"Recommended" coursework

[Dr panda]

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Hello guys. Could you please help me - I am nontrad and my major is Finance, but I plan to apply to med school in the future. Most medical schools and people on this forum suggest some extra coursework in addition to pre med prerequisites and usually - it is 10-15 science classes, but in order to take it you need to be either bio major or spend additional 1-2 years at school. So, I wonder - are they really that important, I am sure that genetics, microbiology, histology, etc are very helpful for physician, but do I really have to take all these classes? I plan to take only cell biology in addition to my prerequisites, because I find it interesting, don't really want to damage my GPA, since it is currently 3.8+ and upper level financial, accounting and investment classes are also hard and time consuming. Thank you.

 

[gyngyn]

So, I wonder - are they really that important, I am sure that genetics, microbiology, histology, etc are very helpful for physician, but do I really have to take all these classes? .

No.

 

[jarednogeek]

10-15 science classes on top of pre-med prerequisites? I don’t even think I did that many as a bio major. Maybe do a couple upper level sciences? Genetics is pretty cool and I’ve heard it helps.

 

[Dr panda]

No.

Thank you! Will it negatively affect my chances, since I don't have anything under my belt besides prerequisites?

 

[Dr panda]

10-15 science classes on top of pre-med prerequisites? I don’t even think I did that many as a bio major. Maybe do a couple upper level sciences? Genetics is pretty cool and I’ve heard it helps.

from Georgetown College website:

We recommend that premedical students take Biology 305-306 (Human Physiology I & II) during their sophomore or junior year. You should also take additional upper level science courses, in order to demonstrate that you can succeed in medical school coursework. The following courses are good choices for premedical students:

• BIO 214 Organismal Diversity
• BIO 260 Preceptorship in Health or Veterinary Sciences
• BIO 311 General Microbiology
• BIO 312 Pathogenic Bacteriology and Immunology
• BIO 325 Vertebrate Anatomy and Embryology
• BIO 335 Genetics and Molecular Biology
• BIO 337 Cell Biology
• BIO 421 Developmental Biology
• CHE 307 Chemistry and Cancer
• CHE 327 Medicinal Chemistry

 

[jarednogeek]

from Georgetown College website:

We recommend that premedical students take Biology 305-306 (Human Physiology I & II) during their sophomore or junior year. You should also take additional upper level science courses, in order to demonstrate that you can succeed in medical school coursework. The following courses are good choices for premedical students:

• BIO 214 Organismal Diversity
• BIO 260 Preceptorship in Health or Veterinary Sciences
• BIO 311 General Microbiology
• BIO 312 Pathogenic Bacteriology and Immunology
• BIO 325 Vertebrate Anatomy and Embryology
• BIO 335 Genetics and Molecular Biology
• BIO 337 Cell Biology
• BIO 421 Developmental Biology
• CHE 307 Chemistry and Cancer
• CHE 327 Medicinal Chemistry

I didn’t take a single one of those classes besides human physiology I, accepted to a few med schools already

 

[Dr panda]

I didn’t take a single one of those classes besides human physiology I, accepted to a few med schools already

Ok. Thank you!

 

[gyngyn]

Thank you! Will it negatively affect my chances, since I don't have anything under my belt besides prerequisites?

No.

 

[Pantsareamyth]

I did biomedical engineering (wouldn't recommend) and I other than my required pre-med/major courses I just took what interested me. I would just focus on keeping your GPA as high as humanly possible and learning your material for the MCAT.

 

[PickleRickelus]

Take the pre reqs and if you can take upper division classes, I recommend taking biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology and/or genetics.

 

[RNthenDoc]

I wish I would have taken genetics and cell molecular bio.

Ymmv, and I simply couldn’t fit it into my schedule, but if you can swing it without hurting your gpa it’s something to consider

 

[Pagan FutureDoc]

The only extra classes I’d say were needed are ones for MCAT prep or ones STRONGLY recommended by schools you are looking at

 

[raiderette]

I was a psych major. I took all the prereqs (including biochem) and did well on the MCAT. I will tell you the first couple months of med school were a bit harder, but it was all golden by the end of the first semester. If I was going to pick recommended classes, I would say genetics and microbiology.

 

[Goro]

Take the pre reqs and if you can take upper division classes, I recommend taking biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology and/or genetics.

Agree 100%.

/thread.

 

[Jubs]

I had heard from an ED physician that some medical schools rate you on a points system and taking classes that are recommended by them only increase your odds of getting in. He did graduate from med school about 8 years ago so I'm not sure if this is still valid.