What was your favorite undergrad science class?

[relentless11]

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Hi everyone,

So I realized today that I am running out of ideas in terms of classes to take. There's still a lot left like those courses that need pre-reqs, and subject areas that I'm not familiar with. I've essentially exhausted all of the "medical" undergrad classes (e.g.: immunology, gross anatomy, microbio, hematology, etc), and just 1-2 classes away from finishing off all upper division undergrad physiology, chemistry, biology (incl. biochem) classes. So yea, i've been here way too long..lol!

I have about 2-3 years left, so I am wondering if anyone would be kind enough to throw out some suggestions, and hope that we have those courses..hehe. I just need classes, I don't care how hard they are, aslong as they're interesting. Really if it comes down to it, i'll take the less interesting classes too..since i just need more upper division classes🙂.

On a side note, has anyone taken animal science classes? I have the pre-reqs to take those, but I don't know how adcoms would view me taking pre-vet classes..haha. I can't take any lower division classes though, because of my graduate level standing. Apparently they'll give me an "X" grade regardless of what grade I get in that lower div. class...haha.

As always thanks for the feedback🙂.

PS: For those that don't know, I'm a PhD student, with a BS in biochemistry, so did all of my med school pre-reqs already. So anything outside of what is taught in my degree program would be helpful. Thanks!🙂

 

[kate_g]

What about biostatistics, like through a Public Health department? I could see it being good (especially as a researcher) to have a documented ability to analyze data. Other public health/public policy courses could show you're thinking about the wider impact of medicine on society. Do you have a law school handy, and do they teach any kind of medical-related law/ethics courses? Similar with economics department, anything useful there?

Someone in another thread mentioned having different biochem classes for the pre-meds and "pure" science majors, with very different focus on the material (what happens when this pathway goes wrong vs. mechanisms). So that could be broadening if you have the ability to get both perspectives. (Good argument for any pre-vet classes that interest you that parallel the pre-med courses: "I wanted a broader perspective".)

Virology? Neuroscience or neuroanatomy? I took an electron microscopy course, that was way cool (from preparing samples to developing photographs). How about structural biology (crystallography and protein/DNA structure)?

 

[relentless11]

What about biostatistics, like through a Public Health department? I could see it being good (especially as a researcher) to have a documented ability to analyze data. Other public health/public policy courses could show you're thinking about the wider impact of medicine on society. Do you have a law school handy, and do they teach any kind of medical-related law/ethics courses? Similar with economics department, anything useful there?

Someone in another thread mentioned having different biochem classes for the pre-meds and "pure" science majors, with very different focus on the material (what happens when this pathway goes wrong vs. mechanisms). So that could be broadening if you have the ability to get both perspectives. (Good argument for any pre-vet classes that interest you that parallel the pre-med courses: "I wanted a broader perspective".)

Virology? Neuroscience or neuroanatomy? I took an electron microscopy course, that was way cool (from preparing samples to developing photographs). How about structural biology (crystallography and protein/DNA structure)?

Ohh, thats a good point about virology and public health, i'll check those out. For the others, I took 2 quarters of our med schools biostatistics already, so they won't let me take the undergrad ones anymore...haha. Too bad though, that would've been an easy A. I took one neuroscience course last year i think. But from what I hear there may be one more class, so I'll definately keep an eye out. Thanks so much for the suggestions🙂.

 

[njbmd]

Hi everyone,

So I realized today that I am running out of ideas in terms of classes to take. There's still a lot left like those courses that need pre-reqs, and subject areas that I'm not familiar with. I've essentially exhausted all of the "medical" undergrad classes (e.g.: immunology, gross anatomy, microbio, hematology, etc), and just 1-2 classes away from finishing off all upper division undergrad physiology, chemistry, biology (incl. biochem) classes. So yea, i've been here way too long..lol!

I have about 2-3 years left, so I am wondering if anyone would be kind enough to throw out some suggestions, and hope that we have those courses..hehe. I just need classes, I don't care how hard they are, aslong as they're interesting. Really if it comes down to it, i'll take the less interesting classes too..since i just need more upper division classes🙂.

On a side note, has anyone taken animal science classes? I have the pre-reqs to take those, but I don't know how adcoms would view me taking pre-vet classes..haha. I can't take any lower division classes though, because of my graduate level standing. Apparently they'll give me an "X" grade regardless of what grade I get in that lower div. class...haha.

As always thanks for the feedback🙂.

PS: For those that don't know, I'm a PhD student, with a BS in biochemistry, so did all of my med school pre-reqs already. So anything outside of what is taught in my degree program would be helpful. Thanks!🙂

Hi there,
Admissions committees do not care if you take Vet courses as long as you do well. You might try something like histology(great class and very useful) or biomedical ethics (another useful course). I also found parasitology pretty useful too.

When I was a graduate student, I could take a lower division couse as long as I received graduate credit. This was accomplished generally by writing a paper for the course. Likely, your graduate school is different.

Unless you need to do "damage control" just take things that would enhance your medical career. The grade should not matter since you have tons of hours anyway.

njbmd 🙂

 

[OldManDave]

...was recess!

😀

 

[relentless11]

Hi there,
Admissions committees do not care if you take Vet courses as long as you do well. You might try something like histology(great class and very useful) or biomedical ethics (another useful course). I also found parasitology pretty useful too.

When I was a graduate student, I could take a lower division couse as long as I received graduate credit. This was accomplished generally by writing a paper for the course. Likely, your graduate school is different.

Unless you need to do "damage control" just take things that would enhance your medical career. The grade should not matter since you have tons of hours anyway.

njbmd 🙂

Hi njbmd, yea I'm on the damage control route😉. I'll check to see if histo is around. My PhD is in pathology so we've some intro stuff when taking general pathology with the med students. But it would be definately helpful to take an actual course. Parasitology is around too I think, so i'll definately take a look at that.

Sadly in regards to the lower division classes, our graduate studies will give us an "X" grade regardless of the grade we obtained..haha. Whats up with that. Anyway, I'll probably leave the pre-vet classes as a last line of classes to take. I don't mind the subject, but those pre-vets are cutthroat. But I guess thats how they should be to get into the ...25 or something schools in the nation 🙄 .

Anyway thanks for feedback. I'll definately check out histo, and parasitology!🙂

...was recess!

I wish we had that😉

 

[mj1878]

-Biopsychology was great, especially if you ever wanted to know why men/women act as they do.

-Organic chemistry

-More advanced organic chemistry

-Sounds sick, I know, but I just really clicked with Orgo.

-Any English class that reads short stories. There are some amazing authors out there that you've never heard of.

 

[relentless11]

-Biopsychology was great, especially if you ever wanted to know why men/women act as they do.

-Organic chemistry

-More advanced organic chemistry

-Sounds sick, I know, but I just really clicked with Orgo.

-Any English class that reads short stories. There are some amazing authors out there that you've never heard of.

Interesting, can you specify what biopsychology is about. We recently introduced a "psychobio" program here, so never heard much about it.

In regards to OChem, yea I was one of those sick people that liked it enough to take more than needed🙂. For some reason reaction mechanisms are so much fun!

Yea I was also considering english classes too. Maybe take a few before I finish. I need to focus on raising the sci GPA though since my non-sci GPA was like 3.1 compared to being <3.0 on my sci GPA...haha!

Anyway thanks for everything!🙂

 

[MediMama23]

My absolute favorite class, that I loved (and I mean loved) going to everyday was Inorganic Chem. But I know that the majority of that is due to my professor (hilarious guy) and my crush. 😍 But Coordination Chem and Point Groups were fun, too, I swear!!!

 

[relentless11]

My absolute favorite class, that I loved (and I mean loved) going to everyday was Inorganic Chem. But I know that the majority of that is due to my professor (hilarious guy) and my crush. 😍 But Coordination Chem and Point Groups were fun, too, I swear!!!

I actually looked into that last night. How is the subject anyway compared to PChem and OChem? I know its about transition metals but like any other chemistry course description one never finds out how exciting or unexciting it is until you take it..haha.

 

[MediMama23]

I actually looked into that last night. How is the subject anyway compared to PChem and OChem? I know its about transition metals but like any other chemistry course description one never finds out how exciting or unexciting it is until you take it..haha.

I don't know if you're like me, but PChem left me dumbfounded. Not to mention my professor was absolutely brilliant. I did well in those classes, but everything just flew over my head...sort of a "nod and look pretty" type deal. I guess I'd have to say that Inorganic Chem is between PChem and OChem, with OChem being just a little bit less difficult. You might get into the class and find that Inorganic is about as difficult as OChem.

 

[SRK85]

Anything but chemistry.

 

[TEXDENT]

My favorite class was analytical chemistry, and sadly I think was the only person in the class that didn't hate it

 

[dent2b]

My favorite class was analytical chemistry, and sadly I think was the only person in the class that didn't hate it

TX Dent where did you do your undergrad? I'm in Texas and want to find out what the process for Dental school was like. I'm taking pre-req's this summer. Chem 1 and Chem 2. Good Luck!

 

[mj1878]

Interesting, can you specify what biopsychology is about. We recently introduced a "psychobio" program here, so never heard much about it.

In regards to OChem, yea I was one of those sick people that liked it enough to take more than needed🙂. For some reason reaction mechanisms are so much fun!

Yea I was also considering english classes too. Maybe take a few before I finish. I need to focus on raising the sci GPA though since my non-sci GPA was like 3.1 compared to being <3.0 on my sci GPA...haha!

Anyway thanks for everything!🙂

Much of biopsych is about learning about mating patterns in different species(species that enter estrous "heat" and those that don't), the female and male behaviours of different species(including humans) and why certain behaviors are predictable. We also learned about some common (and uncommon) brain disorders, we learned about the neuron, we learned a little about the history of the study of the brain and how things (especially technology) has changed the study of the brain. We learned some things about memory, memory disorders, and lots more. Very enjoyable, from start to finish. We had a wonderful professor, though, and I'm sure that with a burn-out it would have been less fun. I recommend it, if you have some credit-hour room.

 

[Skaterbabe74]

Much of biopsych is about learning about mating patterns in different species(species that enter estrous "heat" and those that don't), the female and male behaviours of different species(including humans) and why certain behaviors are predictable. We also learned about some common (and uncommon) brain disorders, we learned about the neuron, we learned a little about the history of the study of the brain and how things (especially technology) has changed the study of the brain. We learned some things about memory, memory disorders, and lots more. Very enjoyable, from start to finish. We had a wonderful professor, though, and I'm sure that with a burn-out it would have been less fun. I recommend it, if you have some credit-hour room.

I think biopsych varies a lot from school to school. At my school biopsych is 1/2 A&P, 1/2 brain disorders/neurotransmitters/behavior/memory. We did nothing concerning mating patterns of different species. Since I had already taken A&P this class was probably the easiest A I ever got, but for the psych students (at our school biopsych is thru the psych dept) it's one of their hardest. I did find it really interesting tho, and since have done a lot more reading about the history and evolutionary basis of most behaviors thru my research job.

 

[Cinnameg]

Interesting, can you specify what biopsychology is about. We recently introduced a "psychobio" program here, so never heard much about it.

In regards to OChem, yea I was one of those sick people that liked it enough to take more than needed🙂. For some reason reaction mechanisms are so much fun!

Yea I was also considering english classes too. Maybe take a few before I finish. I need to focus on raising the sci GPA though since my non-sci GPA was like 3.1 compared to being <3.0 on my sci GPA...haha!

Anyway thanks for everything!🙂

I second the suggestion for a psychology course or two. At least at my undergraduate college, psychology was a research science, with double-blinds, controls, stats, everything . . . so to see how fuzzy a research topic can be and still be studied with the scientific method, and to learn some really odd and unexpected things about human behavior, I'd suggest taking social psychology. If you want to learn about brain areas, go with cognitive neuroscience. Do NOT take personality psych, that was a waste of time, or language psych. Clinical psych would probably overlap too much with what you'd learn in med school anyway. Really, go for social psych, it's the most fun, and it's also the upper division psychology course that my non-psych-major friends enjoyed the most.

 

[mshheaddoc]

Microbiology! 😍 But I'm looking forward to adv micro and immuno.

 

[Gatewayhoward]

There's a good amount of bio and sciences that have to do with ethics, sociology, and philosophy.

 

[relentless11]

I'll definately check all those courses out! So many choices. I totally forgot about psych, and the whole thing on biospsych sounds interesting as well. Thats one of hte things I like about these forums, so many people from different backgrounds to provide everyone with a diverse perspective on what is good and what is not🙂.

In regards to microbio, I took one class already, but it looks like I'm going to need to take more to prepare for my qualifying exam, so that one is on top of the list..hehe. It should be fun though, haven't done many labs in AGES!

Again, thanks everyone for your wonderful feedback🙂

 

[KittycooMD]

When I was in college, one of my favorite classes was ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY. My professor was funny, but even better, the subject matter was enthralling (I thought!). My prof usually drew parallels between the animal's phys and human's phys, so my interest level was x2.
I recommend it! I am applying to med schools this summer so I can't say was adcoms would think, but if you need more classes, do it! Any disease we can have, critters can have, so you learn quite a bit.

 

[Luba Licious]

Nutrition. There is a lot of science in it, and it is a subject doctors are notoriously lacking in. A lot of people in my class took it as an easy science (instead of chem or bio) but I would have been lost without those classes. With a science background it should be an easy, informative A. And it's practical for your every day life.