Classes YOU MUST TAKE before taking the MCAT

[Perfectionist]

Ok so besides General Bio 1 and 2, Gen Chem 1 and 2, Physics 1 and 2, and Organic Chem 1 and 2, which undergrad classes will be the most advantageous to take before taking the MCAT?

These are the possibilities: Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2, Genetics, Microbiology, Cellular & Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry...Human anatomy/Physiology, Neurobiology, Immunology, Medical terminology

Classes that will really help:
1. ?
2. ?
3. ?
4. ?
5. ?
6. ?

so please rank from the possibilities, the top 6 must classes you would recommend because if you learn it well during the year..then reviewing it before the test won't be as difficult...

Thanks for your help!

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[madame99]

1. Genetics
2. Biochemistry
3. Cellular & Mol Bio
4. Microbio
5. A&P
6. neurology

The top 3 are a MUST, or else the MCAT will be that much more intimidating

 

[RySerr21]

1. Genetics
2. Biochemistry
3. Cellular & Mol Bio
4. Microbio
5. A&P
6. neurology

The top 3 are a MUST, or else the MCAT will be that much more intimidating

I completely disagree with your first two choices.

Its not worth taking a class dedicated to Genetics. Just take cellular/molecular biology and you will get a section on genetics. Thats more than enough to do well on the MCAT. My friend and i both recently took the MCAT, she is a biochem major and therfore took Genetics. I never took genetics. We both got 10s.

Biochemistry really isn't that essential for the MCAT either. I had zero questions that required strict background knowledge of biochemistry. Once again, my biochem friend has taken two semesters of biochemistry...we got the same score.

Into to Cell/Molec Biology is a MUST. It will cover a large majority of what you will find on the MCAT for the bio section. In fact, thats the only general bio course i had before the MCAT. I would also HIGHLY recommend physiology. If you have a Human Physiology course, take that over human anatomy or a course that combines anatomy/physiology. There are always many passages regarding physiology and it was very helpful to have background knowledge. I also didn't have to study it when reviewing for the bio section.

I'd say that Cell/Molec biology and Human Physiology provide everything you need to know for the BS section (except for the ochem, which you already know is useful to take before the MCAT). All the other classes might help a little, but they either won't be covered much at all on the MCAT or are covered adequately by human phys or cell/molec.

Do not take zoology, it is also worthless for the MCAT.

All the other courses you mentioned might be interesting, but in terms of the MCAT, they go into way too much detail or will be completely unhelpful (medical terminology, immunology, neurobiology).

 

[Revilla]

Honestly, it's hard for us to say. It just depends on which test you get.

Look at the June 13th thread and you'll see that genetics dominated the BS section. I just took the MCAT today and had one genetics passage and one genetics discrete. I had a lot of physiology, something that most said was missing entirely on the June 13th administration.

I think that Genetics, Biochem, and Physiology (if your school has an upper level Physiology course by itself, don't bother with Anatomy -- you won't need it) are equal. I'd give a slight advantage to an upper level Cell/Molecular Bio course. If you can't take them all, then I'd prioritize by C/M Bio, Physiology, Genetics, Biochem, and Microbiology, in that order. But again, it's difficult to say for sure.

 

[214615]

haven't taken biochem and don't regret it.

human physiology will be most helpful. there's no need for biochem if you've had orgo and a decent cell bio course.

so beyond the intro courses, a physiology and cell bio course will have you covered. if you can take another, go with genetics. don't waste your time with something as specific as neurobio or microbiology and immunology if your primary concern is mcat prep.

 

[cwfergus]

I completely disagree with your first two choices.

Its not worth taking a class dedicated to Genetics. Just take cellular/molecular biology and you will get a section on genetics. Thats more than enough to do well on the MCAT. My friend and i both recently took the MCAT, she is a biochem major and therfore took Genetics. I never took genetics. We both got 10s.

Biochemistry really isn't that essential for the MCAT either. I had zero questions that required strict background knowledge of biochemistry. Once again, my biochem friend has taken two semesters of biochemistry...we got the same score.

Into to Cell/Molec Biology is a MUST. It will cover a large majority of what you will find on the MCAT for the bio section. In fact, thats the only general bio course i had before the MCAT. I would also HIGHLY recommend physiology. If you have a Human Physiology course, take that over human anatomy or a course that combines anatomy/physiology. There are always many passages regarding physiology and it was very helpful to have background knowledge. I also didn't have to study it when reviewing for the bio section.

I'd say that Cell/Molec biology and Human Physiology provide everything you need to know for the BS section (except for the ochem, which you already know is useful to take before the MCAT). All the other classes might help a little, but they either won't be covered much at all on the MCAT or are covered adequately by human phys or cell/molec.

Do not take zoology, it is also worthless for the MCAT.

All the other courses you mentioned might be interesting, but in terms of the MCAT, they go into way too much detail or will be completely unhelpful (medical terminology, immunology, neurobiology).

This contradicts what you're saying. Two of the zoology classes at the university of alberta are: ZOO241, ZOO242 and they both are physiology classes (You either take Physiology 200 and 201 OR those zoology classes, they are both the exact same)

 

[RySerr21]

This contradicts what you're saying. Two of the zoology classes at the university of alberta are: ZOO241, ZOO242 and they both are physiology classes (You either take Physiology 200 and 201 OR those zoology classes, they are both the exact same)

i have no idea how that school names its courses. If that school wants to classify a Human Physiology course under "Zoology," then whatever....the course content is still the same.

General Zoology is worthless for the MCAT. Human Physiology is helpful. nothing about that is contradictory.

 

[Perfectionist]

so is anatomy/physiology not as helpful as human anatomy/physiology?

 

[RySerr21]

so is anatomy/physiology not as helpful as human anatomy/physiology?

my school doesn't offer anatomy/physiology together. They offer three separate courses...two for anatomy and one for physiology. I think the problem that people have with A&P is that there is so much information to try and cram into one course that it is just kind of pointless. Altho someone who has taken A&P can talk to you more about that.

Definitely try and take a course fully dedicated to human physiology. Anatomy is a cool class but not really useful for the MCAT.

 

[mterp45]

1. Genetics has become the #1 class for bio, over physiology so it's a must.

 

[MadEvans]

Classes that will really help:
1. Human Anatomy/Phys
2. C/M Bio
3. Biochemistry
4. Genetics
5. Anatomy/Phys
6. Microbiology

All will be helpful. Human anatomy definitely should be your top priority, in my opinion.

 

[RySerr21]

1. Genetics has become the #1 class for bio, over physiology so it's a must.

i dont get why people insist on taking a course entirely dedicated to genetics. you will go into so much more detail than on the MCAT its a waste if that is the only reason you are taking it. A well taught cell/molecular biology course will cover all the genetics you need to know.