Biochemistry requirement?

[xjackster]

I go to a Florida school where we have Biochemistry I and II. Recently I was talking to the admissions director for Auburn and he said in order to fulfill the 3 credit hours for "Principles of Biochemistry," I have to take both biochemistry classes (6 credits). This worries me because there were some pharmacy schools I wanted to apply to that required biochemistry and I was trying to avoid taking both Biochemistry.
Does anyone know what if my situation applies to other schools? (VCU is the only other school that I can think of that requires biochemistry). How you been in this kind of situation? Should I even take biochemistry? (I'm a 3rd year student. I still have to take Orgo 2, Physics 2, Anatomy, Physiology and about 15 credit hours of higher level classes)

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[chemguy79]

If you don't want to take Biochemistry I and II, I would consider seeing if the course is offered at a different school.

If the admissions office told you what they require from students attending your school and you don't want to take it, try to find the class elsewhere or don't apply to Auburn.

I was fortunate in that my school had Biochemistry I and II offered to Chemistry students and a 1 semester Biochemistry course through the Biology department, so I chose the 1 semester course.

 

[crazybob]

When I took biochemistry in undergrad, I was scared too about how difficult it was.

Then after I took it in pharmacy school, it was easier.

If the pharmacy school where you are applying skips biochemistry and has students take pharmacology and/or medicinal chemistry during their first year, having biochemistry will be very important.

Even if they have biochemistry during the first year of pharmacy school, knowing it from somewhere else will help you in school. You'll still have to study, but it will be a bit easier to study.

 

[PharmOl]

You might want to take Biochem even if it wasn't required by the pharmacy schools of your choice. I have not taken it before being admitted and it sure is twisting my arms out as I take it now as part of pharmacy curriculum.

 

[chemguy79]

You might want to take Biochem even if it wasn't required by the pharmacy schools of your choice. I have not taken it before being admitted and it sure is twisting my arms out as I take it now as part of pharmacy curriculum.

How are you enjoying the program at UNC, PharmOl?

 

[Passion4Sci]

You could always apply to schools that don't require Biochem... Biochem IS a fairly uncommon pre-req, isn't it? Only a couple of Calif. schools require it...

 

[xjackster]

You might want to take Biochem even if it wasn't required by the pharmacy schools of your choice. I have not taken it before being admitted and it sure is twisting my arms out as I take it now as part of pharmacy curriculum.

I'm also worried that my already below-average GPA might suffer because apparently the biochemistry courses at my school is a killer (from what other students told me). I rather take some interesting higher level classes that I know I'll do well on, then take a hard class that I'm not interested in...unless I can find a one semester biochemistry class.
I really want to apply to Auburn and VCU, but I guess I have to make some sacrifices :/

 

[Passion4Sci]

I'm also worried that my already below-average GPA might suffer because apparently the biochemistry courses at my school is a killer (from what other students told me). I rather take some interesting higher level classes that I know I'll do well on, then take a hard class that I'm not interested in...unless I can find a one semester biochemistry class.
I really want to apply to Auburn and VCU, but I guess I have to make some sacrifices :/

That is definitely a tough call. Ultimately, your goal is to become a pharmacist, and fortunately, where you graduate from with a Pharm.D doesn't *really* matter.

I'd go with keeping your GPA safe, although I'd caution against listening to other people. I found Organic Chem to be really fun and easy, whereas I hated General Chem, yet most people say the opposite.

 

[chemguy79]

I'd go with keeping your GPA safe, although I'd caution against listening to other people. I found Organic Chem to be really fun and easy, whereas I hated General Chem, yet most people say the opposite.

WORD! Biochemistry at my school was supposed to be an "impossible" class; However, I made an A while teaching 2 Organic Chemistry laboratory sections and writing my Master's thesis walking uphill both ways through a blizzard with 10 foot snowdrifts ...

Seriously though, it's understandable to try to boost your GPA; However, if you want to apply to those schools, you know what you need to do to meet the pre-reqs. Find another school to take the class or suck it up and take the 2-semester sequence.

 

[Cloud 9]

Hello xjackster.

I am here to stop spreading misconceptions of what you "have" to do in order to succeed on here.

Who said you have to sacrifice? Not in my books you don't. Apply wherever and whenever...I was accepted to VCU this year and I don't have biochemistry on my transcript yet. I'm taking it at a community college nearby since they don't have it in my school in the spring, not to mention it's easier there since the classes are not huge (250+ people), it's a lot cheaper, and in general the professor is more enjoyable. Is the professor at the comm college any less qualified than the one at the university? Not at all.

So what you can do is still apply to both schools and over the summer move out early and take the class at a school near VCU or near Auburn. Why not?? VCU will still accept you with the premise that you'll have it done before you matriculate...problem solved. 👍

 

[Scout01]

You should try to take biochem. If it's considered a killer class at your school, maybe try taking it elsewhere? I've taken 3 biochem classes at my university, and I actually really enjoyed all of them. And I think biochem material has come up a lot in some of my other upper div bio classes, so taking biochem prior has helped me out in those courses.

 

[pharm B]

I'm taking it at a community college nearby since they don't have it in my school in the spring, not to mention it's easier there since the classes are not huge (250+ people), it's a lot cheaper, and in general the professor is more enjoyable. Is the professor at the comm college any less qualified than the one at the university? Not at all.

Ensure that your pharmacy school of choice will accept a biochem taken at a community college before signing up for it. In some systems, biochem is a junior-level course that cannot even be taken at a CC, so the school might not give you credit if your credit is from a CC.

As always, the members of SDN are here to help and provide a sounding board for ideas, but the right answer can only come from the schools in question.

 

[Cloud 9]

Ensure that your pharmacy school of choice will accept a biochem taken at a community college before signing up for it. In some systems, biochem is a junior-level course that cannot even be taken at a CC, so the school might not give you credit if your credit is from a CC.

As always, the members of SDN are here to help and provide a sounding board for ideas, but the right answer can only come from the schools in question.

Of course they will accept it. I know P1s this year who took the course at the CC last summer '10 and are doing just fine. Why wouldn't they? VCU will accept it, I know for sure, you can also look at last year's thread where several members talked about it and will confirm the same thing if you don't believe me.

And just to add as an edit, there is nothing different from CCs and universities. I took Orgo I at the same comm college and got an A...I took Orgo II at a 4 year university the next semester and got a...guess what...an A. There is no difference at all between the two, except one institution tends to have more arrogant students. 🙂

 

[chemguy79]

Geesh ... I don't think that anyone on this thread is saying that there is an intrinsic difference between a CC or a university course. That thread has been flushed out CONSTANTLY on SDN and has no relevance to this thread.

pharm B was merely saying to make sure that you can take the course at a CC to receive credit. Some schools allow it, others do not.

 

[xjackster]

Hello xjackster.

I am here to stop spreading misconceptions of what you "have" to do in order to succeed on here.

Who said you have to sacrifice? Not in my books you don't. Apply wherever and whenever...I was accepted to VCU this year and I don't have biochemistry on my transcript yet. I'm taking it at a community college nearby since they don't have it in my school in the spring, not to mention it's easier there since the classes are not huge (250+ people), it's a lot cheaper, and in general the professor is more enjoyable. Is the professor at the comm college any less qualified than the one at the university? Not at all.

So what you can do is still apply to both schools and over the summer move out early and take the class at a school near VCU or near Auburn. Why not?? VCU will still accept you with the premise that you'll have it done before you matriculate...problem solved. 👍

Wow, I might have to look into that. I hope the community college near my home has biochemistry. I really like VCU program so I was kinda discouraged at first, but now you brought my hopes up. Thanks 😀

 

[pharm B]

As pointed out before, you should check with VCU to ensure they will accept biochem taken at a community college. This has nothing to do with quality, etc, and everything to do with the classification of the course. In Texas, biochem is a junior-level course for the most part and can't be taken at most CC's.