Premed Requirements and AP

<p>If I am planning to complete the premed required classes, and I have tested out of gen chem and the into bio though APs, would I still need to take the labs of those classes (chem 125/126 and Bio 173)?</p>

<p>bump .</p>

<p>I know you have to take the bio lab, because that's what my advisor told me when I registered a month ago. I'm not sure about chem, because I haven't gotten my ap scores, and I placed into orgo. But bio lab is a two credit class, and I've heard it's not hard, just a pain since you've already gotten credit for the rest of it.</p>

<p>If you get a 4 on the chem test, you still have to take a lab. If you get a 5, you don't (4 = chem 130, 5 = chem 130 and chem 125/126).</p>

<p>I think it actually has to do with your chem placement test. I got a 4 on the AP Chem but I still have credit for Chem 130, Chem 125/126 because of the placement test I took.</p>

<p>The way I was told was that the placement test is only good for telling you whether you are ready for organic chemistry (i.e. it can't give you any credit). If you got a 4 on the AP test and placed into organic chemistry then you can take the chem 211 lab instead of the chem 125/126 lab.</p>

<p>Ah, well I'm looking at my transcript right now and I have credit for 125/126 and I got a 4 on the AP.</p>

<p>med schools are not too fond of ap credit. They actually prefer that you take the college level class, because it tends to be much more difficult/intensive. If I were you, I would scratch the AP credits, and just retake chem and bio. There are three advantages to retaking chem and bio:</p>

<p>1) Looks better to medical schools
2) GPA boosters (since you did well on the AP, you'll probably do well in the class)
3) good review for the MCAT</p>

<p>Using AP credit for non-science classes would be definitely be OK.</p>

<p>Med schools are fine with AP credit if you take courses to "replace" the old ones. So if you have credit for chemistry and chemistry lab, you should take higher level chemistry and lab.</p>

<p>Higher level chem classes (pchem, achem, inorgo - none of which will help you on the MCAT) are much more difficult then general chemistry. So, if you want your science GPA to consist of mostly hard, upper-level bio and chem, without any "buffer" classes, then ok. Michigan isn't a walk in the park.</p>

<p>Michigan pre-med advisors recommend you eventually take pchem and higher level biology, and if you're majoring in a science, you'll have to take them anyways, so I guess your argument works only for GPA buffering, which can be done in other ways really. There are plenty of easy science classes to buffer your GPA with. But like I said you're right if he doesn't feel comfortable with his Gen Chem AP credit he should retake Gen Chem in college.</p>

<p>Is it common for engineers from UMich to go to UMich med school? I'm considering chemical engineering as a major and this would take care of a lot of the med school requirements. Would it be easier for a UMich engineer to get accepted to the med school than an applicant from some other school?</p>

<p>TruthSmoker, I'm merely repeating what the vast majority of people believe to be true regarding the admissions process. Take it for what its worth. </p>

<p>If you're curious, I'm a premed junior at UM.</p>

<p>rkbgt, I have known a few engineers that have gone to medical school. Biomed seems to be the popular major for pre-health engineers. There is some leniency when it comes to grades for engineering, as well.</p>

<p>I might do biomed, but I've heard it's not a great plan B, at least not as great as chemE is. I'm looking at the premed requirements and it looks like you need to take Biology 171, 172, and 173. The college of engineering has it's own version of 172, biology 174. Would it be alright if I took this for a premed class. I might try and fit it into next semester so I don't want end up taking a class that doesn't count for the requirement.</p>

<p>Michigan isnt a walk in the park but if your going to be a science major and are pursuing a career in a science related field shouldn't you take advanced level science courses anyways? Its not cheap for me to attend Michigan and Im also trying to get the best value for my dollar and broaden my knowledge base as much as I can. Is this a bad thing?</p>

<p>I do want to broaden my knowledge. The problem is this: Bio 172 = molecular biology, Bio 174 = molecular biology for engineers. If I took 174 and found out that I had to take 172 for the premed requirement, I would be wasting my time by taking 2 classes on the same material and only learning one class worth's of material.</p>