Help ! Can I survive the Bio Sec on the MCAT with only taking Biochem classes ?

[Pressure6]

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I am a Chem major who has also taken four biochem classes but have only taken Intro Bio I and Genetics in the biology department. Has anyone else taken the MCAT without taking many bio classes ?

I have taken the following biochem classes:

Intro Biochem: the usual crap
Biochem of proteins
Metabolism
A class that presented Cell Bio in the usual anal biochemical way

I would really like to hear from anyone who has taken the MCAT without taking many bio classes. I would also like to hear from anyone who has taken the MCAT after taking a bunch of biochem classes. Did you think the biochem classes helped much ? Did they compensate for the deficit of biology classes ?

 

[OddNath]

Just go over the intro bio/genetics/anatomy stuff you'd find in an MCAT prep book, it's all stuff you could learn fairly quickly. I'm guessing you have AP credit for intro bio?

 

[OddNath]

Oh sorry I wasn't reading very carefully. Isn't Intro Bio 2 also a pre-med requirement? You might as well take it before the MCAT, just as a refresher.

I took the MCAT with AP bio from the days of yore and cell bio. So I had to review the bio a bunch, but it's wasn't conceptually impossible or anything. Yeah, just do the reading and you'll be fine~

 

[SailCrazy]

I'm assuming that you've had organic, which is ~35% of the biological sciences section. Bio I & Genetics definitely get you most of the rest of the way there. Physiology would be the only other class that might be recommended, but you can definitely get all that you need from thorough review/studying. Do that and you're fine.

I'd say go for it, and don't sweat not having Physiology. Many people take the MCAT and do quite well without it.

I am a Chem major who has also taken four biochem classes but have only taken Intro Bio I and Genetics in the biology department. Has anyone else taken the MCAT without taking many bio classes ?

I have taken the following biochem classes:

Intro Biochem: the usual crap
Biochem of proteins
Metabolism
A class that presented Cell Bio in the usual anal biochemical way

I would really like to hear from anyone who has taken the MCAT without taking many bio classes. I would also like to hear from anyone who has taken the MCAT after taking a bunch of biochem classes. Did you think the biochem classes helped much ? Did they compensate for the deficit of biology classes ?

 

[uspostal]

Dude, I was a bio major and that was the worst I did in. You probably study harder because you feel ill prepared. Do your genetics, physiology, micro and that bio chem stuff and you will be straight. Physio and genetics fo sho!

 

[jc11011]

I'm assuming that you've had organic, which is ~35% of the biological sciences section.

Organic is actually about 25% of the bio section. I would recommend that you study a lot of mammalian physiology (endocrinology - FLATPIG for the anterior pituitary hormones, etc. - and other stuff like the circulatory system, respiratory system, renal, etc.), because in some test forms it can easily comprise more than 30% of the exam. Good luck.

 

[Centinel]

I'm a biochem major and (in terms of MCAT bio-related material) took only biochem, genetics, and microbio before taking the MCAT. It's juuuust fine to do that. A thorough, year-long biochem course will give you enough knowledge (especially if coupled with AP bio) to get 12+ on the bio section.

 

[SailCrazy]

Organic is actually about 25% of the bio section.

I don't remember what the stated target percentage is, but if you're going to suggest a percentage "give or take," 25% is not the number to use. I haven't heard of anyone who had less than 25% of their BS section be organic, and I've heard of some people who were approaching 50%. To say "~35%" effectively encompasses both possibilities. To say "about 25%" IMO gives the (improper) impression that organic will not approach 40-50% of your biological sciences section, or could even be less than 25%. From what I've heard, thats is definitely not the case.

I don't mean to split hairs, but since you called me out on my number I thought I'd take the time to explain why I think I'm right and you're wrong... 😀 (Just kidding on that last part - in case my humor was lost in the translation.)

 

[Apid8]

I only took a year of intro bio and did ok on the BS section. You're worrying too much!

 

[tinkerbelle]

I was an engineer so I didn't take many bio classes. I think as long as you've taken orgo, you'll be fine. The bio is easy enough to learn.

 

[SuzieQ3417]

I had only taken 3 bio classes before I took the MCAT: intro to bio, genetics, and cell bio. I did fine, although I think I would have done better with a biochem class under my belt beforehand. Still, no complaints. Just look over some physiology, like others have mentioned, and you should be fine.