Biochemistry Or Cellular Biochem???

[francais7979]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Quick Question - which class do you guys think is better to take?

The bio department offers Cellular Biochemistry
The chem department offers Biochemistry

Both classes have organic II as a pre-requisite. Are both considered biochem, or do med schools prefer the biochem from the chemistry department?

Thanks!!!!!!

 

[Miggs86]

Quick Question - which class do you guys think is better to take?

The bio department offers Cellular Biochemistry
The chem department offers Biochemistry

Both classes have organic II as a pre-requisite. Are both considered biochem, or do med schools prefer the biochem from the chemistry department?

Thanks!!!!!!

Medical schools do not require biochemistry for admission.
But if you didn't take your MCAT yet, I would definitely take biochemistry. I feel cellular biochemistry would derail from everything you would need to know for the MCAT and would basically overstep into things you really don't need to know.

I didn't take biochemistry before I took the MCAT and I am taking it now, and wow, I would've saved some study time. Not a whole lot, but some. 😀

 

[Bond8204]

what's the course description for both?

 

[RySerr21]

Medical schools do not require biochemistry for admission. 😀

that is 100% incorrect. OP, do your research to make sure the schools you are applying to don't require it because quite a few do, especially if you are applying MD as well. on top of that, even more recommend that you take it.

off the top of my head i know Des Moines requires biochemistry (brand new requirement), and there are a few others DO schools as well.

As far as MD schools, I know UC Irvine requires it and so does USC. there are many more.

Here is Des Moines requirents:

http://www.dmu.edu/com/admissions/requirements/

Here is USC's requirements:

http://www.usc.edu/schools/medicine/education/admissions/mdp/mdp_adm/require.html

Here is UC Irvine's requirements (click admissions information):

http://www.ucihs.uci.edu/admissions/

 

[Miggs86]

that is 100% incorrect. OP, do your research to make sure the schools you are applying to don't require it because quite a few do, especially if you are applying MD as well. on top of that, even more recommend that you take it.

off the top of my head i know Des Moines requires biochemistry (brand new requirement), and there are a few others DO schools as well.

As far as MD schools, I know UC Irvine requires it and so does USC. there are many more.

For Pre-Med track, biochemistry is USUALLY not a course. It's usually gen bio1/2, gen chem 1/2, writing, calculus, orgo 1/2, physics 1/2. I honestly didn't know that. Must be new? But I guess there are some that want it. Of course it is recommended that you take it for the MCAT.

Good thing you caught that, lol.

 

[gasapple]

that is 100% incorrect. OP, do your research to make sure the schools you are applying to don't require it because quite a few do, especially if you are applying MD as well. on top of that, even more recommend that you take it.

off the top of my head i know Des Moines requires biochemistry (brand new requirement), and there are a few others DO schools as well.

As far as MD schools, I know UC Irvine requires it and so does USC. there are many more.

Correct - some schools do require biochem and it's becoming more of a norm for pre-med tracks.

Personally, I'd stick with a biochemistry course through a biology department. The biochem courses I've experienced (auditing and otherwise) through chem departments have been nightmarish from the standpoint of extra busy work (reports, discussions, etc.) AND off-topic, largely unimportant discussions. Case in point, one biochem course I audited through a chemistry department spent almost 3 weeks investigating the different types of water; it was interesting but not applicable to what I was seeking. The best and most relevant topics in "medicinal" biochemistry are taught by biology professors in my experience.

 

[123880]

I think UNECOM also has a biochem requirement.

 

[scpod]

One note worth mentioning, I have seen schools that require biochem taught by the chemistry department only, or statistics taught by the math department only. So, you should verify that with your schools first.

 

[RySerr21]

i'm trying to sneak by any school that might ask for biochemistry by taking the biochem course offered through the kines department.

Its called biochemistry of exercise and energy. my prof says hes had pre med students take it in the past and have it count for there biochem requirement, so i am hopeful. it sounds way more interesting than general biochemistry, but thats probably cuz i'm a kines major 🙂. there also is no lab!!!!!!!!

 

[123880]

The best and most relevant topics in "medicinal" biochemistry are taught by biology professors in my experience.

It may be that it's most relevant but does the school require 'Biochemistry' through a certain department? Or do they require that certain topics be covered? Or is it simply if Biochemistry is in the name then you're okay?

Where would you go to find out??

 

[RySerr21]

For Pre-Med track, biochemistry is USUALLY not a course. It's usually gen bio1/2, gen chem 1/2, writing, calculus, orgo 1/2, physics 1/2. I honestly didn't know that. Must be new? But I guess there are some that want it. Of course it is recommended that you take it for the MCAT.

Good thing you caught that, lol.

i think its a recent trend. when i find out about it, i was uuuuuuupset! i thought i was done w/ stupid pre reqs. i even went as far as to cross off schools that have it as a requirement, but i think i found a loop hole (explained in my previous post)....hehe.

 

[RySerr21]

It may be that it's most relevant but does the school require 'Biochemistry' through a certain department? Or do they require that certain topics be covered? Or is it simply if Biochemistry is in the name then you're okay?

Where would you go to find out??

you'd have to check w/ each school. Des Moines told me they would accept my biochemistry course mentioned in my previous post......so you just gotta check w/ the schools. they might just ask for a course description (thats what des moine did) and if htey approve then you are golden.

 

[Miggs86]

i think its a recent trend. when i find out about it, i was uuuuuuupset! i thought i was done w/ stupid pre reqs. i even went as far as to cross off schools that have it as a requirement, but i think i found a loop hole (explained in my previous post)....hehe.

thank you for clarifying that. i appreciate it.
yeah i totally didn't know about that.
i hope the loophole works for you. 🙂

 

[gasapple]

One note worth mentioning, I have seen schools that require biochem taught by the chemistry department only, or statistics taught by the math department only. So, you should verify that with your schools first.

That's a first for me - I've never seen schools get that picky requiring instruction through a chem department. However, biochem through the kinesiology department might raise an adcom eyebrow, not to mention will likely prove to be a waste of time.

Stick with other pre-meds in the bio department unless you're doing post-bacc work.

 

[zhousilai]

Cell bio... easier^^ and i TAed for it

 

[scpod]

....I've never seen schools get that picky requiring instruction through a chem department...

There's also the reverse. Texas Tech will accept biochemistry as part of the 14 hour biology requirement, but ONLY if taught in the biology department. UT San Antonio, however, says 3 of its 14 bioogy hours MUST be in biochem, but can be in either the bio or chem department, as long as it is not an "introductory" course. Some schools are kind of picky.

 

[Bacchus]

I wanted to chime in about the quality of biochemistry courses. At my UG there is only biochemistry available through the Dept. of Chem and Biochem. That being said, it varies by institution regarding content. Last semester I took Molecular Structure biochemistry and this semester I am taking Intermediary-Metabolic biochemistry. So far, everything has applied to the body except one topic, photosynthesis, which is still connected to the human system because of various intermediary pathways that are common among both processes. I can't advise you to take either or because they are both required for me to take. However, if I were to lean towards one over the other I would say cellular because it is more pertinent to the topic at hand. I'm sure with cellular you will cover glycolysis, gluconeogensis, the pentose phosphate pathway, glycogen metabolism, citric acid cycle, fatty acid synthesis, et. al. On the other side, there would be "plain" biochemistry which is going to teach you the fundamentals: proteins, sugars, etc. The latter may be more beneficial if you haven't taken a biochemistry course but the prior would be more applicable to the medical world.

 

[gasapple]

There's also the reverse. Texas Tech will accept biochemistry as part of the 14 hour biology requirement, but ONLY if taught in the biology department. UT San Antonio, however, says 3 of its 14 bioogy hours MUST be in biochem, but can be in either the bio or chem department, as long as it is not an "introductory" course. Some schools are kind of picky.

Good point and that would appear to be an effort to thwart people from taking the intro kines biochem course or simply some lesser variation. I read your response as though some schools explicitly state biochem through the chem department which likely isn't the case as most premeds come through the biology track/department. As mentioned above, although I liked the chemistry dept biochem, you can get everything you need from the biology biochem, and typically it's more relevant to what we're all doing.

The bottom line looks like if the course is through the biology dept, you've got yourself covered. 👍

 

[francais7979]

Guys - Update, I called New England School of Osteo. Med and the admission counseler said that they recommend Biochem to be taken from Chemistry department.

 

[gasapple]

Guys - Update, I called New England School of Osteo. Med and the admission counseler said that they recommend Biochem to be taken from Chemistry department.

If you're shooting for UNECOM then I guess you have an answer. 👍

I'm also a little irked (can anyone tell? LMAO) that the biochem through the chem department was such a waste of my time with reports, quizzes, and unneeded "busywork". I did well but I'm undoubtedly biased. Good luck if you go with the course through the chem department. I found out how much more the "scope" of study improved after sitting through the biology-based biochem.

 

[gasapple]

it varies by institution regarding content.

Very true. It'd be wise to check the departments and/or syllabi which is why I find it hard to believe that UNECOM would throw out a blanket recommendation. For me, at well-known institutions, cellular biochem (which was just biochem through the bio dept) was much more useful.

the prior would be more applicable to the medical world.

Exactly.

 

[lsk87]

do i have to take biochem to apply to these schools? for the schools, that require it, can i just take it before i matriculate? in other words, if i applied to unecom, is it ok if i apply without taking biochem, and then if i get accepted, take it before i matriculate ( i really dont want to take it if i don't have to)

 

[Bacchus]

Very true. It'd be wise to check the departments and/or syllabi which is why I find it hard to believe that UNECOM would throw out a blanket recommendation. For me, at well-known institutions, cellular biochem (which was just biochem through the bio dept) was much more useful.



Exactly.

Both are offered by my chem department. Maybe we rock?