Undergraduate biology courses - best preparation for medical school?

[Quantum Mecha]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi everyone,

To the students already in medical school, which of the following courses were most beneficial to you in medical school? I know that most medical schools require only the one year of introductory biology, but I would imagine that some courses that are not required are still useful

Here is the list that comes to mind:
(this list does not include two introductory biology classes that cover these topics:

Class 1: Metabolism, Cell Structure, DNA/RNA stuff, etc
Class 2: Ecology, Mendelian Genetics, Plant stuff, etc)


Ecology (I would imagine it is least useful, but who knows)
Physiology
Biochemistry
Genetics/Molecular Genetics
Microbiology
Applied Microbiology
Cell Biology (signaling, developmental processes, etc)
Cell & Membrane Physiology
Biophysics
Toxicology
Immunology
Biomechanics
Various courses such as Botony, Zoology, Ichtyology, Entomology, Evolution, etc


Now many people say "take them all" but this may not necessarily be possible, so which ones should one try to take above others/which are most beneficial/crucial?

Thanks!!!!!

 

[armybound]

I have found histology and molecular genetics to be very useful. Biochem, not so much. I'll let you know about physiology and immunology when I take them next semester.

I took a cell & developmental course as a grad student and found it completely useless in embryology.

 

[CaptainJack]

Who on earth says take them all? That's insane, unless you have other reasons for wanting to take the classes.

I think I would have found physiology somewhat useful (didn't take it, kinda wish I had). I was glad that I'd taken cell bio in undergrad but that's just because it legendarily sucks at my particular med school. I was also happy that I'd taken biochem, I think it helped some, not a lot. Immunology I am very, very happy that I only had to see once. 🙂 Microbiology would be useful in theory but the people I know who took it in undergrad didn't seem to think it was all that helpful. Genetics I took and it wasn't particularly valuable. I don't think any of the rest would give any particular benefit towards med school.

And honestly, none of these courses are going to make a huge, dramatic difference in your med school career -- if they would, they'd be required. Take the ones that sound interesting to you or that fit with your major or your schedule -- it's definitely not something to stress about.