so just what is pre-med anyway?

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Kthanid

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Sorry this isn't ems so to speak but I notice a few people referring to EMT's going on to med school.

Can someone explain what the US pre-med subjects really are.

What I mean is in my country in say final highschool years we can do physics, organic chemstry, biology etc as normal subjects for 2 years.

Is this what a med school wants to see?

Or are they talking about more advanced tertiary subjects taken after highschool but before med school?
 
Med school is VERY competitive now. To be honest its kind of a toss-up what they want to see regarding other classes besides the sciences and math (and some english) Extra curricular activies im sure helps on an application but it is impossible to say which ones. Im sure EMS wont hurt but keep in mind that not all EMS go on to med school and just b/c you are in EMS doesn't mean that you are a better candidate than someone who has not medical background. Pre-med is not a major but it is a track you follow which includes General Chem, organic chem, physics, biology math usual calculus and a few other courses that can vary like english, psychology, A&P etc. As for your highschool physics, orgo and bio etc. they would be looking for more advanced levels in each area. However im not sure what your education system is like so those courses at a high school level could be equivelant but most likely not. If you are looking for a school in the U.S, then you should contact them to find out if your courses are acceptable or not. Im thinking about going pre-med...im a business major but have taken chem which was extremely difficult and i had an A**h*** of professor who didnt care about his students. i will most likely finish up my major then come back and do my premed (even though it may be an extra two years of school).
 
In the US one graduates high school around the age of 18. We do not do any specialized education in high school.... meaning whether you eventually want to be a lawyer, electrician or doctor, your high school education is going to be essentially the same.

Some students do take advanced college-level classes during high school, usually to get a headstart on college credits, but no one is pre-med prior to college.

One becomes pre-med here in college. At some colleges it's actually a major you can declare, but it's not what you get your Bachelor's degree in. Someone who is "pre-med" in college intends to go to medical school post-Bachelor's degree - and they can get their Bachelor's in pretty much anything but biology and related sciences are probably the most common.

So to get in to medical school out here, you need a bachelor's degree, and to have taken certain classes such as bio, organic chemistry, etc.

It is my experience that there are tons of pre-med college students, and very few of them actually go on to medical school. You should've seen how many changed their minds after taking Gen Bio 101 freshman year because "it is sooo hard."
 
yeah at my school its after gen chem that people say this is too hard (which it is :-P). But dont let that discourage you if you want to go for it.
 
The basic undergraduate course requirements for application to medical schools are 1 year of Biology with Genetics (and lab), 1 year of chemistry (and lab), one year of organic chemistry (with lab), and 1 year of Physics (with lab), in addition to calculus or other advanced math, and perhaps some biochemistry, advanced genetics, etc. Depending on where you're applying, they also sometimes want to see liberal arts or social science classes (Psychology, Sociology, Health Care Policy, Arts, etc).
 
Thanks for the great answers. So they are college subjects rather than regular highschool level then.Btw apologies to mods this probably should have been in education/training just realised.
 
yes they are college subjects not just high school. If you are still in high school it still wouldnt hurt to take the courses so you will have a better understanding at the college level. I know my professor made the assumption that we all had intensive chem teachers in High school and that was not the case for most people. Also look into taking AP classes (advanced placement). these are high school classes taught at the college level however they only help for entry into college and maybe a few college credits but it does not replace the actual course. There are also IB exams too but im not sure how many schools look at those.
 
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