should recommended premed courses be completed by application time?

[argonaute]

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I'm trying to plan out my class schedule for my last three years in college and i had a question:

Would it be beneficial at all to complete all the recommended premed courses (humanities/social sciences, statistics, computer science, upper division biology) before you apply for medical school? Would not completing all these requirements & recommended classes before you apply otherwise hurt your chances for admission?

Also, would it hurt your chances of admission to not take some recommended classes?

 

[mvenus929]

I'm trying to plan out my class schedule for my last three years in college and i had a question:

Would it be beneficial at all to complete all the recommended premed courses (humanities/social sciences, statistics, computer science, upper division biology) before you apply for medical school? Would not completing all these requirements & recommended classes before you apply otherwise hurt your chances for admission?

Also, would it hurt your chances of admission to not take some recommended classes?

You should take all the basic prereqs (bio, chem, orgo, physics) before you apply; preferably before you take your MCAT. The recommended courses are just that... recommended. You aren't required to take them. However, some schools (like UWash) strongly recommend biochem before matriculation, because MSIs are expected to have a basic understanding of that material. Just work the rest of them into your schedule whenever you can find the time. If you can't work them in, don't sweat it too much.

 

[BlueElmo]

Just as long as they are complete before matriculation, you should be fine.

 

[jwrigh69]

The sooner you complete them the better. Its a slight advantage to have them all completed at the time you apply so the schools can see how you've done in those courses but it is by no means required. You're only requirement is completion of the courses before matriculation.

 

[Law2Doc]

Just as long as they are complete before matriculation, you should be fine.

As mentioned you neec them for the MCAT. Also if you are a nonsci major you need the prereqs early or your bcpm will be too light for many schools.

 

[Mattabet]

Complete as many as you can, but don't bend over backwards to get them all in. You've got that last year for a reason.

As above, BCPM are important for MCAT, so give the hard science first priority. But if you need to put off an English or Comp Sci or something for senior year, that will work just fine.

 

[argonaute]

The sooner you complete them the better. Its a slight advantage to have them all completed at the time you apply so the schools can see how you've done in those courses but it is by no means required. You're only requirement is completion of the courses before matriculation.

thanks everyone.

Would the advantage of having them done early be worth the opportunity cost of the time spent on them? In other words, should I make sure to complete statistics or extra humanities/social science classes before applying at the cost of 5-10 hours a week in research and EC's?

 

[jwrigh69]

thanks everyone.

Would the advantage of having them done early be worth the opportunity cost of the time spent on them? In other words, should I make sure to complete statistics or extra humanities/social science classes before applying at the cost of 5-10 hours a week in research and EC's?

In the case of the courses you just mentioned definitely not. Keep in mind admittance is not a race.. the most important thing is maintaining a good gpa. That being said, EC's are also extremely helpful and the more the merrier. The best thing you can do is find a balance between school load and EC's.. be sure to remain a full time student but take a course load that will allow you to hold a job, volunteer, research, etc. Finish as many science courses as possible before you apply. I would NEVER sacrifice research or volunteer hours to try and take an extra 3 credit hours in statistics or social sciences.. but thats just me. 🙂

 

[argonaute]

In the case of the courses you just mentioned definitely not. Keep in mind admittance is not a race.. the most important thing is maintaining a good gpa. That being said, EC's are also extremely helpful and the more the merrier. The best thing you can do is find a balance between school load and EC's.. be sure to remain a full time student but take a course load that will allow you to hold a job, volunteer, research, etc. Finish as many science courses as possible before you apply. I would NEVER sacrifice research or volunteer hours to try and take an extra 3 credit hours in statistics or social sciences.. but thats just me. 🙂

the catch is that enrolling in classes alone won't make me a full time student. I'm done with all my BCPM premed classes after next year, and i'm only planning to take 2 classes a semester after that to fulfill major requirements (MCB). 2 classes a semester alone doesn't make me a full time student, i'm planning to use research credit to bump me over the lower unit limit. I don't know if this is frowned upon, and whether I should take more humanities/social sciences classes in the meanwhile (i have only taken science classes so far, and my plan right now would have 12 or 13 units besides english in the humanities/social sciences).

so there should be no problem in minimizing my course load and taking statistics and other non-science recommended courses after I apply as long as I finish all my premed requirements before I apply?

 

[RySerr21]

I'm trying to plan out my class schedule for my last three years in college and i had a question:

Would it be beneficial at all to complete all the recommended premed courses (humanities/social sciences, statistics, computer science, upper division biology) before you apply for medical school? Would not completing all these requirements & recommended classes before you apply otherwise hurt your chances for admission?

Also, would it hurt your chances of admission to not take some recommended classes?

the catch is that enrolling in classes alone won't make me a full time student. I'm done with all my BCPM premed classes after next year, and i'm only planning to take 2 classes a semester after that to fulfill major requirements (MCB). 2 classes a semester alone doesn't make me a full time student, i'm planning to use research credit to bump me over the lower unit limit. I don't know if this is frowned upon, and whether I should take more humanities/social sciences classes in the meanwhile (i have only taken science classes so far, and my plan right now would have 12 or 13 units besides english in the humanities/social sciences).

so there should be no problem in minimizing my course load and taking statistics and other non-science recommended courses after I apply as long as I finish all my premed requirements before I apply?

No its not going to hurt your chances if you dont take all the reccommende courses. And no you dont need to finish all the required/recommended couress by the time you apply, only by the time you start school. My senior year I took zoology and biochemistry, both required couress for the schools i applied to and it wasnt a problem at all.

 

[theroadtomed]

Some schools (Vanderbilt comes to mind), require that all courses be completed prior to applying. Grr... this stopped me from applying there.