Three questions, advice?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>Hello College Confidential. After finishing my first semester of university I have returned to ask for a little bit of advice regarding scheduling in undergrad, pre-med requisites, and extra-curricular work. So, here it goes:</p>

<p>Question one:</p>

<p>Are all classes labeled under "Biology", "Chemistry", "Physics", "Biochem", "Neuroscience", "Math" (aka, all of the subjects that count for the sGPA) counted for sGPA? By this, I'm including freshman seminars (in this specific case, a class that is about the influence of disease and antibiotics on the government and healthcare system) and other classes, such as "The Biology of Food", "Biology of Human Disease", etc?</p>

<p>Question two, possibly a little bit more university-specific than I intend (hopefullly not)</p>

<p>I'm not necessarily expecting much feedback from this question because I may not have explained the situation clearly enough so I'll understand if there's no response. </p>

<p>I am considering majoring in what is essentially Neuroscience (it has its own unique name). A major problem I am having is regarding my scheduling: I can fit the intro class for Neuroscience into my schedule with ease but I can't fit the second Biology class required for pre-med requisites. Right now I have completed one semester of biology and math, but if I don't take the second biology class I feel I will be a bit behind in fulfilling the requisites, especially since I will still have to complete Chem, Physics, Orgo, Englsh, and a second math class. </p>

<p>I'm in a bit of trouble from this. If I try to force the Biology class into my schedule, I have to remove a class (foreign language) that's required for graduation, and it would be a huge pain to fit it in my schedule next year because the class time is so inflexible for the rest of my courses. The problem is, one of the requirements for the Neuroscience major to graduate is that bio class. </p>

<p>Question three:</p>

<p>I currently work in a sleep and chronobiology lab as a research assistant where my job is to monitor subjects by recording information of their test results, daily meals, sleep patterns, etc. The purpose of this is to determine how controlling one's quantity of sleep affects their daily activity, reaction time, and sleepiness throughout the day. What would this qualify under? Work experience? Certainly not clinical experience correct?</p>

<p>Thanks for reading through this long post; I worry that I have written too vaguely and that no one will understand what I'm trying to say. If anyone has any advice it would be much appreciated!</p>

2

<p>Let me try to answer your first question: What classes count for the sGPA? (I think my interpretation of the sGPA/BCPM classes is a more traditional/rigorous one.)</p>

<ol>
<li><p>The class has to be offered by one of these 4 departments: B, C, P, M. A “slight” variation of the department, e.g., biochem, biophysics, astrophysics, will be qualified as a bcpm department as well.</p></li>
<li><p>The credit earned by taking this class can be used to fulfill the “major’s requirement” of one of these 4 majors. (Please note this is not the same as the credit that could be used for fulfilling university’s graduation requirement. It has to be for the science MAJOR’s requirement.)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Let me use the biology classes as examples to explain this. The bio department will usually list how many prereq classes you need to take as well as how many bio core classes you need to take after the prereq classes. It is often the case that the prereq classes are exactly the same as the med school required classes (maybe one class fewer at some college.) It is almost as if you officially become a part of the bio major after you have taken all of your prereqs for your bio major. But at this time, even though you have fulfilled almost all of your med school prereq classes, you does not take a single class that is a part of the core classes offered by the bio department yet!</p>

<p>There are two kinds of bio core classes (sometimes called REQUIRED classes for a bio major.) One kind is that you are required to take as a bio major - you could not skip this specific class. The other kind is an elective that you could choose from a larger set of biology classes that are defined by the bio department as being rigorous enough to take to fulfill the major’s requirement.</p>

<p>In particular, the class offered by a BCPM major for a “non-science” major, i.e., the class that can NOT be used to fulfill this science major’s requirement (but the class can be used as one or more of the credits required to graduate from the college), does not count as a part of sGPA. As such, the freshman level seminars are not BCPM classes at most colleges – unless the bio department specifically says a bio major can take this seminar class in lieu of a bio prereq class or a (the elective kind) bio core class to satisfy the bio major’s requirement.</p>

3

<p>Re: 2–</p>

<p>Unfortunately, juggling your schedule is just a fact of life for undergrads. I don’t think anyone here would be able to make that decision for you. You might talk with upperclassmen in your major or in various student organizations you’re a part of (eg premed club) to see how they dealt with a similar problem. Sounds like it’s tough to fit everything in, and I’m sure you’re not the first one to face this problem.</p>

<p>Re: 3–</p>

<p>I’d personally classify what you’re describing as research. I’d be more tempted to call it clinical experience if: you are working in a clinical (ie, hospital or clinic) setting, you’re working under an MD and/or with other medical professionals (fellows, residents, med students, nurses…), you’re interacting with patients who are awake (monitoring vitals of sleeping patients wouldn’t count in my mind, whereas interviewing someone about their day would), the research is going to be published in some sort of clinical medical journal, you’re personally collaborating with other MDs about this project, etc.</p>

4

<p>Just a thought for you that my daughter (not pre-med) did with her foreign language. She switched majors sophomore year to Spanish and in order to get on track to graduate on time she took an intensive class over one summer. Perhaps you should look into whether your university offers an option where you could take the FL over the summer and then you could fit the Bio class in.</p>