What science courses (beyond minimum prereqs) are more impressive to Adcom?

[Graveyard_Shift_Sally]

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I am doing a DIY post-bacc and am currently finishing the bare minimum of required prereqs. I will be finished with BIO 1 & 2 (w/labs), Gen Chem 1 &2 (w/labs), Phys 1 & 2 (w/labs) Organic Chem 1& 2 (w/labs), Cell Biology, Genetics, and A&P 1 with lab by the end of December.
I am wondering what upper level sciences are the most impressive to medical schools. The reason I am asking is because I did not do too well in my undergraduate degree. I am doing very well in my DIY. I don't really know how to put this, but I want to choose courses that will better prove (?) that I have what it academically takes to do well in medical school...or would any combination of these available courses be OK? I only have the finances for one more semester.

Courses available: Immunology, Microbiology w/lab, Pathology, A&P 2 w/lab, Histology

I have already decided to take Biochemistry (My university does separate labs. Should I take the Biochemistry lab?)

Thanks!

 

[GreenDuck12]

I wouldn’t worry so much about what would appear impressive as it is unlikely schools will carefully screen each course you complete. Instead focus on doing well and picking things that will be useful. The classes that tend to lend themselves to medicine would be: cell bio, microbio, genetics, A&P, proteomics, histo, immuno, neuro, etc.

 

[Crayola227]

P Chem is one of the most impressive, but I don't recommend it unless you intend to be a Chem major and chemistry is your back up career for not getting into med school.

The above advice is good. My state school required or strongly recommended the full year of biochemistry and that was NOT a mistake to have going in. I don't recommend people leave biochemistry just for how it will be taught in med school - cramming the full undergrad curriculum year into 10 weeks in med school was a recipe for failure for many.

I also had genetics as was required. I found it easy at both the undergrad and med school levels honestly.

Ditto that histo could be useful but didn't find histo hard either.

Many say don't bother with gross anatomy or physio until med school, but I struggled and wouldn't have minded in undergrad if I'd had the time for it.

 

[deleted626763]

Have you taken the MCAT yet? I was really glad I took Physiology before the MCAT. I felt that it helped me with the Biological Science section. Biochemistry is a must for the MCAT.

Best of luck to you, friend. 🙂

I love your avatar kitty too, @Graveyard_Shift_Sally. 🙂

 

[Graveyard_Shift_Sally]

I wouldn’t worry so much about what would appear impressive as it is unlikely schools will carefully screen each course you complete. Instead focus on doing well and picking things that will be useful. The classes that tend to lend themselves to medicine would be: cell bio, microbio, genetics, A&P, proteomics, histo, immuno, neuro, etc.

Ah, this makes sense. Thanks!

 

[Graveyard_Shift_Sally]

Have you taken the MCAT yet? I was really glad I took Physiology before the MCAT. I felt that it helped me with the Biological Science section. Biochemistry is a must for the MCAT.

Best of luck to you, friend. 🙂

I love your avatar kitty too, @Graveyard_Shift_Sally. 🙂

I was planning on taking the MCAT in January, but not if I will need Biochemistry. I'll make that decision after this up-coming semester.

Thanks! I thought the kitty was cute. haha

 

[Goro]

I am doing a DIY post-bacc and am currently finishing the bare minimum of required prereqs. I will be finished with BIO 1 & 2 (w/labs), Gen Chem 1 &2 (w/labs), Phys 1 & 2 (w/labs) Organic Chem 1& 2 (w/labs), Cell Biology, Genetics, and A&P 1 with lab by the end of December.
I am wondering what upper level sciences are the most impressive to medical schools. The reason I am asking is because I did not do too well in my undergraduate degree. I am doing very well in my DIY. I don't really know how to put this, but I want to choose courses that will better prove (?) that I have what it academically takes to do well in medical school...or would any combination of these available courses be OK? I only have the finances for one more semester.

Courses available: Immunology, Microbiology w/lab, Pathology, A&P 2 w/lab, Histology

I have already decided to take Biochemistry (My university does separate labs. Should I take the Biochemistry lab?)

Thanks!

Any course that you get an A in and isn't Ecology.

 

[Graveyard_Shift_Sally]

Any course that you get an A in and isn't Ecology.

Note taken haha

 

[Goro]

Note taken haha

In reality, take:
Anatomy
Biochem
Physiology
Microbiology
Neuroscience
Histology
Molecular biology
Cancer biology
Immunology
Pathology
Stats
Genetics

The idea is to take coursework that mimics that of med school

 

[fluorescent colors]

P Chem is one of the most impressive, but I don't recommend it unless you intend to be a Chem major and chemistry is your back up career for not getting into med school.

The above advice is good. My state school required or strongly recommended the full year of biochemistry and that was NOT a mistake to have going in. I don't recommend people leave biochemistry just for how it will be taught in med school - cramming the full undergrad curriculum year into 10 weeks in med school was a recipe for failure for many.

I also had genetics as was required. I found it easy at both the undergrad and med school levels honestly.

Ditto that histo could be useful but didn't find histo hard either.

Many say don't bother with gross anatomy or physio until med school, but I struggled and wouldn't have minded in undergrad if I'd had the time for it.

I agree with taking Biochem for a year. I took all of the biochem classes that the university offered. I started off with taking the ones for non science majors and finishing with the upper level biochem courses. That helped a great deal in medical school. Cell and Molecular Biology helped too.

As for impressive I agree about Pchem.

 

[Newtonian21]

Taking molecular biology, biochemistry, and immunology wouldn’t hurt you in first few weeks of med school. Anatomy in med school is totally different. Good luck