Required classes

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>I'm a first year looking at going to med school and just want to make sure I know all of the classes that I should be taking. It looks like
1 year: gen bio, gen chem, ochem, physics and some places math (do you need stats or should calc through linear algebra and differential equations be enough?) also some places want a year of English or a lot of humanities classes and 1 quarter of biochem but no lab is needed for that
Is there anything I'm missing? Some schools seem as if they really don't want engineering majors because I know I can't take as many humanities classes as some schools require. Also is there anything that you should take either for the mcat or for med school that I didn't list? Is psych needed?
I know there's the coursework thread but the original list is from 2006 and I know they're always making changes. Thank you!</p>

2

<p>To cover the “recommendations” for schools that require math I would suggest 1 semester of Calculus and 1 semester of Stats. The other subjects that some colleges recommend are Biochem and Genetics in addition to Intensive Writing/English. You might want to Google phrases such as “medical schools with additional biology/science or math requirements” or “medical schools with additional prerequisites” as some schools post PDF files with what schools require/recommend these subjects.</p>

3

<p>This may help as far as the new MCAT:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/1323842-new-mcat.html?highlight=new[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/1323842-new-mcat.html?highlight=new&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>Admission requirements may be changing since there will be a new format for the MCAT starting in 2015. </p>

<p>There will be a human behavior section on the 2015 MCAT. It will include topics in sociology, psychology, ethics and the biological underpinnings of human behavior.</p>

<p>The new MCAT Biological Science section will also include biochemistry–so definitely add that your list of “must take” courses. Some early reports suggest that as many as 40% of the section’s questions will be biochem.</p>

<p>English-- Most med schools require 2 semesters. This is generally interpreted as 2 semesters of “writing intensive” classes, not necessarily English Lit classes. You will need to check with your school to see which courses are designated as “writing intensive” since this varies widely by school. (But, you may be able to a writing class thru the engineering dept. D1 was required to take a semester of technical writing for scientists and engineers–which was counted as writing intensive by med school. D2 took her 2nd writing credit thru the math dept.)</p>

<p>Only a handful of medical schools require math beyond Calc 1. Although stats are often recommended, your engineering math should more than cover any math requirement.</p>

<p>You will need to consult the MSAR (Medical School Admission Requirements) to see what other courses may be required. Some schools require genetics, anatomy & physciology and/or 2 semesters of upper level humanities. </p>

<p>I would strongly recommend looking at the requirements for all your state medical schools and making sure you have met the pre-reqs for those.</p>

5

<p>I do not know about new MCAT, but genetics and physiology are used to be helpful for MCAT. Also, some schools require Anatomy. Anyway, you have to check the website of each potential Med. School, they might be slightly different.<br>
In regard to math, according to my D. (and keep in mind that everybody is different, I have to have this disclaimer), calcs are required but useless for pre-meds, stats are great for understanding the Med. Research lab procedures. Anyway, eother math is OK and unless you are in engineering, it is pretty easy A.</p>

6

<p>

FYI, I believe starting in 2012 some Texas schools require 1 semester of statistics. Someone can correct me if that is not the case.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.swarthmore.edu/Documents/slife/pre_med/Math_Req_for_Medical_School.pdf[/url]”>http://www.swarthmore.edu/Documents/slife/pre_med/Math_Req_for_Medical_School.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

7

<p>Thank you all so much you were all really helpful and I’ll keep all of your advice in mind when picking my classes, the links were extremely helpful!</p>