It's all relative. A year ago, I have Intro Bio I, Gen Chem I, Calculus, (each of them had a lab) and English 101, and I thought that was a crazy, but now it doesn't seem so bad now.

that much is true, I did this so I could take english100 during the summer because that'll be harder on me then phys chem 😛

 

[heeeeeee]

@Alma1989 Can you tell what classes you took for the 2015?


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[Alma1989]

@Alma1989 Can you tell what classes you took for the 2015?


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Are you asking What classes did I take my last year?

 

[heeeeeee]

Are you asking What classes did I take my last year?

Yes! I want to know what classes you took last year. I'm not bio major but I think I have to take some bio class besides general biology classes. And did you only take basic psychology like psy101? Or upper division psychology class too?? Should I take upper division psychology class to meet requirements?


Thank you!


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