Take Biochem class for app?

[Royal2000H]

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Long time reader, first time poster.

I graduated last June with an engineering degree. Now, looking at application requirements, some schools require upper division biology classes and/or biochemistry (UC Davis, UC Irvine, Johns Hopkins, for example). Is it worth trying to find a summer session at a University that offers these classes (and list them as pending on the app)? Or is it just as doable/acceptable to apply anyway - and if I get into and decide to go to one of those schools, then I take the class between my school decision and matriculation?

Edit: For reference, I have a year of each: Biology, Chem, Organic Chem, Physics, math/calculus.

 

[cerno]

Not sure if you've taken the MCAT, but I've heard that biochem is quite helpful for it, which may be another factor to consider.

Most schools require the course prior to matriculation, not prior to application.

 

[SixStringPsych]

I have been wondering the same thing, particularly if we HAVE TO list it under Future Coursework on AMCAS even if we really have no intention of taking it unless we'd like to go to a school that requires it?

If we did list it on our AMCAS, and then end up matriculating at a school that doesn't require it, would it look bad if we don't take it? Could the school rescind your acceptance for not being "truthful" on your application or something?

 

[Royal2000H]

I've already taken the MCAT so it would really just be for the schools that require it.
A lot of schools "recommend" biochemistry as well. Again - I wonder if it affects admission and whether they care if/when I do it.

SixStringPsych, I hadn't considered that situation... That's worth knowing too.

 

[amad01]

I have been wondering the same thing, particularly if we HAVE TO list it under Future Coursework on AMCAS even if we really have no intention of taking it unless we'd like to go to a school that requires it?

If we did list it on our AMCAS, and then end up matriculating at a school that doesn't require it, would it look bad if we don't take it? Could the school rescind your acceptance for not being "truthful" on your application or something?

I would also like to know this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

I've already taken the MCAT so it would really just be for the schools that require it.
A lot of schools "recommend" biochemistry as well. Again - I wonder if it affects admission and whether they care if/when I do it.

SixStringPsych, I hadn't considered that situation... That's worth knowing too.

I've always wondered about what med schools mean when they say a course is "recommended" or "strongly recommended" (ie "This course will help you in our med school if you take it, but we don't care one way or the other" vs. "we won't outright reject your application if you don't have the course, but for 99% of you this course may as well be a requirement"). It would be nice if we could get an adcom member on here to comment on that.

In my own case, I just went ahead and took biochem at a local college to avoid this issue altogether. I'd recommend doing the same if it won't be too much of a burden for you. While biochem isn't a standard pre-req, it is required by a large enough number of schools that you're limiting your choices by a significant amount by not having it on your transcript. On top of that, the fact that it's recommended by most schools that don't require it, is slated to become a pre-req at some more schools in the near future, and will replace orgo in the 2015 MCAT says a lot about how med schools view it.

 

[LogicofMan]

I'd recommend biochem simply because you'd probably find it easier as an engineer (I did), and it's an insanely interesting field of study. Additionally, it'll ultimately help you with MD curriculum, and would probably be one of those things that might differentiate you from applicants who don't take it (not sure how many applicants take biochem vs. not...but it's typically one of the hardest courses pre-meds take, so I would guess that people would steer clear of it unless they had to take it).

TL;DR : just do it, it won't be a waste.

 

[amad01]

I've always wondered about what med schools mean when they say a course is "recommended" or "strongly recommended" (ie "This course will help you in our med school if you take it, but we don't care one way or the other" vs. "we won't outright reject your application if you don't have the course, but for 99% of you this course may as well be a requirement"). It would be nice if we could get an adcom member on here to comment on that.

In my own case, I just went ahead and took biochem at a local college to avoid this issue altogether. I'd recommend doing the same if it won't be too much of a burden for you. While biochem isn't a standard pre-req, it is required by a large enough number of schools that you're limiting your choices by a significant amount by not having it on your transcript. On top of that, the fact that it's recommended by most schools that don't require it, is slated to become a pre-req at some more schools in the near future, and will replace orgo in the 2015 MCAT says a lot about how med schools view it.

Who....

out of my 40+ rough draft school list, 4 of them require biochem: Duke, Mich, Ohio st, Case western. If one has 0 desire to take biochem and would only take it IF it meant acceptance to med school, wouldn't it be best to just place it on future coursework and take it only if accepted to a school that requires it?

 

[SixStringPsych]

Who....

out of my 40+ rough draft school list, 4 of them require biochem: Duke, Mich, Ohio st, Case western. If one has 0 desire to take biochem and would only take it IF it meant acceptance to med school, wouldn't it be best to just place it on future coursework and take it only if accepted to a school that requires it?

Yeah, the only ones I know of to add to that list are UMiami and I believe all of the other Florida public schools, so it's definitely not a "large number" that require it.

amad01 I think I'm going to call up a few admissions offices of schools that don't require it and ask if it would be bad to back out of a class listed under Future Coursework.

 

[Ismet]

I have been wondering the same thing, particularly if we HAVE TO list it under Future Coursework on AMCAS even if we really have no intention of taking it unless we'd like to go to a school that requires it?

If we did list it on our AMCAS, and then end up matriculating at a school that doesn't require it, would it look bad if we don't take it? Could the school rescind your acceptance for not being "truthful" on your application or something?

You are absolutely not bound to take anything you list as future coursework. Your acceptance will not be rescinded unless you don't take a required course. So not taking biochem and matriculating at a school that doesn't require biochem would be fine.