1 Semester Biochemistry Recommended

[medhopefull]

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I understand that a lot of schools recommend taking at least a semester of biochemistry.

However, I'm at a quarter-system school. Would this mean that I have to take 2 quarters worth of biochem to fulfill the recommendation?

 

[medhopefull]

bump?

 

[nabeel76]

Not exactly sure how the quarter system works, but biochemistry is a year long course just like intro bio, gen chem, organic chem etc. So you can relate a semester of biochem to a semester of any of those courses in the same way or a quarter of biochem to a quarter of any of those courses in the same way. Not sure if this helps you but if you know how many quarters equated to Gen Chem I for example than it will be the same for biochem.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

My biochem was 1 semester..I would think 1 quarter of biochem would work??

Ask your advisor though.

 

[Stratego]

A recommendation is not a requirement. If you can take two quarters, you'd be doing yourself a favor, but a single quarter will still put you ahead in med school.

 

[phospho]

Would this mean that I have to take 2 quarters worth of biochem to fulfill the recommendation?

no, it means one quarter...

 

[Caprica6]

I would disagree and say it means two quarters. You should take the year of biochem anyway if you have the time. I thought it was a helpful class.

 

[phospho]

I would disagree and say it means two quarters. You should take the year of biochem anyway if you have the time. I thought it was a helpful class.

I'm not "assuming" it's one quarter, I'm actually positive it's one quarter... I asked a few adcoms (at least 5 of them) about the same thing when I started the app, since my school also works on the quarter system.

I'm not sure why anyone would take one year of biochem just because it's "helpful". I want to become a doctor, not a biochemist. Almost every medical student I've ever spoken with says nothing they took in undergrad helped them out to the point where they recommend taking it.

As for taking one course in biochem, I recommend doing that just because it might help in admissions, especially at the schools that specifically recommend it.

 

[P31woman]

I'm on a quarter system...you only have to take a quarter to fulfill the recommendation

 

[byurazorhog]

The people (for the most part) have spoken...😀 I spoke with my advisor this morning and she told me only one quarter is needed.

 

[Mattabet]

Yeah, when they say 'semester', they mean, we think you ought to have some exposure to this, no less than the same length of a normal class. A quarter (for those of us that use this clearly superior system) is what they're after.

 

[FuturaDocta]

Does your school have 4 semesters of biochem? I suppose only 1 semester is needed. Just in case, I would email someone at a couple of medical schools to clarify.

 

[Appless]

I understand that a lot of schools recommend taking at least a semester of biochemistry.

However, I'm at a quarter-system school. Would this mean that I have to take 2 quarters worth of biochem to fulfill the recommendation?

Emailing the schools would be best but it depends on the units. If they say at least 1 semester of biochem consisting of 3 units then convert the biochem quarter units to semester and youll know.

 

[TMP-SMX]

It would be helpful for the MCAT if nothing else. I had Biochem I in undergrad and I still thought that it was the worst class in medical school second to Gross Anatomy.