These additional requirements can generally be met in the senior year. Cell Biology BIOL-4260 Intro. Medicine is a scientific discipline and medical school coursework is therefore heavy in the sciences. Medical school admissions committees will look for demonstrated ability to handle upper level science coursework. Since applicants generally apply to medical school during the summer between the junior and senior years, most successful applicants will have compiled a record of success in upper level science courses by the end of the junior year.
Medical schools value a well-rounded and broad curriculum.
While you may choose to take several courses in a particular area outside of your major, it is not necessary that you complete requirements for a second major. However both courses and grades will appear on the transcript and medical schools will require that you recalculate your QPA using both grades. Generally medical schools do not like to see students repeating courses and the Health Professions Advisory Committee does not recommend that students repeat courses. It is not intended simply to lighten a course load. Taking Admission Requirements away from Rensselaer.