Should I take genetics? (Med school "recommendation vs GPA)

[spark2014]

Hello,

I'm a Junior pre-med, and as I finish up Physics this year, I will be done with my core pre-med requirements. I plan on taking biochem next year because most med schools seem to recommend it (some require), but I can't decide whether I should take genetics or not.

To me, the most important thing I need to consider is not having the valuable prep for medschool, MCAT, long run, etc. when it comes to genetics.

I just want to do what med schools would be happy with. I am pretty sure that I'm not going to do too well in genetics, as it's known as a difficult class. I'm estimating a B for myself. I have a 3.5 GPA, and do not want to risk lowering my GPA any more than that. However, if it is worth taking that risk because med schools really like seeing genetics on the transcript, then I am willing to take the class.

What should I do? Do med schools care that much? Is it worth risking a drop in my GPA?

Thank you

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[solitarius]

Genetics is more relevant for the MCAT than biochem. I had one passage where intro bio genetics would have been insufficient.

 

[ClemsonFirst]

Biochem will be harder and more rigorous than genetics, so I would be more worried about biochem than the genetics class. If you cannot keep your grades up in these classes, you will have a hard time in medical school. That's what a high GPA is supposed to show, that you were able to complete a hard course load and excel in the courses. Take it, give it enough time, and do well to help your MCAT and show adcoms you are a capable student.

 

[09ine]

Don't risk it. That B can hurt and you don't need genetics for the mcat if you study for it on your own.
Protect the GPA for undergrad bc everything you need to know for Med school...well you'll learn it in Med school.

Edit: it's one thing to prove you can take a high level course, but if you get a lower GPA and the inability to get into Med school then what good is it to you? Don't listen to pride.

 

[spark2014]

Biochem will be harder and more rigorous than genetics, so I would be more worried about biochem than the genetics class. If you cannot keep your grades up in these classes, you will have a hard time in medical school. That's what a high GPA is supposed to show, that you were able to complete a hard course load and excel in the courses. Take it, give it enough time, and do well to help your MCAT and show adcoms you are a capable student.

Biochem at my school is easier than genetics. I understand what you are saying, but my point is, getting into med school is my priority. Having a hard time in med school is a later issue. I've heard from many people that as logical as it seems that a hard course load should make a student look good, it doesn't really help getting into a med school.

Plus, if I need to show that I can take a hard course load and excel, I feel like there are different ways to do it. I just want to know if I need to take genetics specifically.

Thank you.

 

[ShenanigansMD]

Wow guys, one B will not kill your chances for medical school. Just take genetics OP.

 

[MilMD01]

Genetics isn't that hard... And I've found it very useful for my upper level coursework and for the MCAT.

 

[AdrianVeidt]

I was faced with the exact same decision before this semester. Taking genetics now and it's not as difficult as advertised. No class is impossibly hard to the point where you can't succeed.

 

[iforget2]

Genetics isn't terribly difficult. Biochem on the other hand...

 

[bananapancake33]

Wow guys, one B will not kill your chances for medical school. Just take genetics OP.

+1

And there are some schools that require Genetics prior to matriculation (OHSU is one I can think of).

 

[Lucky Louie]

How much Genetics is in the MCAT? I've heard you don't have to have taken a Genetics class in advance of taking the MCAT.

 

[theseeker4]

How much Genetics is in the MCAT? I've heard you don't have to have taken a Genetics class in advance of taking the MCAT.

Depends on the MCAT you actually take, and it depends on how much genetics was covered in the standard bio courses. If you have a good background knowledge of genetics, and don't get a genetics heavy version of the exam, you probably don't need to take genetics. Someone else already mentioned they had an MCAT version heavy on the genetics, and so taking the course did/would have helped them. Better to take it and not need it for the MCAT than to need it but not have taken it.

 

[Mehd School]

Absolutely take genetics.

I had a professor that really challenged me, and I learned that **** cold. Every upper level elective thus far has been aided in my understanding of basic genetics.

It's a good looking A on your transcript.

 

[JustMeditate]

In my opinion, genetics was probably the most beneficial course of my undergraduate career. It was most certainly a difficult course, but it taught me the critical thinking skills I needed to excel in upper level bios, was the major foundation for those upper level bios (You never escape genetics course material; I weaves its way into every other bio course/topic), and I would have been lost on the MCAT without it.

It's a shame that genetics has the capacity to lower your GPA, and that you're currently at a 3.5 cGPA. Genetics is such an important, foundational course. Given that your GPA is, currently, just above the line of "acceptable" for MD schools (3.5 is okay, 3.6 is average, 3.7-4.0 is competitive), I'd skip out on genetics unless you know you can get an A or at least a B+. The only exception is if you don't think you have the time or ability to study genetics on your own. An understanding of genetics, in my opinion, makes the Biology Section of the MCAT a heck of a lot easier.

It's a damn shame though.

 

[iqe2010]

OP are you a science major? If so, I would think that genetics would be a required class.

I'm a biology major and genetics is a pre-req for classes like evolutionary bio, integration of biological knowledge, cell biology, etc.

If you're not a science major I would still recommend taking it.

 

[Praefectus]

Your GPA is locked in after you submit your application, so take Genetics afterwards and at least pass. It's not that bad...

 

[Anathema]

If your GPA is a 3.5 and you're worried you'll get a B in it then I wouldn't risk it. A 3.5 is already borderline and you can look at the numerous amount of threads of people asking WAMC.

Sure, genetics is useful but I don't think it's the end all of a class. I didn't take it and did relatively well on my MCAT. I think biochemistry is more useful and I didn't find it hard at all. Don't risk the GPA for something you can teach yourself in a class or for the MCAT. I haven't had to use it much in my upper level classes so maybe I just took different ones than the other posters.

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

OP are you a science major? If so, I would think that genetics would be a required class.

I'm a biology major and genetics is a pre-req for classes like evolutionary bio, integration of biological knowledge, cell biology, etc.

If you're not a science major I would still recommend taking it.

Some schools don't require it for whatever reason. I got through undergrad without ever taking it and had no problems in my upper level courses. I also managed to get a 14 on BS on the MCAT without it either. Granted, however, there was a lot of genetics in all of that, it's just that I was able to learn it all on the fly. I don't know why OP is scared, genetics is usually one of the easier courses in the bio major.

 

[Anathema]

Our genetics has the reputation of being a homewrecker (getting a C or so). Reputation or not, I know I'm not going to risk it during my UG.

 

[spark2014]

Genetics at my school is known as a very difficult class. Also, my major doesn't require genetics.

 

[A7X]

Don't take it if it's known as difficult.

 

[occams_razor]

Our genetics has the reputation of being a homewrecker (getting a C or so). Reputation or not, I know I'm not going to risk it during my UG.

same at my school, lots of pre-meds get Cs in it. it's a great class to take if you can get an A though

 

[cortana431]

Does genetics generally have a lab component? Or is it just lectures?

 

[occams_razor]

Does genetics generally have a lab component? Or is it just lectures?

it depends on the school. at my school it's just a lecture, but I know of other schools that have a required lab with it as well

 

[Marika11]

Mine had a lab. OP, when do you plan on taking the MCAT?

 

[neilpryde21]

Genetics at my school was a very difficult course. The professor was incredible and would make the most difficult exams that really made you think hard and were the type of exams that could have been open book and it wouldn't have helped, yet once you saw his answer key, all of them made perfect sense so you couldn't be mad at him, plus he was an awesome guy. I believe the average was a B- in a class of 15 so even getting an A- was extremely difficult. Also, the smartest bio majors took genetics which also made it very difficult to get an A since it was curved so that only a couple kids got in the A range. But overall, I do not regret taking that class. I got a B+ in it but it was one of my favorite classes and it helped me immensely with my BS (14) on the MCAT.

 

[Cinclus]

You only need a basic knowledge of genetics for both the MCAT and med school. Med school will even teach you the basics as if you've never seen it before in your life. Some schools recommend lots of varied courses, several of which I never took and still got accepted to those schools.

 

[Geebeejay]

Hello,

I'm a Junior pre-med, and as I finish up Physics this year, I will be done with my core pre-med requirements. I plan on taking biochem next year because most med schools seem to recommend it (some require), but I can't decide whether I should take genetics or not.

To me, the most important thing I need to consider is not having the valuable prep for medschool, MCAT, long run, etc. when it comes to genetics.

I just want to do what med schools would be happy with. I am pretty sure that I'm not going to do too well in genetics, as it's known as a difficult class. I'm estimating a B for myself. I have a 3.5 GPA, and do not want to risk lowering my GPA any more than that. However, if it is worth taking that risk because med schools really like seeing genetics on the transcript, then I am willing to take the class.

What should I do? Do med schools care that much? Is it worth risking a drop in my GPA?

Thank you

A. Medical schools look at what classes you took, and will decide whether or not your course load was difficult enough. I imagine it would look just as bad if you are clearly padding your stats and GPA.

B. You should be able to handle genetics. It's not that bad, and if you can't handle genetics, I have doubts that you'd be able to handle medical school.

 

[darkjedi]

Most undergrad level classes you take in 'preparation' for med school will likely only cover less than a months worth of material in med school.

 

[Narmerguy]

Don't feel compelled to take Genetics unless you really think you can handle it. Certainly if you take it now it will help you out later, but if you don't think you can handle your school's version of it, just don't take it. One way or another you're eventually going to have to learn it though.

 

[plumhill]

You should take it. Genetics isn't that difficult (although every school's version is difficult). I'm beginning to see more schools highly recommending (which is code for "more or less requiring") genetics. Just do practice problems for concepts requiring probability and study regularly, and you should honestly be fine. I personally found genetics to be significantly easier than any chem or organic course that I took. But you know yourself best...

 

[Anathema]

A. Medical schools look at what classes you took, and will decide whether or not your course load was difficult enough. I imagine it would look just as bad if you are clearly padding your stats and GPA.

B. You should be able to handle genetics. It's not that bad, and if you can't handle genetics, I have doubts that you'd be able to handle medical school.

Woah chief, I had no idea you were already in med school or an adcomm. Might need to edit your profile then.