Transfer Out of Med Program?

madamebovary
Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:42:31 +0000

Just some clarifications:
1.) hold up you still need to know some basics of ochem to do biochem (and biochem will be important for your first year of med school)
2.) If premed coursework didnt matter, we might as well just take fluffing classes to get a high final gpa. The rigor of the coursework matters, but so does your final GPA. (in other words you need both) which is why its suggested to major in something that you’ll do well in
3.) So why is ochem even required? The only thing i see from ochem is that you need to utilize many different learning skills to master the science. You need to know how to memorize and use critical thinking skills/ problem solving skills (for example those synthesis questions)
Is this course necessary to be a doctor? iono probably not, but i believe its just a way for med schools to weed people out that might not be able to handle the coursework in med schools.



Ronald Breslow, Professor of Chemistry and University Professor at Columbia University states that: “Currently, medical school admission committees not only require a course in organic chemistry, but they put unusual emphasis on the performance of the applicants in such a course. This is because organic chemistry courses require the mastery of a lot of new material, and the ability to use that material in new ways to solve new problems. The famous ‘synthesis’ problems teach more than organic synthesis: they teach intellectual synthesis. They teach how to think through what students have learned to find the facts that will solve a problem they have not seen before. The result is that the ability to do well in such courses is an excellent predictor of the ability to do well in medical school.”