For the mcat....

[NolanW]

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I am a freshman now. I have completed my year of bio with labs and will be completing inorganic chem with labs by the end of first semester sophomore year. I was planning on taking organic chem in the summer of sophomore year before junior year; however, I have one question. On the new mcat is organic chem2 a necessary class to take? I was thinking about taking orgo1 in the summer and biochem in first semester junior year and then taking a spring or summer mcat. Is it a bad idea to not take orgo2 and go straight to biochem after the first orgo?


Thanks!

 

[nlmacbu]

I personally think you're better off taking biochem. The new MCAT has a very high emphasis on biochem than organic chemistry. Whatever else you need on organic, you can always learn from a book or the internet.

 

[Cotterpin]

It's not that you need orgo 2 for the MCAT. It's more like you need orgo 2 to understand biochem. I guess some people will think you can skip it, but I think biochem is much easier if you are already familiar with those mechanism.

 

[protego]

As a whole, I think you're on the right track that biochem will be more beneficial. However, I wouldn't completely dismiss ochem 2. It definitely helped me on my test, both in understanding biochem and sporadic ochem questions. It may not be a big percentage of the questions but a few questions here or there can really add up to change your score. You have plenty of time, might as well put yourself in the best position possible to know as much as possible. I would take biochem in the spring and the MCAT in the summer.

 

[Cookiess]

Biochem is more helpful for the MCAT, but OChem 2 provides a great foundation that will help you in Biochem. You could take OChem 2 in the fall, Biochem in the spring, and start preparing for the MCAT during the spring.

It also depends on when you would want to apply. If you want to apply during the summer of your junior year, you would want to take the MCAT in May of your junior year. If you're planning to take a glide year and apply during the summer after your senior year, you can use the summer after your junior year to prepare for the MCAT.

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

I found Orgo2 to be totally useless in terms of understanding biochem. Id say take biochem