What additional science classes should I take?

[DoctorWannaBe]

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I will be graduating in May with a nonscience degree. I still have to take 3 units of pre-reqs in the fall for medical school, and was wondering what other classes to take to fill up my time. What additional science classes do you recommend taking before starting medical school (i.e. genetics, biochem, anatomy, physiology, etc.)? Keep in mind that I don't have a lot of money to spare, so I would like to take only the classes that will really help me in medical school and save money for applications. Thanks!

 

[DrMom]

I generally recommend anatomy, histology, and biochem. Genetics and physiology would also be helpful.

 

[manicmaven]

I agree. Human anatomy/physiology, biochemistry and genetics will help you out massively.

 

[2DEG]

How about Microbiology? I have heard that can be pretty helpful too. I am planning to take Microbiology, biochem, human anat/phy and genetics.

This summer, I am considering taking one from Microbio, genetics, and histology.

For Microbiology, and biochem, I think I will end up taking just the course - no labs. Any thoughts on that?

A while back, I asked about histology, most people here didn't recommend that.

I would love to hear few more comments about histology. Maybe I will take that in summer..but I guess I need to finish two biol. courses first before taking histology.

post/pm would be greatly appreciated.

Shahab

 

[DrMom]

Micro is good too, but I'd go ahead and do the lab. For biochem I wouldn't bother with a lab.

Things vary from school-to-school, but those in my med school class who took histo really benefitted from it. Same goes for cadaver anatomy.

 

[DrInW8ing]

I agree with DrMom.

Histology can be a very time consuming course. If you have time to take it before going into medical school doit!

This class will also give a good overview of other classes such as physiology and anatomy that some people may have had.

 

[petersongator]

I don't know about departmental differences at other colleges, but here at UF the anatomy and physiology classes offered by the Zoology department are much more challenging than the human anatomy and phys classes offered. Vertebrate anatomy and animal physiology were two of my hardest classes (up there with orgo), and I think the info i learned will be very useful for med school.

 

[Bonds756]

Histo is important, but if you are taking about taking only one or two classes, it wouldn'e be my choice. I would take either biochem or anatomy/physio. College biochem classes are more cellular based, while med school biochem classes are more clinically based. However, since med school classes move so fast, anything to give you a better understand and intro to biochem will help you out with the clnical cases you will have. And anatomy is a lot of memorization, so just seeing the material and becoming familiar with it is a big plus.

 

[LoneCoyote]

DoctorWannaBe,

I pm-ed you some Arizona specific info about some classes you might want to avoid due to bad professors and some that might be good to take next fall. Good luck. And go Cats! 🙂

 

[ashkan33]

neuroanatomy would probably be the most interesting, but all my friends that have gone off to medschool always come back after their first semester and say, "you should take anatomy before you go to medschool"

 

[2DEG]

I am finding this thread really interesting and helpful. Many of you suggested taking different classes that would be helpful IN medical school.

But I guess what I am looking for is..what extra classes would be helpful in MCAT? I gotta do well in MCAT in order to have any real chance.

I don't think I will take histology now. I am gonna take bio first, then anatomy/physiology and then histology. I think I am just gonna take microbio (as an independent studies course) this summer.

So, in summary, with MCAT in mind, pre-meds should try to take the following courses outside pre-req courses:

Anatomy/Physiology
Biochemistry
Genetics
Microbiology
Histology

Did I miss any?

Good night.
Shahab

 

[MD2b06]

Originally posted by shahab

So, in summary, with MCAT in mind, pre-meds should try to take the following courses outside pre-req courses:

Anatomy/Physiology
Biochemistry
Genetics
Microbiology
Histology

Did I miss any?

Good night.
Shahab

I would NOT waste my time taking histology in order to prep for the mcat. There is no histo on the mcat. Besides, histology is quite possibly the most mind numbingly boring class you will take in med school. It's not hard. It's just BORING staring at cell after cell. No need to take it in order to prep for the mcat or in order to prep for med school.

My top 3 for MCAT:

1)Biochem
2)Genetics
3)Physiology <----- BTW, this is a kickass class in med school, esp the cardiovascular and respiratory portions!

If you have time after all that, I think anatomy would most def be helpful. Not really for the MCAT, but for med school in general. Gross has humbled many a first year med student....

 

[2badr]

It seems most of the courses reccomended are required by my major.(Histology,Microbiology,Biochemistry,Genetics..) Neuro is not required but offered to grad students I think.This is avery informative thread.All of you guys already in med school please continue to reply!!
One question tho-aren't a lot of these courses required for most (life science/bioscience) majors? and if so isn't it simply more beneficial to major in one of the life sciences to cover these classes??? (i know you can take them seperately but honestly i don't think I would have the time to take too many courses outside of my major if I were not majoring in one of the sciences.I had seriously considered English but decided against it.)

 

[carrigallen]

I so wish I would have taken an A&P class, especially since I'm not adept at rapid memorization. But to prep for the MCAT, I think biochem would be better.