Hi,
I’m currently an entering junior in college, however, I’ve been planning on continuing through college as a science major (biology). Now that I’ve transferred from a cc to a 4 year, my transfer advisor has made it clear that four of the science classes I took were not going to be able to transfer because they were intended for non-science majors. I knew that the classes were for non-science majors, but they were the only open options during the time that I enrolled. At the school I attended, the science classes were relatively expensive and covered the same concepts as the major intended classes. I do not want to retake the same classes and invest more money and time reviewing what I already know. I’ve come to the conclusion of switching my major to possibly psychology or communications. What I’m wondering is will this have a negative affect on my options for medical school? Will having a non-science major viewed as me not being serious about pursuing med school? Also, will medical schools only look at my science grades or will they consider my GPA the same as they would a someone who was science major? Thank you
I can answer your question as somebody who is still learning. Others who are more experienced will likely chime in.
Medical schools will look at your science gpa and your overall gpa. You can be any major for medical school, but you will need all of the prerequisites…including all of the sciences. Any science classes for non science majors will not be counted toward completing these prerequisites.
You have a big problem
Medical schools do not accept non-science major versions of science classes as fulfilling admission pre-requisites. If the non-transferrable classes include any of the basic required and/or recommended med school classes (bio, gen chem, ochem, physics, biochem, genetics, etc.), then you must retake them–and the take science major version of them–regardless of what your undergrad major is.
Since med school is your goal taking the non-science major version was a penny-wise, but pound-foolish decision on your part. You may have actually harmed your chances for a med school admission. Not only are you going to have to pay to retake the classes, having originally taken easier versions of the basic sciences before taking the more rigorous science-major versions makes it look like you’re trying to artificially inflate your sGPA–which will not endear you to med school adcomms.
But to answer your other questions:
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adcomms really don’t care about what your undergrad major is so long as you have completed the science major version of the required science pre-reqs.
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med schools adcomms look at both your overall GPA and your science GPA, with more emphasis placed on your sGPA. And that goes for everyone–not just non-science majors.
The issues that non-science majors face is that their pre-reqs science grades need to be excellent since they take fewer sciences and have less chance to recover from from any grade lower than A/A-.
Being a non-science major is no hindrance, and both sGPA and cumulative GPA are important. But do you have the required courses-that’s unclear from your post. For example, from Georgetown College(please note they recommend reviewing the website for each medical school to which you plan on applying):
http://www.georgetowncollege.edu/four-year-plan-medical-school
and JHU
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/som/admissions/md/application_process/prerequisites_requirements.html
So will your courses meet these requirements?
@WayOutWestMom I took those classes as a dual credit student. I think med schools should understand that I really didn’t know what I was doing as it was up to what courses my school offered at the moment. Also, now that I’m a “freshman” at a 4-year college with junior credits, my GPA isn’t affected by my grades, it just shows whether or not I completed the class.
In addition to BIOL I and II for non-science majors, I also took A&P I and II with another A&P course which is a combo of the courses? Anatomy and physiology is considered biology, correct? Therefore I won’t have to retake BIOL I and II? Because I already have 1 years worth of credits in biology for med school? I don’t have enough money to continuously retake and re-enroll in courses, my goal is to finish my b.s. or b.a. in one year. So I’m looking for my best options.
When you apply for medical school thru AMCAS or AACOMAS, you will have to send transcripts for every college level class you’ve ever taken–even dual enrollment credits taken during high school. Those credits will be included when your GPA/sGPA is calculated. Adcomms will see your coursework listed by year in school. Your dual enrollment credits will be included with your freshman classes.
When you posted your question originally, you should have mentioned it was dual enrollment class. That changes things slightly, but still doesn’t excuse you from taking science major biology coursework.
RE; using A&P classes as a sub for intro bio at college.
There’s no simple answer to this . Some medical schools may allow you to sub A&P for bio 1 & 2, but most will not. (BTW, med schools require 2 semesters of bio lab as well as lecture. Do you have bio lab credits? Did they transfer as science major college credits?)
If your dual enrollment A&P coursework was taken at a community college, there are many med school that won’t accept those credits unless you supplement those w/ UL bio credits taken at a 4 year college. (Many adcomms members view CC coursework as lacking in the necessary academic rigor required for med school preparation.)
Did your transfer college accept the A&P class for college biology credits? Was there a lab? Did your lab credits transfer?
If new college didn’t accept them, medical schools won’t either.
I have to ask you–do you want to graduate in one year or do you want to be competitive candidates for med school?
Because the two goals may be mutually impossible.
I understand that finances are a concern, but med school admission is very challenging and rather unforgiving in its expectations of applicants.
For med school, you will need to have all of the following coursework:
2 semesters bio w/labs
2 semesters gen chem w/ labs
2 semesters ochem w/ labs
1 semester biochem
2 semesters physics w/ labs
1 semester of college level mathematics (calc 1)
1 semester of math-based statistics or biostatistics
1 semester psychology (tested on the MCAT)
1 semester sociology (tested on the MCAT)
2 semester of writing skills
Individual medical schools will have additional required or strongly recommended coursework. And for med school strongly recommended = required. It’s your job to find out what each med school you hope to apply requires.
There’s a saying about medical school–it’s your stats (GPA + MCAT) that get you to the door, but it’s your ECs that get you invited inside.
Beside having fulfilled all the pre-reqs, med school applicants need to have a range of ECs expected in applicants. Without these your chances for an admission are dramatically diminished, perhaps even completely ruined. Med school adcomms rated these EC as very important: community service with disadvantaged; clinical experiences (paid or volunteer) where you have direct patient contact; physician shadowing (esp. in primary care specialties); leadership positions in your activities. Clinical or lab research is moderately important for your state schools, but for private and highly ranked school, it’s very important. Some medical schools want to see teaching/tutoring/coaching experience in applicants.
Additionally, you’ll need a letter of evaluation from at least 2 college science professors and 1 non-science college professor. Osteopathic med schools also require a letter of recommendation from a practicing DO with whom you’ve shadowed. A handful of med schools also require a letter of recommendation from your clinical supervisor
If you have questions about the best path going forward, you should make an appointment with the health profession advisor at your college.
I don’t think you can pick a new major, graduate in one year, and be competitive for med school. I also wouldn’t assume that taking the science major version of a class would involve a repeat of all the material. The version for science majors, especially if you have’t had separate labs before, may cover a lot more material and different material. In my area, I know that an intro Econ for non Econ majors course can be a light weight version of what the real intro courses are like.
@CheddarcheeseMN is right. The reason why non-science major science classes are not accepted by med schools as fulfilling admission requirements is the fact that although the topics covered might be identical the amount of detail covered and the depth of material is quite different.
Here’s a list of biological topics covered on the MCAT
https://aamc-orange.global.ssl.fastly.net/production/media/filer_public/24/19/2419a765-fc49-466b-bcf8-b6470a8ff273/mcat-bb-content-outline.pdf
You should take a look to see if your class adequate covered the topics listed in the document above.
I’ve been prepping for the MCAT for 2 years now. The courses I took definitely went deep into the topics, as I’ve had some of the most intense professors.
@WayOutWestMom Thank you for that information. My a&p classes did include labs (worth 4 credits total) and are marked as biol w/ lab, I took two semesters worth. I have most of the prereqs met just missing a physics and chem course. As far as my ECs, I have traveled to over 17 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia performing non-profit work. I have interned at a major marketing firm and through managing their social media accounts, my efforts increased their sales by 5%. I’m currently working as a medical assistant, getting tons of clinical experience. I have completed 500 hours of non-profit work and raised over $15,000 for the underprivileged youth in my city. I have also performed a researched based internship at a small clinic in my area. I have yet to shadow a doctor, but I do plan on shadowing this summer. I am also a racial minority with a very interesting background and a “phenomenal” story.
@Beangoals Miracle can happen. But based on your posts and not able to get a full picture of what and where you have done each of the pre-req courses, the miracle may be an illusion.
If these are the facts understood correctly, then there are lot of holes in the plan.
Got few credits due to HS-CC dual credits.
Did many courses in CC.
2 years completed in CC and about to enter 4-year college coming fall.
Planning to complete your BS/BA in 1 year and graduate in May 2020.
Have not done any science courses in 4 years college yet.
It will help if we know these:
When do you plan to matriculate in MD? In Fall 2020 or 2021 (with gap year if you are determined to graduate in 3 years for your BS/BA)?
What is driving to complete in 3 years and take a gap year (concluding gap year, because you have not yet taken MCAT and not yet applied for MD this cycle yet on June 30th)
When are you planning to take MCAT? (Try to get at least 510)
Is your 4 years college has a pre-med committee for LOR? If so, first talk to them and confirm you have met all their reqs to give a LOR. That itself will force you to do some science courses in your college.
As WOWM and others stated above, you need to meet all the pre-reqs courses of a science major and also need to do a upper level course if you have met few of them either due to AP exams or CC courses.
Can you speak to an advisor at the school you are transferring into and develop a realistic plan?
Most of your EC s don’t matter to medical schools. You must have a lot of experience (abroad is a ‘nice to have’, not a requirement).
You really must take more advanced biology, biochemistry, and chemistry courses to 1)prove yourself in science 2) stand out in advanced classes so you can secure recommendations. If your CC courses went in-depth it’ll be easy and you’ll get As. Don’t be pennywise pound foolish - if you really see them as a waste of time, take them online and do the work quickly, do attend the labs. (A&P labs won’t count either).
Just so you know, med schools don’t cut slack on anything.
If your CC courses won’t count as pre-reqs for advanced biology at your University, then retake bio 1&2. Basically you need 2 advanced bio classes to make up for your cc bio classes with and if that means having to take bio1+2 first then that’s what you must do for med school. No short cuts.
So, basically you have to choose between graduating early or going to medical school.
The profile you present will NOT be acceptable to med schools.
Good luck on your journey.
I’d suggest you try taking one of the full length AMCAS MCAT exams to see if you have the necessary knowledge to do well on the MCAT.
https://store.aamc.org/aamc-mcat-practice-exam-one-online.html
The cost is modest ($35) and it’s a good predictor of your future MCAT score. Try to take the test in as close to actual testing conditions as possible. All 8 hours in one sitting, in a quiet but public location (a public or college library is a good simulation environment)
And please talk to the health professions advisor at your college about your coursework and academic profile. They will be able to advise you on how to proceed.
Be cautious about taking online classes as @MYOS1634 recommends above. Most allopathic medical schools specifically prohibit using online classes to fulfill science admission requirements.
Minority in broader US society is different than under-represented in medicine (UiM). Every individual med school is allowed to define what they consider UiM so what ethnic or racial groups are considered UiM varies.
BTW, you never said if your college accepted your A&P credits as college bio credits that would fulfill biology major requirements. As I said before, if your college won’t accept that coursework, then med schools absolutely will not. Unfortunately, medical schools are quite inflexible in their academic expectations/requirements for applicants. (And with good reason.) Adcomms want applicants who have demonstrated that they have the academic skills and perseverance to be successful when studying the dense and challenging materials that mimic the type of material med students study.
“I do not want to retake the same classes and invest more money and time reviewing what I already know.” But you said you want med school and that’s a lot tougher than just ‘doing what I want to do.’ Most of us prefer a doctor who took more rigorous than ‘science for non-majors’ courses. Not just who has “a very interesting background and a ‘phenomenal’ story.”
Accept that med school admissions has set requirement for all and is highly competitive.
And your transfer college may have a requirement that you spend more than one year there, to get a diploma with their name on it.
The ECs are not just about unspecified non-profit work, not social media experience, not fundraising. Being a medical assistant isn’t an “it.” (Your descriptions are vague. For all we know, research in a clinic is more administrative than healthcare delivery. Most MAs just briefly interact with patients. Etc.)
You need to learn more about what it takes and, if serious, put the “more” effort in.
Just to be clear, I suggested taking the two intro bio courses online because OP seems so reluctant to take these classes, and s/he needs 2 advanced bio classes to offset the CC bio classes. If that makes things more palatable… Getting to the 2 advanced classes for bio or biochem majors is key.
Traveling to over 17 countries to do non-profit work is very nice, but from what I have read on other premed forums…it is important to do the work here…in your own backyard.
To me it seems as though you are trying to go to med school through some “back door” approach. There is no such approach…the classes are tough and certain sciences are expected.
Will your new school allow you to graduate after only being there for a year? That seems odd to me. Also…how will you fulfill all of these prerequisites in a year, plus take the mcats?
If you are serious about medical school I would meet with an advisor and lay out a plan that will get you there.
And as FYI, high school activities really aren’t of any interest to med school adcomms. (Generally HS activities aren’t even included on your med school application unless you have continued the same activity at the same location during college.)
International volunteer trips currently have a very poor reputation with med school adcomms especially if they’re short term or involve providing medical services. They’re viewed as exploitative and potentially unethical. You may want to leave them off your CV.
I have sympathy for you. I really do. My daughters were classified as socio-economic disadvantaged by AMCAS (EO-2, although neither checked the disadvantaged box on the AMCAS application). Money was big issue for them when going to college. Both attended college on scholarships. Both also worked during high school & college, often worked multiple jobs.
If money is truly an issue for you and your credentials are impressive as you claim, I’m sure you can also find a college that is willing to pay you to attend it. You may need to sit out the year while you research and re-apply to a different set of colleges, but there is money out there. It may not be at a brand name college, but there is a college out there that wants to enroll a high achieving, driven URM student and is willing to pony-up the $$$ to do so. Scholarships cover 8 semesters of college so you will have the time to retake the required coursework–and earn those As which will give you the high GPA medical school requires.
There really aren’t any shortcuts to medical school. The sheer number of pre-med hopefuls is daunting and medical schools can pick & choose from the best of the best. Because of this medical schools are not going to make an exception for a “interesting life story”. That’s frosting. You first need to prove that you have academic skills and perseverance to survive the furnace that is med school. Taking the easiest, quickest way to degree doesn’t demonstrate that. Nor does taking less rigorous non-science major classes. Even acing the MCAT doesn’t prove you have the academic chops for med school. (It only proves you’re a strong test-taker. Bully for you!)
If you want to go to medical school, then you need to do this right.