3 answers
Emilio
Student
La Ceiba, Atlántida Department, Honduras
3
Questions
Asked
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Biology AP classes.?
Is it an issue if my school doesn't have AP biology class if I want to study medicine?
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3 answers
Thirada Boonrawd
Science research student
16
Answers
Bangkok, Thailand
Updated
Thirada’s Answer
Hello!
If you're going to do medical school in the US, it is important to note that there are coursework requirements, an exam you have to take (MCAT), and you also need to get research and clinical experience. Luckily, you can do all of these things during your undergraduate degree if you plan well. If you don't finish all the requirements, you can consider taking a year or two to work in a research/clinical role to boost your resume before applying to medical school.
For coursework requirements, you have to take biology, chemistry, physics, organic chemistry, biochemistry, calculus, among other classes. You will be able to take all of these courses during your undergraduate degree. This is easier if your major is in the life sciences, since most of these classes will be required for your BS degree anyway. However, you can major in something else, and take all these science classes as electives to fulfill your pre-med requirements.
Note that it is easier if you can do AP biology because it completes the general biology requirement ahead of time. Similarly, if a student completes high school while taking AP biology, AP chemistry, and AP calculus, then this student can skip those foundational courses and start taking organic chemistry, genetics, and other classes right away in college. If you don't have the AP classes, you'll just take the foundational classes in college instead. There's no issue, but having AP credit simply saves time.
The story is different if you're doing medical school in the UK, Canada, or other countries. Most programs in the UK (if I remember correctly) have a biology and chemistry pre-requisite, so you had to have taken AP biology and AP chemistry during high school to even apply to the program. I also heard from Japanese friends that in Japan, you go to medical school right after high school (so you don't need a bachelor's), and you usually have to pass the exam for that (each university can have their own exam too). The system is simply different depending on the country and the university. You should look into this by looking at the websites of the universities you're interested in, if you're considering applying to medical school in other countries too. I even heard from a Chinese friend that she has an international medical degree that took 5 years to complete. If she were to practice medicine in the US, she would have to take an exam so her MD equivalent will become recognized. There are many systems for medical degrees around the world!
Hope that helps! Good luck!
If you're going to do medical school in the US, it is important to note that there are coursework requirements, an exam you have to take (MCAT), and you also need to get research and clinical experience. Luckily, you can do all of these things during your undergraduate degree if you plan well. If you don't finish all the requirements, you can consider taking a year or two to work in a research/clinical role to boost your resume before applying to medical school.
For coursework requirements, you have to take biology, chemistry, physics, organic chemistry, biochemistry, calculus, among other classes. You will be able to take all of these courses during your undergraduate degree. This is easier if your major is in the life sciences, since most of these classes will be required for your BS degree anyway. However, you can major in something else, and take all these science classes as electives to fulfill your pre-med requirements.
Note that it is easier if you can do AP biology because it completes the general biology requirement ahead of time. Similarly, if a student completes high school while taking AP biology, AP chemistry, and AP calculus, then this student can skip those foundational courses and start taking organic chemistry, genetics, and other classes right away in college. If you don't have the AP classes, you'll just take the foundational classes in college instead. There's no issue, but having AP credit simply saves time.
The story is different if you're doing medical school in the UK, Canada, or other countries. Most programs in the UK (if I remember correctly) have a biology and chemistry pre-requisite, so you had to have taken AP biology and AP chemistry during high school to even apply to the program. I also heard from Japanese friends that in Japan, you go to medical school right after high school (so you don't need a bachelor's), and you usually have to pass the exam for that (each university can have their own exam too). The system is simply different depending on the country and the university. You should look into this by looking at the websites of the universities you're interested in, if you're considering applying to medical school in other countries too. I even heard from a Chinese friend that she has an international medical degree that took 5 years to complete. If she were to practice medicine in the US, she would have to take an exam so her MD equivalent will become recognized. There are many systems for medical degrees around the world!
Hope that helps! Good luck!
Rita Chuang
Physician
188
Answers
Henderson, Nevada
Updated
Rita’s Answer
It doesn’t matter because you will need to take biology in college anyways
Cheri Hall
Physical Therapist
43
Answers
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Updated
Cheri’s Answer
Hello Emilio,
Fantastic inquiry! Don't worry if your high school doesn't provide an AP Biology class and you're aiming for a career in medicine. You can still take the biology class your high school offers to strengthen your scientific base. Both Chemistry and Physics are also crucial subjects to study. After you've completed your high school biology class, think about enrolling in a beginner's biology class at a community college in your area. This would be similar to taking an AP Biology class in high school. It's often feasible to attend community college classes while you're still in high school.
To earn your medical degree, you'll first need to finish your bachelor's degree at a four-year university. You can choose to major in any field, but most pre-med students opt for a science subject like Biology or Chemistry. It's worth noting that many of these students haven't taken AP Biology prior to college. Once you've obtained your bachelor's degree, you can apply to Medical school and start working towards your degree. Remember, every step you take is a step closer to your dream. Keep going!
Fantastic inquiry! Don't worry if your high school doesn't provide an AP Biology class and you're aiming for a career in medicine. You can still take the biology class your high school offers to strengthen your scientific base. Both Chemistry and Physics are also crucial subjects to study. After you've completed your high school biology class, think about enrolling in a beginner's biology class at a community college in your area. This would be similar to taking an AP Biology class in high school. It's often feasible to attend community college classes while you're still in high school.
To earn your medical degree, you'll first need to finish your bachelor's degree at a four-year university. You can choose to major in any field, but most pre-med students opt for a science subject like Biology or Chemistry. It's worth noting that many of these students haven't taken AP Biology prior to college. Once you've obtained your bachelor's degree, you can apply to Medical school and start working towards your degree. Remember, every step you take is a step closer to your dream. Keep going!