Does it help to have taken biochemistry before the MCAT?

[akunamatata14]

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I'm a sophomore planning on taking the MCAT at the end of this summer. I have 2 more quarters to go however, and I will have room to take biochemistry before I sit for the MCAT. However, I'm debating whether I should take biochem or an English course, as taking English would allow a little more MCAT study time and would also help on VR and writing potentially. However, if taking biochem would really be to my advantage, I'd rather go that route even though I'd mainly be in a class of juniors and seniors. What should I do?

Thanks!

 

[LilKangaroo]

Biochem is not required for the MCAT. As long as you have had some basic biology with that covers cell and molecular biology, you should be fine.

I would recommend the english class if you are worried about your verbal score and a light course load before the MCAT in general. =]

 

[ballucanbe]

Bio chem is not necessary for the mcat. I took the mcat twice. Once before taking biochem and once after and i did not notice any advantage after i took bio chem. I actually got the same score twice. I would recommend you work on the verbal section

 

[centrigeugle]

Does it help? Absolutely yes.

Is taking biochemistry a good way to study for the MCAT? No.

 

[flodhi1]

Biochemistry is a great class and honestly if you have the time in between might as well take it before the MCAT. It really builds your critical thinking skills. Even though Biochemistry is not necessary at this moment in the newer version of the MCAT Biochemistry 1 will be mandatory.

 

[gloeotrichia]

I took the MCAT before biochem. I taught myself a lot of stuff about human biology because I really focused on ecology as an undergrad. So then when I took biochem this past semester (after the MCAT) I found most of the stuff in our course was stuff I had taught myself during my MCAT review. In that sense I suppose biochem would have been helpful. But I don't think it was necessary at all. I did fine teaching myself, and I didn't spend a ridiculous amount of time on it. The MCAT in my opinion is more about the way you think than the material you've learned.

 

[Ismet]

It's not necessary, but I think it would be helpful. I took biochem during the semester I was studying for the MCAT, and there were several topics that I understood better having taken biochem.

 

[akunamatata14]

Thanks a bunch everyone for your opinions! I appreciate it. 🙂

 

[intj]

I got a 14 in bs without having taken biochem... I'm currently taking biochem now, and it goes even way too much detail for it to have been helpful. In fact, biochem almost makes me forget the "big picture" in favor of memorizing all the little details. The mcat ism ore about "big picture" stuff, and what's covered in introductory bio classes and MCAT prep books should be enough.

 

[MMPman]

I took the MCAT twice, once before taking biochemistry and once after. I thought biochemistry was helpful and probably the reason I got a 13 rather than a 12 on the BS section. There was a stand alone question about amino acids that I would not have known without taking the class. However, I would take the english course, allowing you more time to focus on MCAT studying.

If you plan to study for the MCAT while take courses, make sure and set specific times for actual MCAT studying. It is very easy to put off studying for an MCAT exam that is months away when you have an english test only days away, but restrain yourself from that way of thinking.

Good Luck!