Questions about requirements

[imash]

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Questions about certain requirements:

My school only offers 1 semester of gen chem. For the second semester requirement, my advisor said to take biochem, which does not have a lab component. Would this be ok for med schools?

Also, I have to take calcII and I was wondering how it would look if I took it pass/fail? Math is really not my thing and I'm worried about it messing up my GPA. Most of my friends had AP credit for calc anyways, so do med schools need to see a grade?

Thanks!

 

[Catalystik]

I've never seen it written that Biochem can substitute for Gen Chem, though for many schools it can replace OChem II. Are there students accepted to med school in your department you could discuss this with and see if that approach worked for them? I'm leary of this, especially as there's no lab component.

I think it would be generally more acceptable to substitute a semester of PChem, which is a killer course, so that would not be my first choice. As an alternative, if I were you, I'd take Gen Chem II at a community college over the summer.

For most schools, AP Calc credit is sufficient. Some don't accept it. There are a few that expect you to supplement with a higher level course in the series for credit. Here is a list: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~nss/nav/pages/school/Med School Course Reqs/MedSchAP08.pdf

 

[NickNaylor]

That's strange... why doesn't your institution offer a second semester? Are there no other courses that are somewhat similar?

If not, this might be something you can explain on your application. Obviously if you can take biochem you can pass the second semester of gen chem.

 

[RevMD]

Taking pass/fail for any major pre-req course med school will not look good on the application because they want to be able to gauge your academic ability across all subjects. I suggest just swallow the pill and take calc II like it is. Also, I am sure you have a lot credit hours left to take before applying, so it should more than make up for any minor hit in gpa if you worse than expected.

 

[LuciusVorenus]

Easy fix!
Just take another semester of gen chem with lab at a community college. If they ask, you have a really good reason 🙂

DEFINITELY don't take calc as p/np though. You're just going to have to take your chances.

 

[alexlex143]

well. I think the requirements for all schools is one whole year of general chemistry with lab. some schools strongly recommend taking biochemistry like on the side, after the general chemistry requirement. I doubt you could substitute, but you never know. you should email the schools you're interested and ask them.

and I took Calc III for cr/nc before I decided to pursue medicine. I should probably retake that for a grade then if it's not good. Dammit -_-

 

[imash]

Technically, my school does offer two semesters, and the course that I took was genchem II. Because I took AP chem, I was automatically placed into genchemII because genchem I was too basic. But now I'm out a requirement! And we can't get retroactive credit for genchem I.

If I was to take chem at another college, should I take chem I? because I've already taken chemII? Or do I have to take a higher level like PChem? 😛

For calc II, maybe I'll take it for a grade but I'll wait to take it as a senior so if it doesn't go well, my GPA won't be affected before I apply? I've finished all my other requirements so I can just write on AMCAS that I plan on taking calc II later right?

Thanks so much!!

 

[Catalystik]

I'd (re)take the Chem I and get an easy A, as opposed to PChem.

 

[LuciusVorenus]

Technically, my school does offer two semesters, and the course that I took was genchem II. Because I took AP chem, I was automatically placed into genchemII because genchem I was too basic. But now I'm out a requirement! And we can't get retroactive credit for genchem I.

If I was to take chem at another college, should I take chem I? because I've already taken chemII? Or do I have to take a higher level like PChem? 😛

For calc II, maybe I'll take it for a grade but I'll wait to take it as a senior so if it doesn't go well, my GPA won't be affected before I apply? I've finished all my other requirements so I can just write on AMCAS that I plan on taking calc II later right?

Thanks so much!!

I'm pretty sure the requirement is for 1 year of GENERAL chemistry so I don't think you can substitute pchem for it. I guess your only choice is to take chem 1 somewhere else? To fix this problem some schools offer Honors courses that you can take even if you passed the ap test. Can you take honors chem 1 at your college or something?

 

[Alwaysbehopeful]

Questions about certain requirements:

My school only offers 1 semester of gen chem. For the second semester requirement, my advisor said to take biochem, which does not have a lab component. Would this be ok for med schools?

Also, I have to take calcII and I was wondering how it would look if I took it pass/fail? Math is really not my thing and I'm worried about it messing up my GPA. Most of my friends had AP credit for calc anyways, so do med schools need to see a grade?

Thanks!

Okay so do you go to Berkeley? Because we have the same set up, most pre-meds here take only 1 semester of G Chem with lab and then a semester of Biochem w/o lab. When I was applying I was worried but ALL US Allo schools know of this and will except it. If you need further proof, you can ask the career center to write a letter for you.

The only schools where this doesn't fly is DO schools! But if you school traditionally has this path for pre-meds than medical schools will know because you can't be the only one. So don't worry! No need to take any extra classes just make sure that this is a traditional path at your school in terms of Chemistry class 🙂