But if you had to self-study biochem...

[heartsink]

How would you go about doing it?

I'm in a position where no school local to me offers intro biochem for a nonmatriculated student in winter or spring quarters. I couldn't get fall because I was nonmatriculated and there was no room for me. All other sciences (physics bio chem ochem) will be done after winter except biochem.

My plan was to take the MCAT next winter (Dec '16 or Jan '17). That means after ~March of '16, I have about 9 months until the MCAT.

If I give myself 3 months (roughly a school quarter) to self study biochem, and the remaining 6 months of general MCAT study, would be that be enough time?

Has anyone successfully self-studied biochem and done well on the new MCAT? If so, what did you use?

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[BluMist]

... don't

 

[New_Slang]

Disclaimer: I got A's in both Orgo I and Orgo II and at my post-bacc, Orgo II is considered "baby biochem". I taught myself enough needed for the MCAT and did well enough.

I'm using the EdX free course for an intro right now (it's great!) and will be auditing a course at a local university next semester to make sure I have a sure background before med school in August.

 

[heartsink]

Nice. So it sounds like you got your biochem feet wet from ochem (so did we) and then self studied the rest? Was that self study from EdX, or other materials?

I have the biochem textbook because I almost got into the class, but I was expecting to need more specific materials to really get in to what the MCAT requires. Everyone i've talked to has said don't take the MCAT without biochem, and I've done everything in my power to avoid this option, but I'm almost out of runway and I'm not putting off applying for another year for one class. In theory, everything I could learn from a class can be learned alone, I just need to execute it well.

 

[NonTrad16]

I took it without biochem. Bio was my weakest section (127~9-10?) and I think that was due to a combination of the large amount of bio stuff I hadn't seen in ages paired with less biochem knowledge. That said, if something is holding me back, I doubt it's the subsection score.

What I did was take a biochem book used for the local college and enrolled in a 1 credit hour independent study with the prof. She provided me exams, which were due sporadically through the year (matching the course syllabus). I'd read chapters, take notes, and then take exams (open note, not graded just verifying I was doing them). Not too rigorous but definitely helped keep me on task with example problems. I'd expect the book problems would suffice as well.

One thing that an actual course would help to do is emphasize memorization of AAs, etc. Definitely possible to study without the course, but you'll have to find a way to motivate yourself for sure.

 

[New_Slang]

Nice. So it sounds like you got your biochem feet wet from ochem (so did we) and then self studied the rest? Was that self study from EdX, or other materials?

I have the biochem textbook because I almost got into the class, but I was expecting to need more specific materials to really get in to what the MCAT requires. Everyone i've talked to has said don't take the MCAT without biochem, and I've done everything in my power to avoid this option, but I'm almost out of runway and I'm not putting off applying for another year for one class. In theory, everything I could learn from a class can be learned alone, I just need to execute it well.

I did the MCAT self-study through Kaplan and Khan Academy materials. Using EdX now for pre-med school stuff.

 

[popopopop]

Anybody else think biochem on the new mcat is a bit overrated? I haven't seen anything biochem related yet that came out of left field completely. For the majority of the questions, it has been knowing the structure of DNA, know your amino acids and acid/base chemistry, Michaelis-Menten stuff, and know the products/reactants of the major metabolic pathways and how they interact. It's not as daunting as the ochem 2 mechanisms that might surprise you.

I for one think it's totally doable in 3 months. It's not going to be like an actual class where you might have to regurgitate any structure or mechanism during an exam, it's mostly conceptual like the other subjects.

 

[New_Slang]

Anybody else think biochem on the new mcat is a bit overrated? I haven't seen anything biochem related yet that came out of left field completely. For the majority of the questions, it has been knowing the structure of DNA, know your amino acids and acid/base chemistry, Michaelis-Menten stuff, and know the products/reactants of the major metabolic pathways and how they interact. It's not as daunting as the ochem 2 mechanisms that might surprise you.

I for one think it's totally doable in 3 months. It's not going to be like an actual class where you might have to regurgitate any structure or mechanism during an exam, it's mostly conceptual like the other subjects.

Agreed completely. You summed it up well. I learned a lot of it from Organic and Cell Bio.

 

[NonTrad16]

Anybody else think biochem on the new mcat is a bit overrated? I haven't seen anything biochem related yet that came out of left field completely. For the majority of the questions, it has been knowing the structure of DNA, know your amino acids and acid/base chemistry, Michaelis-Menten stuff, and know the products/reactants of the major metabolic pathways and how they interact. It's not as daunting as the ochem 2 mechanisms that might surprise you.

I for one think it's totally doable in 3 months. It's not going to be like an actual class where you might have to regurgitate any structure or mechanism during an exam, it's mostly conceptual like the other subjects.

I had a molecular structure provided on my exam under the expectation I should know which one it was, and I only would have learned it in biochem. Maybe if you know enough about the wrong answers you could do a POE and get the correct answer, but a rigorous/actual biochem course would likely provide exposure that benefits the curveballs that can occur on test day.

 

[popopopop]

^For sure for acetyl-coa, nadh/fadh, lipids, steroids, and sugars. I can't think of any other structures on the top of my head, except to mention that knowing protein structures is important.

 

[heartsink]

I feel a little more confident seeing that 90% of what everyone has posted here was covered in my cell bio class and I'm already familiar with it. It sounds like most biochem courses go more in depth on a lot of these processes while introducing only a few brand new ideas.

I appreciate all the replies. Now I just need a guide on which subjects to go more in depth on...

 

[GreenDuck12]

If you are in a bind, UNE offers an online biochemistry class that can be completed at your own pace http://online.une.edu/science-prerequisites/online-medical-biochemistry/

 

[heartsink]

I'm extremely wary of online education with its high variability in quality and legitimacy of accreditation, but I'll definitely research UNE as an online biochem course might be just what I need to fill this knowledge gap right when I need it.

 

[mw18]

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/chemistry/5-08j-biological-chemistry-ii-spring-2004/

Not for credit, but would likely be helpful.

 

[darknecrosforte]

In addition to Amino Acids, I'd actually focus on learning how to read a scientific paper minus abstract in 90 seconds and being able to guess correctly the main points of the abstract. The "biochem" section was basically AA's and stuff like Pentose Phosphate pathway and glycolysis. The other half was scientific papers on CD34 and other immunology and whatnot. The scientific journal practice is higher yield and will prevent brainfarts on test day.

 

[heartsink]

I took ochem 1/2 from UNE, didn't take biochem and scored 513. Classes and test prep are what you put in to them.

That's actually pretty inspiring to hear. Thanks for the reply.

Do most of the med schools of interest to you accept UNE credits then?