I am an undergraduate Pre-Med student who is doing everything I possibly can to prepare myself for medical school. In researching requirements at the medical schools to which I am most likely to apply, I noticed that most schools require 2 semesters of English. While at college, I have taken one Freshman Composition class. I was able to skip the previous one due to my AP score from high school. Here’s the kicker, most of the schools I am looking at don’t accept AP credit, so that means I am one semester short on English. Unless… I took a Communications class as Dual Credit through another university while in high school and that transferred to cover my speech requirement. Will this class also count as another semester of English, or will I need another semester? Thanks!
Med schools are looking for 2 semesters of writing intensive coursework. An “English” class would be one that fulfills the writing requirement at your college.
Your communication class wouldn’t do this since it has already fulfilled your college’s speech requirement.
NOTE that a writing intensive class doesn’t have to be offered by the English Dept., but it does have to be on your college’s list of acceptable classes that will fulfill the writing requirement.
My college requires 3 semesters of English. I am considering taking a CLEP test for my 3rd and final requirement if I already have my 2 semesters of English required for medical school. Does that make sense?
Do NOT CLEP your writing requirement. Not a single US med school will accept CLEP credits.
You do not have 2 writing credits. You have 1 (from your college). Your speech class counts does not fulfill writing requirements. And medical schools do not accept AP credit for writing requirements.
@livielou
Actually, there are some med schools that will accept CLEP (and AP) credits for English, along with other requirements (though some say on a “case by case basis”). Examples that will accept CLEP credit (where you wouldn’t have to also take upper level English classes) include: UAB, Michigan State University, Florida State University, Marshall University (though in your case, you would probably need a good MCAT score proving proficiency in English), University of South Carolina SOM, and Creighton University SOM.
However, I do agree that if possible, you should avoid CLEPing English because by doing so, you limit the amount of schools you can apply to. (CLEP credits - and even IB credits - are “less desirable” than AP credits.) What schools are you looking at though? Hopefully not just ivies? There are very few (that I know of) that flat out won’t accept AP credits - and especially for non-science prerequisites like math and English. You may want to take a look at this list: http://www.premedlife.com/uncategorized/advanced-placement-ap-credit-and-u-s-medical-schools-requirements-2179/
I’m a bit confused though:
" Unless… I took a Communications class as Dual Credit through another university while in high school and that transferred to cover my speech requirement."
Are you saying you already did this? If so, I agree that this likely wouldn’t count as an English class; however, you’d need to talk to your school (and also any med schools you think you’ll be interested in in the future). As you’ve already been told, some med schools also allow “writing intensive” courses as a substitution for “English” classes. You should ask your school about this as well. What is your major - does it have any “writing intensive” classes? I’m also assuming your school has a premed committee and advisors? You should definitely get in contact with them.
Good luck~
(And I’d suggest you check out SDN - Student Doctor Network the next time you have questions about being pre-med. It’s a much better resource - IMO - for questions about which schools accept what types of credit.)