Question about the Basic Requirements and Recommended courses

[amoxicillin]

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Now some schools say they want the requirements of 8 hours of bio, 8 of chem, 8 of physics, and 8 of orgo. HOWEVER, some say it is recommended that other courses such as biochemsitry, microbiology, and anatomy are also taken if possible. WHICH IS IT.

I have taken 8 hours of bio, 8 of chem, 8 of physics, and 8 of orgo and 4 of biochemistry. Do I need to take more courses or what?

I am looking at LECOM, NYCOM, PCOM, UNECOM, and NSUCOM. I am submitting my aacom application in a week -- should I go out of my way to squeeze in a course or two before the fall interviews and then send my updated transcripts?

I am still waiting to hear back from NYCOM and UMDNJ from the last application cycle as well.

IF anybody has gotten into these schools w/ no problem please let me know. I also had a 25 mcat from april of '03 but took the '04 mcat as well. and im worried if i didn't do as well if i need to take it in august i'll be screwed cause i'll be taking courses. what should i seriously do?

 

[OnMyWayThere]

I think you should relax first.

Second, if you have time for the other classes, go ahead and take them. They recommend them because they will help in the first year of medical school. If you don't have time, then don't bother taking them.. many don't.

I highly doubt that taking any of those classes will make you or break you in gaining acceptance (unless you have poor pre-req grades). It's more for preparation.

 

[AspiringDoctor9]

I think you should relax first.

Second, if you have time for the other classes, go ahead and take them. They recommend them because they will help in the first year of medical school. If you don't have time, then don't bother taking them.. many don't.

I highly doubt that taking any of those classes will make you or break you in gaining acceptance (unless you have poor pre-req grades). It's more for preparation.

What GPA would you consider "poor pre-req grades"?

 

[HNS]

Another question is what type of clinical experience you have. I know that my clinical background helped me secure a seat.

 

[(nicedream)]

As the other posters have said, we need to know about your gpa and clinical experience to make any judgement on whether it would be in your best interests to take more science classes. Also, you can plan on taking those courses next year, and indicate that on your AACOMAS.

 

[amoxicillin]

I graduated w/ a 3.9 gpa -- was a business major but finished up my science pre-reqs along the way.
8 hours of bio = 2 A's
8 hours of chem = 1 A, 1 A-
6 hours of Orgo class = 2 A's
3 hours of Orgo lab = A-
8 hours of Physics = 2 A's
4 hours of Biochem = A

I had a 25 mcat in April of '03 and re-took the mcat this past April -- but didn't feel i did better on it -- sadly.

Have some research, 1 publication, volunteered at local hospital, spent about 50 hours watching surgery one in summer of '02. Currently working in the tumor registry of local hospital since jan of 04.

DO i need more classes? Anything else? If so, which courses.

THANKS!!!!!!

 

[Prozach]

Quite frankly, I don't think more classes would help any. You have a very strong GPA, and the only thing more classes would really do is 'beat a dead horse,' so to speak, by making your GPA incrementally stronger, which isn't needed. If I were you, I would just relax for a while. Or, if you really wanted to blow the doors off of a school, take a year and travel abroad with the Peace Corps or another organization, study, Retake the MCAT (do really well) and reapply next application cycle. Then you would have an almost perfect application. But honestly, I don't see you not getting into an osteopathic school w/ your stats. If you wanted to apply to an allopathic school, you would certainly need to improve your MCAT.

 

[amoxicillin]

I did retake the mcat this april and I am planning to apply this spring/summer for the fall of 2005 -- if I was a bit younger I would volunteer for a year.

 

[OnMyWayThere]

You really need not take any additional classes unless you want to. Your grades are great. Good luck.

 

[flighterdoc]

I graduated w/ a 3.9 gpa -- was a business major but finished up my science pre-reqs along the way.
8 hours of bio = 2 A's
8 hours of chem = 1 A, 1 A-
6 hours of Orgo class = 2 A's
3 hours of Orgo lab = A-
8 hours of Physics = 2 A's
4 hours of Biochem = A

I had a 25 mcat in April of '03 and re-took the mcat this past April -- but didn't feel i did better on it -- sadly.

Have some research, 1 publication, volunteered at local hospital, spent about 50 hours watching surgery one in summer of '02. Currently working in the tumor registry of local hospital since jan of 04.

DO i need more classes? Anything else? If so, which courses.

THANKS!!!!!!

Man, you're definitely competitive as it is now. More good grades aren't going to help you a bit, and a 25 MCAT with a 3.9 or better science isn't going to be that significant. Start applying.