Biochem as a monkey wrench in my MCAT plans, how should I procede?

[Aelius]

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I originally was scheduled to take the following this Spring:

Biochem
Ochem II
Calc for Life Sciences
Fungi (upper div bio course)

Ochem II is a pre-req for Biochem but the system let me register anyway. The Biochem prof reviewed everyone's pre-req and wants me to drop Biochem. I've tried appealing with no avail.

My original plan was to take the MCAT 2015 in May and apply this year. In addition, I was aiming for the Spring semester to be by last post-bacc school semester.

1. Should I self-study biochem and still take the MCAT 2015 in May?
2. My premed advisor said that 27 allopathic schools and 7 osteopathic schools require biochem, would I need to have that completed before I apply or could I just take it in the fall or even as an online class somewhere to fulfill that requirement?

I really wanted to wrap up my post-bacc this spring. Now, I'm starting to get worried that my master plan may need a huge modification that is going to push things back by another year. Please keep in mind that father time isn't on my side as I'm already in my late-30s.

Thanks

 

[TexasSurgeon]

I originally was scheduled to take the following this Spring:

Biochem
Ochem II
Calc for Life Sciences
Fungi (upper div bio course)

Ochem II is a pre-req for Biochem but the system let me register anyway. The Biochem prof reviewed everyone's pre-req and wants me to drop Biochem. I've tried appealing with no avail.

My original plan was to take the MCAT 2015 in May and apply this year. In addition, I was aiming for the Spring semester to be by last post-bacc school semester.

1. Should I self-study biochem and still take the MCAT 2015 in May?
2. My premed advisor said that 27 allopathic schools and 7 osteopathic schools require biochem, would I need to have that completed before I apply or could I just take it in the fall or even as an online class somewhere to fulfill that requirement?

I really wanted to wrap up my post-bacc this spring. Now, I'm starting to get worried that my master plan may need a huge modification that is going to push things back by another year. Please keep in mind that father time isn't on my side as I'm already in my late-30s.

Thanks

what if you "sit in" on the biochem lectures? he can't throw you out of class. I also think its ridiculous to have ochem 2 as a prereq for biochem. yeah you need to know mechanisms, but common sense can guide you pretty far in the acid/base mechanisms most enzymes and proteases use.

you are allowed to complete your prereqs after you apply. So you can take biochem later and still apply to schools! 🙂

 

[clairephillips]

I agree that sitting in on biochem lectures and taking the MCAT with a combo of attending lectures/self-studying should suffice. You should take biochem, but it can be a planned class when you apply.

 

[Quik]

That stinks. Only one section of Ochem is required at my school, and while a vague understanding of the major mechanisms is really necessary, I don't think I ever heard an example of an aldol condensation reaction or anything else that wasn't covered in the 200 level series of Ochem I had to take as pre-req to take biochem on schedule. If coursesaver "Chad's Videos" adds that section to their MCAT Prep, I'm pretty confident that could get you by with that, which I recommend strongly to anyone, unless you enjoy reading really dry basic science material over watching an entertaining instructor teach every nuance and trick of a concept. It really is the bee's knees of MCAT stuff; and it's cheap!

 

[DocWinter]

I had to take Ochem 1 before biochem, but not orgo 2. I took biochem and orgo2 concurrently. Seems silly to me.

I'm sure you could self-study or even sit in on class, as someone mentioned. There were 300 students in my lecture hall and no way of telling who is who. However, check that the schools you are applying to don't require biochem.


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