Choosing between genetics and introductory biochem: which is better for the MCAT?

[philosonista]

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Hi, SDN --

I'll keep this short and sweet.

I commute on the basis of a limited bus schedule, so I don't have as much choice to choose classes. So, to get the right number of credits I want for the Spring, I have to choose between two classes I would not ideally have chosen: Introductory Biochem or Genetics.

I am planning to taking the normal version of Biochemistry I in the Fall, but repeating biochemistry content wouldn't hurt would it? Would it look like a cop out to first take introductory? It also provides me with a better schedule, but let's put that aside and focus on the MCAT... The alternative is to take Genetics.

Two questions, in sum. Which would be better for the MCAT? Would it look bad to first take introductory Biochem if you plan to take regular Biochem later?

Thanks, SDN --

philosonista

 

[litotes]

Take intro Biochem now and forget about Biochem I. Or just take neither. Repeating a class is pointless and genetics won't help you for the MCAT.

 

[ndafife]

Biochemistry is a major part of the new MCAT. Take it.

 

[philosonista]

Take intro Biochem now and forget about Biochem I. Or just take neither. Repeating a class is pointless and genetics won't help you for the MCAT.

Really? I've often seen Genetics listed as a class you should take if you wish to prepare for the MCAT and you have a few classes to spare.

 

[baxt1412]

I think biochem would afford you a better understanding of a lot of biological processes whereas the genetics can be learned in a week or so. It is mostly just interpreting family trees and understanding basic inheritance topics.

 

[PlaqueBuster]

Both classes are important. But genetics on the MCAT is fairly straightforward and does not require all the knowledge from the course. Biochemistry can also help you understand chemistry and biology topics in detail (krebs cycle, protein and fatty acid synthesis, kinetics, etc). I suggest biochemistry and skip the introductory courses. It won't look bad but I see no reason to take them twice unles you think you will not do well in the classes.

 

[Dr. Retractor]

Genetics is pretty useful because it goes more in depth on a lot of topics covered in introductory biology (the intro class is required for almost every major at my school so it's not really as in depth as it is in other schools) whereas biochem was more advanced and doesn't cover that many topics on the MCAT aside from glycolysis and Krebs cycle which are pretty straightforward. Again, this is school dependent. But if you could take physiology, that would be way more helpful than either of these two.

 

[PlaqueBuster]

Genetics is pretty useful because it goes more in depth on a lot of topics covered in introductory biology (the intro class is required for almost every major at my school so it's not really as in depth as it is in other schools) whereas biochem was more advanced and doesn't cover that many topics on the MCAT aside from glycolysis and Krebs cycle which are pretty straightforward. Again, this is school dependent. But if you could take physiology, that would be way more helpful than either of these two.

This is for the new MCAT, which has much more biochem than before. When I had to take a sample section after my MCAT this year I got biochem and it was pretty detailed. I took the course but had a difficult time going through that section.

 

[litotes]

I find it really hard to believe that there's a higher level of genetics than that covered in intro bio on the MCAT. At least at my school, we went into gf/lf mutations, incomplete dominance, codominance etc in our genes+development module

 

[Dr. Retractor]

This is for the new MCAT, which has much more biochem than before. When I had to take a sample section after my MCAT this year I got biochem and it was pretty detailed. I took the course but had a difficult time going through that section.

Oh. I don't see where OP mentioned it was for the new MCAT. But I'm on my phone I might have just missed it. But yeah you're right for the new MCAT Biochem all the way.

 

[PlaqueBuster]

Oh. I don't see where OP mentioned it was for the new MCAT. But I'm on my phone I might have just missed it. But yeah you're right for the new MCAT Biochem all the way.

well if he is taking courses in spring and then take mcat it would be the new one

 

[Dr. Retractor]

well if he is taking courses in spring and then take mcat it would be the new one

And I wonder why my verbal score is so low.

 

[baxt1412]

And I wonder why my verbal score is so low.

🤣

it can be inferred from OP's post that....

 

[kraskadva]

OP- none of them would "look bad" so don't worry about that aspect.
As for the MCAT, if you're going to have one version of biochem before you take it either way, then I would opt for genetics now and regular biochem next semester. I found genetics really useful for the MCAT, and biochem will be on the new test.
A cell bio course would also be a plus for the bio section, but not at the expense of the other basics.

 

[bluejay456]

Really hard to answer without knowing the syllabus. For example, when I took biochem my university had a very large component of cell biology integrated into the class making biochem an easy choice for me. I would recommend getting the syllabus for both class and matching topics covered to what is expected for the mcat. Whichever class has more overlap should be your choice. However, from my experience and general knowledge of biochem, I think biochem will be more useful in comparison to genetics.