biochem

[orangegirl]

Hi everyone-
I'm new to SDN, but I had a question for you all. I met with the health professions advisor at my school and she told me I need to take biochemistry next year, my junior year. She said it's not required for most schools but it is recommended. So do I really need to take it? Did you take it?

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[UCMonkey]

I took it my junior year as well, but it was required for my major. Most medical school biochem classes assume that you have had no exposure to biochem itself, but have a working knowledge of organic chem. However, I imagine that taking it can only help you when you reach medical school biochemistry. If nothing else, save your books and notes from the class, and you'll have another source of reference material.

So to answer your question directly, if biochem is not required for your major, no you do not NEED to take it, but it sure won't hurt you if you do, and will probably be helpful.

 

[Green912]

I'm taking Biochem II right now and I don't know how someone could get by without it. That being said it can be a pretty tough course depending on the Professor and his/her ego. I was lucky enough to get one that stressed the "implications" of biochem and not every step of every reaction. If you do decide to take it be prepared to work hard. However It will be a big help for the MCAT as well as Med School. Overall I would rate it as a 7/10, but then again I my last Chem class was in '94. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

 

[Vader]

I think it is a good idea to take biochemistry. It will give you a solid foundation in biology that will only help you on the MCAT and in medical school. You actually use biochemical concepts more often than you may think: besides biochem, you use this knowledge in areas like pharmacology, cell/molecular biology, neuroscience, genetics, etc. I highly recommend it.

 

[leorl]

I agree with the above. It's also a requirement of my major, and I'm taking it now. And while i'm studying for the mcat currently and done practice tests, biochem has really helped me answer questions I otherwise would not have known...particularly with equilibrium problems, competition, enzyme kinetics, etc etc etc... and we just hit on glycolysis/kreb's cycle recently so i'm sure that will solidify my knowledge. It would be a wise choice

 

[Doctora Foxy]

I am a humanities double major, so I didn't have time to take any science courses after the pre-reqs. I got an interview at UF, and that may be one of the only med schools that actually requires biochem.. It is a really difficult course in my school---such a pain in the a$$ that I think they lobbied to get rid of biochem as a req for the biology major! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

On the other hand, I wish I took it, along with human phys and anatomy. I also felt I was at a disadvantage on the mcat compared to my science-major friends. If I get into med school, I am really scared that I'll be totally lost.

 

[CANES2006]

My school offers a biochem course, and it is taught by the same professors that teach it at the medical school. I highly recommend it. It was very interesting (then again, I'm a science nut :wink: ). And if you are a biology major (like I am), you'll find the class is a piece of cake. Well, at least I thought it was.

 

[Michelys]

hey orangegirl...i thought taking biochem was great--it was an easy class for me since it's actually interesting and it doesnt hurt that it looks really good on your transcript! Not to mention it may help a tad on MCAT Biological Sciences. BTW--try Lippencott's Biochem book!!!! LIPPEEEEEEEENNCOOTT'S WAS THE BEST!!!

 

[Doctora Foxy]

Originally posted by Doctora Foxy
I am a humanities double major, so I didn't have time to take any science courses after the pre-reqs. I got an interview at UF, and that may be one of the only med schools that actually requires biochem.. It is a really difficult course in my school---such a pain in the a$$ that I think they lobbied to get rid of biochem as a req for the biology major! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

On the other hand, I wish I took it, along with human phys and anatomy. I also felt I was at a disadvantage on the mcat compared to my science-major friends. If I get into med school, I am really scared that I'll be totally lost.

oh, how it hurts! I knew about this in April! Now I'm headed to summer school to take biochem so that UF will let me in THIS year. I should have taken this more seriously back then...not that I would have taken biochem in summer school earlier if I was just on the waitlist anyway.

Please post advice if you haven't already. I'll be taking a 3 credit "introductory biochem" course that will last *only* 3 weeks. And yes, I'm prepared to study my a$$ off!

 

[JulianCrane]

I am taking the MCAT in April 2003. Before that, I will have taken vertebrate structure and human phys and genetics. I am planning on taking biochem in senior year so all that info can stay fresh for med school. Is this a good plan? Is taking one course over another before taking the MCAT an advantage or what? What do others reccommend?

 

[Mr. Z]

Originally posted by Michelys
hey orangegirl...i thought taking biochem was great--it was an easy class for me since it's actually interesting and it doesnt hurt that it looks really good on your transcript! Not to mention it may help a tad on MCAT Biological Sciences. BTW--try Lippencott's Biochem book!!!! LIPPEEEEEEEENNCOOTT'S WAS THE BEST!!!

this is the best advice to take. Lippencott is a great review book, the text is very easy to comprehend and the diagrams and pictures are nicely done. The book does a good job of distilling all the extraneous information down to the essentials. I used it for a graduate course in biochem and found it to be invaluable.

 

[Dr/\/\om]

Originally posted by JulianCrane
I am taking the MCAT in April 2003. Before that, I will have taken vertebrate structure and human phys and genetics. I am planning on taking biochem in senior year so all that info can stay fresh for med school. Is this a good plan? Is taking one course over another before taking the MCAT an advantage or what? What do others reccommend?

As far as the MCAT is concerned, I think you'll be OK with the human phys & genetics rather than the biochem. A chunk of the bio questions relate to physiology, and they are adding more genetics beginning with the April 2003 exam.

 

[Gradient Echo]

As someone who opted out of taking biochem in college, looking back now I would definitely take it, even though most schools dont require it.

 

[geneman]

It really depends on your professor.

My Biochem course was two semesters long and taught by four different professors as part of the team-teaching philosophy (i.e., 1/4 the work for the ol' farts). They put an extreme emphasis on pathways and rote facts. All in all, it was a pretty worthless course.

If you're lucky, you will get a prof that teaches the major biochem concepts and lightly touches on the important details. That, IMO, is the proper way to teach an undergrad (and probably med school) biochem course.

Originally posted by Doctora Foxy


oh, how it hurts! I knew about this in April! Now I'm headed to summer school to take biochem so that UF will let me in THIS year. I should have taken this more seriously back then...not that I would have taken biochem in summer school earlier if I was just on the waitlist anyway.

Please post advice if you haven't already. I'll be taking a 3 credit "introductory biochem" course that will last *only* 3 weeks. And yes, I'm prepared to study my a$$ off!

 

[punkin2]

Besides UF, Mayo and Umich require it. Something to consider when deciding.

 

[wgu]

Yes, Umich requires it. I took the class last semester in an independent study environment using Lehninger's Biochem textbook + study guide (written by my prof). Basically it was A LOT of memorization and some logic too. I studied ~15-20 hours a week for it, mostly marking up my book and taking notes. A study group would help a lot too after reading the book on your own.