Choosing between these classes...

[Buddhasmash]

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If you could only take two of the following courses before getting your bachelor's degree, which would you take? For those of you who have taken the MCAT, which two would be most helpful in preparing for the test?

• Human Anatomy
• Human Physiology
• General Microbiology
• General Genetics
• Cell Biology

 

[rhesuspieces]

I'd say physiology and genetics would be most helpful for the MCAT. However, I took Anatomy my sophomore year of college and absolutely loved it. Anatomy is definitely not necessary (or useful, really) for the MCAT but it's really a breath of fresh air after organic chem, physics, etc.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Physiology + Genetics.

 

[cfx]

3rd for physio and genetics (for MCAT usefulness). Alternatively, you can just pick whichever two interest you most, and learn the small amount of material you never covered on your own when it comes time to study for the MCAT.

 

[seelee]

Number 1 would be physio.

I would tie genetics and anatomy at #2 because the genetics you need to know for the MCAT you could learn in a day, and while there may not be many anatomy questions on the MCAT, it does help with understanding physio, and it is nice in medical school when you are not having to learn it for the first time.

Cell Bio would be number three.

You will see almost no micro on the MCAT.

You may also want to think about taking biochem or molecular biology.

 

[ucsdhopeful]

Not to thread-hijack, but would just one quarter be ok?

 

[Buddhasmash]

Not to thread-hijack, but would just one quarter be ok?

...one quarter of what?

 

[mmmcdowe]

Cell bio and genetics. I don't get why people freak over physio on the MCAT.

 

[TwoPaddles]

cell bio and genetics

 

[JJMrK]

Genetics is pretty important, and will help tie your other upper division biology classes together. The MCAT typically has a lot of physiology, but you can memorize most of it pretty easily without taking a physio class. Ditto for micro. Anatomy is not that important at this stage of your schooling; you'll get way more of it than you ever wanted in med school. You'll see cell bio stuff on the MCAT, but the class will probably be 10 times more detailed than anything on the test. It's a good class but will probably be one of the tougher ones that you take in undergrad. Expect a ton of discussion on molecular bio lab techniques.

I'd take genetics and something else of your choice. Physio is probably most relevant to the MCAT, cell bio will probably help you the most long term.

 

[wanderer]

How about none of the above? The MCAT only tests pre-reqs, and any additional courses only help if you completely forgot the intro stuff and are too lazy to review it.