Pre-Nursing or Pre-Med

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 25, 2015

There's no way nursing school can be compared to medical school. The prerequisite coursework is not the same, and neither is the actual schooling.

The prerequisites for medical school include two general biology courses, two general chemistries, two organic chemistries, physics, calculus, and a plethora of other classes. I didn't need any coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, or math to become a nurse.

In addition, earning 'B' grades in the prerequisite coursework sequence for medical school will not get a person admitted anywhere except the last-chance Caribbean medical programs. However, a student with 'B' grades in prerequisite courses can find a nursing program to admit him/her.

oldsockventriloquist · Nov 25, 2015

How are you with math? Have you looked at the chemistry and physics subjects you will have to learn about? My biggest question is what makes you want to pursue medicine versus nursing?

direw0lf, BSN · Nov 25, 2015

To TheCommuter: Actually not to disagree for the sake of disagreeing but because I think it's interesting, med schools do look at grades but value showing diversity and being "well rounded" even more from what people who are experts told me.

For ex my classmate gets C's although he retook some sciences for a B. But he also has been working as a medical scribe for a good company (he's sent to different hospitals) and made relationships with doctors that will earn him excellent referrals, volunteered many many hours at a wide variety of charities, and takes extra classes in different areas of study besides has prepared hard for the mcat to hopefully score well there.

Also, OP, in addition to TheCommuter's list for the Premed track you would need 2 semesters of calculus based physics. Some Premed tracks require a semester of "regular" physics besides.

If you prefer that route you should make changes sooner rather than later since they're big ones. Speak to an advisor for premed students.

P.S. good job pulling up the grade, now look at how you can study most efficiently.

elkpark · Nov 25, 2015

To TheCommuter: Actually not to disagree for the sake of disagreeing but because I think it's interesting, med schools do look at grades but value showing diversity and being "well rounded" even more from what people who are experts told me.
For ex my classmate gets C's although he retook some sciences for a B. But he also has been working as a medical scribe for a good company (he's sent to different hospitals) and made relationships with doctors that will earn him excellent referrals, volunteered many many hours at a wide variety of charities, and takes extra classes in different areas of study besides has prepared hard for the mcat to hopefully score well there.

Med schools do take more of an interest in candidates' "diversity" and being "well-rounded" more than they used to, but that doesn't mean they stopped caring about grades or that they admit people who do not appear to be clearly capable of functioning well at that academic level. Since your friend is still studying for the MCAT, I assume that he has not yet applied or been admitted to med school, so it's not clear to me what his story demonstrates here. I'm sure that people he's spoken to at medical schools have encouraged him to apply and told him they look at more than just grades. No medical school is going to tell anyone, "Don't bother trying, you'll never get in," just as no nursing school is going to say that to anyone, no matter how unlikely a candidate the person may appear to be. He may end up being considered a strong candidate, he may not. But none of the talk really matters until you get accepted into a program.

OP, aren't you the same person who has posted here recently about how you're really struggling in your prerequisites and looking for direct-entry MSN program that take people with low GPAs? That doesn't bode well for your chances for medical school.

direw0lf, BSN · Nov 25, 2015

True Elkpark. I was thinking of a "B" student. I was very impressed by that student's ability to work full time as a medical scribe and be in school full time. He's taking biochemistry, calculus, on top of everything and I just find that impressive, with a B average. But I'm not admitting anyone in med school...

But I think they probably see a lot of 4.0 Bio majors. Someone with something special even with a lower GPA I think would get noticed more. I'm thinking in general though. The OP has a lot of work and planning to do if she switches.