Should I bother with the rest of my secondaries?

[Reader88]

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I am absolutely crushed and defeated right now. I have come so far and feel like a strong applicant (3.89, 517, good EC's).

However, I just remembered I took biochemistry online. I know it sounds crazy to have not realized sooner, but it just never crossed my mind.

I know a lot of schools will not accept this. It is not listed on my official transcript, and AMCAS did not note it, but I know according to old posts on here there is always the risk that schools could find out and I could be dismissed in the middle of my medical education.

Do I just give up now???

 

[Hospitalized]

Yes

 

[Chocolate Sundae]

I am absolutely crushed and defeated right now. I have come so far and feel like a strong applicant (3.89, 517, good EC's).

However, I just remembered I took biochemistry online. I know it sounds crazy to have not realized sooner, but it just never crossed my mind.

I know a lot of schools will not accept this. It is not listed on my official transcript, and AMCAS did not note it, but I know according to old posts on here there is always the risk that schools could find out and I could be dismissed in the middle of my medical education.

Do I just give up now???

From what I read, like half of med students never attend class. So why does it matter? And how would they find out?

 

[Reader88]

From what I read, like half of med students never attend class. So why does it matter? And how would they find out?

Well according to some old posts Online Classes and Med School. there is a very small but real risk that they could find out and it would be disastrous. I am a very honest person so think it is best to come clean and just see if any schools will accept it but like I said I am an idiot to have made it this far without realizing this.

 

[Chocolate Sundae]

Well according to some old posts Online Classes and Med School. there is a very small but real risk that they could find out and it would be disastrous. I am a very honest person so think it is best to come clean and just see if any schools will accept it but like I said I am an idiot to have made it this far without realizing this.

Just take it again next summer then. 5 week session that bad boy.

 

[sunshine859]

So you forgot to list it on your AMCAS application?

 

[Reader88]

So you forgot to list it on your AMCAS application?

No, I listed it but I didn't indicate that it was online and neither does my transcript.

 

[wysdoc]

Well according to some old posts Online Classes and Med School. there is a very small but real risk that they could find out and it would be disastrous. I am a very honest person so think it is best to come clean and just see if any schools will accept it but like I said I am an idiot to have made it this far without realizing this.

You just need to sit down and do the tedious task of looking up which of the schools you applied to accept online classes. Some may accept it on a case by case basis. If not, do you have time to take it now?

 

[Reader88]

You just need to sit down and do the tedious task of looking up which of the schools you applied to accept online classes. Some may accept it on a case by case basis. If not, do you have time to take it now?

I have started that and unfortunately the list is almost vanishingly small, but I appreciate the advice! I don't really have time to take it now but seeing as I might not have a choice, I guess I should make time. I'm just not sure the only university in my area will let me take since technically I've already taken it and passed it.

 

[Dantes]

I mean it's not denoted on your transcript or on AMCAS... If you're feeling worried you can contact schools directly about your case and ask for their advice or for an exception. At the very worst you could just retake it to satisfy requirements before matriculating.

 

[sunshine859]

Start by sending schools a concise but professionally worded note informing them of the error you made on your AMCAS application--omitting that it was an online course. Make sure that is cleared up either concurrently or before you start asking for exceptions to their pre-req rules.

 

[theKingLT]

You are making way to big of a deal out of this. My advice is do the following:
Enroll in a summer biochem class for next summer whenever enrollment opens at your university or another school nearby. Once you have your school decided (assuming you get an acceptance) just call them up and see if your online class is okay. If it's fine then drop the biochem class and enjoy your summer. If they require you take the summer one then so be it, just make sure you pass

 

[Reader88]

You are making way to big of a deal out of this. My advice is do the following:
Enroll in a summer biochem class for next summer whenever enrollment opens at your university or another school nearby. Once you have your school decided (assuming you get an acceptance) just call them up and see if your online class is okay. If it's fine then drop the biochem class and enjoy your summer. If they require you take the summer one then so be it, just make sure you pass

That makes sense, thank you.

 

[Reader88]

Thanks for the advice! The thing is I don't think I made an error. I listed the name exactly as it is listed on my transcript and if I remember correctly, there isn't a separate place to indicate online.

Start by sending schools a concise but professionally worded note informing them of the error you made on your AMCAS application--omitting that it was an online course. Make sure that is cleared up either concurrently or before you start asking for exceptions to their pre-req rules.

 

[Rogue42]

I am sorry, there is an obvious question that has not been asked or stated. Biochemistry is very seldom a required course of entry into Medical Schools. Now, if ALL of your schools that you want to attend REQUIRE biochemistry, then yes you have a large problem. Otherwise, I do not see why this is an issue.

 

[ak-aka-dak]

I know someone who took biochem online in the summer and got into a top ten last year.

 

[trobinsonmd]

Definitely not the end of the world... find the schools that either:

a) do not require biochemistry
b) have biochemistry listed as "recommended" coursework

a lot of schools are switching from having certain courses go from required pre-req to recommended

 

[wysdoc]

I am sorry, there is an obvious question that has not been asked or stated. Biochemistry is very seldom a required course of entry into Medical Schools. Now, if ALL of your schools that you want to attend REQUIRE biochemistry, then yes you have a large problem. Otherwise, I do not see why this is an issue.

I disagree, it is usually a required course.

 

[Rogue42]

I disagree, it is usually a required course.

I am sorry! I see that you are a physician, and you have been through everything yourself. I guess my point is this; I am applying to medical school this cycle - and though I have taken biochemistry - it is only a requirement at 1/31 schools that I am applying to, so I may be biased.

 

[trobinsonmd]

I am sorry! I see that you are a physician, and you have been through everything yourself. I guess my point is this; I am applying to medical school this cycle - and though I have taken biochemistry - it is only a requirement at 1/31 schools that I am applying to, so I may be biased.

It used to be a requirement at the majority of schools... as some schools shift from required coursework to just "recommended" coursework, the biochem pre-req is kind of getting lost in between and it is not really a pre-req at many places, although it kind of technically is an MCAT pre-req

 

[Rogue42]

It used to be a requirement at the majority of schools... as some schools shift from required coursework to just "recommended" coursework, the biochem pre-req is kind of getting lost in between and it is not really a pre-req at many places, although it kind of technically is an MCAT pre-req

True.

 

[Lucca]

If it’s not listed on your transcript as online here is what I would do:

1. Stay in the cycle, don’t quit over this
2. If and when you are accepted, let schools know about this discrepancy and explain, explicitly, that you entered the course exactly as it appeared on your transcript like AMCAS asked you to do but that the course was online (some schools make you tick a box if a pre req was online on the secondary, Pittsburgh for example). Tell them you’re willing to retake the course ASAP if it’s an issue for them. I suspect nobody will care.

3. Alternatively, if a school’s secondary allows you to explain this (like I mentioned above) then just do it there and leave it at that.

 

[Reader88]

If it’s not listed on your transcript as online here is what I would do:

1. Stay in the cycle, don’t quit over this
2. If and when you are accepted, let schools know about this discrepancy and explain, explicitly, that you entered the course exactly as it appeared on your transcript like AMCAS asked you to do but that the course was online (some schools make you tick a box if a pre req was online on the secondary, Pittsburgh for example). Tell them you’re willing to retake the course ASAP if it’s an issue for them. I suspect nobody will care.

3. Alternatively, if a school’s secondary allows you to explain this (like I mentioned above) then just do it there and leave it at that.

That makes a lot of sense, thank you so much!

 

[sunshine859]

Thanks for the advice! The thing is I don't think I made an error. I listed the name exactly as it is listed on my transcript and if I remember correctly, there isn't a separate place to indicate online.

My apologies, I had been remembering a specific school that had checkboxes for whether or not the course was taken online and, for some reason, thought AMCAS was the same. I second Lucca's advice.

 

[wysdoc]

I am sorry! I see that you are a physician, and you have been through everything yourself. I guess my point is this; I am applying to medical school this cycle - and though I have taken biochemistry - it is only a requirement at 1/31 schools that I am applying to, so I may be biased.

No apology needed - 7 of the 10 Texas schools require biochem and of these 7, 4 prohibit AP or Online fulfillment

 

[M&L]

I am absolutely crushed and defeated right now. I have come so far and feel like a strong applicant (3.89, 517, good EC's).

However, I just remembered I took biochemistry online. I know it sounds crazy to have not realized sooner, but it just never crossed my mind.

I know a lot of schools will not accept this. It is not listed on my official transcript, and AMCAS did not note it, but I know according to old posts on here there is always the risk that schools could find out and I could be dismissed in the middle of my medical education.

Do I just give up now???

don't give up! are you crazy? just schedule biochemistry TWO in-classroom over the following year. If you have not listed it on the primary, don't worry about it, you could put it into secondary.