Upper-Level Science Courses

[Enzyme1]

Hi all,

I've been hearing that when we finish our pre-requisite courses in a Postbac, (chem, bio, physics), that taking just one upper level science class (i.e., Biochem) will not get your application looked at really, and that more upper-level science courses you take the better. Can anyone verify this? How true is this?

Normally you'd assume that the pre-req's and Biochem is good enough since most med schools say that on their websites, but I've been hearing that taking more (like 4) upper-level science courses is what you need to do if you want to get into great schools. 4 more classes is like another year, beyond the prerequisites (also more money..), very arduous..

Does anyone know anything about this and can clarify this issue? Thanks in advance. It would be appreciated.

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[FrkyBgStok]

Plenty of people get accepted with just the prereqs. Add in biochem and you should be fine. Sure more is better, but if the cost is too great, you will be fine.

 

[mauberley]

Plenty of people get accepted with just the prereqs. Add in biochem and you should be fine. Sure more is better, but if the cost is too great, you will be fine.

I agree with this.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Stop taking advice from your counselor or your clueless friends. Plenty of people get into top schools with the minimum classes.

Sent from my SCH-R910 using Tapatalk

 

[DrMidlife]

I've been hearing that when we finish our pre-requisite courses in a Postbac, (chem, bio, physics), that taking just one upper level science class (i.e., Biochem) will not get your application looked at really, and that more upper-level science courses you take the better. Can anyone verify this? How true is this?

Smells like a gunner rumor.

I think there's benefit to you in taking upper div science, to maximize your odds of success when the material starts coming at you from a firehose (up both nostrils). You get more time to comprehend the material in undergrad.

FWIW, one of the favorite complaints from the M1 whiner demographic is "it's not fair - other people had these classes in undergrad and I've never seen it before!"

Best of luck to you.

 

[ShirleyMed]

I am doing a non-traditional post-bac. I have taken my pre-req's at a cc and now I am taking whatever upper division classes (which is only 1) I can get into at the university level. I have been trying to add biochem and other upper division classes but they are full. Should I wait to take biochem before taking the MCAT and applying? When applying, should I take more upper division classes or just wait and see and continue to do other things like volunteer?

Thank you for your help guys.🙂

 

[theseeker4]

I am doing a non-traditional post-bac. I have taken my pre-req's at a cc and now I am taking whatever upper division classes (which is only 1) I can get into at the university level. I have been trying to add biochem and other upper division classes but they are full. Should I wait to take biochem before taking the MCAT and applying? When applying, should I take more upper division classes or just wait and see and continue to do other things like volunteer?

Thank you for your help guys.🙂

Since you completed the pre-reqs at a CC, I would recommend taking several science classes at the University level to prove your good performance in the pre-reqs was not simply because they were at an easier school. Some schools care about this more than others, but taking university-level more advanced courses can only help your application (if you do well, of course). What is your overall and science GPA?

One option to get into university upper-level courses that are full is, show up the first day of class and talk to the professor. Often, they will let a student who takes the time to talk to them sit in on the class, and register once a spot opens. They also sometimes have the ability to request an override in the max class number, ot let you in even though the registrar says the class is full. Something to talk to the profs about at least.

If you can't get into any science classes at any university close enough for you to attend, study like crazy for the MCAT, ace that, and register for upper-level courses in the spring/summer. Keep taking more upper-level courses at the university level until you get in to medical school, getting A's of course.

 

[ShirleyMed]

Hello Everyone. I am doing a non-traditional post-bac. My cc offers a chemistry class with lab that the class description states is: Introduction to organic and biochemistry. It is a requirement for allied health programs .

I don't think it is the same as the Elementary Biochemistry class taught at a 4-year university, but is it worth taking? Would med schools count it as biochemistry? Or would they count it as just taking another lower division class for a grade booster? I can't get into elementary biochem at the university so I was thinking of taking this class instead. I will be applying this summer. Thank you everyone.

 

[275med]

Yep, agreed. I just took the minimum and got accepted. Don't take those, they will waste your time. You only need the Biochem at a University. They will not count the cc class as biochem, I tried it. You gotta take an extension class I think. It's a hassle and not any better than the cc classes, but you just gotta.

 

[wagmanager]

Hello Everyone. I am doing a non-traditional post-bac. My cc offers a chemistry class with lab that the class description states is: Introduction to organic and biochemistry. It is a requirement for allied health programs .

I don't think it is the same as the Elementary Biochemistry class taught at a 4-year university, but is it worth taking? Would med schools count it as biochemistry? Or would they count it as just taking another lower division class for a grade booster? I can't get into elementary biochem at the university so I was thinking of taking this class instead. I will be applying this summer. Thank you everyone.

I wouldn't do it. I know what course you are talking about cos it is offered at a CC around here. That course is for people(like nurses) who do not need to take orgo and gen. chem. Besides I believe it is a 100 level course. Biochemistry should be an upper division course. I understand what you are going through to take classes but I don''t advice it.

Good luck

 

[poppie910]

Hello Everyone. I am doing a non-traditional post-bac. My cc offers a chemistry class with lab that the class description states is: Introduction to organic and biochemistry. It is a requirement for allied health programs .

I don't think it is the same as the Elementary Biochemistry class taught at a 4-year university, but is it worth taking? Would med schools count it as biochemistry? Or would they count it as just taking another lower division class for a grade booster? I can't get into elementary biochem at the university so I was thinking of taking this class instead. I will be applying this summer. Thank you everyone.

This sounds just like the chem 1 class at my cc. It'll TOUCH on orgo/bio, but its not the same. Still need to take the actual orgo classes.

 

[ShirleyMed]

Yep, agreed. I just took the minimum and got accepted. Don't take those, they will waste your time. You only need the Biochem at a University. They will not count the cc class as biochem, I tried it. You gotta take an extension class I think. It's a hassle and not any better than the cc classes, but you just gotta.

So when you say minimum. Do you mean 1 year of general chem, organic chem, general bio, and general physics? Did you take them at a cc or university? At any of your interviews, did any of them mention not taking biochem? I didn't get into my university's biochem class this semester so I have to wait until next semester. I don't want this class to be the reason why I didn't get in. My friend said he took it and got a C. He is thinking of taking it again. He told me he rather have not taken it and applied than have the C. So I am just confused on what to do. Thank you for your help everyone.

 

[natorx]

For my chem degree I have had to take Biochem, Inorganic, PChem1&2, Analytical Chem, and Math through Cal3... along with all A's in prereq's at a fulltime course load...

If that doesn't prove I can handle the load, I'ma shoot myself... and hopefully end up in one of you guys ER room lol jk

I need to survive this mcat, thats truely my only hurdle... I'm going to beat that gate keeper up lol =)








question, sorry if light-weight hijack of thread. Do you think taking the mcat in June is to late?

 

[theseeker4]

For my chem degree I have had to take Biochem, Inorganic, PChem1&2, Analytical Chem, and Math through Cal3... along with all A's in prereq's at a fulltime course load...

If that doesn't prove I can handle the load, I'ma shoot myself... and hopefully end up in one of you guys ER room lol jk

I need to survive this mcat, thats truely my only hurdle... I'm going to beat that gate keeper up lol =)

question, sorry if light-weight hijack of thread. Do you think taking the mcat in June is to late?

No, that isn't too late to take it, as long as you do well and don't have to re-take. If you have the pre-reqs done, why not take it in April and leave yourself time to re-take if you need to?

 

[natorx]

I want to take april, but scared with my current class load... one or the other will suffer.

I guess one way of thinking is yes I can study hard for 2 1/2 months, then take it and gauge. Maybe I do good, maybe I don't and I retake.



hmm... saying I don't do well on april mcat, how much will be held againest if I take it twice?

 

[FrkyBgStok]

So when you say minimum. Do you mean 1 year of general chem, organic chem, general bio, and general physics? Did you take them at a cc or university? At any of your interviews, did any of them mention not taking biochem? I didn't get into my university's biochem class this semester so I have to wait until next semester. I don't want this class to be the reason why I didn't get in. My friend said he took it and got a C. He is thinking of taking it again. He told me he rather have not taken it and applied than have the C. So I am just confused on what to do. Thank you for your help everyone.

to answer your question, you don't need to take it before you apply, and you really don't NEED to take it at all, but more and more schools are starting to require it. You could do what I did. I didn't take ochem 2 but i did take biochem. if i got accepted into a school that wouldn't substitute biochem for ochem 2, i would have taken it, but i got accepted to a school that doesn't so i am not. You can apply in June WITHOUT indicating that you are planning on taking it, and if you get accepted into a program that requires it, you could take it in the spring. But if you are talking about the fall, I would probably take it anyway just to keep as many doors open as possible. But you will be able to indicate the classes in progress, so they will see it.

no one mentioned i didn't take ochem 2.

 

[Enzyme1]

What I'm wondering is do schools like it if you take 2 semesters of O chem, and 1 semester biochem more than if you take 1 orgo and 1 biochem?

 

[FrkyBgStok]

What I'm wondering is do schools like it if you take 2 semesters of O chem, and 1 semester biochem more than if you take 1 orgo and 1 biochem?

short answer, yes. some schools won't care. I never took ochem 2, but i emailed schools and asked if they would take biochem with lab and ochem 1 in lieu of ochem 2. Some said yes. I asked about 7 schools. A few said no though. They did say it had to be biochem with lab. So it isn't really that they will like you more, but to have the best chances, take it. You will not be limited in schools. If you had to take either ochem 2 or biochem, do ochem 2. Less schools require biochem than ochem 2. But taking both basically leaves you open to every school. but not taking biochem leaves you open to 98% of schools. So you will be fine.

 

[montessori2md]

1) some schools require biochem, so it doesn't hurt to take it as long as it does not negatively impact your GPA.

2) MCAT timing should be based on how you are performing on practice MCATs (the online old USMLE exams, not Princeton, Kaplan, etc). A short amount of prep time may be fine for someone who recently took the pre-reqs, or has a chem degree.

3) M1 Whining about "not fair they saw that in undergrad/grad school" is true, but unless you want to be AOA, a dermatologist, or plastic surgeon, no one is going to care in the long run. However, a couple of $hitty grades in upper level courses could destroy your chances of getting an accept.

4) As noted above, most courses for allied health is not going to count as a prereq. And at some universities, taking that course will make it difficult for you to get into the prereq course you need (ie, course catalog will say, not open to students who have taken bio 1xx).

5) If you are applying for 2015, hopefully you are up-to-date on the changes coming to MCAT and pre-reqs.

Good luck!
Montessori

 

[crazycooljoel]

Biochem helps, but add Anatomy & Phys I and II. Also, Genetics would be helpful.

 

[The_Sunny_Doc]

Biochem helps, but add Anatomy & Phys I and II. Also, Genetics would be helpful.

Is a class like Human Physiology equally useful as A&P? I've heard A&P specifically is only necessary for nursing students, and that it can be a gpa killer.

 

[natorx]

Your going to have to take, and be very strong in A&P through med school... Might as well get ahead start 🙂

I did, and I passed with A's it's very doable.