general bio versus cell bio or biochem

[fastfingers]

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I am a premed. I'm getting conflicting recommendations. I registered for general bio because I called the advising department and was told general bio prepares me for the MCAT. My assigned advisor on the other hand, recommended I take cell biology or biochem and not take general biology. Is it a good recommendation? I'm afraid that taking cell bio would keep me away from lots of information I need to know for the MCAT that I usually get from general bio.

Ideas? tips?

 

[Abilene85]

Um...I think you want general bio. I would take classes in the order 1) general bio, 2) cell bio, 3) biochem. Whatever biology class your school offers to fulfill the med school requirements is the one that will prepare you best for the MCAT. Cell bio is more specialized than general bio. Biochem really isn't tested on the MCAT, but will help make your life easier in med school, having seen the information before. If you have time take them all.

And if you are worried you will miss something for the MCAT, get review books. I had the Princeton Review books from the course, which say they include 110% of the info that will be fair game on the MCAT. Those books were my only guide during MCAT prep, and I did quite well in biological sciences without studying as much as I should have.

 

[mongrel]

I didn't take general bio... Honestly, I think if you have at least a fairly solid biology base from high school and you have the option of skipping gen bio in college then by all means- do, do! It worked out alright for me- just my opinion.

 

[fastfingers]

I really don't think i have a solid biology base. My HS experience wasn't great for me in that it was really easy and nothing was taught.

I took the Bio subject test and scored under 600. Half the test had words I've never seen my entire life.

 

[Abilene85]

Molecular Biology - Biochemistry basics (enzymes and metabolism), DNA and gene expression
Microbiology - Viruses, bacteria, fungi
Generalized Eukaryotic Cells
Genetics and Evolution
Nervous and Endocrine Systems
Circulatory, Lymphatic, and Immune Systems
Digestive and Excretory Systems
Muscle and Skeletal Systems
Respiratory and Skin Systems
Reproductive Systems and Development

Those are the main biology topics from my review book. Don't worry - the list looks really scary I'm sure. It's all basics and you are given a lot of info in prompts - it just helps to know more than what you are being tested on so you don't waste time trying to understand the big picture during the exam. Read your class descriptions or take this list to your advisor so you can figure out which classes you need.

Prepare for the MCAT, but don't take classes just for the stupid test. Take bio courses that interest you - you'll enjoy your undergraduate time a lot more that way.

 

[fastfingers]

the topics you listed, are they mostly covered in general bio?

I really don't have any preference in my bio classes.

 

[Abilene85]

the topics you listed, are they mostly covered in general bio?

I really don't have any preference in my bio classes.

My school covered all the topics in our 3 course biology core sequence. My school is also a pre-med sanctuary, so a "biology" major was definitely structured to be a "pre-med" major.

I can't answer your question, because it depends on your school's general bio syllabus. My guess would be that you will not learn all those topics in one semester - even to learn them all in a year might be a little fast.

 

[Jaded03]

To be perfectly honest, the MCAT will cover mostly human systemic biology. There should be a class that will survey these areas for you. If general bio is anything like HS bio, it won't cover it. If you can get yourself a quick and dirty anatomy/physiology class, then that will do it. My school had a course within their general bio core of classes that covered it "cells,tissues,organs". Otherwise, I'm much like the other posters and banking off some kind of MCAT prep book.

The MCAT also includes biochem and cell bio, but not exclusively, so you'll need all the classes.

 

[fastfingers]

hmm, the undergrad college I'm attending is JHU so if anybody on this forum went their, maybe they could give a little input too.

my advisor seem to push major exploration even though I seemed pretty solid with my career path. I'm just making sure classes like cell biology isn't simply for exploration.

 

[Abilene85]

Have you chosen a major?

 

[fastfingers]

yeah, it'll most likely be Public Health

 

[Abilene85]

That's cool, public health is fun.