Pre-reqs...any flexibility?

[coincidental]

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Hi everyone,

So I was filling out the GWU secondary, merrily entering my name and reassuring them that I've never been convicted of a crime, when I got to the table of classes that fulfill the pre-reqs. I launched into that, and everything was fine until I got to the English section. At that point, I realized that technically, I only have three credits of English. I think.

Typically at my university, everyone is required to take a three credit Freshman composition class. But the engineers are given an option of placing out of the class via a proficiency test. I took the test, placed out and never thought about it again. On my AMCAS, I entered it as "Writing I Exempt." But...on my transcript (and on AMCAS) it says 0.0 credits. So technically, I think it looks like I have only three credits of English and one 0 credit exemption.

What should I do? I still have my senior year and some free time, but being an engineer, I was really looking forward to taking some fun classes...you know, all those classes that aren't engineering classes. Like, history and polysci and languages. Spending my rare elective on an English class doesn't really thrill me. But, it's better than being disqualified from a med school.

Oh yeah, I got an M on the writing section of the MCAT too. 11s in everything else, and my personal statement was well written (I think). I've read the threads saying the writing section doesn't matter, but I'm wondering if there's some kind of cummulative effect that I should take into consideration.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[efex101]

Well some schools will not care others will NOT let you matriculate until the pre-reqs are completed even stuff liken english. Call the schools and ask them.

 

[principessa]

This seems to be the most flexible pre-req of all. Usually they will say something like, "English Composition, or another class involving lots of writing." So if you've only had one semester of English, just take a fun class where you'll do lots of writing. Besides, I don't think med schools care about you finishing all the pre-reqs before you apply. I mean, you want to be done with the majority so they can see your grades, but if there's something that you thought you had but they won't accept it, you can ask them after you're accepted and you can take it over the summer before you start. Or maybe you'll just pick a school that will accept what you've got.

 

[jlee9531]

all my schools were pretty strict.
just get year of english fulfilled and dont stress over it later on.

 

[coincidental]

This seems to be the most flexible pre-req of all. Usually they will say something like, "English Composition, or another class involving lots of writing." So if you've only had one semester of English, just take a fun class where you'll do lots of writing. Besides, I don't think med schools care about you finishing all the pre-reqs before you apply. I mean, you want to be done with the majority so they can see your grades, but if there's something that you thought you had but they won't accept it, you can ask them after you're accepted and you can take it over the summer before you start. Or maybe you'll just pick a school that will accept what you've got.

hmmm...I've done a couple of history classes that were entirely based on lecture and then 10-15 page papers. I just hesitate to throw one of those in, because they clearly are not English classes.

I think the writing/calling the schools thing is a good idea. I checked and about half my list wants "a year of English" or "6 credit-hours." So, I guess I'll see what they say. I'm just glad I started this early, I guess.

 

[Code Brown]

Hi everyone,

So I was filling out the GWU secondary, merrily entering my name and reassuring them that I've never been convicted of a crime, when I got to the table of classes that fulfill the pre-reqs. I launched into that, and everything was fine until I got to the English section. At that point, I realized that technically, I only have three credits of English. I think.

Typically at my university, everyone is required to take a three credit Freshman composition class. But the engineers are given an option of placing out of the class via a proficiency test. I took the test, placed out and never thought about it again. On my AMCAS, I entered it as "Writing I Exempt." But...on my transcript (and on AMCAS) it says 0.0 credits. So technically, I think it looks like I have only three credits of English and one 0 credit exemption.

What should I do? I still have my senior year and some free time, but being an engineer, I was really looking forward to taking some fun classes...you know, all those classes that aren't engineering classes. Like, history and polysci and languages. Spending my rare elective on an English class doesn't really thrill me. But, it's better than being disqualified from a med school.

Oh yeah, I got an M on the writing section of the MCAT too. 11s in everything else, and my personal statement was well written (I think). I've read the threads saying the writing section doesn't matter, but I'm wondering if there's some kind of cummulative effect that I should take into consideration.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I was in the same boat. Since you want to take some fun classes and still qualify, take an intro to literature class (only take the lower level class where everyone is new to the subject). They can be pretty good, as long as the class isn't too large (30-40 people). They also tend to be pretty easy, but make sure the focus of your particular professor is the short story or the novel. If you look through MSAR, most schools say 1 year of english/literature. Good luck.

 

[TheRussian]

The key to an English class is not just that you do a lot of writing but that you are learning to write as well. What this means is that you get a chance to rewrite your paper after you turn it in. The class doesn't have to be in the English department so long as you write a decent amount and you have an opportunity to rewrite your papers. I didn't have a single class in the english department and there was no problem with my requirements. I took a class on Victorianism and Intro to Philosophy.

 

[joy77]

Hi coincidental -- I e-mailed GW a question regarding the English requirement, and the Admissions Office replied:

"We do require six semester hours of English. All coursework taught in the English Department such as writing composition, creative writing, and literature fulfill our requirements. Courses in mythology, religion, philosophy, and poetry also fulfill our English Requirement. Additionally, AP credits and advanced coursework in a foreign language can be used for our English Requirement. We do not accept Basic English as a Foreign Langauge, Computer Science, Film or Speech Classes for the English Requirement."

Hope that helps!

 

[coincidental]

Hi coincidental -- I e-mailed GW a question regarding the English requirement, and the Admissions Office replied:

"We do require six semester hours of English. All coursework taught in the English Department such as writing composition, creative writing, and literature fulfill our requirements. Courses in mythology, religion, philosophy, and poetry also fulfill our English Requirement. Additionally, AP credits and advanced coursework in a foreign language can be used for our English Requirement. We do not accept Basic English as a Foreign Langauge, Computer Science, Film or Speech Classes for the English Requirement."

Hope that helps!

wow. that does indeed help. One of my history classes was cross-registered as a religion class (go far enough back and the majority of the history that survived came from the church), so that's good to know.

I'm kinda boggling over the Computer Science part though....I wonder who tried to weasel that one in...