<p>My son is finally starting to figure out a possible direction. He has been interested in medicine off and on for a while (the result of all his athletic injuries, unfortunately). He is going into his senior year and I want to make sure he is taking the proper courses for being on a pre-med track in college. In other areas of this forum, suggestions are made to take all AP courses, particularly bio, chem, and physics. What if they are honors level courses and not all AP; would this be a detriment?</p>
<p>There are no requirements for pre-med in high school. Once he gets into college, then he starts taking the pre-requisites for med school. It helps to take AP classes to build a stronger college application but they are not required for medical school.</p>
<p>What 2010 hopeful said is true, but by taking AP courses, specifically in the sciences, he’ll be able to take even more advanced courses in college, thus helping him during the admissons process into med school.</p>
<p>The problem with medical school is that it is so competitive. Therefore, it would be most advisable to take the highest level courses possible even if they may be challenging in order to get into a good pre med and med program. hope this helps!</p>
<p>whoa
Doogie Houser alert.</p>
<p>First the kid needs to get into college. Taking APs etc helps get into college.</p>
<p>Second, the kid needs to have some fun and be a kid.</p>
<p>Third. Tradionally, med schools liked applicants that did all science in college. There has been a big switch from all but the “academic” schools (those that train professors and researchers) to want more rounded kids. There has also been a big push to take kids that have done something between college and medical school (still a low percentage, but increasing) eg paramedic, etc. These latter kids do much better in medical school. Taking “more advanced” classes in college is not as important as taking more variety to a growing number of med schools.</p>
<p>Forth, Again, the kid needs to be a kid and have fun.</p>
<p>Fifth: the odds are good that the kid in high school who wants to go into medicine will change that goal once in college and go into some other field.</p>
<p>Keylyme, Your question is valid. I too am considering this route. I am a kid and still having fun and…started looking for schools w/neuroscience electives and strong Biology programs. I don`t want to spend time on engineering based sciences such as Physics. I also want to use my electives on Physiology and psychology. Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Maddog
You would do better - and perhaps increase your med school chances - by doing electives in Shakespeare, history, etc. If you are poor in those subjects, then look for a college that let’s you do pass fail</p>
<p>I think it will be AP Calc AB, AP Physics, AP English Lit, AP Spanish, Intro Arabic (elective), not sure of final elective. Wanted AP Bio or A+P, but there were scheduling conflicts. Counselor assures this will not be a problem.</p>
<p>@ thread starter: You post on the wrong sub-forum. This is Prep School Admissions. Yours should be in High School Life or something.</p>
<p>Next time please read carefully and try to post in the right place. It would save time for people who come here to read about Prep School Admissions.</p>