I have AP Biology credit, but I have yet to accept it (it does not show up on my transcript unless I take it). A few details, I took AP Bio 4 years ago (I am pretty shaky with my basic bio knowledge) and next semester I am taking Orgo I (very intense at my school, way more difficult than what is needed for the MCAT because there is only one Orgo class for chem concentrators and everyone else).
I was wondering what would be smarter: retake intro bio, or skip it and take physiology. The dilemma I am facing is pretty much whether or not I will be able to handle physio without a strong base in bio, wanting to preserve a strong GPA, and a fear of missing out on other classes that I could potentially take if I end up taking both of them eventually instead of just one.
I am also concerned about how crucial this strong bio base is for the MCAT
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I’m usually anti-retaking when the motivation is “it’ll be an easy A” but in your case, if that’s how you really feel: retake it
Find the old final exams for the introductory biology courses at your college and try them to see how well you know the material in those courses, so that you can get an idea of whether you are prepared for more advanced courses that require introductory biology as a prerequisite.
Note that if you do skip introductory biology with AP credit, many medical schools do expect you to substitute more advanced biology courses in place of the skipped ones.
AP Bio is NOT at the same level as college level Bio for PREMED. There might be a class called intro Bio that is for non-bio majors. Make sure the class offered at your college is at the same level of AP bio before you skip it, discuss with professors teaching that class if you will.
I’m a former AP and IB Biology teacher. Both of these courses, if taught correctly following the curriculum, are equivalent in content to introductory college level Biology courses. But that is a big if. It depends on the qualifications and abilities of the teacher, the students in the class (if there are no criteria for taking the class, students can be woefully unprepared meaning the content will be watered down so that the teacher’s “success rate” is high enough), whether the school is committed to adequate funding for lab supplies, sending teachers to enough training, alotting enough seat time for the course and enough time for the teachers to prep labs, grade essays, etc.
I think you are a freshman in college? If so, that means you took AP Bio as a high school freshman. There is a trend in some schools to teach AP Bio to honors level students as their only Bio, usually in 9th or 10th grade, rather than after an introductory high school CP or Honors Bio. From what I’ve seen, this can lead to watering down the course since students come in without knowledge of basic biological concepts. If you really feel shaky in your basic biology knowledge, and you would have to spend extra time that you might not have to relearn these concepts to do well in Physiology, I’d suggest a retake of gen Bio first also. Sounds like the only con for you is one less elective.
S17 did very well in AP Biology. At his school for his pre-vet you have to take the science pre-reqs at the college (special program so you can’t use your AP credit). He went in a little ticked about it but after taking intro Biology for Pre-vet/pre-med students he is very glad he did. He did great in the class, learned a few things, and made some great contacts with his Biology TAs that are helping him to get a job. If you are at all uncertain go ahead and retake gen Bio.
It really depends on school. D got HS AP 5 in Bio, her HS is one of the top schools in Bay Area. At the College, they have a one year series class only open for first year premed or bio students that has a AP5 in Bio, by taking that series of class, you satisfy the “Introduction of Bio” premed requirement. It turned out to be the weed out class in her school, only 10% of the class got As and it was the hardest series of classes in her 4 year college experience.
Experiences vary, so check before you skip.