Question about pre-med requirements?

[xroc]

My question is this: Do you have to complete all your pre-med requirements prior to applying medical school? I know you need to finish a bachelor's degree before starting medical school, but I'm not sure on whether all the pre-med requirements must be done by the time you apply or whether you have to get them done by the time you start med school (if you are accepted, of course).

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[kduck]

Generally they just have to be done by the time you matriculate - you can leave a couple unfinished while applying.

 

[Tin Man]

My question is this: Do you have to complete all your pre-med requirements prior to applying medical school? I know you need to finish a bachelor's degree before starting medical school, but I'm not sure on whether all the pre-med requirements must be done by the time you apply or whether you have to get them done by the time you start med school (if you are accepted, of course).

You're going to struggle on the MCAT if you don't have those classes done, and the MCAT is needed prior to application. Do you have a reason for attempting the MCAT before having completed the pre-reqs?

 

[blizzah]

You're going to struggle on the MCAT if you don't have those classes done, and the MCAT is needed prior to application. Do you have a reason for attempting the MCAT before having completed the pre-reqs?

Xroc, don't worry about pre-req. It is advisable you don't leave too many to finish that last year though.

Tin Man, it is debatable how important english or Ochem2 are to the MCAT.

 

[Victory4Zim]

My question is this: Do you have to complete all your pre-med requirements prior to applying medical school? I know you need to finish a bachelor's degree before starting medical school, but I'm not sure on whether all the pre-med requirements must be done by the time you apply or whether you have to get them done by the time you start med school (if you are accepted, of course).

No. It is recommended to complete the pre-reqs beforehand though because they're necessary for the MCAT. Which ones specifically do you think you won't be able to complete?

 

[kduck]

Ok, it depends what you mean by pre-req - I guess I should have been more specific.

Obviously, the science classes tested on the MCAT (gen bio, gen chem, orgo, physics) must be done by the time you apply, or else you probably failed the MCAT.
However, certain other schools require odd things. For example, UIC requires 2 classes taken in psychology, sociology, or anthropology. Those classes have to be done by matriculation, not by the time of application. You might also leave an English or math requirement until your senior year.

Personally, I am not taking biochem until the spring, but I have been accepted at a school that requires it. So you don't have to finish everything. 🙂

 

[fizzgig]

school specific requirements may vary. i believe vandy says prereqs must be done by fall of the year you apply, but that's the only school i can think of that doesn't go by the 'anytime before you matriculate' rule.

 

[Tin Man]

Xroc, don't worry about pre-req. It is advisable you don't leave too many to finish that last year though.

Tin Man, it is debatable how important english or Ochem2 are to the MCAT.

It's not debatable that you need English to do well. Perhaps you don't need the class, but since English and composition skills make up 50% of the testing material, and you only need a class or two to prepare, then there's no reason to avoid it.

And Ochem may or may not be a huge part of the MCAT, but it's not so much debatable as it is unpredictable. My MCAT was Ochem heavy. Unless someone has an inside scoop as to what's going to be tested, then trying to take the MCAT without having completed the standard, universal pre-reqs is not a risk worth taking.

 

[vnicolas]

I am going to take my mcat w/o orgo lab

 

[blizzah]

It's not debatable that you need English to do well. Perhaps you don't need the class, but since English and composition skills make up 50% of the testing material, and you only need a class or two to prepare, then there's no reason to avoid it.

And Ochem may or may not be a huge part of the MCAT, but it's not so much debatable as it is unpredictable. My MCAT was Ochem heavy. Unless someone has an inside scoop as to what's going to be tested, then trying to take the MCAT without having completed the standard, universal pre-reqs is not a risk worth taking.

Nothing you learn in ENG100 or any other english for that matter will help you on the MCAT verbal. Unless your english classes were multiple choice?

I took the MCAT without english, phys chem 2, biochem or any physiology. Did I do great? No. But it is certainly possible to do well since you will be studying with some sort of prep material anyways

 

[Tin Man]

I am not familiar with any prep course that teaches you material from scratch. They all run through an abridged version of the classes.