Am I shooting myself in the foot if I don't take biochem?

[ciestar]

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I've been wondering this for a little while now, so I've been researching area schools (temple, Drexel, penn, penn state, etc), to see who offers the course and when. Most of them are two piece sequences, but many of them only offer part one in the fall and the second half in the spring. So I basically have to decide on this relatively soon.

Is it absolutely necessary? Many schools seem to now highly recommend it and a bunch of others require it. Dartmouth is a school I'm looking into and they do require it. Any recommendations? I'm applying next year.

 

[Jojokarade]

I would say that it would be helpful to take the courses. I remember a lot of people at DUCOM who hadn't taken biochem struggled a little when the biochem pathways came full force. Plus, biochem is considered an upper level course, so if you do well, that looks better on your application.

 

[Copernicium]

Would definitely take biochem if you can. Like you said, more schools are recommending/requiring it.

 

[allantois]

there is Biochem I and then Biochem II but most med schools only go as far as recommending one semester with or without the lab component.

 

[ciestar]

there is Biochem I and then Biochem II but most med schools only go as far as recommending one semester with or without the lab component.

Yes, I know this as I stated that in my post. There is a time crunch involved since, as I said, they break it up and many schools I looked into don't offer part one in the spring, and you can't take II without I...so I have to decide soon if I'm taking it.

 

[allantois]

Yes, I know this as I stated that in my post. There is a time crunch involved since, as I said, they break it up and many schools I looked into don't offer part one in the spring, and you can't take II without I...so I have to decide soon if I'm taking it.

My bad for misreading your post. If you want to apply to schools that require it then you have no choice but to take it this upcoming fall.

 

[Law2Doc]

I never took it before med school and never regretted that I didn't. Once is plenty. Fewer med schools required/recommended it at that time though. if you think you might apply to a program that requires it, consider it a Prereq and take it.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

It'll definitely work to your advantage if you take it and do well. Why not?

 

[baxt1412]

If you can, take it as it will help.

If you can't, then you can't. Move on and keep working on the rest of your app. I don't think a decision will ever come down strictly between you and another applicant with the only difference being they had biochem and you didn't.

 

[alpinism]

At the very least take 1 semester w/o the lab.

It can only help.

 

[baxt1412]

At the very least take 1 semester w/o the lab.

It can only help.

unless you get a C 😉

 

[Alucard6]

I highly suggest it. It is interesting subject matter that you will learn in medical school and personally in my school it is the closest I have gotten to extensive material and studying, which is good prep for med school.

 

[blueharbor]

My bad for misreading your post. If you want to apply to schools that require it then you have no choice but to take it this upcoming fall.

Schools that require it generally only need you to take it before you matriculate. If it will be a big issue for you to take it now, then just take it the summer before matriculating if you're accepted to a school that requires it. I don't think it'll seriously hurt your chances to not have it done when you apply, especially if you have both Ochems (with solid grades) already.

I'm no expert, but this is what JHU admissions told me when I asked them the same question a couple of years ago.

 

[ciestar]

Schools that require it generally only need you to take it before you matriculate. If it will be a big issue for you to take it now, then just take it the summer before matriculating if you're accepted to a school that requires it. I don't think it'll seriously hurt your chances to not have it done when you apply, especially if you have both Ochems (with solid grades) already.

I'm no expert, but this is what JHU admissions told me when I asked them the same question a couple of years ago.

True! I guess I could technically take it fall of 2015 or something, but god forbid I get an A in the course...haha, any little bit helps.

 

[D4C]

Don't bother. I took two semesters of biochem, got an A+ in both. When I hit biochem in school, some of it was familiar, some of it was new. But the thing is, you don't know what will be emphasized, and the chances of you recalling what you learned in undergrad and applying it in the level of detail you're expected to know in med school is not likely. But if you reeeeeealy want it, by all means, give it a shot!

 

[Flashfan]

Are you taking the 2015 MCAT? Biochem is now a major component of the test. they have reduced the emphasis on O-Chem and replaced them with biochem.

 

[ciestar]

I'm scheduled to take the mcat August 7th, so that's not a concern at least.

 

[username456789]

For what it's worth, I never took biochem in undergrad, and got Honors in my Biochem class in medical school. It was, however, probably the class I had to work the hardest in during M1.

 

[Heday]

Maybe I'm ignorant, but why can't you take II without taking I?

Edit: From what I understand typically one course will be mainly concerned with protein biochemistry and kinetics while the other is more focused on metabolic processes and regulation. Each course needs minimal background information of the other (in a sense). Nothing too daunting.

 

[ciestar]

Maybe I'm ignorant, but why can't you take II without taking I?

Edit: From what I understand typically one course will be mainly concerned with protein biochemistry and kinetics while the other is more focused on metabolic processes and regulation. Each course needs minimal background information of the other (in a sense). Nothing too daunting.

Easy, because one is considered the pre-req for the other so they literally won't allow you to take two without taking one first. It may vary by school, but that's how it worked at my alma mater.

 

[ciestar]

I'm pretty much seriously considering taking the course because many schools are following the trend to require the course, so I feel like that's a very legitimate reason. I'm still undecided, though. I could just omit those schools but I don't want to limit my options.

 

[allantois]

In a few years from now I can imagine all med schools will be requiring Biochem from applicants considering it will be a major course of the new MCAT. I don't understand why it's such a problem for some people.

 

[amad01]

In a few years from now I can imagine all med schools will be requiring Biochem from applicants considering it will be a major course of the new MCAT. I don't understand why it's such a problem for some people.

For non-science majors already taking 8+ courses outside their major, it just adds to the pile of expensive and time consuming memorization that will just be mostly forgotten before needed to relearn in med school.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

I'm pretty much seriously considering taking the course because many schools are following the trend to require the course, so I feel like that's a very legitimate reason. I'm still undecided, though. I could just omit those schools but I don't want to limit my options.

I'm definitely not an expert on the app process but I feel that maximizing your options should be a priority. A biochem course might be expensive, but in the long run, it can possibly help you get into a school that'll give you a better financial advantage.

 

[ciestar]

In a few years from now I can imagine all med schools will be requiring Biochem from applicants considering it will be a major course of the new MCAT. I don't understand why it's such a problem for some people.

Easy, it's simply because I've already graduated and I have a job so I have to work all of that out before I can do anything. My general biology degree didn't require biochem, but the other "options" for a biology major did. Problem was, I changed my major late in the game and in order to graduate on time (ended up doing this in the summer) I had no choice. Not really sure why I feel the need to explain myself here, though.

I'm definitely not an expert on the app process but I feel that maximizing your options should be a priority. A biochem course might be expensive, but in the long run, it can possibly help you get into a school that'll give you a better financial advantage.

You definitely make an excellent point.

 

[Cyberdyne 101]

Easy, it's simply because I've already graduated and I have a job so I have to work all of that out before I can do anything. My general biology degree didn't require biochem, but the other "options" for a biology major did. Problem was, I changed my major late in the game and in order to graduate on time (ended up doing this in the summer) I had no choice. Not really sure why I feel the need to explain myself here, though.



You definitely make an excellent point.

I can definitely understand your frustrations. My pre-med path resembles a Lord of the Rings journey more than anything else. And who knows if I'll ever reach Mount Doom... It's easy for ppl on the outside to downplay your dilemma. And after taking all those courses to complete a bio degree (especially with job responsibilities) it's understandable that you don't want to do more than what's necessary. I'm just of the opinion that it's better to be safe than sorry with this process. Contact the schools that you are interested in (which require biochem), and see if it'll suffice to take it prior to matriculation.

Edit: this is what I would do in your position. Good luck!