Retake a Bio class from 15 years ago or take a higher level one?

[Predocmom]

Hi fellow non-traditional applicant,

I have Gen Bio I and II from ungrad like 15 years ago. I got A- and B and I don't want to ruin the grades by retaking the classes again. I have a choice to sit in the Bio lectures (though not the lab) just to refresh my memory on Bio matters, then take one or two higher level Bio classes, like genetics or microbiology or anatomy because I hear that committees like to see hard bio classes. Or should I retake the class if the committee probably will like to see non-traditional students who have grades from long time ago retake the classes with labs?

What's your take/experience?

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[mspeedwagon]

I had to make a similar choice and decided to take biochemistry and cell biology instead. The thought of sitting in an intro to bio class was enough for me to decide against it. From what I have seen on the MCAT a combination of upper level courses should work equally well.

Hi fellow non-traditional applicant,

I have Gen Bio I and II from ungrad like 15 years ago. I got A- and B and I don't want to ruin the grades by retaking the classes again. I have a choice to sit in the Bio lectures (though not the lab) just to refresh my memory on Bio matters, then take one or two higher level Bio classes, like genetics or microbiology or anatomy because I hear that committees like to see hard bio classes. Or should I retake the class if the committee probably will like to see non-traditional students who have grades from long time ago retake the classes with labs?

What's your take/experience?

 

[kidkay]

Most schools require applicants to retake science/math courses if the courses are more than five years old. Also, take the upper level bio courses you mentioned. Good luck! 👍

Hi fellow non-traditional applicant,

I have Gen Bio I and II from ungrad like 15 years ago. I got A- and B and I don't want to ruin the grades by retaking the classes again. I have a choice to sit in the Bio lectures (though not the lab) just to refresh my memory on Bio matters, then take one or two higher level Bio classes, like genetics or microbiology or anatomy because I hear that committees like to see hard bio classes. Or should I retake the class if the committee probably will like to see non-traditional students who have grades from long time ago retake the classes with labs?

What's your take/experience?

 

[ruraldr]

I too had bio course work that was nearly 15 years old and chose not to repeat. I did take a biochem class and anatomy class as part of my post-bacc work.

No schools questioned this in my application cycle (and I applied to quite a few). I'd just make sure the schools you are planning on applying to are okay with older coursework counting for your prereqs.

Rural

 

[DrMidlife]

Most schools require applicants to retake science/math courses if the courses are more than five years old. Also, take the upper level bio courses you mentioned. Good luck! 👍

Incorrect. Occasionally there is a confirmed rumor of prereq expiration, such as UMass. And UMass' requirement is 6 years. Most schools do not state a prereq expiration limit, and if they do, they consider your MCAT score and recent upper div science coursework as mitigation.

Search this forum for "expire" or "expir" to find other examples. I think I've seen a total of 3 schools named that expire prereqs. For best results, read admission department FAQs for the schools to which you'll apply.

 

[mspeedwagon]

This is indeed the case, and even for most of these they will allow you to take these classes prior to matriculation. If this becomes the case I'd suggest enrolling at a community college and taking intro to bio before matriculation.

Incorrect. Occasionally there is a confirmed rumor of prereq expiration, such as UMass. And UMass' requirement is 6 years. Most schools do not state a prereq expiration limit, and if they do, they consider your MCAT score and recent upper div science coursework as mitigation.

Search this forum for "expire" or "expir" to find other examples. I think I've seen a total of 3 schools named that expire prereqs. For best results, read admission department FAQs for the schools to which you'll apply.

 

[DrMidlife]

Even UMass looks like it takes upper div coursework instead of retaking prereqs: http://www.umassmed.edu/som/admissions/requirements.aspx. This is what they call for with CLEP/AP coursework.

This is indeed the case, and even for most of these they will allow you to take these classes prior to matriculation. If this becomes the case I'd suggest enrolling at a community college and taking intro to bio before matriculation.

I personally would view it as a disaster to have to take an unplanned class between getting accepted and matriculating. Acceptances come up until the day school starts.

If you have old prereqs, assume you need fresh coursework (upper div scie) and a solid MCAT score, and also assume you may need to work with your school to stay in the clear.

If you haven't finished the prereqs, assume you have until matriculation to complete them.

 

[mspeedwagon]

I agree fully. Look over the schools pre-reqs, plan for it, but I wouldn't kill myself to take a class that might only be needed at one school.

For example, there is one school I'm interested in that requires genetics, which I will not have taken before applying (not my top choice, but up there). If I get in there, I'd take this over the summer before matriculating (I have the school where I'd take genetics planned out so I know it is offered over the summer, I know I can free up my schedule to allow it etc.). I'd have to go to great degree of pain to get it in prior to that (pain versus benefit makes it not worth it for me to rush).

I personally would view it as a disaster to have to take an unplanned class between getting accepted and matriculating. Acceptances come up until the day school starts.

 

[Johnny_D]

Hi fellow non-traditional applicant,

I have Gen Bio I and II from ungrad like 15 years ago. I got A- and B and I don't want to ruin the grades by retaking the classes again. I have a choice to sit in the Bio lectures (though not the lab) just to refresh my memory on Bio matters, then take one or two higher level Bio classes, like genetics or microbiology or anatomy because I hear that committees like to see hard bio classes. Or should I retake the class if the committee probably will like to see non-traditional students who have grades from long time ago retake the classes with labs?

What's your take/experience?

In my opinion, that is taking the easy way out. If you sit in on the lectures, you are not going to get as much out of it as you would if you really took it. You aren't going to study if you don't have to take a test. I retook the bio class since it had been 13 years since I last took it. Retake it and start with a solid foundation. It is getting more and more competitive to get into school. Show them you are committed to it.

 

[Predocmom]

Thanks everyone!

 

[NTF]

From a purely application standpoint, taking upper div bio will be sufficient.

But if you haven't been working in a science field since your bio class 15 years ago, I'd definitely go over the bio section of an MCAT review book or an AP bio review book before hitting the upper level bio.

I took bio in the early 90's and there were definitely topics barely or not covered that a standard intro bio class would cover today.

Boy I said bio alot.

 

[MegaSpectacular]

Hi fellow non-traditional applicant,

I have Gen Bio I and II from ungrad like 15 years ago. I got A- and B and I don't want to ruin the grades by retaking the classes again. I have a choice to sit in the Bio lectures (though not the lab) just to refresh my memory on Bio matters, then take one or two higher level Bio classes, like genetics or microbiology or anatomy because I hear that committees like to see hard bio classes. Or should I retake the class if the committee probably will like to see non-traditional students who have grades from long time ago retake the classes with labs?

What's your take/experience?

Cell Bio.👍

Genetics.👍

Conceptually drive biochem👍

Anatomy? blah.

Micro? yuck. why?

 

[riverjib]

Hi fellow non-traditional applicant,

I have Gen Bio I and II from ungrad like 15 years ago. I got A- and B and I don't want to ruin the grades by retaking the classes again. I have a choice to sit in the Bio lectures (though not the lab) just to refresh my memory on Bio matters, then take one or two higher level Bio classes, like genetics or microbiology or anatomy because I hear that committees like to see hard bio classes. Or should I retake the class if the committee probably will like to see non-traditional students who have grades from long time ago retake the classes with labs?

What's your take/experience?

I took most pre-med classes 13 years ago with excellent grades. I never thought about medicine, but when I decided to go pre-med, the first thing I was told was that I had to repeat all pre-med classes that weren't within 7 years of applying. I called a few med schools to confirm this, and they all had rules about pre-reqs being within a certain time frame. A few said that they'd accept one or two outdated courses if most were recent, but they all told me that even general biology changes so much that they wouldn't make any exceptions.

So while I had nearly 60 hours of course work, I started my bachelor's degree fresh. Chemistry, physics, and calculus haven't changed, but biology in 2006 was significantly different from the same class in 1997! Everything else has too, but not appreciably. Quantum mechanics is taught slightly differently now, but classical physics will probably remain the same pre-1900 Newton/Maxwell-governed course matter it has been since...well, Maxwell.

Don't stress about it. What's another year or two, really? If you're ready to take on medical school and residency, and extra few years to ace the pre-reqs will fly by, probably too fast.

 

[PAGuyana]

Once again the misinformation starts.

Very few schools have an expiration date for pre-reqs.

You can get into medical school and do well on the MCAT w/o taking the upper division bio courses.

My advice is: if you're happy with your GPA, go take an MCAT review course, study your arsk off and rock the exam.

How do I know? That's precisely what I did. I took my prereqs over 15 years ago, took a review course recently, did very well on the MCAT, had a bunch of interviews, and will be starting school in the Fall. The high level stuff that the MCAT requires is so little that taking the upper division courses will be a waste of time (exam wise). The time you invest will yield very little, plus you can learn the stuff on your own in a review course. Studying old MCATs and practicing will give you a good score, NOT going crazy with more upper division courses.

At this point, putting your energy where it matters-the exam-is the best thing you can do to get into med school.

 

[Lefty Doodle]

I probably shouldn't even be posting, but have some food for thought--certain med schools even accept AP courses for prereqs if your university counted them as the equivalent course, so I'd think the upper division bio combined with your introductory bio would be more than fine. You should definitely check with med schools you are interested in, though, nothing we say can substitute for what they want.

 

[DrMidlife]

I probably shouldn't even be posting, but have some food for thought--certain med schools even accept AP courses for prereqs if your university counted them as the equivalent course, so I'd think the upper division bio combined with your introductory bio would be more than fine. You should definitely check with med schools you are interested in, though, nothing we say can substitute for what they want.

I believe it was Cornell that I looked at recently that said prereqs taken as AP/CLEP credits are fine as long as you take upper division classes as well.

I looked at the new MSAR yesterday, and imho there's quite a bit more variety in prereqs than there's been (since I started paying attention around 2007). Schools that require only one year each with labs of bio/genchem/ochem/phsyics are now very few - I counted only 9 schools that don't have additional required or recommended coursework. There are at least that many schools now that have no requirements, or only recommended coursework. And everything in between, including psych/computer science/biochemistry/parasitology (I kid you not)/foreign language/etc. I saw a lot more focus on writing intensive coursework than I've seen before.

Extra diligence in researching schools before applying: recommended.

 

[njbmd]

Don't retake older coursework unless a school that interests you requires a retake. If you need a knowledge update, then audit the courses but don't retake for a grade. Coursework for most medical schools does not have an expiration date but some people need to have a knowledge upgrade that a review course won't provide. You might even do your audits at a community college where tuition costs are less expensive.

If you take a few practice tests and feel that you can get the knowledge upgrade with a review course, then go in that direction. Unless you need undergraduate grade "damage-control" don't take upper-division coursework especially if you are feeling shaky on your basic knowledge.

It was far more than 20 years between my application to medical school and my pre-med courses. Even though I had As in my undergraduate physics course, I audited the second semester of Physics for Scientist and Engineers which upgraded my knowledge greatly. I didn't have to worry about my grade and could absorb knowledge. I chose to take the exams along with the people who were taking the course for credit but you won't have to do this unless you want to measure your knowledge acquisition process. None of the medical school that I applied to had a problem with this.