Taking an "easier" version of a pre-req: will it hurt in admissions?

[Dandine]

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I admit I'm doing this because I'm paranoid, but I'd like to specifically target this to admissions people who have seen similar things.

I took Bio 2 at a local college so I could take an upper level at my main college the following semester. Credits transferred and everything, but the course turned out to be an "easier" version of Bio 2 (think community college level) that was meant for non-bio majors. I stuck with it because it replaced the Bio 2 that was required at my main school (if it didn't I would have dropped the course right away).

Considering I have taken tons of upper-level bio courses since then, how much do you think this will impact me come admissions time? I'm especially nervous since I plan to apply to the local college's med school and am not sure how much the course itself will weigh out compared to the others I've taken.

Any insight you could provide would be appreciated!

 

[Mad Jack]

Most medical schools require that science courses completed be those that are intended for science majors. Some schools require the Bio I+II sequence, while others simply require two biology courses with labs. I would look at the policies of the schools you plan to attend individually and see if you meet their prerequisites.

If the school requires the Bio I+II sequence, you're SOL. If it requires two 4 credit bio courses with labs, and you have an upper level bio course with a lab, you're probably fine. If they just want two bio courses, you're fine- so it's really a school by school thing. Research carefully and give them a call if you're not sure.

 

[ithd]

Don't think it really matters...No one's going to look at your courses that carefully and penalize you for taking ONE easier bio class, especially since you took many upper level courses that you presumably excelled in.

 

[RedPhys]

I know at my school, pre-meds take the easiest version of Mechanics and Electromagnetism (some algebra-based physics course, with no calculus at all), and med schools don't bat an eye.

 

[efle]

I know at my school, pre-meds take the easiest version of Mechanics and Electromagnetism (some algebra-based physics course, with no calculus at all), and med schools don't bat an eye.

Don't a lot of schools explicitly require calc-based physics? That seems pretty risky

Edit: Nope, was mixing it up with my school's requirement for science majors

 

[invissideways]

Don't a lot of schools explicitly require calc-based physics? That seems pretty risky

Nope! Algebra-based is all that is required and probably more useful for the MCAT.

 

[Law2Doc]

Most med school adcoms do a very minimal job in auditing what courses you took. You can often get away with not taking the "for premeds" version of courses, and probably are doing it right if you find yourself seated with the football team in at least some of the science courses you take -- the "for jocks" versions of sciences courses usually sound legit enough as they are listed in the course catalogs. It always looks funny, however, to go outside of your home school to a community college or equivalent for a prereq, so i regard this as somewhat of the kind of red flag they might notice. That being said, if you subsequently took a bunch of upper levels in that same major no one will make much of where you did the intro course.

 

[Dandine]

Algebra based physics is usually the case and is all that is needed for the MCAT
Many schools still require calculus itself, but we seeing more and more of a year of math with statistics acceptable.

Some med schools used to have a "suggestive" requirement along the lines : If two similar courses are offered the student should take the more rigorous one.

As Law2Doc said, fulfillment of the required prerequisites is not usually particularly rigorous and really only done after you have been accepted. Unlike AMCAS, which has an army of reviewers to exam your transcripts and see that content and classification is met, most medical schools simply look at the course titles on the transcript for fulfillment. And if something isnt up to snuff, the worst that could happen is your are sitting in the silly course the summer before medical school to fill it

It is weird for me to say that I wouldn't particularly hate re-taking Bio 2 (only because of the crazy cool things that I missed out on)? But thanks for the input!