Biophysics

[estradiol9]

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I just got back from talking to my pre health advisor. I didn't do as well as I'd liked to in Physics I & II and feel that this will be my area of weakness for the MCAT. He has recommended me to take Biophysics, which is a 300 level physics course. He said it basically prepares students for the MCAT.

Has anyone else taken it? What are your thoughts? Did it help you with the MCAT?

This is the overview of my course specifically:

Phys 350 - Biophysics I (3-0-3)
Prerequisite: Phys 121 or Phys 121H with a grade of C or better. This course presents an introduction to general biophysics and a preparation for medical school and biotechnology careers. It features molecules, viruses and cells racing to form enormous electric fields, succumbing to diseases and creating life. It explains how key medical devices preserve life. It asses students? progress using questions just like those on the medical school entrance exams and seeks an understanding of a few, simple principles of life science.

It seems that there is also a Biophysics II:

Phys 451 - Biophysics II (3-0-3)
Prerequisite: Phys 350 with a grade of C or better. This course presents additional topics in an introduction to general biophysics and a preparation for medical school and biotechnology careers. It features ion pumping, enzymes, nerve impulses and mitochondrial factories. It explains illnesses and how medical devices work to help healing. It asses students? progress using questions slightly modified from those on the medical school entrance exams and seeks an understanding of a few, simple principles of life science.


Would you take the entire sequence? I am postponing my MCAT to March/April so if I decide to take Biophysics II in the spring, I will be taking my MCAT while still in the course.

 

[aSagacious]

Course description:
"This course presents an introduction to general biophysics and a preparation for medical school and biotechnology careers. It features molecules, viruses and cells racing to form enormous electric fields, succumbing to diseases and creating life. It explains how key medical devices preserve life. It assesses students' progress using questions just like those on the medical school entrance exams and seeks an understanding of a few, simple principles of life science."

As long as you could see yourself doing reasonably well in the course, it could serve to both redeem your poor previous performances as well as (slightly) better prepare you for the exam. My vote is yes, go for it.

 

[Shakespeare37]

Course description:
"This course presents an introduction to general biophysics and a preparation for medical school and biotechnology careers. It features molecules, viruses and cells racing to form enormous electric fields, succumbing to diseases and creating life. It explains how key medical devices preserve life. It assesses students' progress using questions just like those on the medical school entrance exams and seeks an understanding of a few, simple principles of life science."

As long as you could see yourself doing reasonably well in the course, it could serve to both redeem your poor previous performances as well as (slightly) better prepare you for the exam. My vote is yes, go for it.

+1
Realize, however, that MCAT physics tests concepts related more to broad classical physics topics than biophysics, which can be (not necessarily these courses) very quantum physics oriented. Still, I have to imagine that biophysics will look great on your transcript, assuming you do well.

 

[deleted357625]

the bolded statements:

They say that so you can take the course. You'll prob learn more then you need to know in that class.

Go on AAMC and look at what the MCAT covers specifically and if Biophysics teaches beyond that, don't take it. That's just me

There should be a layout of each section and wha topics you should know when you take it.

 

[estradiol9]

the bolded statements:

They say that so you can take the course. You'll prob learn more then you need to know in that class.

Go on AAMC and look at what the MCAT covers specifically and if Biophysics teaches beyond that, don't take it. That's just me

There should be a layout of each section and wha topics you should know when you take it.

Yes, I have done that. The problem I discovered was that all of the topics were not covered by my Physics I & II. I brought this up with my advisor and he thinks that Biophysics will cover those topics I didn't have previously.

I think I will go with it. It will probably be a lot of hard work but hopefully this will better prepare me for the MCAT. If anyone has taken Biophysics before, please let me know how it was! 🙂

 

[Shakespeare37]

OP- I haven't taken Biophysics (at my school it's a one credit course that doesn't apply to what I do, nor did I have time) but I work in a Biochem Lab that does a lot of bio-physics related stuff, and I really, really enjoy it. It should be a fun class that shows you how physics applies to various aspects of living organisms... ie the physical relationships that biological systems use to accomplish things, and the mathematics you can use to analyze them. It'd probably help if you take physiology concurrently or before biophysics if you have time (phys is also fairly high-yield for the MCAT). Physiology and biophysics really go together, biophysics explains a lot of the 'why's' in physiology. I'm a little jealous of your chance to take the course(s), actually. 🙂

 

[theWUbear]

ohshxtsaty! I want to point out that numbers are king in this game. Yes, it won't look great to have a subpar grade in Physics, but if you think this will make your semester tougher, will a B in biophysics and/or other grades next semester be a better remedy than a 4.0 next semester when taking slightly more manageable classes? Frankly, the GPA number means 100 times more than the names of the classes taken. But, if you can get that 4.0 and still take a class that will be relevant for the MCAT and medical school, go for it! Good luck with your decision. and sorry i will be taking easier classes instead of joining you in biophysics 😀

 

[mido1765]

I just got back from talking to my pre health advisor. I didn't do as well as I'd liked to in Physics I & II and feel that this will be my area of weakness for the MCAT. He has recommended me to take Biophysics, which is a 300 level physics course. He said it basically prepares students for the MCAT.

Has anyone else taken it? What are your thoughts? Did it help you with the MCAT?

This is the overview of my course specifically:

Phys 350 - Biophysics I (3-0-3)
Prerequisite: Phys 121 or Phys 121H with a grade of C or better. This course presents an introduction to general biophysics and a preparation for medical school and biotechnology careers. It features molecules, viruses and cells racing to form enormous electric fields, succumbing to diseases and creating life. It explains how key medical devices preserve life. It asses students? progress using questions just like those on the medical school entrance exams and seeks an understanding of a few, simple principles of life science.

It seems that there is also a Biophysics II:

Phys 451 - Biophysics II (3-0-3)
Prerequisite: Phys 350 with a grade of C or better. This course presents additional topics in an introduction to general biophysics and a preparation for medical school and biotechnology careers. It features ion pumping, enzymes, nerve impulses and mitochondrial factories. It explains illnesses and how medical devices work to help healing. It asses students? progress using questions slightly modified from those on the medical school entrance exams and seeks an understanding of a few, simple principles of life science.


Would you take the entire sequence? I am postponing my MCAT to March/April so if I decide to take Biophysics II in the spring, I will be taking my MCAT while still in the course.

I signed up for bio physics next sem as well but not for the mcat .. for a physics minor. i never heard that biophysics helps in the mcat but maybe thats just me. I defiantly would go online and search for the topics that the biophysics class would go over and compare to those in the mcat. I doubt that it will help with new topics but only reinforce older ones from physics 1 and 2..

 

[deleted357625]

Yes, I have done that. The problem I discovered was that all of the topics were not covered by my Physics I & II. I brought this up with my advisor and he thinks that Biophysics will cover those topics I didn't have previously.

I think I will go with it. It will probably be a lot of hard work but hopefully this will better prepare me for the MCAT. If anyone has taken Biophysics before, please let me know how it was! 🙂

How come? that sucks azzz

 

[Charles_Carmichael]

IMO, a lot of what colleges "feel" will prepare you for med school or the MCAT are flat out wrong. I personally don't think Biophysics will help you nearly as much as TBR physics will for the MCAT...

 

[deleted357625]

IMO, a lot of what colleges "feel" will prepare you for med school are flat out wrong.

yea paying for courses that you don't need.

 

[Narmerguy]

IMO, a lot of what colleges "feel" will prepare you for med school or the MCAT are flat out wrong. I personally don't think Biophysics will help you nearly as much as TBR physics will for the MCAT...

Well, your biophysics class looks AMAZINGLY different from what mine entailed and I assumed all of them. Most upper level physics will not help you much on the MCAT except maybe a mechanics and wave/em class.

I wouldn't be surprised if they keep throwing in all the "med school" stuff in the description just to get people into the class. What are the math requisites for the class? That can often be a clue as to what kind of physics beast you're dealing with.

 

[gravitywave]

yeah, the truth is that if physics isn't your strong suit, you're probably better off steering clear of it now that you have the bare minimum necessary to apply.

+1 about colleges doing a lousy job of teaching to the MCAT, although mine did a decent job... upper level courses are a strange way of prepping for the MCAT when the concepts tested are quite basic.

think of it this way: why spend money on another course in physics when you could use the same value to take a Kaplan course instead?

 

[estradiol9]

IMO, a lot of what colleges "feel" will prepare you for med school or the MCAT are flat out wrong. I personally don't think Biophysics will help you nearly as much as TBR physics will for the MCAT...

I think I'll register for the class and see how it goes. I think worst case scenario I could drop the course if it's overwhelming?

I don't intend on using this to replace MCAT studying. I will probably try to find a TBR or EK course as well in the future. I will probably take the March or April 2012 MCAT. *wonders how long the MCAT prep classes run*

Well, your biophysics class looks AMAZINGLY different from what mine entailed and I assumed all of them. Most upper level physics will not help you much on the MCAT except maybe a mechanics and wave/em class.

I wouldn't be surprised if they keep throwing in all the "med school" stuff in the description just to get people into the class. What are the math requisites for the class? That can often be a clue as to what kind of physics beast you're dealing with.

The only prerequisite is Physics 2. The prerequisites for Physics 2 are Physics 1 and Calculus 1 at my school. They also recommend students that take Physics 2 to take Calculus 2 either concurrently or previously since Physics at my school is taught calculus based usually. BUT I took Physics 2 without taking Calculus 2 at the time.

 

[aSagacious]

*wonders how long the MCAT prep classes run*

I took a May MCAT and went through a Kaplan prep course. My section, for example, began in October and had classes (almost) every Sunday until around March. There are also sections that run from January to March (twice a week), as well as a crash course (I think it's only a few weeks) offered later in the spring.

Having gone through the in-class prep course I would advise against it. The lectures are very slow paced (too slow for my taste anyway) and oversimplify the material. I found the online material (practice full lengths, quizzes, lectures) very helpful. So, if you were to go with Kaplan I suggest sticking with the online content only.

 

[estradiol9]

I took a May MCAT and went through a Kaplan prep course. My section, for example, began in October and had classes (almost) every Sunday until around March. There are also sections that run from January to March (twice a week), as well as a crash course (I think it's only a few weeks) offered later in the spring.

Having gone through the in-class prep course I would advise against it. The lectures are very slow paced (too slow for my taste anyway) and oversimplify the material. I found the online material (practice full lengths, quizzes, lectures) very helpful. So, if you were to go with Kaplan I suggest sticking with the online content only.

Thanks. They are quite expensive as well. I don't know how much Kaplan charges but I looked at the Princeton Review & Exam Krackers courses around here. For the money I would spend on a course, I could probably buy all the full length practice tests and MCAT review books I could ever need!