biochemistry for UMich?

[jane22]

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So here's my issue: I was accepted to UMich but never took biochem in college. (I graduated two years ago.) I'd be happy to learn the material now, but I can't find a biochem course that fits my work schedule in my area. Can anyone recommend an online/distance learning biochem course? Alternatively, do any of you know if UMich actually enforces the biochem requirement?

 

[Nikki2002]

you are already accepted--it probably doesn't matter whether you take it or not

 

[ti89]

you are already accepted--it probably doesn't matter whether you take it or not

Yes it would matter. You are expected to finish all required courses for matriculation. Contact the school for a definitive answer.

I do know if your Bio/ Orgo courses had enough biochem aspect and you provide them with the sylabus etc they may waive the biochem requirement.

 

[vwjennyvw]

You should check this course out. I would contact UMich to see if the class will count towards the biochem requirement.

Distance Medical Biochemistry

 

[SailCrazy]

you are already accepted--it probably doesn't matter whether you take it or not

It matters. All acceptance offers are conditional, and completing the prereqs is one of the requirements.

I do know there is an M1 there now who did not take biochem. Maybe you can slip through the cracks too, but I don't know that I'd want to risk it if I were in your shoes.

Maybe you could contact the admissions office for suggestions, though if you're going to go with the "slip through the cracks" plan you might not want to draw any attention to yourself.

jane22, What course did you list as fulfilling the BioChem requirement on your secondary app?

 

[jane22]

It matters. All acceptance offers are conditional, and completing the prereqs is one of the requirements.

I do know there is an M1 there now who did not take biochem. Maybe you can slip through the cracks too, but I don't know that I'd want to risk it if I were in your shoes.

Maybe you could contact the admissions office for suggestions, though if you're going to go with the "slip through the cracks" plan you might not want to draw any attention to yourself.

jane22, What course did you list as fulfilling the BioChem requirement on your secondary app?

I wrote in "plan to complete," not realizing how hard it would be to find a convenient and affordable course out of college. Honestly, what I'd like to do is just buy a biochem textbook and study the material myself, but I don't know if that will cut it with the admissions office. Do you know what the M1 you mentioned did to avoid the requirement? By the way, thanks for your suggestions, everyone!

 

[jane22]

It matters. All acceptance offers are conditional, and completing the prereqs is one of the requirements.

I do know there is an M1 there now who did not take biochem. Maybe you can slip through the cracks too, but I don't know that I'd want to risk it if I were in your shoes.

Maybe you could contact the admissions office for suggestions, though if you're going to go with the "slip through the cracks" plan you might not want to draw any attention to yourself.

jane22, What course did you list as fulfilling the BioChem requirement on your secondary app?

I wrote in "plan to complete," not realizing how hard it would be to find a convenient and affordable course out of college. Honestly, what I'd like to do is just buy a biochem textbook and study the material myself, but I don't know if that will cut it with the admissions office. Do you know what the M1 you mentioned did to avoid the requirement? By the way, thanks for your suggestions, everyone!

 

[jane22]

I wrote in "plan to complete," not realizing how hard it would be to find a convenient and affordable course out of college. Honestly, what I'd like to do is just buy a biochem textbook and study the material myself, but I don't know if that will cut it with the admissions office. Do you know what the M1 you mentioned did to avoid the requirement? By the way, thanks for your suggestions, everyone!

Apologies for posting this twice -- my computer does not like SDN...

 

[SailCrazy]

Do you know what the M1 you mentioned did to avoid the requirement?

Unfortunately not. One of the M1s I met on interview day mentioned it, but gave no additional details (other than the need to study a lot on BioChem areas!)

 

[angietron3000]

Check out UC Berkeley Extension online. I'm pretty sure they have an online biochem class. It's not cheap, but it's convenient.

 

[DeadorAlive]

Since online public forums do not exist in a vacuum, I would be very wary of trying to "slip through the cracks" unnoticed - I'm sure they pay attention anyway, but if not you just announced it to the world!

You're accepted; this means they want you. Call them. Talk about your difficulties finding a course. They may have suggestions, may be able to refer you to current students who were in the same position, or may work with you to develop an alternative plan. I doubt they will rescind your acceptance - after all you have about 10 months to figure something out. Contacting them now will show that you're trying; getting "caught" when there's no time left to fix the situation won't help.

 

[Croatalus_atrox]

Check out UC Berkeley Extension online. I'm pretty sure they have an online biochem class. It's not cheap, but it's convenient.

Oddly enough, I'm an M1 at UMich and I took the Biochem requirement online through UC Berkeley Extension. The course is pretty basic, but it is acceptable to fulfill UMich's Biochem requirement. You won't be a Biochem guru upon completion, but it is decent enough preparation so that you won't be totally clueless about the Biochem you'll encounter in your med school courses at UMich.

What I liked about it is that it is self-paced and can be mostly done online. From the time that your registration is accepted, you'll have 6 months to complete the course. Submissions, except for the final, were online thru email. The final, which accounted for the majority of the grade, has to be taken at one of the many affiliated test centers, or you must arrange for a test proctor acceptable to the school. I took the final at one of the affiliated test centers near Ann Arbor, and the process wasn't that bad. The course cost about $800, with the book being another $50 or so. The test fee to the exam center was another $25.

The course isn't as comprehensive as a regular course you would take in college, but it covers the basics. I'm glad I took the course because I find that I use what I learned quite often in my classes. Make sure you keep the book, because it is a relatively good reference for the medschool biochem, without going into mind-numbing detail like some other texts.