<p>Is it really necessary to take courses in English to apply to med school? What if you take multiple upper level courses in another language? Or multiple courses considered "writing intensive" by your college?
Do you really have to take courses in English (ie, English lit?).
What's the goal of the English course requirement? To show you are fluent in English? To show you can communicate well?
I really have no interest in taking English lit courses for pre-med. Thanks for your input.</p>
<p>Why don’t you check various Med. School requirements at their web sites? They are clearly listed for each school. I am sure that in 100% of cases you will find out that 2 semesters of English are required. They could be covered by AP credits, which you can verify with Med. Schools’ adcoms if in doubt.
Foreign language is not required. It might be required by your UG major. Being fluent in foreign language(s) is a plus at Med. School except maybe Chinese. There are many Chinese students in Med. Schools who would be primary resource if translation is required. Spanish is great though. However, it is NOT a substituion for English.<br>
Again, the best is to visit the Med. School’s websites, the requirements change from year to year.
Writing skills are essential, I would say that they are more important than some UG science classes. In general, communication skills are of the most importance at Med. School. However, I am not sure that you need an English literature class, you just need an English class. On the other hand, D’s AP English Lit. was OK, she needed to take only one semester of English in college. If she had 5 on AP exam, then she would end up not taking college English at all, but she had 4.
You are not up to discuss the purpose of any requirement. You just need to clarify the requirements at each school that you are planning to apply.</p>
<p>Doesn’t your college require a year of Frosh Comp? if so, that’s often enough.</p>
<p>My son used his AP English credits and then listed his “Writing Intensive” upper division courses in Eng’g as “the next higher level”…that was accepted.</p>
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<p>[The</a> study of literature in medical education. [Acad Med. 1995] - PubMed - NCBI](<a href=“The study of literature in medical education - PubMed”>The study of literature in medical education - PubMed)</p>
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<p>[Reading</a> Literary Fiction Improves Theory of Mind](<a href=“http://www.sciencemag.org/content/342/6156/377]Reading”>http://www.sciencemag.org/content/342/6156/377) from Science</p>
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<p>There are tons more if you want additional citations.</p>
<p>Be aware that my med school (and a growing trend of more) frown on kids with pure science backgrounds. Some of the admission literature is even suggesting that in ten years, those majoring in science will be on the minority</p>
<p>It continues to be noted times and again at Med. School, communication skills in general, including great writing skills are absolute must. I would say, FOCUS big time to develop these skills in your UG years, be open to various opportunites, not just in your classes. D. has menitoned that her voluteering and Sorority participation (do not laugh, very true) had made a great positive impact on her communication skills which have always been well above average. And writing is NOT a god given talent either, have to work hard to develop ability to write with ease, fast and at the level that other actually enjoy reading it.</p>