I will be taking biochemistry in the Spring, but I'm a bit undecided about adding on General Genetics. I'm a non-traditional student, so I may or may not choose to take it, but after the MCAT. Should I take it now? Does it have any benefit at all whatsoever to the MCAT, aside from Mendelian genetics, which is already covered in 1st year Bio?
Are courses in Genetics and Biochemistry helpful for the MCAT?
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Nothing beyond what's covered in your core classes will be covered without additional information being provided, usually in passage form.
But both are good classes to take in general, even if for no other reason than your own edification. On the other hand, if it's just the MCAT you are concerned about, everything you don't know from these two areas can be self-taught.
But both are good classes to take in general, even if for no other reason than your own edification. On the other hand, if it's just the MCAT you are concerned about, everything you don't know from these two areas can be self-taught.
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The genetics on the MCAT is painfully simple - it's all covered in gen bio. An actual genetics course would be far too in-depth for the MCAT. Biochem, on the other hand, is pretty useful. Although it too is much more than you need to know, it gives you a lot of useful background knowledge. Certainly not critical to take before the MCAT, but if you want to take it anyway, you may as well.
I didn't take either of those classes, and I got a 15 on the BS section of the MCAT. So they're clearly not necessary.
They may well help you, though. Ultimately, I think it'll help to take any science class that requires you to read and synthesize new scientific information, discuss it and answer questions about it. General scientific literacy is the main thing the MCAT science sections are testing. In terms of content, a class in genetics is overkill for MCAT prep. In terms of general science reasoning, it depends on where you are right now, how the class is taught, and a host of other factors.
They may well help you, though. Ultimately, I think it'll help to take any science class that requires you to read and synthesize new scientific information, discuss it and answer questions about it. General scientific literacy is the main thing the MCAT science sections are testing. In terms of content, a class in genetics is overkill for MCAT prep. In terms of general science reasoning, it depends on where you are right now, how the class is taught, and a host of other factors.
Im studying for the mcat right now an I find some sections to be very easy since it was covered in class in much detail. I find immunology, and biochem much more important than genetics, but, IMO, genetics is necessary nonetheless.
having studied for the MCAT over the summer (although i didn't take it) and starting to study for it again now (after taking biochem this semester that just ended)...I have found biochem EXTREMELY helpful for me in the bio section. It gives you great background to help understand the passages better and helps you master key processes that are very helpful on MCAT such as enzymes, catabolic and anabolic metabolism and many other things that the MCAT assages go over. If you're a genious and mastered everything from biology and organic chem then you could probably do good without it but if you're like most people, it (biochem)will help you out alot...also, my school biology classes skipped over sections from some of the topics that biochem goes into which may be the reason it helped me out so much
