Often I am asked how much a medical school admissions officer will emphasize a student's grades in organic chemistry when assessing a candidate for admission. While this class is very important to admissions, it may not be so for the most obvious reasons.
In 2006, almost 40,000 students applied to medical school, of which less than 45% were accepted. The average applying student had a GPA of almost 3.5 and MCAT score of 27.6, while the average matriculating student had a GPA of 3.64 and an MCAT score of 30.4. Thus, it is obviously a very competitive endeavor. Now we need to examine how to give yourself an edge in that endeavor.
First, it must be acknowledged that the grade itself that one receives in organic chemistry will be duly noted be the admissions official and that an "A" will impress the most. In addition, the student's organic chemistry laboratory grade will also weigh in the admissions process. These grades are not just a part of your GPA, but are also a larger part of the "science GPA", which is also closely scrutinized by med schools.
Yet, organic chemistry could play a much greater role in medical acceptance than just a letter grade or part of a GPA. The oft-forgotten role that organic chemistry plays in medical school admissions is in the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). The MCAT is separated into four sections (Physical Science, Verbal Reasoning, Writing Sample, and Biological Science) and has a perfect score of 45. While organic chemistry falls under the physical science section, what is not definitive is the amount of organic chemistry that the will comprise the section. The actual composition of the physical science section varies from exam to exam and could possibly be concentrated in organic chemistry. Should a student encounter a section heavy in organic chemistry, that student's grade in the course is going to be far less important than the effect it will have on the MCAT score. Thus, knowledge of organic chemistry is more essential to medical school admissions than just obtaining a good grade.
Studies have conclusively shown that students who have a better grasp on organic chemistry going into the MCAT are more likely to score higher on the exam and get into to medical school. We have found that the most efficient way to obtain that grasp is through comprehensive review courses. One of those is offered by a company called AceOrganicChem, which can be found at Organic Chemistry.
In conclusion, it has been shown that while the actual letter grad in organic chemistry is important, it is more important to understand the subject so as to score well on the MCAT.
For more information on organic chemistry and the MCAT, or to get organic chemistry help and tutoring, I strongly recommend visiting Organic Chemistry.
Michael Pintero, PhD, obtained his degree in organic chemistry from a major US university and now works in the private sector.
Source: www.articlecity.com
