Med School Coursework Advice

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
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<p>Let me begin by saying that I have already read the coursework thread; the only reason that I am creating this separate thread is because after reading through about 30 forum posts, I have encountered contradictory advice that I would like to sort out as quickly as possible.</p>

<p>This is a specific curriculum question that has worried me based on some of the previous posts I read.</p>

<p>I am double-majoring in Biochemistry and Genetics (not because I see some Med School benefit in this, just because I want to), and I have AP credits in Calculus, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, English, and a couple of social sciences and humanities (specifically 48 hours, all of which count toward my major).</p>

<p>I am not unwilling to supplement my AP credits with advanced coursework. However, the upper-level biochemistry classes I will be taking around 2nd semester sophomore/1st semester junior year do not adhere to some of the advice offered on this board.</p>

<p>Specifically, I am concerned about my Chemistry pre-reqs. My major has biochemistry classes listed under the department heading BICH (biochemistry) instead of CHEM; if previous posts are to be believed, medical schools will not acknowledge this as chemistry credit because they adhere to Department heading rather than course content. I am also required to take 2 semesters of Physical Chemistry as part of my major. It has been said that "med schools don't care" about P-Chem and it should be "avoid[ed]". Does this mean that P-Chem will not count for my Gen Chem requirement or that the class is not worth the difficulty and potential risk to a GPA? I am very concerned because I already had a negative experience with my departmental adviser, and I do not want to be behind the curve on med school applications as I was on undergrad apps.</p>

<p>Thank you for any and all responses.</p>

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<p>Why is this an issue? You must take Orgo and PChem, that should be enough chemistry credit to satisfy any medical school.</p>

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<p>“Don’t care”, “avoided”?! Where did you see this? Pchem is a great class to have on your transcript. If you got an A in physics, calculus, and genchem(or their equivalents), then you will probably get in A in pchem. There are no new concepts just greater depth and integration of topics you have already seen. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>Do not worry too much about your UG classes. You cannot really prepare yourself for Med. School. No wonder they take any majors. Med School is just very very hard no matter what you took in UG. You wil have to work extremely hard in Med. School. All Med. Students do, including whose whith PhD and Masters in Science. You will not be exception, no matter what you do. Just take required classes and achieve very high GPA as close as possible to 4.0. Not much more you can do in UG and it is plenty in addition to decent MCAT, EC’s…etc.</p>