Biochemistry online ?

[Itisnottoolate]

Hi,

I have a dilemma. I am planning on taking MCAT this summer. However, there is no way I will have biochemistry completed before then because the way it is offered at my local colleges. I was wondering if anyone has taken it online from Harvard extension campus and how brutal it is? Harvard also offers a free online intro to biochemistry I was wondering if anyone has taken. I am sure no credits are awarded for the free but may help with the MCAT.
Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated.

Second option would be to do a self biochemistry study plan this spring and still take MCAT this summer. If I do well then can apply next cycLe and if not I can take biochemistry next spring and repeat MCAT next summer.

Thanks

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[gonnif]

H
I have a dilemma. I am planning on taking MCAT this summer. However, there is no way I will have biochemistry completed before then because the way it is offered at my local colleges. I was wondering if anyone has taken it online from Harvard extension campus and how brutal it is? Harvard also offers a free online intro to biochemistry I was wondering if anyone has taken. I am sure no credits are awarded for the free but may help with the MCAT.
Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated.

Second option would be to do a self biochemistry study plan this spring and still take MCAT this summer. If I do well then can apply next cycLe and if not I can take biochemistry next spring and repeat MCAT next summer.

Thanks

You are making one of the top ten premed mistakes by planning take the MCAT before you are ready. The MCAT is an exam that will set the course for the rest of your life and, along with GPA, is the top factor that medical schools consider for admissions. You should be doing everything possible to be prepared for this by taking the appropriate prereq AND self study AND an MCAT prep class. You are using a self-imposed schedule that is wholly under your control to take the most important exam of your life with the idea that you can simply repeat the exam if you dont do well. You do realize that all MCAT scores follow you for the rest of your life, that medical schools will see all of them, and that guidance from AAMC recommends that medical schools average the scores. Frankly this is an idiotic, dumb, stupid, asinine idea that your need to take an ice cold shower until you are screaming then slap yourself in front of the mirror until it is purged from your system

 

[Itisnottoolate]

You are making one of the top ten premed mistakes by planning take the MCAT before you are ready. The MCAT is an exam that will set the course for the rest of your life and, along with GPA, is the top factor that medical schools consider for admissions. You should be doing everything possible to be prepared for this by taking the appropriate prereq AND self study AND an MCAT prep class. You are using a self-imposed schedule that is wholly under your control to take the most important exam of your life with the idea that you can simply repeat the exam if you dont do well. You do realize that all MCAT scores follow you for the rest of your life, that medical schools will see all of them, and that guidance from AAMC recommends that medical schools average the scores. Frankly this is an idiotic, dumb, stupid, asinine idea that your need to take an ice cold shower until you are screaming then slap yourself in front of the mirror until it is purged from your system

Thank you for your input, but you didn't answer my question about online biochemistry. I want to be prepared that is why I was asking.
Considering to take and then retake if I didn't do well was also a consideration but obviously not a good one. That is why I was asking for input.
I would like to sign up for biochem this spring semester since Harvard extension school has spots. I just would like to know a little more about it before I register.

Any more suggestions?

 

[Ribonucleic Acid]

Hey @nptodoc, a couple of my fellow classmates have taken the Harvard biochem course online. They said it was pretty thorough and manageable to take concurrently with a full course load. If I were you I would look more into the details of it, but I don't see any red flags about it. Good luck!


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[CloverBale]

Don't take the mkitty without taking biochemistry 🙁 Pleaseee

 

[HomeSkool]

Thank you for your input, but you didn't answer my question about online biochemistry. I want to be prepared that is why I was asking.
Considering to take and then retake if I didn't do well was also a consideration but obviously not a good one. That is why I was asking for input.
I would like to sign up for biochem this spring semester since Harvard extension school has spots. I just would like to know a little more about it before I register.

Any more suggestions?

I think @gonnif's answer was pretty clear: your question (which biochem class will help you prepare for the MCAT) is not the question you should be asking right now. The very fact that this is even a question for you is a clear indicator that you're putting the cart before the horse. gonnif's opinion -- which I share 100% -- seems to be that you should take biochem before even making plans for when to take the MCAT. As far as how to take biochem, online is a perfectly reasonable delivery vehicle for educational content these days, and it's hard to go wrong with Harvard. But do the extension campus one, not the free one. You'll get course credit that way, and they're not going to give you their best (and most helpful) stuff for free.

But the question you should be asking is, "Should I already be planning to take the MCAT this summer even though I haven't had biochem yet?" Answer: No.

 

[freedoctor17]

I think @gonnif's answer was pretty clear: your question (which biochem class will help you prepare for the MCAT) is not the question you should be asking right now. The very fact that this is even a question for you is a clear indicator that you're putting the cart before the horse. gonnif's opinion -- which I share 100% -- seems to be that you should take biochem before even making plans for when to take the MCAT. As far as how to take biochem, online is a perfectly reasonable delivery vehicle for educational content these days, and it's hard to go wrong with Harvard. But do the extension campus one, not the free one. You'll get course credit that way, and they're not going to give you their best (and most helpful) stuff for free.

But the question you should be asking is, "Should I already be planning to take the MCAT this summer even though I haven't had biochem yet?" Answer: No.

Why not? I took biochem in the spring and the MCAT over the summer... If they mean late August or early September then it's definitely fine. If they mean may or June though then I agree they should wait till after they take the biochem course and judge where they're at then plan for later.

 

[HomeSkool]

Why not? I took biochem in the spring and the MCAT over the summer... If they mean late August or early September then it's definitely fine. If they mean may or June though then I agree they should wait till after they take the biochem course and judge where they're at then plan for later.

I don't really have any issue with the timetable because I don't care about it. May, September, unimportant to me. The thing that raised red flags to me was the thought process underlying the OP's first post: she first decided to take the MCAT this summer, then started trying to squeeze in a crucial subject to fit that artificial, self-imposed deadline. I think the OP should get biochem out of the way, then evaluate her MCAT prep needs and decide from there when to take the test.

 

[freedoctor17]

I don't really have any issue with the timetable because I don't care about it. May, September, unimportant to me. The thing that raised red flags to me was the thought process underlying the OP's first post: she first decided to take the MCAT this summer, then started trying to squeeze in a crucial subject to fit that artificial, self-imposed deadline. I think the OP should get biochem out of the way, then evaluate her MCAT prep needs and decide from there when to take the test.

I guess I don't agree because this sounds like what I did and it went well for me. I decided I wanted to take the mcat at the end of summer after my sophomore year so I could dedicate my summer to studying for it. I decided to take the rest of the prereqs I needed that spring semester (including biochem) then took it at the end of summer.

OP can you add a little more context? Do you have all your other prereqs? Will make it easier to give advice.

 

[SpoiledMilk]

OP can you add a little more context? Do you have all your other prereqs? Will make it easier to give advice.

My plan. Please comment!

 

[Itisnottoolate]

I guess I don't agree because this sounds like what I did and it went well for me. I decided I wanted to take the mcat at the end of summer after my sophomore year so I could dedicate my summer to studying for it. I decided to take the rest of the prereqs I needed that spring semester (including biochem) then took it at the end of summer.

OP can you add a little more context? Do you have all your other prereqs? Will make it easier to give advice.

I am taking organic chemistry this spring. I had decided to take the MCAT toward late summer then really started debating this decision because I have not had biochem.
I agree it is important to have before the MCAT but was going to self study, which I see now is not a good idea from the comments.

Do you think it is reasonable to take organic Chem this spring and Biochem online. MCAT prep over the summer and take august or September?

 

[freedoctor17]

My plan. Please comment!

Thanks,

Looking at that makes it a little different. I think if OP takes biochem as a graded course and does well in it (if it's not graded no matter what you think might not try as hard) then they can do fine. From all the retakes they look like they have a much better understanding of the material than in the past.

Overall I personally still think it's doable but you'll have to consider what everyone else is saying about needing to do really well to counteract the lower gpa. For me studying over the summer was what I feel allowed me to do better so I'd say go for it. If I had studied over the semester I honestly don't feel like I'd have had the time or energy to put in as much effort as I did.

 

[freedoctor17]

I am taking organic chemistry this spring. I had decided to take the MCAT toward late summer then really started debating this decision because I have not had biochem.
I agree it is important to have before the MCAT but was going to self study, which I see now is not a good idea from the comments.

Do you think it is reasonable to take organic Chem this spring and Biochem online. MCAT prep over the summer and take august or September?

That sounds reasonable to me if you take biochem as a graded course. It will force you to learn it as best as you can. How do exams work though? If theyre open notes and online then might not be the best class. Mine forced me to memorize all the amino acids structures and properties, protein structures, carbohydrates, etc. So I had a very good understanding of them. One thing it didn't cover was metabolism and I noticed my self studying of that was very difficult since it was a lot more new than the other stuff so keep that in mind. Review is always easier than learning the first time and you remember it longer that way. I got lucky and my MCAT had very little metabolism so it went well for that section.

 

[Itisnottoolate]

That sounds reasonable to me if you take biochem as a graded course. It will force you to learn it as best as you can. How do exams work though? If theyre open notes and online then might not be the best class. Mine forced me to memorize all the amino acids structures and properties, protein structures, carbohydrates, etc. So I had a very good understanding of them. One thing it didn't cover was metabolism and I noticed my self studying of that was very difficult since it was a lot more new than the other stuff so keep that in mind. Review is always easier than learning the first time and you remember it longer that way. I got lucky and my MCAT had very little metabolism so it went well for that section.

I believe all of the exams are closed notes and proctored.

Thank you for your advice. I agree having the entire summer to study will be more beneficial.

 

[freedoctor17]

I believe all of the exams are closed notes and proctored.

Thank you for your advice. I agree having the entire summer to study will be more beneficial.

In that case I'd definitely say go for it then. I have not regretted my summer studying and would recommend it to anyone who can reasonably do it. Good luck!

 

[Itisnottoolate]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I have discussed with my husband and have decided to take the online biochemistry course this spring at Harvard extension. I will also be taking org Chem at my local college.
I will not take the MCAT until August or September. That will give me all summer to study.

I do have a newborn baby and that makes things a little more complicated. The good news is I don't have to return to work until March due to maternity leave. This will give me more time to focus on my spring classes.

 

[chemphysicsinstructor]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I have discussed with my husband and have decided to take the online biochemistry course this spring at Harvard extension. I will also be taking org Chem at my local college.
I will not take the MCAT until August or September. That will give me all summer to study.

I do have a newborn baby and that makes things a little more complicated. The good news is I don't have to return to work until March due to maternity leave. This will give me more time to focus on my spring classes.

My advice here: Take your time and do the job right. If it takes more time to prepare for the MCAT, then that is fine as you want to be fully prepared. A delay of one or two years is minor when considering a career of 40+ years.

I would pay close attention to the concepts in biochemistry as you will see those themes throughout your career in medicine.

 

[thegrind33]

As mentioned by others, Biochem (one semester) is required at most medical schools, it is best to take required classes in person.