jdizzle

I'm considering all my options and was wondering if anyone knew what courses I would need to take, in addition to my philosophy degree, in order to get into med school. I realize that there most likely isn't an exact answer to this as every school is different; however there must be some obvious courses such as biology etc.

I'm assuming I'll need some biology and chemistry, but how much of each would I need. Also are there any other courses I would need?

Thanks

mom2collegekids

Typically, your college will have a "pre-med" recommended minimum list of classes for students to take. Theoretically, you can major in what you want, but to be taken seriously by a med-school, you must take certain Bio, Chem, Physics and Math (calculus) classes...

While philosophy is a good "thinking" major, you might also considering minoring in Bio or chemistry.

On a college's website, look up Pre-med or Pre-health and see what the recommended (minimum) list of classes are.

aigiqinf

There's a pre-med form but:

"http://www.bestpremed.com/preMDreq.php"

The "pre-med" classes required by virtually all schools in the US are as follows:

* A year of Freshman Chemistry along with the appropriate laboratory courses
* A year of Organic Chemistry along with laboratory courses
* A year of Biology along with laboratory courses
* A year of Physics along with laboratory courses
* A year of English
* A year of Calculus

mom2collegekids

^

Yep that's the same list that my kids' college has...

But that's a minimum list. Those classes are lower-division classes. I would think many med schools would like to see some 300-400 level classes in science, too.

But, that's just my opinion.

eadad

S was a dual major in Linguistics and Religious Studies (very much like a Philosophy major) with a Chem minor. He went into into his interviews thinking he might have to defend his choices. He was asked but was pleasantly surprised when at every interview virtually every interviewer opened up about how they wished they had been able to do less sciences "back in the day" and how pleased they were to see highly qualified applicants who were NOT science majors.

He had the necessary GPA and MCAT scores and his choice of majors did not hurt him in the least with multiple acceptances to top 10-20 schools.

Having a few extra science classes can't hurt but not having them won't hurt either as long as you have all your other bases covered.

bluebayou

Not really, a strong MCAT score will suffice for "knowledge" of the sciences.

norcalguy

The MCAT isn't a test of knowledge so it's not a substitute for upper div bio courses. You don't have to major in a science but I recommend taking 1-2 extra upper div courses in bio. Some medical schools explicit recommend or require such courses (genetics, biochem, cell bio, etc.)

Bigredmed

I would agree with taking less science overall. One of the absolute best aspects of being a non-science major is that you get to pick and choose your upper level classes in the sciences. You can sign up only for those classes which you find interesting or that have great professors, without having to slug through the courses those who are majoring in the sciences are required to do.

afan

Well, as a former science major, I would point out that the picking and choosing extends only to those courses for which you have the prerequisites. If you do not take "boring" physical chemistry, then you cannot take "interesting" physical biochem. If you do not take intro biochem, then you cannot take any course that assumes you know what you would have learned in that course.

But do you need more than the requirements for med school? No, most schools admit many students who do the minimum. Mind you this is not a great strategy, since something more than minimum is more typical of medical students. It is also not a great background for medicine.

Bigredmed

I wouldn't call p-chem boring...more like somewhere around the 7th or 8th circle of hell.

mmmcdowe

afan, you can often take the intro, general, and elementary versions of those classes though,

Icarus

I was actually a philosophy major before staring med school. Like aigiqinf said, you'll need to take the standard list of med school pre-reqs (which are more or less standard across the board, give or take a class).... but thats it. You can do just fine on the MCAT with just the pre-reqs under your belt - and as eadad pointed out, many med school interviewers and adcom members appreciate the non-science majors. I was asked several questions about my philosophy classes and medical ethics issues, etc.

If your school has a strong philosophy department, I would definitely recommend it.

Icarus

Yep - and to get to o-chem you have to jump off the cliff on the 8th circle of hell and fall until you reach the level specifically reserved for o-chem.

afan

Wandering far off topic here, but I note that most medical students (about 2/3) major in either biological or physical sciences. All went beyond the bare minimum requirements for medical school in order to get their degrees. Many of the biological sciences types were biochem and went beyond the minimum in chemistry. Among the physical sciences majors, many were chemistry or chem engineering, and took much more than the minimum in chemistry. The physics, astronomy, other engineering types, took much more physics, and of course math. So there are plenty of people in medical school who are comfortable with, and dare I say, enjoy, the "hard" sciences in college.

Icarus

Suckers....