<p>This is a posting for a friend. He is a pre-med biochem major at a top institution. We are considering some changes to his schedule, one of which may include (as suggested by his advisor) taking 2 advanced 200 -level bio courses (Molecular genetics and something else) instead of the 2 intro bio courses. The advisor said that not all med schools specifically require the intro bio courses, and that him taking more upper-level classes might make his admissions profile better.</p>
<p>Assuming that my friend would get an A in whatever class he took, what would be the best option? How limiting would it be to not take the intro bio courses? At first glance at Harvard, Columbia, and Penn Med, it doesn't look like they specifically require the intro bio courses. Are there any high-profile Med schools he would be excluded from on the basis of a pre-requisite of introductory biology?</p>
<p>Most med schools don’t specifically require intro level bio. He can reasonably substitute any bio class WITH a lab for intro level bio classes.</p>
<p>The lab is the important part. Medical school requires 2 semesters of bio WITH LABS.</p>
<p>Not sure that taking upper level classes in and of itself will impress med school adcomms, even if he does get As. There are too many bio majors applying with a full suite of upper level and graduate coursework for adcomms to get excited about it.</p>
<p>OP, if your friend can skip an intro science (because of credit or placement) then by all means, skip it. I skipped all intro science/math classes.</p>
<p>Looking good to schools does not happen because you took advanced classes.</p>
<p>I read advice by a guy who went to UCSF from Stanford a while ago that he took advanced classes because they were easier to get As in while beginner classes were littered with premeds and they were graded on a curve. This applies to Physics and Chemistry too.</p>
<p>I second texaspg’s take on the advanced courses. I got the same advice from my nieces and nephews who got through the process more recently. That definitely proved to be true in my son’s experience. Most advanced classes at my son’s school had a significant number of graduate students and non-premeds. Those folks are not gunners. Also, the curves are a bit better, not to mention a better percentage of A grades.</p>