As a Biology Major in 3rd year, is Cell Biology or Molecular Biology more useful

[Claydees]

I will be applying to the USA next year. I have not taken Biochem and am applying to the schools where Biochem ≠ a requirement. Have a list of about 15 or so private (non-state) schools that accept Canadian students, which I am one.

In Canada/at my school Mbio is considered a BCHM course, not a BIOL course. Cell bio is considered a BIOL course. I was thinking I could use Mbio to cover the BCHM requirements for the USA schools but it appears MBIO is not considered a BCHM over there like it is over here, however some schools admission person said they possibly will accept it as a Biochem but can't say that with confidence since they don't really know. Mbio would be a winter course over here so i haven't started it yet. I'm currently in Cell Biology and honestly don't like it but I need to take EITHER Mbio OR cell bio to graduate as a bio major. Do you guys think Mbio is more practical than Cell Bio for dentistry or are they both pretty equal (therefore stay in cell bio since I'm already 1 week into it instead of looking to drop it and take Mbio in winter)? If they are equal weighting/value I'll stay in cell bio, but need some opinions. I've seen this topic in the Pre-pharm and pre-med forums but have not seen it here (based on the "similar threads" thing) for pre-dent so I do need advice here. Taking both is not something I'm keen on considering I want to raise my GPA and taking both increases the chances of making that harder to do.

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[Koalafied]

i will be applying to the usa next year. I have not taken biochem and am applying to the schools where biochem ≠ a requirement. Have a list of about 15 or so private (non-state) schools that accept canadian students, which i am one.

In canada/at my school mbio is considered a bchm course, not a biol course. Cell bio is considered a biol course. I was thinking i could use mbio to cover the bchm requirements for the usa schools but it appears mbio is not considered a bchm over there like it is over here, however some schools admission person said they possibly will accept it as a biochem but can't say that with confidence since they don't really know. Mbio would be a winter course over here so i haven't started it yet. I'm currently in cell biology and honestly don't like it but i need to take either mbio or cell bio to graduate as a bio major. Do you guys think mbio is more practical than cell bio for dentistry or are they both pretty equal (therefore stay in cell bio since i'm already 1 week into it instead of looking to drop it and take mbio in winter)? If they are equal weighting/value i'll stay in cell bio, but need some opinions. I've seen this topic in the pre-pharm and pre-med forums but have not seen it here (based on the "similar threads" thing) for pre-dent so i do need advice here. taking both is not something i'm keen on considering i want to raise my gpa and taking both increases the chances of making that harder to do.

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mbio is not considered a bchm

 

[Claydees]

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Yes but not not the point. The point is is cell bio or mbio more useful from other's experiences for dental school. Not just talking pre-reqs, but also talking in terms of taking the DAT and in the actual dental school when you start. Which course pays more dividends in the end/is a better use of my academic learning time. I have a feeling you didn't read my whole original post but thanks anyway.

 

[Koalafied]

Yes but not not the point. The point is is cell bio or mbio more useful from other's experiences for dental school. Not just talking pre-reqs, but also talking in terms of taking the DAT and in the actual dental school when you start. Which course pays more dividends in the end/is a better use of my academic learning time. I have a feeling you didn't read my whole original post but thanks anyway.

You do realize that biochemistry is a D1 course/topic in ds, right?

 

[Claydees]

Yes. Does not change my original question.

 

[Koalafied]

Yes. Does not change my original question.

Mmmkay.

Well, since you asked..... my limited-informed answer to the title of your thread, OP, is: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=14364252&postcount=3729.

I believe you'll likely receive more relatable answers/responses from more relatable folks here: http://www.premed101.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=7.

Good luck.

 

[sacapuntas]

You do realize that biochemistry is a D1 course/topic in ds, right?

Not at my dental school, its a pre-req and not covered by the dental curriculum.

Yes but not not the point. The point is is cell bio or mbio more useful from other's experiences for dental school. Not just talking pre-reqs, but also talking in terms of taking the DAT and in the actual dental school when you start. Which course pays more dividends in the end/is a better use of my academic learning time. I have a feeling you didn't read my whole original post but thanks anyway.

I wish I would have taken cell bio. It would have made my first semester easier for sure. though, neither are critical in my opinion, as they are some of the easier concepts in dental school.

 

[Koalafied]

Not at my dental school, its a pre-req and not covered by the dental curriculum.



I wish I would have taken cell bio. It would have made my first semester easier for sure. though, neither are critical in my opinion, as they are some of the easier concepts in dental school.

Hehehe.

 

[ToldYouSo]

Mmmkay.

Well, since you asked..... my limited-informed answer to the title of your thread, OP, is: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=14364252&postcount=3729.

I believe you'll likely receive more relatable answers/responses from more relatable folks here: http://www.premed101.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=7.

Good luck.

Hehehe.

What is wrong with you

 

[Koalafied]

What is wrong with you

Mmm... spending too much koalaty time with y'all of course!?!!

 

[NomadicMaxFac]

As far as the DAT goes, cell biology is more useful in my view since there were a number of questions on my DAT that pertained directly to the inner workings of the cell. I only had one question that was related directly to microbiology, and that question was on topics covered by most general biology courses.
However, I think the real answer to your problem is to just take biochemistry. Since you allude to your desire to raise your GPA rather than maintain it, I assume it is probably not in the 3.8+ range. Since you are already limited to a relatively small number of schools, you need to do everything you can to be competitive at all of them. Eliminating several from the start because you have not taken the appropriate coursework seems like a risky course of action. Since you are not applying until next cycle, you should consider taking biochemistry. You have two years before you matriculate and I find it hard to believe that your schedule is so packed that this is not an option. If your school does not offer it, Oregon State offers an online sequence that is identical to the on campus courses (BB 450 and BB 451) and is open to pretty much anyone. They are good courses and don't require extraneous work like making discussion board posts and other such nonsense, but be forewarned, only the top ten percent get A's and A-'s. Best of luck.

 

[Claydees]

Yes, the problem is I can't fit biochem in this year and next year during my thesis I have other biol courses needed to graduate. In my program, I AM REQUIRED to take EITHER cell OR molecular biology in order to graduate. It's an A or B thing that is a required Biology major pre-req to graduate. Both are of apparently similar difficulty, which is why I wanted to ask which is more useful. If they are both hard, I'd rather benefit more upon course completion towards my future DAT and dental school instead of working hard and gaining knowledge I will never use again despite my efforts. If I could take Biochem instead of cell or molecular biology then I would easily. The only time I think I can fit in a biochem is during summer next year (which is when i have to write my DAT and MCAT (since I'm currently in 3rd year...I don't want my first attempts to be in 4th year) which is why I have this scenario which I don't like. I feel my program has effectively pigeoned holed me in a tighter situation than I feel comfortable with in terms of pre-reqs. No one wants to limit their options of schools to apply to, but this is how it must be. One option is to maybe write my DAT in july like I plan, then take the rest of july to somehow find a Biochem course, then write the MCAT in august...I mean, no it just doesn't seem feasible.

Also mbio is molecular biology, not micro at my school. I was asking about. molecular biology vs cell, not microbiology vs cell. Does that change your response about which is more useful? Thank you for the support guys and good information. I should also mention that currently my schedule is front loaded with 4 biology courses (including cell bio) and 1 elective this semester (a mark booster since biochem conflicts with my biology courses...I was hoping to get biochem but cannot), and my winter is the opposite with 1 biology course and 4 electives (which is very irritating because the biochem and english courses I would benefit from taking do not allow you to join half way through the course, they are full year courses you must start in fall...so I feel like I'm using so many electives that might boost my mark a lot, sure, but are more or less just consolation for a brutal fall with no real intrinsic value to dentistry other than boosting GPA. This is also playing a role in my mind of dropping cell bio (which still would not free up space for biochem since that's not the conflicting course) to have 3 fall bio courses and taking molecular bio in winter so I can have 3 and 2 instead of 4 and 1. However, practicality is first and foremost. If you guys say cell bio is better, then I'll just stay in and look forward to a lax winter to boost my grades.

If I'm dropping the course it has to be this week. I can't be two weeks behind in something else I decide to pick up.

 

[sacapuntas]

Hehehe.

Cool, you found an outdated link.

 

[Koalafied]

Cool, you found an outdated link.

Cool, you win, good day abuelo!

 

[ktran17]

First off, you wouldn't really benefit from biochemistry unless you took cell bio prior anyways.

To answer your original question, I believe cell bio is more important than mbio because with the information you gain from cell bio, you can apply the knowledge to courses such as physio, microbio, and biochemistry.

Cell bio provides you with the tools to study and comprehend upper level bio classes, including Molec bio.

 

[FeralisExtremum]

I feel bad for the OP, it's like half of you started replying without actually reading his posts.

Molecular biology is more useful than cell biology for the DAT, in my opinion. Ideally, take both if you can.

 

[mid]

Neither, histo or anatomy will help you much more in dschool

 

[Claydees]

Yes I was redirected to a Prof at Pitts by their admissions office and although he said it was a good question his response led me to believe it wouldn't matter which I took since neither is that similar to biochem and neither are that useful, even though he didn't directly say it like that.