help for admission info into premed

[vm1919]

hi, i need some help on getting into premed at mua. so far i have completed 2 years of undergrad and have a total of 10.5 full academic year credits which i think is equivalent to 63 semester hours. however, I called MUA and they said that since i have taken 1 year of general chemistry and 1 year of cell biology I am not eligible for admission into premed. essentially, they are saying that i need 60 semester hours WITHOUT any chemistry or cell biology.

how does this make any sense? I also asked if i can just redo them at MUA and they said no because i will not have the full 60 semster hours.

can someone please calrify what the problem is if i have 1st year general chem, and 2nd year cell biology? Also, what are the real requirements for premed?

[islandhopper]

hi, i need some help on getting into premed at mua. so far i have completed 2 years of undergrad and have a total of 10.5 full academic year credits which i think is equivalent to 63 semester hours. however, I called MUA and they said that since i have taken 1 year of general chemistry and 1 year of cell biology I am not eligible for admission into premed. essentially, they are saying that i need 60 semester hours WITHOUT any chemistry or cell biology.

how does this make any sense? I also asked if i can just redo them at MUA and they said no because i will not have the full 60 semster hours.

can someone please calrify what the problem is if i have 1st year general chem, and 2nd year cell biology? Also, what are the real requirements for premed?

I say finish your undergrad back home then apply. It is not hard to get into MUASOM.

[vm1919]

but do you know why they are saying that i am not elibgible becuase i have general chemistry and cellular bio?

also, if i get into premed now i will save 1 year overall.

[islandhopper]

but do you know why they are saying that i am not elibgible becuase i have general chemistry and cellular bio?

also, if i get into premed now i will save 1 year overall.
Well I am not a MUA student, but I'll attempt to answer your question.

The rule says you must complete 60 semester hours to be eligible in the premed program -- excluding bio, general chem and physio (I reasoned this since these are in their premed curriculum). It also says on their website that MUASOM normally admits students after completing 90 semester hours...

It sounds to me that the premed program is geared towards students with nonscienc majors or people that haven't taken cell bio and general chem..because if you're a science major, there is no way that you haven't taken these after completing 60 semester hours...Since you already completed cell bio and general chem, by retaking it at MUA will make you short of the 60 semester hours that you already completed, thus making you ineligible to apply for SOM...

I would suggest you to finish your degree back home then apply to more established schools like Saba, AUC or ROSS..There is no reason to limit where you can practice (by going to a less established school) -- spending 7+ years vs. saving a year or two in undergrad...

[taare]

You must have 60 non-science credits to get into premed. You will be taking your science credits in Premed. So For example -
You have 48 non science credits and 12 Science credits...You need to take 12 more non-science to get in to premed...
Although now you will have 60+12 = 72...They will only look at the 60 non science...

Good luck :)

[vm1919]

yeh i understood that process at the beginning. but it didnt seem right. i dont see how it is fair for science students to spend 4 years in undergrad and get into med(ie. doing science courses such as 3rd/4th year organic chem), whereas nonscience students can just do two semesters/8months of relatively easy science courses(vs. 3rd or 4th year science courses) and still get into the exact same program.

basically nonscience students can potentially become doctors in less time than science students. Even though its onyl by one year and a bit, its still a big differnece considering you spend more time and money and end up at the exact same position at the end.

[taare]

Not necessarily. Science students have a solid background and do eventually benefit. A lot of ppl also change their mind during undergrad and this is something which I think gives a fair opportunity to prove themselves. Dont doubt this, as its been mentioned in a lot of threads...This program requires a lot of discipline. If you want, finish your undergrad in US/Canada and try for North American schools...Afterall, you are also looking to save time..arent ya?

[islandhopper]

yeh i understood that process at the beginning. but it didnt seem right. i dont see how it is fair for science students to spend 4 years in undergrad and get into med(ie. doing science courses such as 3rd/4th year organic chem), whereas nonscience students can just do two semesters/8months of relatively easy science courses(vs. 3rd or 4th year science courses) and still get into the exact same program.

basically nonscience students can potentially become doctors in less time than science students. Even though its onyl by one year and a bit, its still a big differnece considering you spend more time and money and end up at the exact same position at the end.
I could be wrong, but I thought the requirement to get into MUASOM is 90 semester hours -- not a degree (which requires 120 semester hours/four years) and the requirement is the same whether you're a Science or a Non-Science Major..The only difference is the eligibility to get into their pre-med program (which would still add up to 90 semester hours for those Non-Science Majors before starting med school anyway)...

Besides, a Non-Science Major usually has tougher time than a Science Major in med school. I do agree with taare on this one...

[50ishdoc]

People need some education. Just taking chemistry and biology for 60 hours, then taking chemistry and cell bio in premed, gives you minimal other education. Why would you want to retake the chem and cell bio? Why not learn something else you might be able to use some day, like psychology or even English composition? There is a whole lot more to medicine than chemistry and biology. Too bad the profession hasn't figured that out!

[tRmedic21]

No way I'd ever consider going offshore for premed. I just don't see the point? I mean in the US there's not a problem with spots, the cost is less, and you're not limiting your future choices.

I don't know, man, I mean I did the offshore med school thing, but I truly find it baffling that anyone would consider going there for premed.

Just my $0.02, and I hope you reconsider.

[Gatorgal1632]

I am here in the pre med department and I love it. The reason they are telling you that you need 60 credit hours to come here but won't count your chem or cell is because you can't get credit twice for the same class. If you have 63 credit hours try and figure out how many you need to have 60 WITHOUT your chem and cell. I had the same problem too. They will accept you but more than likely you will have to take pre med 1 and 2 repeating some classes that you have already taken and passed. Another option is take Organic 1 and Anatomy and Physiology 1 and your school...

Pre med 1 consists of..
Chem (inorganic 1 & 2 as WELL as organic 1)
Med. Term (this class SUCKS try and skip it if you can)
Anatomy and Physiology 1

I know of several people that have come here in the pre med department with inorganic 1 &2 and organic 1 and have started in the pre med 2....maybe that is an option for you. Talk with Elizabeth when you call MA.

Good luck!!

[nadira]

Gatorgal is right...its either the premed 2 or even maybe taking the med requirements at your school and apply for the med1 program. Good luck!

[bstone]

No way I'd ever consider going offshore for premed. I just don't see the point? I mean in the US there's not a problem with spots, the cost is less, and you're not limiting your future choices.

I don't know, man, I mean I did the offshore med school thing, but I truly find it baffling that anyone would consider going there for premed.

Just my $0.02, and I hope you reconsider.

Easier said than applied. In the fact of MUA's pre-med "3.0GPA and you're in" and in light of the horrors some people go through writing the MCAT, it's pretty tastey to head to MUA.