Biochem vs. Cell Bio Before the MCATs

[snoozermoose]

I'm a second-semester freshman and need to decide which to take next year--Cell Bio or Biochem. I'm planning on taking the MCATs summer after sophomore year.

Prereqs Taken:
-AP Gen. Chem in high school - strong background, took 1 semester in college before moving on to Orgo
-Orgo I - currently taking
-AP Physics in high school - was definitely weaker in Physics and want to retake it
-AP Bio in high school - I used my AP credit and skipped Gen. Bio, which I now regret since I don't think my knowledge is in-depth enough for the MCATs, which is why I want to take Cell Bio
-Microbio - currently taking

I still need to somehow fit Orgo II (definitely taking), Physics I and II, Biochem, Genetics (definitely taking), and Cell Bio into the next two semesters. I'm not so sure about the other ones, but have heard that taking Biochem is really helpful for the MCATs. Any thoughts on which ones are more important than others?

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[flodhi1]

I'm a second-semester freshman and need to decide which to take next year--Cell Bio or Biochem. I'm planning on taking the MCATs summer after sophomore year.

Prereqs Taken:
-AP Gen. Chem in high school - strong background, took 1 semester in college before moving on to Orgo
-Orgo I - currently taking
-AP Physics in high school - was definitely weaker in Physics and want to retake it
-AP Bio in high school - I used my AP credit and skipped Gen. Bio, which I now regret since I don't think my knowledge is in-depth enough for the MCATs, which is why I want to take Cell Bio
-Microbio - currently taking

I still need to somehow fit Orgo II (definitely taking), Physics I and II, Biochem, Genetics (definitely taking), and Cell Bio into the next two semesters. I'm not so sure about the other ones, but have heard that taking Biochem is really helpful for the MCATs. Any thoughts on which ones are more important than others?

Biochemistry requires a lot more critical thinking than Cell biology and has helped me in huge ways for the BS section on the MCAT. However, my school does not allow students to take Biochemistry without completing Cell biology, Animal Biology and both organics. So if your school let's you do it and you're down to put in the effort than Biochemistry would no doubt be with the best choice. Cell biology is just really basic stuff that was kind of a waste of my life. I Aced the class without even putting in any effort and it required minimal critical thinking skills. The only and best way to do well on the MCAT is to build your critical thinking skills and that requires upper division classes such as Biochem. Good luck!

 

[apumic]

Biochemistry requires a lot more critical thinking than Cell biology and has helped me in huge ways for the BS section on the MCAT. However, my school does not allow students to take Biochemistry without completing Cell biology, Animal Biology and both organics. So if your school let's you do it and you're down to put in the effort than Biochemistry would no doubt be with the best choice. Cell biology is just really basic stuff that was kind of a waste of my life. I Aced the class without even putting in any effort and it required minimal critical thinking skills. The only and best way to do well on the MCAT is to build your critical thinking skills and that requires upper division classes such as Biochem. Good luck!

Depends on the school. My school's cell bio was difficult for a lot of people and the course req'd a ton of critical thinking. Tests were nothing but puzzles that had to be solved using concepts we had discussed in class with full diagrams of molecular mechanisms.

My biochem class challenged a lot of people as well, but I honestly felt like it was more of an application of nothing but gen bio, gen chem, and ochem. It felt a lot like my MCAT studying.

I'd say my experience was that neither was a difficult course and both were helpful for the MCAT but neither was as helpful as physio.

 

[DoItToIt]

While I haven't taken the real exam yet, both biochem and cell biology cover a lot of relevant material covered in MCAT biology and have helped me a lot in my studying. Cell helps a ton with DNA/mitosis/meiosis/ECM/cellular structure in general, and biochem really goes into detail regarding metabolism of all major macromolecules (the general ideas of it help with a ton of biology, though), proteins and enzymes, and fats. If you feel fairly knowledgeable about one of those subjects, you might consider taking the other class to gain a better understanding? Just a thought. Also, I took physiology last semester and a large majority of material we covered has been stuff I've been studying for MCAT. Basically, either one will help in certain areas.

 

[SN2ed]

It depends on what your Cell Bio and Biochem teaches. Either one could be helpful. Overall, I'd take Biochem since it should be helpful and some medical schools either recommend or require it (only a few require it).

Something to keep in mind, some medical schools do NOT accept AP credit for pre-reqs. Make sure the schools you're interested in accept it.

For instance, in California,

Keck SOM: Doesn't accept AP
UCLA: Doesn't accept AP
UCI: Only for stats, math, english
UCD: Doesn't accept AP
UCSF: Only for gen chem and physics
Stanford: I believe it's on a case by case basis
Loma Linda: Generally not accepted. Only accepted if your undergrad college accepts AP credit AND you completed upper division courses in the SAME field
UCSD: One semester of gen chem and physics accepted, as well as, the full year math requirement