Question about taking summer courses

[Dr. Kitten]

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Hi all!

I have a few questions about taking summer courses. Let me preface my question by saying, yes, I know that med school prerequisites should always be taken at the most rigorous institution you are admitted to.

I attend a top 20 undergraduate school, am a rising sophomore and will be home for the summer. We have great professors/class sizes and I love the curriculum. I am, however, nervous about taking organic chemistry and physics next year. My high school did a poor job of preparing me for college courses (bleh) and I have been brain storming ways to prepare for these classes. I plan on being EMT certified at my local community college so that I can apply to be part of the EMS program at my school next semester. The community college is well funded, and it would not be difficult for me to take additional courses there. I am considering taking either organic chemistry 1 or 1 & 2 and either physics 1 or 1 & 2. I would take these classes with the intention of retaking them at my undergraduate institution (they could not transfer). My purpose for taking the classes would be to have a taste of the material in a college environment where I am still held accountable for my course work, but do not have the pressure of taking them for the first time at my (pretty darn difficult) school.

My questions for you fine people are: would undergraduate course work at an institution other than the one I am graduating from be considered in my AMCAS/TMDSAS applications? Would it be frowned upon by medical schools to take these courses at an easier institution in order to prepare myself? And, finally, do you have any suggestions as to how I could alternatively prepare myself?

 

[hoihaie]

It will be considered, and no, not frowned upon.

 

[deleted577188]

Any course taken from any college you attend will be considered by medical schools. Why wouldn't the credit transfer or be accepted into your degree reqs by your Uni? That's weird..

 

[Dr. Kitten]

Any course taken from any college you attend will be considered by medical schools. Why wouldn't the credit transfer or be accepted into your degree reqs by your Uni? That's weird..

Any transfer/equivalence credit must be taken at another four year institution 🙂

 

[BrawnsNBrain]

I slacked, and I mean slacked through HS. I studied for exams in classes the hour before (in another class), and cared less about my senior year (I had some serious senioritis and had way too much fun). Nevertheless, I thought I was ill prepared for the science classes at my undergrad college, but it turns out I did just fine. Don't unnecessarily psych yourself out, but if you do feel psyched out then pick up an MCAT chemistry/orgo book, because those books give you simplified explanations which will prep you well for your science courses.