Biochem helpful for the MCAT?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
BeachBlondie

BeachBlondie

Put some tussin on it!
15+ Year Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2008
Messages
1,456
Reaction score
1,426
Members do not see this ad.
I was speaking with a fellow premed last night who mentioned that biochem is becoming more and more prevalent on the MCAT. They even said that within a few years it may come part and parcel with the rest of the pre-requisites, being made mandatory.

I'm not sure whether or not these facts are being pulled from the air, so I thought I'd ask SDN.

Did you encounter biochem on the MCAT and would you consider it useful prior to taking the test?

Thanks.
 
Personally, physiology was much more prevalent on my MCAT than biochemistry.
 
BeachBlondie said:
I was speaking with a fellow premed last night who mentioned that biochem is becoming more and more prevalent on the MCAT. They even said that within a few years it may come part and parcel with the rest of the pre-requisites, being made mandatory.

I'm not sure whether or not these facts are being pulled from the air, so I thought I'd ask SDN.

Did you encounter biochem on the MCAT and would you consider it useful prior to taking the test?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I haven't taken the MCAT yet, but I would think that taking Biochemistry would be helpful to reinforce the small 'Biochemistry section' in most intro/general Bio classes. However, I don't think it's necessary. I'm not planning on taking it before the exam.

Geekchick921 said:
Personally, physiology was much more prevalent on my MCAT than biochemistry.
Click to expand...

But I am planning on taking Phys before the MCAT! Seems pretty relevant and my prof from my Bio class didn't go over body systems or Phys at all. Hope it helps!
 
my MCAT was the complete opposite. i had zero phys and quite a few biochem questions. i wish i wouldve had time to take biochem in college.
 
My Orgo professor told us that there will be a biochem section on the MCAT in the near future. They are planning it now.
 
I took the MCAT in 2009 and there were a lot of questions leaning towards cell biology, biochemistry, microbiology, etc. Very little (beyond basic "duh" questions) on physiology.

Others I've talked to report similar experiences, so it seems to be trending in this direction.
 
From searching this forum on similar threads, it seems that most people believe that physiology and biochemistry are the two most helpful classes outside of the pre-reqs.

Most schools also have a biochemistry in the Biology department and a Biochem I and II sequence (plus a laboratory) in the Chemistry department. Perhaps the one in the Biology department is all you need.
 
BeachBlondie said:
I was speaking with a fellow premed last night who mentioned that biochem is becoming more and more prevalent on the MCAT. They even said that within a few years it may come part and parcel with the rest of the pre-requisites, being made mandatory.

I'm not sure whether or not these facts are being pulled from the air, so I thought I'd ask SDN.

Did you encounter biochem on the MCAT and would you consider it useful prior to taking the test?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

If you are lucky enough to get a hemoglobin curve question (quite common I've seen on practices but not on my actual MCAT), then Biochem really pays off. We learned about it in physiology too, but not nearly as much as my Biochem class pounded it into my brain.

I don't think you need to take it for the MCAT by any means. I have heard a number of med students say that Biochem helps for med school. So, I would recommend taking it anyway. If you fit it in before the MCAT, it can only help.
 
In my experience, biochem really pounds other key tools in that can help across the board. For example, going through gen chem and even the bit of orgo that mattered, I was good with pH but after biochem I'm great (not to jinx it). Taking an advanced physio class next fall so won't play into my MCAT but don't think advanced is what they are going for.
 
so i'm taking a year of biochem presently and gotta say this wouldn't have made a bit of difference in my (recent) mcat. if anything, my self-study mcat bio prep (BR covers quite a bit of biochem) totally prepared me for biochem! your mileage may vary of course.
 
Get a biochem degree before taking the MCAT and you will get a 40 +.

That is a 40 + ladies.
 
MCAT tests nothing outside basic science (bio 1, 2, chem 1, 2, phys 1, 2 ochem 1, 2) and that's all you need to answer the questions besides your noggin. A lot of people claim that upper division sciences help you on the MCAT but I actually strongly disagree with this. The difficulty with the MCAT is that it tests those basic science concepts in a variety of challenging ways by putting them in the context of more difficult material like biochem or microbio, but there really are an infinite number of ways they can do this. Better to develop yourself to think critically so that you can answer any possible permutation of basic science question hidden in complex science passages than take biochem and microbio and hope that you will learn a few things that MAY be on the MCAT but likely will not be.

I would say all of those upper div science classes are extraordinarily low yield for the MCAT and not worth the time.
 
rafflecopter said:
MCAT tests nothing outside basic science (bio 1, 2, chem 1, 2, phys 1, 2 ochem 1, 2) and that's all you need to answer the questions besides your noggin. A lot of people claim that upper division sciences help you on the MCAT but I actually strongly disagree with this. The difficulty with the MCAT is that it tests those basic science concepts in a variety of challenging ways by putting them in the context of more difficult material like biochem or microbio, but there really are an infinite number of ways they can do this. Better to develop yourself to think critically so that you can answer any possible permutation of basic science question hidden in complex science passages than take biochem and microbio and hope that you will learn a few things that MAY be on the MCAT but likely will not be.

I would say all of those upper div science classes are extraordinarily low yield for the MCAT and not worth the time.
Click to expand...

False.

There are many examples. I'll provide two off the top of my head. The first time I took the MCAT a non-passage question asked to distinguish different types of neural cells. I don't remember the question but the answer was schwann cells. The second time I took it a non-passage question about breaking your leg. The answer was femur and fibula. Seems common sense, but lots of people in the MCAT thread said they missed it.

So based on my experience, A&P >>>>Biochem. Besides, most everything you learn in biochem is stuff you have learned that is rehashed and only slightly more complicated (thermo, kinetics, structures, etc....). A&P is novel information that can't be substituted by lower level science classes.
 
rafflecopter said:
MCAT tests nothing outside basic science (bio 1, 2, chem 1, 2, phys 1, 2 ochem 1, 2) and that's all you need to answer the questions besides your noggin... I would say all of those upper div science classes are extraordinarily low yield for the MCAT and not worth the time.
Click to expand...

fast critical thinking is the number one thing that this test is covering, i completely agree. but from personal experience, at least, there was absolutely an advantage to taking as many upper-div bio courses as possible (while enjoying them and striving to do well in them). ostensibly, one is expected to be familiar enough with general sciences to sit down and use critical thinking skills to handle a majority of the passage questions. i would argue that upper division science courses solidly reinforces that general science knowledge in ways that MCAT preparation won't do, allowing you to quickly read the passage, figure out what's going on, and confidently answer questions both about the passage and beyond the passage's scope. there have been countless times where content from an upper-div bio course gave me a flashback to general bio, at which point my brain clicks with an "ooohhh, so that's what they meant", and the knowledge is now permanently fixed.

i mean, don't go out of your way to cram in a molecular biology course into your schedule if it gets in the way of finishing your degree in romance languages. but since i had the luxury of time and availability, i was grateful for my upper div bio classes on test day.
 
Who cares? The world is supposed to end in 2012 anyway. Go live your life in the meantime.
 
solo75 said:
False.

There are many examples. I'll provide two off the top of my head. The first time I took the MCAT a non-passage question asked to distinguish different types of neural cells. I don't remember the question but the answer was schwann cells. The second time I took it a non-passage question about breaking your leg. The answer was femur and fibula. Seems common sense, but lots of people in the MCAT thread said they missed it.

So based on my experience, A&P >>>>Biochem. Besides, most everything you learn in biochem is stuff you have learned that is rehashed and only slightly more complicated (thermo, kinetics, structures, etc....). A&P is novel information that can't be substituted by lower level science classes.
Click to expand...

How is anything I said false? I never said biochem was more important than A & P. In fact, Physio isnt even an upper div bio class at my school and thus exempt from my discussion on upper division courses. Physio is extremely important to the MCAT. My whole post was saying how nonimportant upper division classes like biochem are, did you even read it?
 
rafflecopter said:
How is anything I said false? I never said biochem was more important than A & P. In fact, Physio isnt even an upper div bio class at my school and thus exempt from my discussion on upper division courses. Physio is extremely important to the MCAT. My whole post was saying how nonimportant upper division classes like biochem are, did you even read it?
Click to expand...

The false was in reference to you saying you don't need upper level science courses. The second paragraph wasn't really in response to your statement.

A&P is an upper level bio class (especially, but not specifically, in terms of the mcat). You said it yourself in your post that lower division science classes are chem 1/2, bio 1/2, phys. 1/2 and orgo 1/2. AAMC claims this is all you need. In mine and others' experience that seems to be wrong. I don't know about biochem because I didn't take before I took the mcat but there were questions that required unaided A&P knowledge in both mcats that I took.

So I'd tend to agree with you that you don't need outside knowledge from an upper level science course to help on the mcat (except A&P). But you have to admit, the more exposure you get the more it helps drill subjects into your brain.
 
Mithril said:
I had quite a few passages dealing with biochem on my MCAT. Luckily, I took a third-year biochem course in the previous term a few months before I took my MCAT. The thing about upper-level science courses, in my opinion, is that it can potentially increase your familiarity with passages that you're supposed to be using your critical thinking skills on. Yeah, you might have to avoid using "outside knowledge", but in my experience that "outside knowledge" didn't divert me from what was probably the right answer.
Click to expand...

good point
 
solo75 said:
The false was in reference to you saying you don't need upper level science courses. The second paragraph wasn't really in response to your statement.

A&P is an upper level bio class (especially, but not specifically, in terms of the mcat). You said it yourself in your post that lower division science classes are chem 1/2, bio 1/2, phys. 1/2 and orgo 1/2. AAMC claims this is all you need. In mine and others' experience that seems to be wrong. I don't know about biochem because I didn't take before I took the mcat but there were questions that required unaided A&P knowledge in both mcats that I took.

So I'd tend to agree with you that you don't need outside knowledge from an upper level science course to help on the mcat (except A&P). But you have to admit, the more exposure you get the more it helps drill subjects into your brain.
Click to expand...

Well like I said in my last post A&P at my school is a lower division course, so from my perspective "no, you don't need any upper division bio courses." A&P is certainly the most useful of the non-pre-req classes, but even then its not necessary to do well on the MCAT. I'm not saying upper division classes aren't helpful, what I'm saying is they are less yield than actual review material. If you're someone who isn't a bio major who has no need to take A&P, biochem, microbio and the like it would probably be a much better use of your time to just study harder for the MCAT with review material to drill in the basic topics than take all those classes.
 
Nope. Don't waste your time.

As I saw posted in another thread awhile ago, "2 words: opportunity cost."
 
rafflecopter said:
Well like I said in my last post A&P at my school is a lower division course, so from my perspective "no, you don't need any upper division bio courses." A&P is certainly the most useful of the non-pre-req classes, but even then its not necessary to do well on the MCAT. I'm not saying upper division classes aren't helpful, what I'm saying is they are less yield than actual review material. If you're someone who isn't a bio major who has no need to take A&P, biochem, microbio and the like it would probably be a much better use of your time to just study harder for the MCAT with review material to drill in the basic topics than take all those classes.
Click to expand...

This. the only way not having courses outside the basic eight screws you on an MCAT question would be the discrete A&P topics. these come straight from the topics AAMC lists for the MCAT, and can be covered with much better yield by teaching yourself the material. there are so few of these types of questions that you are better off just taking the time for better prep as opposed to taking a class.

trust me, there will be time to memorize body parts once you get here 🙄
 
I feel like biochem was a great prep for the MCAT. Not only did we go over molecular genetics, but I specifically remember getting asked a question about amino acids, another about steroid formation, and a couple about metabolism that I really would have struggled with if it were not for biochem. Seriously, anatomy would be a waste of time in preparing for the MCAT. However, I feel like physiology is essential, and wouldn't advise anyone to take the MCAT before having it under their belt.
 
Think about all the time an upper level science class is going to take you. Now apply half that amount of time to nothing but mcat prep. Compare.

Taking an upper level science for mcat prep is about as low yield as you can get.
 
loveoforganic said:
Think about all the time an upper level science class is going to take you. Now apply half that amount of time to nothing but mcat prep. Compare.

Taking an upper level science for mcat prep is about as low yield as you can get.
Click to expand...

The truf. Absolute truf.
 
loveoforganic said:
Taking an upper level science for mcat prep is about as low yield as you can get.
Click to expand...

in terms of mcat preparation, sure. but if you need some of these classes for your major anyway then you may as well choose and time your electives wisely so as to maximize results (I dont think you were implying any of this, but I just want to clarify). for example were req'd to take evolution as a bio major... so im certainly not going to take evolution until after ive taken my mcat, but rather I can fill the spots with things like vert. phys. or molecular.
 
If you take A&P and Biochem you probably won't even need to study for the BS section.

I wouldn't take the classes for the sole purpose of helping you on the MCAT because it's simply not worth the effort and you can self-learn the stuff you didn't get in bio in a matter of weeks (as opposed to four quarters worth of classes), but if you have room in your college schedule and you enjoy science classes they're fun for their own sake (and will help you on your MCAT).
 
loveoforganic said:
Taking an upper level science for mcat prep is about as low yield as you can get.
Click to expand...
Not true, in my personal opinion. Physiology is one of the most high-yield classes you can take for the BS section. Even a lower-level physio class (that's not "real" physio in the sense that it doesn't use equations, etc) can be extremely helpful. I would contend that Bio 1/2 are very low-yield classes.
 
It also depends on individuals AND the rigor of introductory biology courses. Let's face it... there are people who do well with introductory bio only, and there are people who need upper level to comprehend things better. Personally, I am a strong believer that it has to do with your introductory course more than the type of individual. If you had a solid biology (and no, this does not mean you got an A, but that you actually learned things very rigorously in details), then I say you will be fine without upper level bio.

And as far as whole physio vs biochem debate, every exam is slightly different in its focus, so the debate itself is really useless. You will most likely run into something you don't know regardless of how many bio you take in UG (or grad school for that matter).
 
Kaushik said:
Not true, in my personal opinion. Physiology is one of the most high-yield classes you can take for the BS section. Even a lower-level physio class (that's not "real" physio in the sense that it doesn't use equations, etc) can be extremely helpful. I would contend that Bio 1/2 are very low-yield classes.
Click to expand...

Sure, (insert science) is less low yield than (insert other science). That isn't the comparison though. (Insert science) is still wayyyyyyyy lower yield than any bio mcat prep book.

Agree with the poster above who said it would make sense to arrange your required class according to MCAT usefulness however.

Edit: Just to disclose where I'm coming from, I made C's in both gen bio's, and learned essentially nil from the classes, and this was my sole biology prior to the MCAT (so all my bio knowledge essentially came from a prep book). There's not a whole lot on the MCAT biology that is conceptually difficult, especially when compared to the other sciences.
 
I found biochem to be helpful, but I wouldn't recommend taking it STRICTLY with the hope of improved understanding of MCAT material. I had to take the course for my degree anyway, so I had no choice. I don't think it's worth going out of your way to take it, though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Online Biochem before MCAT or self teach and take after?
Replies
7
Views
769
chilly_md
chilly_md
T
Secondaries waiting for MCAT
Replies
4
Views
675
chilly_md
chilly_md
sirpaulydy
URGENT HELP needed, should I retake the MCAT this weekend?
Replies
6
Views
784
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
A
Any helpful Coursera Certificates?
Replies
4
Views
663
AJS59
AJS59
M
Undergrad classes that would be helpful for medical school
Replies
9
Views
1K
LunaOri
LunaOri
Top