Biochemistry the semester before MCAT?

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I know this is a question that has been posted previously. However, I still wanted to get a fresh perspective. I'm planning on taking the MCAT May 2019 and I have the option of taking orgo II and biochemistry fall 2018 semester or taking orgo II this fall and biochemistry the spring 2019 semester right before the MCAT. My question is, would taking biochemistry and then subsequently taking the MCAT be wise? I can see it both ways, I wouldn't effectively be able to study biochemistry other than my class if I took it in the spring but I can also see that it could be beneficial to have everything fresh in my mind having just barely taken the class before the MCAT. Thoughts?

 

[RinShanKaiHo]

I know this is a question that has been posted previously. However, I still wanted to get a fresh perspective. I'm planning on taking the MCAT May 2019 and I have the option of taking orgo II and biochemistry fall 2018 semester or taking orgo II this fall and biochemistry the spring 2019 semester right before the MCAT. My question is, would taking biochemistry and then subsequently taking the MCAT be wise? I can see it both ways, I wouldn't effectively be able to study biochemistry other than my class if I took it in the spring but I can also see that it could be beneficial to have everything fresh in my mind having just barely taken the class before the MCAT. Thoughts?

I got a b- in biochem but I still benefitted a lot in MCAT from the course

 

[TheBiologist]

well, biochem is 25% (or 50% depending on how you define "biochemistry") of the bio/biochem section and 25% of the phys/chem section

if I'm not mistaken they took emphasis off organic II for the new mcat

https://aamc-orange.global.ssl.fast...a-4c00-83dd-c17cee034c47/mcat2015-content.pdf

 

[MedicalDoge]

Yeah I would take it in the Fall if you can. Biochemistry is probably the single biggest subject covered, you don't want to rush it right before the MCAT

 

[willow84]

I actually loved taking it in the spring right before the MCAT. Everything was super, super fresh in my mind. I got a 131 in the bio/biochem section, and I really attribute that to the recency of the info in my mind.

 

[calivianya]

I took my biochem, orgo 2, and physics 1 classes in the spring - actually took the MCAT three days after my last final exam. I think having so many MCAT heavy classes right before I took the actual test helped a lot.

 

[impendingdoom]

I took a ridiculously hard biochem class the semester before I took the mcat in july and I totally attribute my 132 in the BS section to that. I was a biochem major though

 

[Detective SnowBucket]

Im in it now for my May 5 MCAT. That's what Id recommend

 

[skeptastic]

I've been trying to decide on whether to take Biochem during the Fall or Spring term of the year I take the MCAT. I appreciate this thread. Keep the input coming!

Did anyone struggle with taking the course vs studying for the MCAT? For those of you who've replied thus far, what were your other commitments during the term you took Biochem and studied for the MCAT simultaneously?

 

[impendingdoom]

I've been trying to decide on whether to take Biochem during the Fall or Spring term of the year I take the MCAT. I appreciate this thread. Keep the input coming!

Did anyone struggle with taking the course vs studying for the MCAT? For those of you who've replied thus far, what were your other commitments during the term you took Biochem and studied for the MCAT simultaneously?

I took my mcat in july which kept the material fresh but allowed me a month and a half to study other subjects but still have biochem fresh in my mind. I worked full time while studying in the summer, during the semester I took biochem I worked part time, was on a sports team, ran a club, and wrote a pub. (it was the semester of death)

 

[Detective SnowBucket]

, what were your other commitments during the term you took Biochem and studied for the MCAT simultaneously?

MCAT (>20 hrs/week), volunteer, lab work, 1 pub, 1 podium presentation, club VP, biochem was only serious class. Was on sports team and worked but quit for MCAT, will go back afterwards. 'Twas the semester form hell.

 

[willow84]

I've been trying to decide on whether to take Biochem during the Fall or Spring term of the year I take the MCAT. I appreciate this thread. Keep the input coming!

Did anyone struggle with taking the course vs studying for the MCAT? For those of you who've replied thus far, what were your other commitments during the term you took Biochem and studied for the MCAT simultaneously?

Biochem, genetics, ochem lab, and a medical sociology class. Research 8 hours a week, clinical volunteering 4 hours a week, nonclinical community service 3 hours a week, and then MCAT studying whenever I could. I finished classes end of April and took my MCAT 6/1.

 

[skeptastic]

I took my mcat in july which kept the material fresh but allowed me a month and a half to study other subjects but still have biochem fresh in my mind. I worked full time while studying in the summer, during the semester I took biochem I worked part time, was on a sports team, ran a club, and wrote a pub. (it was the semester of death)

I'm cracking up at "the semester of death." Haha! I can only imagine. This coming Fall, I begin O-Chem, other courses, working, and EC's. Oh yeah... then there's the wife and kids to spend time with! I am anticipating being busier than ever for the rest of my natural life at this point, lol!

How did the MCAT turn out? Did you feel well-prepared?

 

[skeptastic]

MCAT (>20 hrs/week), volunteer, lab work, 1 pub, 1 podium presentation, club VP, biochem was only serious class. Was on sports team and worked but quit for MCAT, will go back afterwards. 'Twas the semester form hell.

Two in a row! Haha!! You guys are working your butts off. How did the MCAT turn out for you and how prepared did you feel?

 

[skeptastic]

Biochem, genetics, ochem lab, and a medical sociology class. Research 8 hours a week, clinical volunteering 4 hours a week, nonclinical community service 3 hours a week, and then MCAT studying whenever I could. I finished classes end of April and took my MCAT 6/1.

Nice! So you went the route of more courses, no work, but a lot of time devoted to EC's and studying for both courses and the MCAT. Sounds just as busy as the last two posters. Same question: how did you do on the MCAT and how prepared did you feel you were?

 

[Detective SnowBucket]

Actually haven't taken yet. Scheduled for cinco de mayo this year but 'tis the semester from hell. Regardless, I feel super unprepared because Kap FL's are hard

Edit: Started out with 17 credits too, not wisest move since I recently had to take that down to 14

 

[Mr.Monster]

From somebody who scored a 92 percentile on the bio-biochem section of the exam, I would implore you to take biochem before the MCAT. I provide this same advice to the pre-medical students who I currently tutor.

 

[boogiecousins94]

I took Biochem the semester before and took in September and scored a 131 with a B- in the class (it was very hard). Just know your stuff and know the mcat won't ask super specific stuff they might discuss in the class

Also if you have a molecular endocrinology class at your school I would highly recommend taking it also- you learn a lot about the hormonal pathways as well as gpcrs, trks, different receptor types, feedback loops, etc that helps tremendously

 

[Deleted member 737595]

I know this is a question that has been posted previously. However, I still wanted to get a fresh perspective. I'm planning on taking the MCAT May 2019 and I have the option of taking orgo II and biochemistry fall 2018 semester or taking orgo II this fall and biochemistry the spring 2019 semester right before the MCAT. My question is, would taking biochemistry and then subsequently taking the MCAT be wise? I can see it both ways, I wouldn't effectively be able to study biochemistry other than my class if I took it in the spring but I can also see that it could be beneficial to have everything fresh in my mind having just barely taken the class before the MCAT. Thoughts?

I actually am not taking Biochemistry before my MCAT formally but am learning it on my own. Let me just say that being able to take the class right before the MCAT would be perfect. Even right now I foresee me needing at least two months of just learning Biochemistry to have it under my belt.

Biochem in the MCAT isn't the most complicated thing though: amino acids, enzyme kinetics, and metabolism is all. Also there is DNA and RNA stuff with molecular biology, but the purely Biochem stuff is basically those three. I don't see what the big hullabaloo is with Biochem being unlearn-able without a class. However, having a class is great because it will over prepare you.

Cheers

 

[impendingdoom]

I'm cracking up at "the semester of death." Haha! I can only imagine. This coming Fall, I begin O-Chem, other courses, working, and EC's. Oh yeah... then there's the wife and kids to spend time with! I am anticipating being busier than ever for the rest of my natural life at this point, lol!

How did the MCAT turn out? Did you feel well-prepared?

I got a 517 with a perfect score on the biological sciences section. I totally attribute that score to taking the biochem class when I did (the mcat was all enzyme kinetics and my class was basically all enzyme kinetics). I felt as prepared as I could've been.

 

[willow84]

Nice! So you went the route of more courses, no work, but a lot of time devoted to EC's and studying for both courses and the MCAT. Sounds just as busy as the last two posters. Same question: how did you do on the MCAT and how prepared did you feel you were?

I felt really prepared. I caveat this by saying that I busted my butt during all of my prereqs to make sure I really knew the material. My MCAT studying was just refreshing topics from earlier prereqs and familiarizing myself with the exam. I did okay on the actual exam. I had a serious personal issue come up a few weeks before that made my brain pretty mushy, but I survived and will matriculate this fall!

 

[skeptastic]

Would you all advise taking Biochem during the Fall and then being able to study freely during the Spring, with an April/May MCAT? Or, would you recommend taking Biochem during the Spring while studying for the MCAT during the same semester, leading right into a June MCAT date?

Since many of you have clearly taken the prereqs I also want to ask if you'd recommend taking O-Chem and Physics separately if possible, or taking them together to speed up the time til application? I'm torn between getting it done and taking it slow to maximize both grades earned and retention.

 

[jarednogeek]

Take it in the Spring, it's like free MCAT studying during class hours. But make sure to study for an A to get a good grip of the material and take a capable Prof.
Also, if you're doing semester MCAT studying I would recommend a light course load (12 credits if possible) and tone down the extra curric's. This score is important and you want to give it ample time the first go-round

 

[PapaSmurphy777]

I took biochem after I took the MCAT (what a dummy!) and I did pretty decent on bio section, 85%, I would recommend taking it the semester right before the MCAT. I will say this, when I did take biochem later I made incredible scores on every test bc I had already self studied everything.

 

[platty]

I wish I would have taken biochem while prepping for my MCAT. I took it the Fall semester then took my MCAT the following June. I felt like once I finished biochem, all of the information fell out of my head by the new year and then I had to refresh a lot for my MCAT. Plus I had no profs to clarify or elaborate on stuff while I was reviewing everything. I would take it just before mcat.

 

[skeptastic]

Perfect responses! Thank you all!