Premium Classes...Worth the Risk ?

[ChemistryMike]

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My premed advisor has told me there is a list of classes considered to be premium classes by med school admissions people. They include the following:

Analytical Chem,
P-Chem;
More than one semester of Biochem;
Calc II and III;
Calc Based Physics;

I have to decide very soon which classes to take next semester. I should take Analytical Chem because it is a premium class and at my school it is now for the first time being enforced as a prereq for Bio Chem. The problem is Analytical Chem is DAMN hard. The upside is it considered a premium class so if I get an A it will be impressive. If I get a C- I am toast.

What do you guys think ? Are the premium classes worth the risk ?

 

[Arsenic]

My premed advisor has told me there is a list of classes considered to be premium classes by med school admissions people. They include the following:

Analytical Chem,
P-Chem;
More than one semester of Biochem;
Calc II and III;
Calc Based Physics;

I have to decide very soon which classes to take next semester. I should take Analytical Chem because it is a premium class and at my school it is now for the first time being enforced as a prereq for Bio Chem. The problem is Analytical Chem is DAMN hard. The upside is it considered a premium class so if I get an A it will be impressive. If I get a C- I am toast.

What do you guys think ? Are the premium classes worth the risk ?

Aren't you a chemistry major though? For my Chem BA I had to take all those classes except Calc 3. Don't be afraid to take them, just work hard and ask questions when your lost.

 

[ChemistryMike]

My name ChemistryMike has been taken with a deep sense of sarcasm ! I am not a chem major.

 

[mercaptovizadeh]

My name ChemistryMike has been taken with a deep sense of sarcasm ! I am not a chem major.

Analytical chem is being increasingly phased out of the more elitist circles of academia. I don't know if that reflects anyhow on how they would view such a course. Certainly not as a negative thing, but it might be better to take something a bit more impressive, like the p-chem. The general trend right now is towards "more theoretical subjects."

Similarly, if you are a bio major, it is probably a bit better to go down the molecular/cytological/biochemical or the genetic/developmental path, rather than the evolution/ecology/behavior path, which is quite a bit off of premedical science.

Calculus is an extremely useful subject.

Physics is too, if you know how to apply it to biomedical work, but that usually requires greater coursework and/or expertise.

 

[Arsenic]

My name ChemistryMike has been taken with a deep sense of sarcasm ! I am not a chem major.

Sorry... there are ppl in my class who didnt take any Biochem or upper level science and still got into med school so dont worry.

It'd be nice if you could take most of those classes before med school and especially before the MCAT but.... not necessary. It all depends on the schools you apply to though, some have tighter requirements than others.

 

[PM1981]

I would probably take at least one or two premium classes to show dedication and to make your application stand out among others. Work hard on earning A's though. I took Biochem 2 and adv. biochem and got an A in both with a little hard work. I went to an easy school though...

 

[drguy22]

i took calc 2 (B+) and calc 3 (B).......no the best grades but i still got into med skool...

 

[blump]

i took calc 2 (B+) and calc 3 (B).......no the best grades but i still got into med skool...

Honestly, I would not take any premium classes at all, why risk it? If you are interested in them, then you should def go ahead and take it but if the sole reason is to impress medical schools, then you should def NOT take it. Take it from someone who is accepted to med school and took one biochem class (no other premium classes), it is better to do very well in a "non-premium" class than take the risk. Just my thoughts...why kill yourself, you will have plenty of time to do that later on...