<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>Are the three recommended bio courses cell bio, biochem, and genetics? or is biochem and genetics the main 2?</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>at my school many people complain about the difficulty of these classes, but if they are recommended by med schools I should still take them right?</p>
<p>At DS’s school, these 3 courses are required for every biology major on the standard track. Unless a student does not want to major in biology, s/he really can not avoid taking any of them. These three are called “core courses” for the biology majors.</p>
<p>I do not think med schools will require or strongly recommend taking all these 3 courses. Some may recommend biochemistry. It is often the case that it is the biology department which requires their students to take these courses.</p>
<p>im not a bio major, but i thought med schools like to see that you took these 3 courses (or some out of the 3)?</p>
<p>I learned from this forum that it is suggested to take a couple of upper-division bios after the pre-reqs. But they rarely suggested a particular bio course to take. Some did suggest courses like genetics, cell bio, biochemistry, physiology (not all are needed though), but I think it is more for MCAT than anything else.</p>
<p>I’ve seen some schools that *recommend<a href=“in%20some%20cases,%20strongly”>/I</a> that one takes Biochemistry…not sure about the others (Genetics, Cell Biology). Consult with the specific Med. school website.</p>
<p>If you are interested in actually having a manageable first year in med school, having already a basic background in biochemistry is a definite plus.</p>
<p>Many med schools, including mine do not require biochemistry. but most of our admitted students have completed some form of this course</p>
<p>^ I heard that medical school students may take immuno in addition to biochemistry. Is it true?</p>
<p>DS just finished taking immuno in order to fulfill his undergraduate graduation requirement (It is odd to me that his department requires every bio major to take one graduate-level class before graduation.) but I heard that it is a graduate school version (i.e., for graduate students in the MS or PhD program) of immuno, not the medical school version of immuno. Is there really any difference between these two versions of immuno? His TA is a medical school student though (I do not know which year. Because she is an MD-PhD student, she may have done with the MD part of the program and is finishing her PhD program right now.)</p>
<p>During medical school, immunology is definitely a subject of study-its essential to understand defenses against pathogens and wound healing mechanisms.</p>
<p>As an undergraduate, it is likely that courses deemed grad oriented are oriented toward experimentally driven understanding of the immune system. A medical oriented course is generally a bit more superficial in understanding the mechanisms and more oriented toward disease states. But this is just a generalized simplification and could vary substantially between undergraduate programs</p>
<p>D. has reserched some Medical Schools. Out of her list, only one reguires Biochem, so she will take it for this reason. Otherwise, she would not, although she heard that Biochem is not very hard.</p>
<p>pharmacology and many other first and second year subjects in med school are much easier if you already have Biochem under your belt. But many med schools do not require it. Just depends how much you want to add to your learning “chores” that first year of med school!</p>
<p>^ Interesting! D. had one Pharmacology class as UG, was not as hard as her Bio classes (like Cell Bio or Physiology). Well, she is planning taking Biochem anyway.</p>
<p>^I guess it all depends on the undergrad course. If the pharmacology course is one that does not require organic chemistry as a prereq, its usually taught at a very basic intro level. Still interesting and worthwhile, but adjusted to the background of the students.</p>
<p>^ It was Psychopharmacology, I do not know if it reguired Orgo… but D. has had Orgo before it, had to work very hard to get her grade in Orgo.</p>
<p>are there any chemistry and physics courses that are favored/recommended by med schools? (besides the required ones)?</p>
<p>Biochem and Physiology will be taught at med school. Having them before will help make your med school year easier, but why???</p>
<p>Do your major. Take Shakespeare or Chaucer. Go overseas. Be yourself and be different. Take “required” courses and do well in your major.</p>