Genetics or Physiology?

[TurkSurg]

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Along with physical chemistry and biochemistry (in my semester of mcat), I'm looking for a biology class to add up to my schedule. So far I've taken molecular cell biology and biotechnology as my upper level bio classes. I can't decide between physiology or genetics. I've been reading old threads and majority of the people said physiology helped the most. However, there were a couple people that said they had 3-4 passages of genetics in their mcat. I'm a chemistry major and I don't need to take any of these classes. So I just need to choose the right one that will help me in mcat. I'm going to study TBR bio and EK bio and also use EK 1001 and TPR Hyperlearning science workbook to review for the biology section.

So what would you do if you were in my situation? Should I take either of the classes or are those books enough for me to review everything I need for physio and genetics?

Thanks🙂

 

[PiBond]

Along with physical chemistry and biochemistry (in my semester of mcat), I'm looking for a biology class to add up to my schedule. So far I've taken molecular cell biology and biotechnology as my upper level bio classes. I can't decide between physiology or genetics. I've been reading old threads and majority of the people said physiology helped the most. However, there were a couple people that said they had 3-4 passages of genetics in their mcat. I'm a chemistry major and I don't need to take any of these classes. So I just need to choose the right one that will help me in mcat. I'm going to study TBR bio and EK bio and also use EK 1001 and TPR Hyperlearning science workbook to review for the biology section.

So what would you do if you were in my situation? Should I take either of the classes or are those books enough for me to review everything I need for physio and genetics?

Thanks🙂

I'm a fan of physiology. You'll get a little genetics towards the end of your biochemistry class.

 

[DrDre2001]

Physiology, definitely. Especially if your schools intro bio 101 and 102 classes didn't cover the body systems like mine.

Genetics went way too much into detail to be of any use for the MCAT. In Genetics at my university, we did complicated recombination and genetic mapping, etc. Also, I remember one MCAT practice exam in which my Genetics class background actually HURT me. There was a pedigree (if i remember correctly) and some info about a genetic disease. To me, it looked like the disease was Y linked. But, little did i know, the MCAT doesn't look at Y linked genes...they only look at the more basic x linked genes. The only reason I thought it was Y linked was because I had taken the genetics class at my university.

 

[TurkSurg]

hmm.. okay thanks

anyone else with their opinions?

 

[J ROD]

Physio....

 

[TurkSurg]

Physio....

pchem,biochem, and another upper level class are my classes for next semester. i dont want to add genetics or physiology to this schedule. so i've decided to take those classes, but at the same time im planning to attend the genetics and physiology classes just to take notes (without registering for the class, so i dont have to worry about the exams etc). does anyone think this is a good plan?

 

[J ROD]

I think your time would be better study review books or other things than attending those lectures.....

but, if you attended them both, it would give you the extra knowledge...

I would get the credit myself in that case!! lol

 

[TurkSurg]

I think your time would be better study review books or other things than attending those lectures.....

but, if you attended them both, it would give you the extra knowledge...

I would get the credit myself in that case!! lol

Does TBR and EK bio books have plenty of info on physio. and genetics? I've had the thought of attending the classes because some people were saying TBR and EK does not have a lot of background on genetics portion on the exam. 😎

 

[J ROD]

Does TBR and EK bio books have plenty of info on physio. and genetics? I've had the thought of attending the classes because some people were saying TBR and EK does not have a lot of background on genetics portion on the exam. 😎

Ek was light...BR I really did not look over their content just passages..

TPR was pretty good.

But, I had physio though so I already knew all that stuff.

The class thing would probably give you the best knowledge but it is also really time demanding.

 

[Segovia]

I am going to be the odd man out here and say you really can't go wrong with either one. Both are tested heavily and both are useful. If I had to make a vote, I would go with genetics just because my particular test seemed to like that topic more. However, I could have just as easily been hit with a bunch of physio. How about that for a non-committal answer?

It is much easier to answer the biochem/genetics or microbiology/genetics dilemma with more confidence, but this one is a toss-up to me.

 

[TurkSurg]

Ek was light...BR I really did not look over their content just passages..

TPR was pretty good.

But, I had physio though so I already knew all that stuff.

The class thing would probably give you the best knowledge but it is also really time demanding.

Yeah it is time demanding, but hey.. I gotta do what I gotta do, right?.. :/ ..

At the moment I'm just thinking about attending both of these classes just to take notes because if I sign up for it, the exams will stress me out since I'm already taking 18 credits.

 

[frescoengano]

physiology...

 

[SN2ed]

I'd usually go with Genetics because I find that's a common weakness in prep books. It's also a somewhat frequent weakness for test takers because their genetics background isn't that strong. Conversely, prep books usually do a good job with physiology. However, in your case, physiology would probably be more helpful. Your Biochemistry class should cover a large portion of the genetics you're likely to see on the MCAT. The remaining genetics material are fairly easy topics, such as, punnet squares.

 

[J ROD]

Yeah it is time demanding, but hey.. I gotta do what I gotta do, right?.. :/ ..

At the moment I'm just thinking about attending both of these classes just to take notes because if I sign up for it, the exams will stress me out since I'm already taking 18 credits.

that's alot of classes...and extras. Make sure you are not getting in too deep.

 

[TurkSurg]

that's alot of classes...and extras. Make sure you are not getting in too deep.

Yeah but I've always taken 16-18 credits in the past 2 years so I'm used to it. I know its different for the semester during MCAT, but I'm planning to spend about 25-30hrs/week of studying for MCAT, starting 4 months before the exam date.

And of course I'm not including my research and volunteering etc.

 

[J ROD]

Yeah but I've always taken 16-18 credits in the past 2 years so I'm used to it. I know its different for the semester during MCAT, but I'm planning to spend about 25-30hrs/week of studying for MCAT, starting 4 months before the exam date.

And of course I'm not including my research and volunteering etc.

Just dont let your eyes get too big for your plate....be cautious and dont overextended yourself....

 

[mzblue]

I agree. My intro bio isn't covering physiology. Bio one was molecular/cell/genetics, bio II is more ecology, plants and organisms. i don't remember most of the bio i took as a pre-med years ago, only thing i never forgot was mitosis and meiosis. I took Anatomy and physiology back then and the only reason why i remember physiology was because i survived my nursing classes by knowing my physiology so i could deduce the pathophysiology and figure out what will happen if the organ wasn't functioninig and how to treat it. It saved me from having to memorize. I took micro during my sophomore year as a bio major and 3years after swithcing majors i don't remember a single thing, of course things come back to you when you see it again.
I say take physiology. I was looking at a practice mcat the other day and i based my judgement on physiology/pathophysiology. I'm choosing to take biochem next semester and then take genetics fall or spring 2011. If push comes to shove, you can always look at shaums genetics.

Physiology, definitely. Especially if your schools intro bio 101 and 102 classes didn't cover the body systems like mine.

Genetics went way too much into detail to be of any use for the MCAT. In Genetics at my university, we did complicated recombination and genetic mapping, etc. Also, I remember one MCAT practice exam in which my Genetics class background actually HURT me. There was a pedigree (if i remember correctly) and some info about a genetic disease. To me, it looked like the disease was Y linked. But, little did i know, the MCAT doesn't look at Y linked genes...they only look at the more basic x linked genes. The only reason I thought it was Y linked was because I had taken the genetics class at my university.