Biochemistry course at UCLA to satisfy prerequisite

[argama]

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I graduated with a Bachelor's degree a year ago and am applying this cycle. I was looking to take a biochem course at UCLA (not Extension) through concurrent enrollment and was confused how many courses satisfy "1 semester of Biochemistry and Lab" prereq for med school (ex: UCI), wondering if any current or past UCLA students can answer my question

UCLA has three courses for Biochem....do I have to take all 3? Or can only 153A satisfy the prereq?

Chem 153A: Biochemistry: Introduction to Structure, Enzymes, and Metabolism
Chem 153B: Biochemistry: DNA, RNA, and Protein Synthesis
Chem 153C: Biochemistry: Biosynthetic and Energy Metabolism and Its Regulation

There's also the lab section Chem 153L: Biochemical Methods I and Chem 154L: Biochemical Methods II
Can I only take Chem 153L to satisfy the lab component or do I need to take both?

My other option is to take Biochemistry at USC, CSUN, or CSULA but UCLA is closer to me.
Thanks!

 

[LAtoDavis]

UCLA alum, here. I was a biochem major, and took all of those classes. Anyhow, if they require biochemistry and a lab, you need to take 153L in addition to a lecture course (153A, B, and/or C). I believe that 153A is a prereq for 153L, so you will have to take 153A first, then 153L, later.

153L is a lecture course, as well, and it should technically satisfy the lecture and lab requirement, but you need to satisfy the prerequisite requirement (153A) to take it in the first place, so meh.

 

[argama]

Someone told me elsewhere that as a non-UCLA student, I would have a hard time getting a spot in 153A....what do you think? And that non-UCLA students can't enroll in 153A & 153L unless it was the summer...is that true?

 

[LAtoDavis]

Someone told me elsewhere that as a non-UCLA student, I would have a hard time getting a spot in 153A....what do you think? And that non-UCLA students can't enroll in 153A & 153L unless it was the summer...is that true?

153A is usually packed, yeah. The Fall quarter is probably the worst quarter to try and add classes, too.

Also, I don't know how set you are on going to UCI, but if it were me, I wouldn't do this just to try and get in, there. The content in 153A/B/C/L is really useful, though. 154 is mostly useless.

 

[neekzg]

I believe only 153A and 153L would be necessary to complete the req (that's what most pre-meds at UCLA). I've had a lot of people tell me that the latter class was not worth taking just to apply to UCI (idk how many other schools require biochem lab). Unfortunately I don't know how difficult it would be for you to enroll during the school year--I would assume summer might be the only available option for non-students.

 

[PingPongPro]

I took only 153a when I was a UCLA student. I think there were like 1-2 schools out of the schools I was considering that specifically wanted the 153L portion, but this requisite isn't always strictly enforced.

Getting into these classes especially as a non-student is going to be pretty rough. Your BEST bet is to attend classes at the beginning of a quarter and talk to the professor about possibly getting enrolled via PTE once other students drop out. I'd imagine a good amount of students will drop out by the 2 week drop period, but talking to the professor early on is the best strategy.