Which classes do I take for the pre-med biology requirement?

[RedVelvet13]

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Do I have to take the general biology courses or does it not matter, as long as it's under Biological/Life Sciences?
Which ones will best prepare me for the MCAT and medical school?
Am I allowed to mix my courses up? For example, may I take one semester of Anatomy, one of Anthropology, and one of Microbiology?
THANK YOU SO MUCH IN ADVANCE.

Here are the Biological/Life Sciences courses I can choose from this upcoming fall semester:

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY:
- Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology (with Lab), 4.0 units
- Introduction to Human Anatomy (with Lab), 4.0 units
- Introduction to Human Physiology (with Lab), 4.0 units
- Human Anatomy (with Lab), 5.0 units

ANTHROPOLOGY:
- Physical Anthropology (with Lab), 4.0 units

BIOLOGY:
- Introduction to Biological Science (with Lab), 4.0 units
- Principles of Biology 1 (with Lab), 5.0 units
- Principles of Biology 2 (with Lab), 5.0 units

MICROBIOLOGY:
- Principles and Applications of Microbiology (with Lab) - 5.0 units

PSYCHOLOGY:
- Introduction to Psychobiology - 3.0 units

ZOOLOGY:
- Introduction to Animal Biology (with Lab) - 4.0 units


Again, THANK YOU so much, I am really looking forward to your responses. Also, I apologize if this topic is in the wrong area...

 

[blaithnaid]

- Principles of Biology 1 (with Lab), 5.0 units
- Principles of Biology 2 (with Lab), 5.0 units

is the only thing on that list that counts as the gen bio

 

[akinetopsia]

Does your school have pre-med/pre-health advisers? It would probably be a good idea to approach them and ask what they recommend for pre-health students needing a year of biology. This will vary from school to school, and generally if you read individual med schools' websites, they specify that their prerequisites are met as long as you follow your institution's pre-med curriculum.

 

[RedVelvet13]

Okay. I will discuss it with my counselors and I'll probably take the general bio. Thank you very much!

 

[ghostridermedic]

just an FYI... for me, Gen Bio 1 was a monster of a class.

Gen Bio 2 however was one of the easiest classes ive ever taken.

 

[aidama]

Yes, it matters. For medical school or other health professions they SPECIFICALLY want straight Biology 1 and Biology 2 or your school's equivalents. Other courses that are useful for the MCAT are, IMO, Anatomy and Physiology, but it's not required. I would take courses that you think you will enjoy (beyond the requirements).

 

[RedVelvet13]

Okay, general biology before any other class it is. Thank you so much for your opinions and advice, I will keep them in mind! :]

 

[NYR56]

Actually A&P fulfill the bio requirement, and I'm unaware of any preference med schools have for one over the other. I personally used my A&P classes since I had AP credit for bio, which wasn't required at my school anyway. To be honest, I think the physiology part is more useful than the bio part for the MCAT (My AP bio class was taken 9 years prior to my MCAT, with no further classes on gen bio, without any disadvantage for me).

 

[wanderer]

Actually A&P fulfill the bio requirement, and I'm unaware of any preference med schools have for one over the other. I personally used my A&P classes since I had AP credit for bio, which wasn't required at my school anyway. To be honest, I think the physiology part is more useful than the bio part for the MCAT (My AP bio class was taken 9 years prior to my MCAT, with no further classes on gen bio, without any disadvantage for me).

The bolded is why schools didn't care that you took A & P. Without AP credits many schools specifically require "general bio," and although different courses fit under this bill A & P never does.

 

[NYR56]

Really? At my UG we were told that "Physiological Foundations" fulfilled the bio requirements, regardless of AP credits. Perhaps that course is slightly different than A&P, but I assume med schools would look at them the same. I can't say for sure since I never bothered to look into it much.