<p>My son is just a freshman in college, but has been thinking about medical school for some time. He is currently a biomedical engineering undergrad major with a 4.0 after first semester Just to clarify, this GPA isn't from gen eds, since he doesn't start those in the engineering program until second sem sophomore year. He's had chem, calc, currently has an A in calc 2 and physics, and engineering classes. Most recently he got a low B or C on his second chem 2 test (A- on first chem 2 test). He's questioning if he has what it takes to get through organic chem and biochem in order to go to med school. He hasn't really cared for chemistry and mentioned he doesn't get any satisfaction from it. I realize there are many things that will determine med school admission besides grades. I'd just like to give him the best advice I can. Am I wrong in telling him not to base his whole decision on med school or no med school on having to take organic chem and biochem? He's questioning if he has any chance of making it through a year of orgo and sem.of biochem if he struggles with some of the chem 2 content so he's questioning if he should lean toward somethat that wouldn't require him to take those two classes. He's a hard worker, but with the engineering curriculum he hasn't really had time to participate in extracurriculars which we know he needs as well. He joined an emergency medical club on campus, but says he can't go to most events because of classwork. When he went to college he had planned on volunteering at the hospital (something he did through high school) and getting into reseach, but says he doesn't have the time. He juggled band, job, volunteering, and honors classes in high school and is a good time manager, but still doesn't have time. Unlike many college kids, he is not a partier. Any advice out there on organic chemistry and biochemistry or his situation based on the little info?</p>
<p>I am pretty sure that organic chem is a requirement for Med School</p>
<p>We realize that. I’m just wondering if he’s really worried about if he can handle that should that be a tell tale sign that med school might not be for him? He’s pretty hard on himself.</p>
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<p>Organic chemistry is an indicator of medical school in three specific ways. First, the grade itself is very important in admissions. Second, the material comes up a little bit on the MCAT and slightly in medical school – not a ton, but not zero either.</p>
<p>The third and most important thing, however, is that organic chemistry is the only class I can think of at the undergraduate level which uses the same learning modality as medical school and, indeed, medicine generally. There’s some theory, there’s some detective work, and it’s far and away mostly pure memorization. And it’s hard.</p>
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<p>Of course his whole decision should not be based on an aversion to organic chemistry. But it’s a moderately important indicator for the three reasons described.</p>
<p>Thanks, that seems to be a great explanation of the class overall. He won’t know unless he at least tries. I guess I hate to see him give up on his dream if he hasn’t even tried the class to see if he can handle it. I think there’s so much hype out there about the difficulty of the class (obviously righteously so) that he may be losing his confidence before he even sees what it’s like for himself. If he were telling me he wasn’t still interested in being involved in the medical field, it would be different, but since he still really talks about wanting a career in medicine, I’d like him to have all the info he can before he makes that decision. You make some very wise points. Thanks, I look forward to sharing this with him.</p>
<p>If it helps, I can’t imagine anybody really giving up “his dream” without at least trying. My gut sense is that other things are happening as well, and this is simply the one he has opted to discuss with you. Perhaps it is the entirety of the premedical curriculum, or the unpleasantness of his premedical classmates, or the fact that he’s found something else he likes as well.</p>