What chem classes do I need for med school?

For medical school, you need core chemistry courses: general (inorganic) chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry, usually a full year of each (or two semesters) with labs, plus required biology, physics, English, and often statistics/math. These foundational courses prepare you for the MCAT and medical school studies, with biochemistry being especially critical for the MCAT.

What chemistry is required for med school?

Students should be exposed to general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry in a two-year sequence that provides the foundation for the study of biologically relevant chemistry.

How much chem do you need for med school?

General and Organic Chemistry

Most schools require 2 semesters of general chemistry with lab and 2 semesters of organic chemistry with lab. Some schools also require a semester of biochemistry.

Do you need Chem 2 for med school?

Organic Chemistry and General Chemistry: Pre-med students need to take general chemistry (inorganic chemistry) 1 and 2 and organic chemistry 1 and 2. (Organic chemistry was ranked the most challenging prerequisite college course by pre-med students).

What science classes do you need for medical school?

While specific course requirements will vary based on the school, common pre-med courses include:

• College English. College level English courses can improve a student's verbal and written communication. ...
• College mathematics. ...
• Biology. ...
• Physics. ...
• Chemistry. ...
• Organic chemistry. ...
• Biochemistry.

The BEST PRE-MED MAJOR | Proven By Med School Acceptance Data

Is a 3.7 GPA too low for med school?

No, a 3.7 GPA is not bad for medical school; it's generally considered competitive, often around the average or slightly below for highly selective MD programs, but strong enough for many schools, especially with an upward trend and a good MCAT score. A 3.7 combined with a strong BCPM (Science) GPA (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math) and compelling extracurriculars makes you a viable applicant, though lower GPAs might need more exceptional scores or experiences to compensate. 

What's the hardest class in med school?

The hardest class in med school varies by student, but Anatomy, Biochemistry, Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, and Neuroanatomy are consistently cited as the most challenging due to massive memorization, complex concepts, spatial reasoning, and integrating vast amounts of information across disciplines. While some find abstract concepts hard (Biochem, Immunology), others struggle with detailed spatial memorization (Anatomy, Neuroanatomy) or the encyclopedic scope of disease (Pathology). 

Is a B+ in orgo bad for med school?

A B+ in organic chemistry (Orgo) is generally not considered bad for medical school, but it's not ideal either; while a strong overall GPA, excellent MCAT, clinical experience, and research can offset it, a B+ signals good, not excellent, performance in a key pre-med weed-out course, so focus on excelling in other sciences and demonstrating strong problem-solving skills. 

Can I still be a doctor if I'm bad at chemistry?

This is a shame because, if you ask any current medical student, performance in chemistry classes is not a predictor for how good of a doctor you will become.

What pre-reqs are needed for med school?

Medical school prerequisites include core science courses (biology, general & organic chemistry, physics, biochemistry), math, English/writing, strong GPA (3.6+), MCAT score, clinical/volunteer experience, research, leadership, strong letters of recommendation, and a compelling personal statement, with specific requirements varying by school, so checking each program is crucial. 

What is the hardest pre-med class?

The hardest pre-med course is subjective but Organic Chemistry (O-Chem) is the most commonly cited "killer," followed closely by Biochemistry and Physics, often due to the need for advanced conceptual understanding and problem-solving, not just memorization, with some students finding general biology's memorization-heavy nature challenging as well. Your personal strengths, such as spatial reasoning or memorization, significantly impact which course feels hardest.
 

Is pharmacy very chemistry heavy?

As for pharmacy, you must be a don in chemistry. So as secondary school students, those stoichiometry and titrimetry that you play with in school is crucial and you will meet them in full application.

What is the 32 hour rule for medical school?

The "32-hour rule" in medical school admissions refers to a policy where some medical schools focus on an applicant's GPA from their most recent 32 credit hours, often in science courses, instead of their entire undergraduate GPA, benefiting students with a strong upward trend or a solid post-baccalaureate performance. Schools like Wayne State University and LSU Health New Orleans use variations of this to give more weight to recent academic efforts, allowing strong performance in later coursework or post-bacc programs to shine. 

What is the easiest med school to get into?

There are no truly "easy" medical schools, but some have higher acceptance rates or lower average GPA/MCAT scores, often focusing on regional needs or specific missions, like University of Mississippi, East Carolina University (Brody), University of North Dakota, Mercer University, Meharry Medical College, University of North Dakota, and University of New Mexico. Osteopathic (DO) schools like William Carey, Arkansas COM, Pikeville KYCOM, and Lincoln Memorial are also frequently listed as having higher acceptance rates than top MD programs. 

Do med schools like chem majors?

Medical schools generally prefer students with a strong background in the sciences, so popular majors like biology, chemistry, and physics fit the bill.

What classes do pre-med students take?

What Are the Pre-Med Course Requirements?

• Biology – 2 semesters with lab.
• General chemistry – 2 semesters with lab.
• Organic chemistry – 2 semesters with lab.
• Biochemistry – 1 semester with lab.
• Physics – 2 semesters with lab.
• Calculus – 1 semester.
• English or Writing – 2 semesters.

What doctor makes $500,000 a year?

Doctors in surgical and high-demand procedural specialties frequently earn over $500,000 annually, with top earners often being Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Cardiology, and Thoracic Surgery, driven by complex skills, high demand (especially with aging populations), and lucrative elective procedures or emergency needs. Other fields like Radiology, Gastroenterology, Urology, and Anesthesiology also see average incomes exceeding this threshold.
 

What is the lowest GPA to be a doctor?

You know you are ready for the MCAT when you are earning competitive scores on full-length practice tests. Raise your undergraduate GPA to at least 3.0. This is the minimum GPA for admission to many medical schools.

What major is most accepted to medical school?

1. Which major has the highest acceptance rate into medical school? Math and statistics majors, humanities majors and physical science majors have the highest acceptance rates into medical school. However, biological science majors remain the highest number of applicants to medical school.

Is there more Gen Chem or Orgo on MCAT?

Exam content will draw from*:

General chemistry, 30% Organic chemistry, 15%

Is C bad for med school?

If you're in the same situation as this student and on the verge of getting a C, D, or F, a W is always better than a very, very bad grade. One to three C's is not going to rule out medical school. But ideally, stay away from them.

Is orgo harder than calculus?

Organic chemistry (Orgo) is generally considered harder and more conceptually challenging than standard calculus for most students because it demands spatial reasoning, pattern recognition, and extensive memorization of complex reaction mechanisms, whereas calculus relies more on mathematical rules and abstract function manipulation, making the difficulty subjective and dependent on individual strengths, though Orgo often has a tougher reputation and harsher grading.
 

What class is the pre-med killer?

Organic Chemistry:

This course is often referred to as the “pre-med killer” because it actually has caused many pre-med majors to switch their major. Like all the others, this class requires a strong commitment to consistent and serious studying.

How rare is a 525 MCAT?

A 525 MCAT score is extremely rare and exceptional, placing you in the 100th percentile, meaning you scored better than 100% of test-takers in recent years (2022-2024) and are just 3 points shy of a perfect score (528). This score is considered a top-tier score for the most selective medical schools, putting you in a statistically tiny fraction of applicants, as scores above 520 represent the top 1-3%. 

What is the #1 pre-med school in the US?

There's no single "number one" pre-med school, but Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, Duke University, and the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) consistently rank at the top for pre-med programs due to exceptional advising, research, clinical access, and high medical school acceptance rates. Harvard often leads in general rankings, while JHU excels in research, Duke offers strong balance, and UPenn leverages its medical school connections.