Chemistry

Of all of the pre-requisites for most graduate medical programs, chemistry is the most time consuming and tedious. The typical chemistry that is required and/or taken for these programs includes:

1. Principles of Chemistry (not required ever but good for recommended for anyone who has a weak background in chem)
2. General (Inorganic) Chemistry I
3. General (Inorganic) Chemistry II
4. Organic Chemistry I
5. Organic Chemistry II
6. Biochemistry I
7. Biochemistry II

So, lets say one just takes the usual minimum requirement for PA school (GChem I & II and OChem I) that is still 3 semesters meaning an entire year straight of chemistry! If one was to take each one in the Fall and Spring sequence, that is over 3 years of chemistry!

One might look at this and wonder why so much chemistry is required by graduate medical programs. Chemistry is happening all the time in the human body and without a fundamental knowledge of the basic mechanisms of these reactions and all that goes into them, success in upper level Pharmacology, Physiology, etc. is impossible.

There is hope though, with adequate study time and a genuine attempt to enjoy the material one can be successful and send out transcripts to their programs of choice with confidence.

With all of the courses I have mentioned in previous posts, one may be overwhelmed and question their choice of profession. So I have included an Introductory Chemistry course lecture taken from MIT Open Course Ware

And make sure to never forget your handy Periodic Table!

Also, a bit off topic but I just wanted to share this bit of awesomeness.