Retake all pre-requisites AND upper science courses?

[ronaldo9]

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Hello,
I graduated with BS in Biology back in 2016 (Cumulative GPA: 3.53, Science GPA: 3.34). During undergrad, I did not think about going to med school, but the course requirement mostly included the pre requisites. I got mostly As and Bs in my Bio and Chem classes but both Cs for my physics classes which ruined my GPA)
I took most of them except for Biochem and Anatomy&Physiology. I took general chem, org chem and physics back in 2013-2014.

Then I went to grad school, got my MS in Biology with thesis in 2022 (Grad GPA: 4.00). During grad school, I took a lot different upper level grad biology classes including Molecular Biology, Virology, Immunology, Biostatistics, Computational Biology, Microscopy, etc. After grad school, I worked in the pharmaceutical industry, focusing on drug manufacturing.

Now is 2026, and I want to apply for med school. I am planning to study for MCAT and I am looking for options to take Biochem and AP and probably repeat physics at a state school.
What are your thoughts about re-taking the pre-reqs that were taken 13 years ago (general chem and org chem)? Should I take upper level bio classes instead even though I have a good amount of them taken during grad school?

I would really appreciate for your input.

 

[Goro]

I can't recommend retaking into course that had a c grade or higher, although prereqs do have an expiration date for some schools.

If you have not taken the MCAT then retaking those courses might be useful

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Have you worked on clinical settings? Shadowed doctors? Why are you changing careers? Did you talk to admissions officers about your prerequisites?

 

[polymerization]

I don't think you would need to retake any of the classes you've already taken, though I can understand you might want a refresher for the MCAT. You also had a 4.0 in your MS program so I wouldn't say you are the typical reinvention candidate... so your return to school should be based explicitly around self-enrichment and completing the required biochemistry course on the way. Some caveats ahead.

For general chemistry, I cannot recommend MIT's 5.111 Principles of Chemical Science enough. I've never fangirled over a scientist until I sat through this course. Just wait until she explains photosynthesis; very memorable.

If you've taken organic before, I think it is actually easier to just study to the test and drill UWorld for that section, since you will get some of the relevant material from your upcoming biochemistry courses. You don't "need" anatomy and physiology, in the sense that it is not an explicit requirement for most schools, but I do think it is worth taking if you're going to be in school anyway. It may not be super relevant for the MCAT but the additional knowledge base helps to consolidate other biology-related information that will be.

Speaking of biochemistry, remember you'll probably end up wanting to take a full year, even though only the first semester is required. Biochemistry I is about macromolecule synthesis, structure, and function. Biochemistry II is about human metabolic pathways through which those macromolecules are processed and ultimately recycled or excreted. (This is where understanding physiology helps a lot.) Metabolism is high-yield on the MCAT and I resent not having had a basis for that when I took it.

I don't have anything super super helpful for physics. I really loved AKLectures when I was in college. Hopefully all his videos are still free... During my prep I also used Leah4Sci, The Brem Method, Medicosis Perfectionalis (also fantastic for biochemistry, maybe especially so) and Informing Future Doctors - all YouTube channels. Honestly, physics was by far my weakest section and the lack of a calculator absolutely destroyed any chance I would score well there. Sadly my entire C/P section was basically an electrical engineering test.

I had several courses be over 10 years old by the time I applied (I dropped out of college in 2015), and there didn't seem to be a question about whether they would be accepted. I am sure some schools might have passed on my application because of the age of my coursework, but there's no way to be sure of that post-hoc.