7+8 Year Medical School Admission Question

<p>Hello Everybody,
I just became a junior and for my schedule I have chosen to take AP Biology and Ap Physics. My dad and I are currently facing an issue. My dad believes it is a necessity for me to take AP Chemistry instead of AP Physics this year. However, I know physics a lot better because I took it last year as opposed to chemistry, which I took in the summer a year ago. Would taking chemistry as a senior decrease any of my chances into a 7/8 year medical school
or would it not matter when I take chemistry as long as I successfully complete it by my senior year? Any advice would be great. Thanks a lot.</p>

<p>It won’t matter, just as long as you’re taking the most rigorous course load possible, which I’m assuming you are. There are A LOT of other things to worry about to get accepted into those 7/8 year programs. Hopefully, you’ve kept your grades up and can score well on standardized tests – that’s only to get you an application. You will also need to show extreme interest in the medical field - shadowing a doctor, hospital volunteering, etc. If you do this and write unique essays, you just MIGHT get an interview. Then, you need to ace that! It’s so incredibly competitive since there’s only a few hundred spots, so don’t assume you’ll get accepted. Nothing wrong with taking the traditional 4-year undergrad/4-year med school route!</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>Thanks a lot man. And definitely i would not mind going to a traditional 4 year undergrad/ 4 year med route. Anyhow once again thanks a lot</p>

<p>AP Chem was not offered at my D’s HS. She got into 3 programs out of 6 that she applied. Gen Chem was her easiest class in college after all.</p>

<p>I would suggest to take AP Chemistry as that is more important than AP Physics.
The pre-med courses are more Biology and Chemistry and only less Physics. If the college looks at your AP scores when you aplly that will be more helpful than doing the AP chem in senior year when the AP score is not accounted for in the selection process.</p>

<p>The main problem with taking AP Chemistry as a senior rather than before is the fact that some of the top-tier Bachelor/MD programs may require you to have completed the SAT II exam in Chemistry for application to assess your “understanding of general chemistry at the college preparatory level”: [SAT</a> Subject Test in Chemistry](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools)</p>

<p>Northwestern HPME is a good example.</p>

<p>Even a 10th grade high school chemistry even at the Pre-AP/Honors level in all likelihood would not prepare you well for the SAT II Chemistry exam.</p>

<p>Obviously with respect to premed requirements - Chemistry is more important as well as after General Chem I and II with Labs you take Organic Chem I and II with Labs, unlike Physics where you just take General Physics I and II with Labs and that’s it.</p>