<p>My number one choice at the moment is Johns Hopkins University.
My other choices are UF, UMiami, and a couple others.</p>
<p>I want to go into Liberal Arts and Sciences, and become a doctor one day.</p>
<p>But, I haven't taken Chemistry in high school.
I took Earth and Space Science honors (In middle school for high school credit), Biology honors, & Physics honors, I plan on taking AP Biology (Junior year) and then AICE (similiar to IB) Biology senior year. I will also take AP Environmental Science, Anatomy and Physiology honors, and Marine Science honors.</p>
<p>I honestly really enjoy Biology, that is why I plan on taking it for so many years in high school.</p>
<p>Chemistry isn't required in the program I am doing at my school (Cambridge Global Studies Academy if you are familiar by any chance again it's similar to IB)</p>
<p>But, I know since I want to go on the "pre-med track" will not taking Chemistry in high school hinder my application process and make me look bad?</p>
<p>(Sorry if there are similar threads on here like this but I didn't find one similar to my situation)</p>
<p>You’re in a specific program that isn’t exactly science-light. In fact with Biology and Anatomy, I would suspect that many in your program are also considering pre-med. This having been said, most HS students applying to top schools DO take chemistry, so it may stand out.</p>
<p>Given that you’re you’re not yet a senior (not sure whether you’re a Junior or a Soph from your post) here’s my advice. Make an appointment with your guidance counsellor. Tell him or her that you want to be pre-med and ask whether the lack of chemistry will hurt you.</p>
<p>I’m would think that he or she has counseled pre-pre-med high school students before and has success in finding the appropriate college placement. I wouldn’t think there’s a problem, but if there is, he or she should find a way for you to handle it.</p>
<p>“But, I know since I want to go on the “pre-med track” will not taking Chemistry in high school hinder my application process and make me look bad?”</p>
<p>My opinion only: if you want to be a serious science major in college, your not taking Chemistry is completely bizarre. If you were my kid, I would ugre you to take the class if at all possible. Chem is a basic class. Good luck getting it on your schedule.</p>
<p>I strongly second the notion that you need at least 1-2 years of chemistry to be considered as a strong candidate for a pre-med curriculum in college. If you look at requirements for many Colleges of Arts and Sciences within large universities you will see that they always list 3-4 year of sciences with labs, and one of those should be chem or physics. As a pre-med candidate, chemistry would be a much higher priority than a 3rd year of biology. You have to show them that you have been exposed to the pre-requisites of organic chemistry, a pre-med weed out standard full-year series of courses, so that you prove you know what you’re getting yourself into in pre-med college courses.</p>
<p>I’m inclined to agree. In order to go to medical school, you’ll need to take two years (at least) of chemistry in college. You’ll be competing against intense pre-meds who will have taken chemistry in high school. I think it’s unwise to enter college chemistry as a pre-med without any background in the subject from high school.</p>
<p>If you either major in biology or do pre-med (note: majoring in biology is not required for pre-med), you will need to take freshman general chemistry and organic chemistry in college. In many universities, students taking freshman general chemistry are assumed to have some chemistry knowledge from high school chemistry.</p>
<p>Also, selective universities like to see for admissions purposes that high school students took all three of biology, chemistry, and physics in high school.</p>
<p>Be aware that biology (and chemistry) majors do not have very good job and career prospects at the bachelor’s degree level, so try to avoid student loan debt.</p>
<p>It’s not going to make you look necessarily “bad” because you have so many other science-related courses. However, I do very very strongly suggest that you take some sort of chemistry course at your school or even during the summer for your future benefit. Pre-med is not just taking biology courses; it’s many many chemistry courses as well! If I was reading your application, I would wonder why you didn’t take chemistry if you’re thinking of going into pre-med. If you don’t take some sort of chemistry in high school, you will have a very difficult time in even the introductory chemistry courses in college. It’s really to your benefit to take some kind of chemistry now so you don’t get totally lost in college.</p>
<p>Red flag to adcoms you are avoiding Chemistry by taking other science classes.
You will be behind other students if you have no chem lab experience before you take the typical chemistry entry level weeder course and lab in college.
Why are you dodging Chemistry?</p>
<p>For Johns Hopkins/pre-med, it is going to be detrimental to apply with no chemistry, especially with all of the other science classes you have taken. It appears that you have dodged Chem (even if you haven’t). Most aplicants probably have Chem (or Honors Chem) AND AP Chem. You really need to take a chem class. If you can’t get into one at your high school, then go to the local community college and take one asap.</p>
<p>Most applicants considered for pre-med have taken all or at least nearly all science courses-- bio, chem, physics-- and certainly as many APs as they can. Talk to your guidance counselor because not having taken any chem AT ALL can be a bit of a problem. Also, maybe try speaking to an admissions rep or the advisor of the pre-med department. they can probably give you a better answer</p>
<p>I think that the lack of chem will definitely impact the decision. If it doesn’t harm you, it will make you stand out. I would suggest what the other posters said: talk to your counselor. Since chem is required in a majority of schools, I would seriously consider it. Good Luck!</p>
<p>I was going to ask my counselor but I go to a very large high school and getting an appointment with my counselor takes months. I do have an appointment planned though.
I decided that I am going to take Chemistry honors on Florida Virtual School during the summer (since it’s free and available to me) because I can actually understand the importance of having a basic chemistry course.</p>
<p>Many of my friends that are considering pre-med have not taken physics, and most of you recommended that they take physics as well. I will pass the message a long to them.</p>
<p>Good idea! Taking that chemistry class shows that you’re putting forward extra effort. I also agree that having physics is beneficial. Taking a statistics class is also beneficial, but it’s definitely more necessary that you get your biology and chemistry down (and then physics).</p>