Sciencey classes without BCPM prefixes

[Deleted member 1077394]

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Question:

I took a class called Anatomy & Physiology of Speech and Hearing as a Speech-Language Pathology prereq in case I don't get into medical school. It was all biology.

However, the catalog code was Communicative Disorders 385.

Can this count as BCPM based on content?

Thanks!

 

[deleted1000960]

If it is >50% biology content, then you can classify it as BCPM. There is no penalty for "wrong classification" (which in this case isn't), unless you overdo it egregiously. Classes do not need to be under the BCPM departments for them to be counted as BCPM classes. Classes like Biological Anthropology and Physiological Psychology have counted, so I don't see why your class shouldn't.

 

[JimKimSlim]

You’ll be fine, but I’ll get a little nit picky here. Try to avoid listing classes that don’t have the STEM label. You don’t want Ad coms to spend a few minutes reading the course description, when they could’ve spent that time reading other, more meaningful, part of your application. AMCAS application isn’t just about the content but also how you present them (Like how each section flows and connects with each other naturally). You don’t want them to waste time on reading minor details, when they have thousands of other applications to read.

 

[OfMiceAndWomen]

You’ll be fine, but I’ll get a little nit picky here. Try to avoid listing classes that don’t have the STEM label. You don’t want Ad coms to spend a few minutes reading the course description, when they could’ve spent that time reading other, more meaningful, part of your application. AMCAS application isn’t just about the content but also how you present them (Like how each section flows and connects with each other naturally). You don’t want them to waste time on reading minor details, when they have thousands of other applications to read.

Course classification will all be sorted out by AMCAS when they verify your application. So by the time it reaches school adcoms, it will be correct as it needs to be. You also need to list every single course you’ve taken, STEM or not.

The only thing you risk in mis-labeling your courses is that if there are too many errors, your application will have to be returned to you to be corrected before it can be verified. This will lead to delay in verification, which in turn potentially leads to your application being complete later.

 

[Deleted member 1077394]

This was really helpful! Thanks, guys! 🙂

 

[Blueprint Med School]

Additionally, you can check your school's course catalog and see what they consider a science class. That way if it is listed as such, you have something besides guesswork underpinning it. For example, Rutgers had an Intro to Dinosaurs or something like that, that was often a science prereq for non science majors who didn't want to take anything too hard and an East sGPA booster for pre-Meds.

It doesn't always work in all cases, but it is worth keeping in mind for those reading this.

David D, MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

 

[Deleted member 1077394]

Additionally, you can check your school's course catalog and see what they consider a science class. That way if it is listed as such, you have something besides guesswork underpinning it. For example, Rutgers had an Intro to Dinosaurs or something like that, that was often a science prereq for non science majors who didn't want to take anything too hard and an East sGPA booster for pre-Meds.

It doesn't always work in all cases, but it is worth keeping in mind for those reading this.

David D, MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors

Thank you! 🙂