Biochem with MCAT, or Overload semester? Help!

[DoctorLacrosse]

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Hey guys, hope everyone's semester is going well. I have a bit of a dilemma and need advice, really can't decide!

So this summer I planned on studying for my mcat from end of may until early September and take the test at that time. I know many medical schools are starting to require Biochem so I really want to take it to keep all doors open. Since ill be graduating after next year I only have 4 real options for when/how to take it, it has to be this summer or this fall because biochem 1 is not offered in the spring at my school:

Option 1: Take biochem over the summer during a 5 week summer session. Only problem is ill be studying for the MCAT and do not want to lose a lot of time for it by taking a class. this class is known for being tough at my school.

Option 2: Take biochem with 15 credits of major classes and another 3 credit upper division chem class that's known to be "easy". The major classes are all known to be pretty easy, but there will be work involved that I will obviously need to keep up with. This would be 21 credits total which just seems like a lot.

Option 3: Take biochem with the 15 major credits that I need, but do not take the other upper division chem class that is "easy". I kind of dont want to do this because this will be my last class needed to complete my chem minor, and since it is relatively easy I feel like it's a good chance to raise my science GPA. Without this class, no Chem minor for me.

Option 4: Do not take biochem of course.

Help! I really can't decide. Should I just do the 21 credits and have a no social life semester, or just do it over the summer with the mcat and only have a 5 week span of having a crappy life instead of 3.5 months. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance guys!

 

[Omppu27]

can you do the "easy" chem class during the summer or spring? Or can you take biochem over the summer, easy chem class over spring, study MCAT fall semester and winter break and take it in January?

Also, your biochem is only 3hr?

 

[DoctorLacrosse]

can you do the "easy" chem class during the summer or spring? Or can you take biochem over the summer, easy chem class over spring, study MCAT fall semester and winter break and take it in January?

Also, your biochem is only 3hr?

The chem class isn't offered over the summer or that would have been a done deal. I'd really prefer to have nothing or one class tops while I study mcat which is why I feel summer is best. I want to be devoted to just the test, the fall semester won't allow that. Clearly in a bit of a pickle, but I guess realistically if that's the best option I could study over the Fall, though I'd rather not.

 

[pathologyDO]

Option 4. You need a high MCAT to get into any school. Biochem is only needed for a select few places.

 

[DoctorLacrosse]

Option 4. You need a high MCAT to get into any school. Biochem is only needed for a select few places.

Yeah that's true. But since I will also be applying to DO schools I feel like UNECOM would be a good choice for me. Unfortunately they require Biochem. Haha I was honestly kind of debating just forgoing it all together. Maybe it's not such a bad idea, I don't know.

 

[DoctorLacrosse]

Would it be a possibility to maybe find another local school that offers the class in the spring? That could work maybe.

 

[pathologyDO]

I cannot lie, I got into KCUMB and they require biochem... so in a normal situation I would say do whatever you can to take it. But throwing in a 5 week biochem course at such a critical time would not be smart IMO, unless you think you can handle the pressure.

If you just have to get into UNECOM then try doing biochem in the Fall. That looks like a better option... even if you don't do all that great in your classes due to a high courseload, by that time it wont matter if you get all B's because you will (if things go well) already be accepted to a COM. If you aren't then you will have an extra year to take the course..

 

[pathologyDO]

Would it be a possibility to maybe find another local school that offers the class in the spring? That could work maybe.

Good idea, just might work.

 

[pharmolu]

might be a stupid question, but cant you take biochem senior year, and tell adcoms that you plan on finishing it before matriculation?

 

[whatbout2morrow]

might be a stupid question, but cant you take biochem senior year, and tell adcoms that you plan on finishing it before matriculation?

👍

Very few schools require you to have all of your pre-reqs done before applying. I would recommend taking it in your senior year.

Edit: Just saw that you said that you are graduating after next year. I assume you mean you graduate at the end of Spring 2014. In that case, why not extend graduation by just a little bit and take it next summer (if you cannot take it at another school)?

 

[Redpancreas]

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[Redpancreas]

Hey guys, hope everyone's semester is going well. I have a bit of a dilemma and need advice, really can't decide!

So this summer I planned on studying for my mcat from end of may until early September and take the test at that time. I know many medical schools are starting to require Biochem so I really want to take it to keep all doors open. Since ill be graduating after next year I only have 4 real options for when/how to take it, it has to be this summer or this fall because biochem 1 is not offered in the spring at my school:

Option 1: Take biochem over the summer during a 5 week summer session. Only problem is ill be studying for the MCAT and do not want to lose a lot of time for it by taking a class. this class is known for being tough at my school.

Option 2: Take biochem with 15 credits of major classes and another 3 credit upper division chem class that's known to be "easy". The major classes are all known to be pretty easy, but there will be work involved that I will obviously need to keep up with. This would be 21 credits total which just seems like a lot.

Option 3: Take biochem with the 15 major credits that I need, but do not take the other upper division chem class that is "easy". I kind of dont want to do this because this will be my last class needed to complete my chem minor, and since it is relatively easy I feel like it's a good chance to raise my science GPA. Without this class, no Chem minor for me.

Option 4: Do not take biochem of course.

Help! I really can't decide. Should I just do the 21 credits and have a no social life semester, or just do it over the summer with the mcat and only have a 5 week span of having a crappy life instead of 3.5 months. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance guys!

Option 3 in my opinion. I know boosting sGPA is important but a 3.71 to 3.75 isn't going to so much of a difference as a one pt. difference on the MCAT. Biochem's becoming required at more and more med schools so that's a priority as well. A minor's cool but keep in mind your undergrad majors/minors/double majors/triple majors/ dual degrees/specializations etc. are just an intermediate to medical school. Make sure MCAT has your UNIDIVIDED attention over the summer. Look up SN2's schedule and follow it. I'm serious, you don't want to mess with the MCAT over the school year. Get it done during the summer. Biochem won't help that much on the MCAT either. The beginning might where they do acid base/ amino acid chem as well as a bit of glycolysis but after that all the fat metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, plant stuff, dna stuff (way too in depth than you have to know it) etc. is way over board and you'll be memorizing stupid details.

 

[DoctorLacrosse]

Option 3 in my opinion. I know boosting sGPA is important but a 3.71 to 3.75 isn't going to so much of a difference as a one pt. difference on the MCAT. Biochem's becoming required at more and more med schools so that's a priority as well. A minor's cool but keep in mind your undergrad majors/minors/double majors/triple majors/ dual degrees/specializations etc. are just an intermediate to medical school. Make sure MCAT has your UNIDIVIDED attention over the summer. Look up SN2's schedule and follow it. I'm serious, you don't want to mess with the MCAT over the school year. Get it done during the summer. Biochem won't help that much on the MCAT either. The beginning might where they do acid base/ amino acid chem as well as a bit of glycolysis but after that all the fat metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, plant stuff, dna stuff (way too in depth than you have to know it) etc. is way over board and you'll be memorizing stupid details.

Great advice honestly. I decided I'm definitely not taking it over the summer. Going to do nothing but mcat this summer. I will take it in the Fall but just have not decided if I will be taking the chem class as well yet. I will talk to an advisor to see what they think about that. Thank you all very much for the input!

 

[Redpancreas]

Great advice honestly. I decided I'm definitely not taking it over the summer. Going to do nothing but mcat this summer. I will take it in the Fall but just have not decided if I will be taking the chem class as well yet. I will talk to an advisor to see what they think about that. Thank you all very much for the input!

Thanks! Appreciate the feedback. Option 2 would have been my 2nd choice. The priorities in your case are MCAT, GPA, Taking biochem then the rest. I guess the minor's important to you and if you're willing to do the 21 credits go for it. Just drop before the deadline if you realize it's too hard. Good luck

 

[DoctorLacrosse]

Yeah that was exactly my plan. Figure id go the first week and if the work load for the Chem class seems like far too much I'd just drop it. You've been particularly helpful and your advice was spot on. Thanks again!