Anonymous
04/30/2025 23:54
Subject: Premeds at T20 schools?
Anonymous wrote:I am a part of premed advising page that has med school consulting services plus parents answering things. I can’t ask there as I know it goes against what most preach.
I know most say top gpa/MCAT all the necessary extras, and school prestige doesn’t matter. I do think there is some distinction between chasing top med school and any med school, maybe? But not really my question.
The piece I want to understand is how rigor is factored in if at all. I know major doesn’t matter and almost a good thing to do non-science. But, for example, at my kids Ivy they use AP scores to bypass intro classes. So no one is taking Bio 1/2, they are taking upper level bio courses to fulfill that requirement. Same for bypassing intro chem 1.
Nearly everyone in the group I’m in says retake the intro and get the easy A, but I’ve also heard a med school admissions person say they hate that and view it as grade grubbing.
So, is there any benefit to taking higher level courses in admissions? Even if there isn’t, at my kids school it’s norm so I’d think it would look bad? It’s already been done and they are doing well, I just want to get how it all works.
Sorry so long, can anyone explain?
Students who aren’t extreme geniuses and need good grades should start with regular freshmen classes for majors, not try to use AP classes to skip ahead.
T20 college professors are smarter than high school AP teachers and give tougher tests. And students who are used to glancing at the textbook and getting A’s may suddenly have to study. So, starting with a low normal class makes sense. If any med school admissions people look down on that, that’s life.
Anonymous
04/30/2025 22:27
Subject: Premeds at T20 schools?
Each school has a map of ap credit and which classes you can skip and get credit for. My kid is at an ivy and 5 on chem will give you credit for 1 of 2 gen chem requirement so kid will take second gen chem. 5 on physics c mech and electricity will allow you to skip both physics classes. Calc bc and and ab sub needs to be both 5s to get credit and start at multi var calc. Only 5s are accepted for credit.
Anonymous
04/30/2025 18:15
Subject: Premeds at T20 schools?
Still haven’t seen an answer to OP’s question. Does it count against a student if they take Gen Chem freshman year when they could have taken the credit/placement for a 5 on AP Chem exam? Is it better to take the credit/placement and go straight to Orgo?
Anonymous
04/30/2025 17:57
Subject: Premeds at T20 schools?
Mine is taking orgo freshman year because they were able to bypass the intro classes. That’s the norm at their school as most come in with AP credit.
Anonymous
04/30/2025 17:56
Subject: Premeds at T20 schools?
Anonymous wrote:I don't think most selective schools give you a pass for taking an AP class in high school. I mean Organic Chemistry freshman year specifically exists to destroy pre-med and engineering students. Your little 4 or 5 on an AP test as a 17 year old doesn't get you out of it. Same with calculus. You need to take these classes. All the pre med and engineering students took these classes in high school. But most good colleges will demand you go through the college course.
Nothing exists in a vacuum. Med Schools are going to be aware of the rigor of every undergraduate school.
They are used for placement, they appear on transcript as zero credit but satisfy the intro courses. That’s how it works at my child’s Ivy.
Anonymous
04/30/2025 17:50
Subject: Premeds at T20 schools?
I don't think most selective schools give you a pass for taking an AP class in high school. I mean Organic Chemistry freshman year specifically exists to destroy pre-med and engineering students. Your little 4 or 5 on an AP test as a 17 year old doesn't get you out of it. Same with calculus. You need to take these classes. All the pre med and engineering students took these classes in high school. But most good colleges will demand you go through the college course.
Nothing exists in a vacuum. Med Schools are going to be aware of the rigor of every undergraduate school.
Nothing exists in a vacuum. Med Schools are going to be aware of the rigor of every undergraduate school.
Anonymous
04/30/2025 17:24
Subject: Premeds at T20 schools?
Thanks so much for responding, helpful info. Now I’m very curious which ivies do or don’t allow AP credits to bypass intro classes. I incorrectly assumed they all did.
Anonymous
04/30/2025 17:16
Subject: Premeds at T20 schools?
Physician who used to be in T5 admissions and a T50ish while staff, went to a T5 med and works with other physicians as private med app consultants, some of whom have prior admissions experience or current admissions contacts: most research based/university hospital affiliated med schools assign a tier/weighting to undergraduate school and program(courses) within that school. In other words almost all desirable MD programs in the US. About 20 undergraduate schools are tier 1. Engineering at a state school would score higher than a bio degree program. GPA is considered within the context of the undergraduate school as well as the program/major/course load. All of that adds up to a small but important part of the admissions analysis. None of that is more important than MCAT and having the baseline course requirements. Yes there are many who apply without all the required and suggested courses. Yes taking a course in the summer at a less rigorous college than the one the student attends is considered a significant negative. Most ivies do not let AP classes waive one out of intro, so that is not too much of an issue—certainly not as important as the rest of the transcript factors above.
Anonymous
04/30/2025 16:03
Subject: Premeds at T20 schools?
I am a part of premed advising page that has med school consulting services plus parents answering things. I can’t ask there as I know it goes against what most preach.
I know most say top gpa/MCAT all the necessary extras, and school prestige doesn’t matter. I do think there is some distinction between chasing top med school and any med school, maybe? But not really my question.
The piece I want to understand is how rigor is factored in if at all. I know major doesn’t matter and almost a good thing to do non-science. But, for example, at my kids Ivy they use AP scores to bypass intro classes. So no one is taking Bio 1/2, they are taking upper level bio courses to fulfill that requirement. Same for bypassing intro chem 1.
Nearly everyone in the group I’m in says retake the intro and get the easy A, but I’ve also heard a med school admissions person say they hate that and view it as grade grubbing.
So, is there any benefit to taking higher level courses in admissions? Even if there isn’t, at my kids school it’s norm so I’d think it would look bad? It’s already been done and they are doing well, I just want to get how it all works.
Sorry so long, can anyone explain?
I know most say top gpa/MCAT all the necessary extras, and school prestige doesn’t matter. I do think there is some distinction between chasing top med school and any med school, maybe? But not really my question.
The piece I want to understand is how rigor is factored in if at all. I know major doesn’t matter and almost a good thing to do non-science. But, for example, at my kids Ivy they use AP scores to bypass intro classes. So no one is taking Bio 1/2, they are taking upper level bio courses to fulfill that requirement. Same for bypassing intro chem 1.
Nearly everyone in the group I’m in says retake the intro and get the easy A, but I’ve also heard a med school admissions person say they hate that and view it as grade grubbing.
So, is there any benefit to taking higher level courses in admissions? Even if there isn’t, at my kids school it’s norm so I’d think it would look bad? It’s already been done and they are doing well, I just want to get how it all works.
Sorry so long, can anyone explain?