College Sophomore Becoming a Pre-med

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
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<p>Hello everyone.
I am a second-year college student at my state flagship and I’ve recently decided to pursue a career in medicine after a great deal of self-reflection.</p>

<p>Well, because a pre-med advisor is unavailable to me because I’m late in the game and won’t be able to contact one until next semester, or possibly even next year, I would appreciate your guys’ help. Moreover, advising at my school is usually better next semester when I’m a second term sophomore since then most of the pre-meds have dropped out to pursue real passions or because of Orgo 2.</p>

<p>At my university, I am pursuing a double major in biochemistry and applied mathematics. I’m also focusing on taking Arabic as well. I love all of them. :D </p>

<p>I know what coursework is required for medical schools, but I would like to know in detail which courses should be taken before the MCAT and whether I can take required courses after applying to medical schools. I also found out that it’s bad to take summer courses. Is it alright, though, if I took/will take Arabic over the summer even though it’s not a pre-med requirement? I would also like to take coursework that will prepare for medical school if I hopefully get in. (Pray for me!) :) </p>

<p>Here is my schedule:
Freshman Year
First Term
Honors Intro to Psychology (A)
Honors Calculus 3 (A)
Honors English 1 (A)
Organic Chemistry 1 (A)/Lab 1 (A)
Credits: 17</p>

<p>Second Term
Intro to Cognitive Psychology (A)
Linear Algebra (A)
Honors English 2 (A)
Organic Chemistry 2 (A-)/Lab 2 (A)
Credits: 17</p>

<p>Summer Term
Combined Arabic 1 and 2 (A)
Credits: 10</p>

<p>Sophomore Year
First Term
Honors Intro to Sociology (Will end up with an A)
Introductory Microbiology with Lab (Will end up with an A)
Chemical Principles (Will end up with an A if I don’t blow off the final exam)
Bioinorganic Chemistry (Will end up with an A- or an A if I don’t blow off the final exam)
Honors Differential Equations (Probably going to be an A- or an A)
Credits: 17</p>

<p>This is what I plan to take:
Sophomore Year Second Term
Animal Physiology and Neurobiology
Fundamentals of Biochemistry/Biochemistry Lab
Intro to Modern Algebra
Physics 1/Physics Lab
Credits: 17</p>

<p>Summer Term
Combined Arabic 3 and 4
Credits: 10</p>

<p>Junior Year
First Term
Advanced Arabic 1
Advanced Calc 1
Advanced Biochem 1
Calc-based Physics 2/Physics Lab
Biopsychology of Learning and Memory
Credits: 19</p>

<p>Second Term
Advanced Arabic 2
Advanced Calc 2
Advanced Biochem 2
Genetics
Advanced Human Physiology
Credits: 18</p>

<p>Senior Year
First Term
Classical Arabic Reading
Biophysical Chemistry 1
Mathematical Modeling in Biology
Probability Theory
Molecular Biology
Credits: 16</p>

<p>Second Term
Classical Arabic Grammar
Biophysical Chemistry 2
Advanced Mathematical Modeling in Biology
Discrete State Stochastic Process
Cellular Biology/Cellular and Molecular Biology Lab
Credits: 19</p>

<p>Also, I have more than enough chemistry here for medical school requirements, but no chemistry labs. My state school, according to the website, tells those who use AP Credit to get out of General Chemistry and the labs to just take Chemical Principles or Physical Chemistry and that the state school’s pre-med advising team will send a letter to the medical school stating that the AP Credit is accepted. Plus, I’ve been taking several chem courses. Do you think a Biochem lab would be fine for med schools? Or should I replace an Arabic course or something (though it would pain me to do this) for Biomedical Analytical Chemistry and its two lab courses—even though it’s a 200 level course?</p>

<p>Please help! I’ve been using the internet, my school’s online resources, and the sticky forums on this website to supplant my information about being a pre-med, but I need some personal help. I hope one of you knowledgeable people on here who have gone through the process or who have a child who has gone through the process can assist me. </p>

<p>Which medical schools require statistics? Would math courses like "probability theory" and "discrete state stochastic process" count? </p>

<p>Finally, when should I focus on studying for the MCAT—in my first and/or second term of Junior year? </p>

<p>Thank you! :)</p>

<p>By the way, during my summer terms with Arabic courses, I augmented/will augment my experience in research in the biochemistry department/medical school (my state flagship medical school has a program like this) and my volunteering in the nearby hospital complex. So I didn’t waste my last summer and I won’t for this one. I just can’t fit those 100 level and 200 level Arabic courses! They’re 5 credits each! LOL. :D</p>

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<p>I forgot to ask: Is taking my final Bio lab requirement as the Cellular and Molecular biology lab in my last term senior year fine? </p>

<p>If you need to know the name of my college, I’m willing to share it on here. I just think that some here on this website might look down upon it–so many on here attend Ivy League schools and other prestigious private schools! :)</p>

<p>I looked up MCAT dates and what do you guys think about end of summer after sophomore year? That gives me the entire summer to study the MCAT with relatively little outside commitments (only Arabic courses, research, volunteering, shadowing, etc.). How detrimental is it to take the MCAT more than once?</p>

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<p>Sorry for the lengthy post, but I would appreciate any replies. Please help. </p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

4

<p>I’ll try to answer a few of your questions. First, don’t worry at all about taking language classes during a summer term–the only concern is with pre-reqs taken during the summer. If possible, don’t take the MCAT until you have completed all the core pre-reqs. It looks like you plan to take the second required semester of physics during the first semester of junior year. However, if you had a decent physics class in high school, you may be able to review (on your own or through a prep class) the material you need to know for the MCAT. (My D did this and did just fine.) Try to avoid having to retake the MCAT more than once. Let’s see…what else? Yes, you can take required courses after you apply–my D took 2nd semester physics during the 2nd semester of her senior year. If you haven’t yet done so, read through the threads that are sticked at the top of this forum. It looks like you’re in good shape!</p>

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<p>Thanks for the reply! :)</p>

<p>I think my physics knowledge is enough. I took AP Physics C in high school and got a 5, but decided not to use that credit, and I also took a physics class junior year as well. I’ve read that physics on the MCAT is apparently algebra-based, so I don’t think I’ll have much trouble with it if I review over the concepts.</p>

<p>Do you know about my questions with the Chemistry lab and any statistics requirements?</p>

<p>Once again, thank you so much for your reply. I really needed it. :)</p>

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<p>Why? Just about everywhere, calc based physics is a three semester sequence. Why not just take the last part?</p>

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<p>My school created a special “quant lab” class just for people with AP credit in Chem 1/2. Your best bet here is to follow the direction of your pre-med advising office. They know what works at your school. As for stats, in my opinion, anyone going into any scientific field should have a basic understanding of statistics. In my case I had AP Stats and added a senior level biostatistics course. It’s not an official req. but in my mind it is.
Good luck.</p>

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<p>plumazul, I’ve spoken to my school’s stat department, and the math course Probability Theory will serve as a prerequisite for taking Biostatistics or Theoretical Statistics my senior year. I would have to replace that with Discrete Stochastic State Process though.</p>

<p>Calc-based physics at my school is a 2-term course. I decided against taking the AP Physics credit because I knew that I would have to supplement the credit for my majors biochemistry and math with a higher-level physics course. The same is true for medical schools, as well, but I just recently found that out. Since I’m not fond of physics in the least, it’s better for me to take physics over again. </p>

<p>The problem with chemistry is that I can’t contact my pre-med advising office until next semester or even next year. By then, it might be difficult to take a Chem lab with my schedule.</p>

<p>Do you think a biochem lab can replace an inorganic chem lab? For all the medical schools I’ve looked at in my state (Michigan) and in nearby states, those that require biochemistry do not require a biochem lab, so in theory they would accept a biochemistry lab for inorganic chemistry lab credit, right?</p>

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<p>It was fine for all of the med schools D1 applied to. She bypassed Inorganic chem and instead took a full year each of orgo and biochem; her orgo had accompanying labs but the biochem didn’t so she took a separate 1 unit (equivalent to a full year of lab) biochem lab.</p>

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<p>Thank you for the prompt reply, entomom. At my school, after general chemistry and organic chemistry, there are only some analytical chem and biochem labs, and the two 300-level analytical chemistry classes do not have lab courses with it (they have informal AMAZING research sessions instead :)) while the two 200-level analytical chemistry classes do have corresponding lab courses. </p>

<p>Since I’m currently taking a 300-level analytical chem class required for my major, it’s nice to hear that medical schools can take biochem labs as a replacement for the inorganic chemistry lab requirement.</p>

<p>Thank you so much! :)</p>

<p>Congrats to your daughter’s acceptance to a medical school!</p>

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<p>OP, your 4 yr. plan has two semesters of phys. chem. Don’t those both have labs? If so, there’s your solution.</p>