Question

[FM7]

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I have a question. I looked up medical school admission requirements online, and they all seem to lay out a general set of required or recommended courses. the ones i looked at all demanded a lab with the course ex. 1 year of college biology with lab

Do colleges have general courses, and then those courses with a lab section also? I'm looking at the courses for a university and only a few seem to have the word "lab" in their description. I should probably ask someone at the school. I'm just wondering because it would be a dissapointment to find out that you couldn't apply to a medical school because you did not take enough (lab) courses. Is this something i should be concerned about/ take into consideration when choosing an undergrad university?

Thanks.

 

[DrMattOglesby]

Most every university you choose will have the option of taking science classes that involve laboratory work.
Most of the time, the set up is as follows:

3units Lecture + 1unit of Lab = 4unit Biology course.

And this type of course will also most likely have some variant of the phrase "intended for biology majors" somewhere in its description. I would just keep an eye out for those survey courses that include labs in them. They might count for your med school pre-reqs; but not quite sure if they are adequate to prepare you for the MCAT.

 

[FM7]

And this type of course will also most likely have some variant of the phrase "intended for biology majors" somewhere in its description. I would just keep an eye out for those survey courses that include labs in them. They might count for your med school pre-reqs; but not quite sure if they are adequate to prepare you for the MCAT.

Sorry, but what do you mean by survey courses and how would they not prepare you for the MCAT?

 

[DrMattOglesby]

survey courses are very similar to what you might have seen in high school if you took a series referred to as "College Preparatory." These classes were one step down from the Honors, and Advanced Placement courses...but above the standard grade level courses that only taught the minimum and didn't demand much of the students.

anyhow, talk to your school counselor...or better yet, premeds at the college youre considering--then ask them which science courses all the premeds take.

oh...and as far as being prepared for the MCAT; its hard to even be prepared by simply taking the regular premed stuff--you have to study hard for the test (i learned that the hard way). The normal premed classes will give you the tools to study hard, as well as a more elaborate background knowledge that will enable you to pick up on topics and concepts a little quicker.

 

[Algophiliac]

Is it okay if at your college, only the second semester of a year of biology involves lab? For example, biology 1 is in first semester, biology 2 in second semester, and biology lab in second semester at the same time as biology 2. Does this qualify as a year of biology + lab, even though the lab was only half a year? 😛 I hope that made sense.

 

[DrMattOglesby]

that should be fine algo.
because technically you could both classes of any of the series into one semester (with permission from the department) and finish ALL your pre-reqs in half of an academic year. It is SUPER unlikely, but the point is that you don't have to follow the same timeline that AMCAS uses interchangeably with credit hours.

For instance, I completed "a year of organic chemistry" over the span of one summer. I wasn't exactly the happiest of people...but I got it done lol

oh and I also want to ask how those bio labs would appear on the transcript--because it will make a big difference how the AMCAS admins interpret that information. It'd be optimal to have two separate labs listed (for 1credit a piece) as opposed to 1 lab listed at 2 credits.

 

[RySerr21]

Most every university you choose will have the option of taking science classes that involve laboratory work.
Most of the time, the set up is as follows:

3units Lecture + 1unit of Lab = 4unit Biology course.

And this type of course will also most likely have some variant of the phrase "intended for biology majors" somewhere in its description. I would just keep an eye out for those survey courses that include labs in them. They might count for your med school pre-reqs; but not quite sure if they are adequate to prepare you for the MCAT.

just one little thing so no one freaks out in the future........ while some schools do break up lecture and lab into 3 units and 1 unit, respectively, other schools do not. For example at my school a biology course is 4 units, and altho you sign up for the lab, you dont get a credit for it. So on your transcript its not going to say "biology lab" or anything like that. People freak out b/c how are the med schools supposed to know you took a lab?? Well, when you write down your courses you just say "Ochem1 with lab" or "Zoology with lab." So, dont freak out if your school doesnt do the 3/1 system or whatever. It will all work out.

 

[Algophiliac]

that should be fine algo.
because technically you could both classes of any of the series into one semester (with permission from the department) and finish ALL your pre-reqs in half of an academic year. It is SUPER unlikely, but the point is that you don't have to follow the same timeline that AMCAS uses interchangeably with credit hours.

For instance, I completed "a year of organic chemistry" over the span of one summer. I wasn't exactly the happiest of people...but I got it done lol

oh and I also want to ask how those bio labs would appear on the transcript--because it will make a big difference how the AMCAS admins interpret that information. It'd be optimal to have two separate labs listed (for 1credit a piece) as opposed to 1 lab listed at 2 credits.

I am not certain, but I believe only one lab will be listed, and only for that second semester, as this is how the schedule is laid out. It seems odd that all of the biology labs will be crammed into one semester, but if AMCAS doesn't mind, I should be fine?

 

[DrMattOglesby]

I am assuming youd be okay...refer to Ryser's post for some good info too. Labs don't HAVE TO be separate from the class itself. Your app services will question whether or not a lab was included when you took the course.
I have never seen a situation like the one you might enter, so you might want to talk someone a bit more knowledgeable. Perhaps the professors themselves and check if other premeds have done something similar.