Chem1A enough?

tastyb33f · 03-21-2006, 04:22 AM

I've been perusing some med school websites recently, looking at their admissions and app reqs and whatnot. All of them say that 1 year of general chemistry is required. However, the MCB and IB majors here only require 1 semester of general chem, which is Chem1A. Does this satisfy? Should I/must I take Chem1B? I've never heard of other students taking Chem1B...but apparently it's offered.

Polite Antagonis · 03-21-2006, 04:35 AM

Yes, you need like 2 years of chemistry, one with lab.

So you take chem 1a, then 1b, then MCB130, then MCB 110 or MCB102.

I think ... I'm too lazy to look it up, but thats the general courseload people take.

Student · 03-21-2006, 12:46 PM

*Sigh*

Most Cal pre-meds put Chem 1A and 3A as general, and 3B and MCB 100/102 as organic on their applications.

1B is kinetics and electrochem. These topics may be covered on the MCAT. I assume either one of the following is true:

1. 1B topics are touched upon in 3
2. Most students just self-study the 1B topics, especially if they've taken Chem AP. (More likely)

mrniphty · 03-21-2006, 02:33 PM

From http://career.berkeley.edu/Health/MedFAQ1.stm

Quote:

As pointed out in our website, the requirements for most med schools are two years of chemistry, a year of physics, and a year of biology. English (R&C to us) and sometimes some math are additional requirements. I also would refer you to Medical School Admissions Requirements published annually by the Assoc. of American Medical Colleges and available in the Career Center Info Lab. At Cal, most take Chem 1A, 3A, 3B and MCB 102; Physics 8A and 8B, Bio 1A and 1B. Many take the Math 16 series, but another large group takes Math 1A-1B.

(my emphasis)

I read somewhere else that you list 1a and 3a as gen chem, and 3b and 102 as o-chem. If you take 4a (chemistry for those who like chemistry) instead of 1a, that should be fine too.