Tell me about these courses

[wjs010]

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Would you consider cancer biology or virology necessary in prep for med school classes? I can take 2 more classes and I got lucky: biochem is being taught in the spring . I start med school in the fall so I was thinking about taking biochem and one of those other 2 courses. Thanks.

 

[SLC]

If it were me, I'd take the cancer biology course based purely off the names. But names are a notoriously bad way to pick courses so take this with a grain of salt.

Virology isn't that tough, and you'll be taught plenty in med-school. But Cancer Biology is complicated and fascinating, and the concepts that may be taught in that class will be an excellent intro to Molecular bio that you'll learn in medical school.

You may even get some histo/path in there if you're lucky.

Still, if it were me, I'd probably take a mountain biking class or something if possible.

 

[Playdoh4lyfe]

I'd agree with SLC. Cancer biology over virology, although both would definitely be helpful. Based on the material I've covered this past fall in my masters program, there's an equal amount of cancer and virus/bacteria study in med school. Both courses will cover immunology, genetics, biochem, and molecular bio to varying degrees. If it makes a difference, virology is a lot of pure memorization from what I gathered, while cancer biology can vary in it's degree of conceptualization and memorization.

I'd feel comfortable taking either, but I wouldn't rule out a mountain biking or golf class either. After all, if you already got accepted why not spend time enjoying your freedom?

 

[Hextra]

I took a biology of cancer course and remember being fairly pleased at having seen many of the cellular mechanisms prior to school. We also got some good info about nutrition and some of the larger cancer-related studies.

Though, as SLC said, if I could do it over again I'd take golf 101 and enjoy the spring outdoors.

 

[Chillywilly]

lol Biochem is a must have,,,. at least my school required all bio & chem majors to take it.

Bio cancer & virology sound cool. Definitely take something microbio related. I took microbio and I loved it.
If your school doesn't have microbio, then deff take bio of cancer and virology. If anything it'll be interesting and inspiring.

But since you already got into medical school, why not take classes that are inspiring to you. Take some behavioral science classes to open up your perspectives and point of views? Take art history or something cultural to expand your knoweldge and to have some cultural competence. All good things for med school too.

If you like something other than medicine, take those classes now. Because when you start med school, it's all about medicine 24/7, so when will be the next time you took a course because it was "fun" or because you found it interesting?

Something to think about. 😉

 

[Escape_Goat]

Having taken a graduate level virology course and never having taken cancer biology, take cancer biology. It will be more "high yield".

 

[Chillywilly]

Having taken a graduate level virology course and never having taken cancer biology, take cancer biology. It will be more "high yield".

Yeah definitely take an upper level cell bio something. I took an undergrad cell bio course which was a joke. But when I took a grad level cell bio/cancer course it was so in depth and exhaustive.

Actually come to think of it, microbio in med school is pure memorization. So if you don't take it as an undergrad you're not at loss.
Take a class where you can nail in complicated cascade reactions like cell bio (of cancer or whatever topic).
Knowing the RTK, Rho,/GTPases, and signalling cascades is important.

 

[VisualEvolution]

lol Biochem is a must have,,,. at least my school required all bio & chem majors to take it.

Bio cancer & virology sound cool. Definitely take something microbio related. I took microbio and I loved it.
If your school doesn't have microbio, then deff take bio of cancer and virology. If anything it'll be interesting and inspiring.

But since you already got into medical school, why not take classes that are inspiring to you. Take some behavioral science classes to open up your perspectives and point of views? Take art history or something cultural to expand your knoweldge and to have some cultural competence. All good things for med school too.

If you like something other than medicine, take those classes now. Because when you start med school, it's all about medicine 24/7, so when will be the next time you took a course because it was "fun" or because you found it interesting?

Something to think about. 😉

Do this! This will be your last opportunity to ever take a "normal" class, go for it. Pretty soon you'll have a plethora of medically related information shoved down your throat and it won't really matter if you took that extra virology or cancer course. I'm sure you'll appreciate your last hurrah in undergrad more with a course you genuinely want to take, whether that be virology, pottery, or whatever.

 

[Chillywilly]

Do this! This will be your last opportunity to ever take a "normal" class, go for it. Pretty soon you'll have a plethora of medically related information shoved down your throat and it won't really matter if you took that extra virology or cancer course. I'm sure you'll appreciate your last hurrah in undergrad more with a course you genuinely want to take, whether that be virology, pottery, or whatever.

Yeah my last semester of college I basically took light courses that were fun for me and things I found interesting. Like art history, human condition, and caribbean culture (perfect since I'm going to Nova 😉 ). It was refreshing, and my last opportunity before being bogged down my med school classes.

 

[wjs010]

There are not really many other courses I like at school. I'm learning brazilian Portuguese so I can converse with my girlfriends family, but my school doesn't offer it. So I have to duo lingo on my own time. I was really looking to take a few courses that would actually help in med school and also get me some much needed loan money for all the upcoming payments lol.

But what I'm seeing from the med students , it seems like almost everyone says it doesn't even matter what you take in undergrad because it will have been completed within the first 27 seconds of med school lecture. Somehow I think a good base of biochem/ something else could only help. I mean, the people who say you don't need to take things like that.. How do I know what the caliber if their undergrad prep was? Maybe it was 50x better than mine. Lol. So basically I don't want to be absolutely clueless going in.

But yea, I see what all of you mean ... And I definitely know how to relax

 

[Chillywilly]

There are not really many other courses I like at school. I'm learning brazilian Portuguese so I can converse with my girlfriends family, but my school doesn't offer it. So I have to duo lingo on my own time. I was really looking to take a few courses that would actually help in med school and also get me some much needed loan money for all the upcoming payments lol.

But what I'm seeing from the med students , it seems like almost everyone says it doesn't even matter what you take in undergrad because it will have been completed within the first 27 seconds of med school lecture. Somehow I think a good base of biochem/ something else could only help. I mean, the people who say you don't need to take things like that.. How do I know what the caliber if their undergrad prep was? Maybe it was 50x better than mine. Lol. So basically I don't want to be absolutely clueless going in.

But yea, I see what all of you mean ... And I definitely know how to relax

1. what do you mean taking classes that would help you get loan money?

2. you're not going to be clueless going into med school. we all feel the same way. Adcom wouldn't have accepted you if they didn't think you couldn't handle the rigor.

😉

 

[wjs010]

1. what do you mean taking classes that would help you get loan money?

2. you're not going to be clueless going into med school. we all feel the same way. Adcom wouldn't have accepted you if they didn't think you couldn't handle the rigor.

😉

Well u gotta take classes to get student loans. For traveling to check out apts, immunization, deposits.. This stuff isn't cheap! Lol

 

[Chillywilly]

Well u gotta take classes to get student loans. For traveling to check out apts, immunization, deposits.. This stuff isn't cheap! Lol

For undergrad? Interesting, I paid all those things out of pocket as an undergrad.
Tell me more about these student loans that you can use for personal use

 

[1badz]

Taking Virology now. It's real easy, yet interesting.

For undergrad? Interesting, I paid all those things out of pocket as an undergrad.
Tell me more about these student loans that you can use for personal use

Subsidized/unsub'd loans… Some people pay for undergrad through financial aid (pell grants) and sub/unsub loans. I had to do that my first year

 

[Chillywilly]

Taking Virology now. It's real easy, yet interesting.


Subsidized/unsub'd loans… Some people pay for undergrad through financial aid (pell grants) and sub/unsub loans. I had to do that my first year

Wouldn't it be easier if we won the mega million?

 

[wjs010]

Taking Virology now. It's real easy, yet interesting.


Subsidized/unsub'd loans… Some people pay for undergrad through financial aid (pell grants) and sub/unsub loans. I had to do that my first year

I would take virology, but when I saw "combine lecture and lab" on the upcoming classes list, I instantly said hell no. I despise labs.. Even micro lab was cheap and absolutely worthless lol.. I only want the lecture.

 

[Donkk]

Anyone ever listen to "This Week In Virology" it is a good podcast and to be honest better than the medical virology class I took. They even have a virology 101 to get you going if your new to the subject and like 230-300ish free podcasts. I recommend checking it out, I nerd out and listen to it at the gym during cardio.
http://www.twiv.tv/

 

[Dreamstoo]

As a senior I do plan on taking cell bio, human physiology, and microbiology. Taking biochem this year. Classes like virology and cancer biology for me at least require too many pre-reqs. Honestly if you are already in medical school, make sure the teacher has decent ratings and it is not too hard of a class. You do not want to ware yourself out before med school.

 

[DreamingDoc]

I took both last semester and really enjoyed cancer biology more. Plus you go deep into tumor viruses, so it's kinda the best of both worlds.

 

[acceptmeplease]

The person at your institution who teaches cancer biology is enthusiastic, full of insight, and eager to field questions. The person who teaches virology speaks in monotones and I wanted to stab myself in the face every minute of every lecture.

You get good histology, cell bio, and molecular reviews in cancer bio.

Most of all, the tests weren't bad.

Do it.

Or take bowling. Best 8 o'clock class ever.

 

[wjs010]

The person at your institution who teaches cancer biology is enthusiastic, full of insight, and eager to field questions. The person who teaches virology speaks in monotones and I wanted to stab myself in the face every minute of every lecture.

You get good histology, cell bio, and molecular reviews in cancer bio.

Most of all, the tests weren't bad.

Do it.

Or take bowling. Best 8 o'clock class ever.

Hindmarsh was painful for micro 😀

 

[acceptmeplease]

Hindmarsh was painful for micro 😀

Amen, but I would be careful about using names.

 

[Donkk]

I miss that campus and the people, some great professors as well.

 

[wjs010]

I miss that campus and the people, some great professors as well.

you went to tech too?

 

[Donkk]

you went to tech too?

Took some classes at Tech while my girlfriend was there for her dietetic internship so she could become a RD. Some post-bac for fun while in gap year, working and studying for MCAT to keep the noggin going =) I liked biochem with Webb, she is great and good tie-ins to medicine. I also loved living in the Shreveport area and could use some Crawfish Hole #2 from time to time hehehe.

 

[wjs010]

Took some classes at Tech while my girlfriend was there for her dietetic internship so she could become a RD. Some post-bac for fun while in gap year, working and studying for MCAT to keep the noggin going =) I liked biochem with Webb, she is great and good tie-ins to medicine. I also loved living in the Shreveport area and could use some Crawfish Hole #2 from time to time hehehe.

Will take you up on the Webb deal. Will probably take the first biochem next quarter along with cancer bio and call it quits. That's funny... I'm from LA and I don't even really like crawfish lol. I don't even really like seafood.

 

[acceptmeplease]

Will take you up on the Webb deal. Will probably take the first biochem next quarter along with cancer bio and call it quits. That's funny... I'm from LA and I don't even really like crawfish lol. I don't even really like seafood.

You all fail. I had biochem back when snow was there. Brilliant and hilarious.

 

[Donkk]

Nicole Webb = good looking, dark humor and intelligent ..... much easier to listen to the details of biochemistry under these conditions in my opinion lol

 

[wjs010]

Nicole Webb = good looking, dark humor and intelligent ..... much easier to listen to the details of biochemistry under these conditions in my opinion lol

Wow I thought I was the only sdn'er at tech lol

 

[acceptmeplease]

Wow I thought I was the only sdn'er at tech lol

Oh no. There's quite a few of you, and a few alums like myself.