Taking higher-level courses to get better grades

[working_hard1]

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I've completed all the traditional pre-med reqs, but did fairly mediocre in them (lots of Bs). I'm a science major, so I have to take higher level science classes (which I find a bit easier grade-wise than the pre-med classes) so I hope to do well in them and get high grades. I am debating whether I should take higher level laboratory courses since I also got mediocre grades in the pre-med lab classes. I work in a research lab so I have a lot of experience with the kinds of work I would be doing in a higher-level lab course (also my research is quite extensive with a few publications and a poster presentation). Is it worth taking higher level lab classes to prove that I can get high lab grades?

 

[BigPremedGuy]

My best grades were lab classes also; go for it. Analytical chem, biochem labs, and especially molecular biology is interesting and looks fine for schools. Make sure to balance them with traditional higher level classroom courses though too, like dont take 12 credits of only lab in a term.

In short, yes, there's no issue taking higher level labs, but take them because you think you would enjoy them and do well in them, not because you think an Adcom would like it. Adcoms like those who follow their interests and do well in what they follow. Pandering to what a traditional adcom would like doesn't always go well

 

[Catalystik]

I've completed all the traditional pre-med reqs, but did fairly mediocre in them (lots of Bs). I'm a science major, so I have to take higher level science classes (which I find a bit easier grade-wise than the pre-med classes) so I hope to do well in them and get high grades. I am debating whether I should take higher level laboratory courses since I also got mediocre grades in the pre-med lab classes. I work in a research lab so I have a lot of experience with the kinds of work I would be doing in a higher-level lab course (also my research is quite extensive with a few publications and a poster presentation). Is it worth taking higher level lab classes to prove that I can get high lab grades?

Adcomms are unlikely to care about lab courses beyond those required by the school. And keep in mind that labs can be a huge time sink for the credit hours received. I agree with @Jake M that you should take aditional lab classes because you'd enjoy them and would do well, not because you hope an adcomm will care.

 

[907914]

Adcomms are unlikely to care about lab courses beyond those required by the school. And keep in mind that labs can be a huge time sink for the credit hours received. I agree with @Jake M that you should take aditional lab classes because you'd enjoy them and would do well, not because you hope an adcomm will care.

Stupid question: What is considered a lab class? Are there classes that are just solely labs with no classroom component?

 

[Dr panda]

Stupid question: What is considered a lab class? Are there classes that are just solely labs with no classroom component?

Yes, my school has few of them, for example "Molecular biology lab" is a separate 3 credit hour class with no lectures, and molecular biology in not a pre or corequisite for this class. Same for few more.

 

[907914]

Yes, my school has few of them, for example "Molecular biology lab" is a separate 3 credit hour class with no lectures, and molecular biology in not a pre or corequisite for this class. Same for few more.

Weird. Cool, but weird. Guess that is the downside of going to Podunk U

 

[Dr panda]

Weird. Cool, but weird. Guess that is the downside of going to Podunk U

I am actually thinking about this class since it is UL bio class and 90% of people get A, ha ha

 

[907914]

I am actually thinking about this class since it is UL bio class and 90% of people get A, ha ha

And here I am registered for upper level “Human genetics” after already taking and TA’ing for regular genetics and just wrapping up Molecular...Yay for easy A upper division bio courses lol

 

[deleted967981]

Yes, my school has few of them, for example "Molecular biology lab" is a separate 3 credit hour class with no lectures, and molecular biology in not a pre or corequisite for this class. Same for few more.

Dang, all my lab classes were 1 credit hour each, 3 hour course, required concurrent enrollment in the lecture equivalent, and usually required 3x as much effort as lecture to achieve an A.

 

[907914]

Dang, all my lab classes were 1 credit hour each, 3 hour course, required concurrent enrollment in the lecture equivalent, and usually required 3x as much effort as lecture to achieve an A.

I have a fun lab class with associated lecture next quarter that is 6 credits....MWF class from 12-1 and lab from 1-4....

 

[deleted967981]

I have a fun lab class with associated lecture next quarter that is 6 credits....MWF class from 12-1 and lab from 1-4....

Ugh, no thank you!

 

[Dr panda]

Weird. Cool, but weird. Guess that is the downside of going to Podunk U

Podunk colleges are funnier than you think, we have public health class that teaches what to do in case of... Zombie apocalypse (yes, exactly). I will do my best to take this class. Actually people say the class is kinda hard because they were required to submit few APA papers with detailed plans how to survive.

 

[907914]

Podunk colleges are funnier than you think, we have public health class that teaches what to do in case of... Zombie apocalypse (yes, exactly). I will do my best to take this class. Actually people say the class is kinda hard because they were required to submit few APA papers with detailed plans how to survive.

Oh, I was complaining about my Podunk university LOL they definitely are some fun schools aren’t they? My chemistry Department has a class that almost no one gets an A in. It’s the chemistry of breweries and distilleries and your final grade is based on the quality of beer and whiskey and you can make. It’s a fun class, but the instructor is really pretentious and prudish when it comes to his craft beers LOL

 

[Dr panda]

Oh, I was complaining about my Podunk university LOL they definitely are some fun schools aren’t they? My chemistry Department has a class that almost no one gets an A in. It’s the chemistry of breweries and distilleries and your final grade is based on the quality of beer and whiskey and you can make. It’s a fun class, but the instructor is really pretentious and prudish when it comes to his craft beers LOL

I bet he tried to open his brewery but it didn't work out and know he is in search of best recipe as a professor