How important is Biochem for the MCAT?

[stressedoutstud]

Spring enrollment is approaching and I am contemplating wether or not I should take Biochemistry this year or my senior year. I will be enrolled in 13 hrs worth of other upper level science classes and taking the Kaplan course for the MCAT prep, which is also 6 hrs a week. If I take Biochem, I will have 16 hrs, and all will take a lot of work to get the grade that I want. Will taking Biochem this spring help with my MCAT prep, or should I just wait until next year. This is definately a class that I want to take before Med School. Also, this is my last semester before applying to schools, how much will it help my chances if I were to get all A's in 16 hrs of upper level scince classes?

Thanks for your help...

3.6 GPA
3.9 Science GPA

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[foreverLaur]

If you can take it and still get good grades and put ample time into studying for the MCAT - go for it. It will help.

If you cannot, don't take it. It won't hurt you. Plenty of people have done extremely well on the MCAT without having biochem.

 

[Concubine]

Spring enrollment is approaching and I am contemplating wether or not I should take Biochemistry this year or my senior year. I will be enrolled in 13 hrs worth of other upper level science classes and taking the Kaplan course for the MCAT prep, which is also 6 hrs a week. If I take Biochem, I will have 16 hrs, and all will take a lot of work to get the grade that I want. Will taking Biochem this spring help with my MCAT prep, or should I just wait until next year. This is definately a class that I want to take before Med School. Also, this is my last semester before applying to schools, how much will it help my chances if I were to get all A's in 16 hrs of upper level scince classes?

Thanks for your help...

3.6 GPA
3.9 Science GPA

My biochemistry background was lacking when I took the MCAT. The first time, I got a 25. I took it again 2 months later and got a 29. I have no doubt, that with additional studying I could get at least the same increase again. In other words, the MCAT is an entirely different animal than just memorization. If you study long enough, have the basic science background, then learn how the MCAT questions are structured (a lot of the time the correct answer can be derrived without knowing that much!), you can do well.

 

[drizzt3117]

Biochem is sort of important for the MCAT, at least understanding the biochemical concepts. A lot of that stuff is taught to you in intro bio, though, and you don't need to know it in great detail or at a very high level but many of the concepts are going to be on the best. I didn't take biochem before I took the MCAT and did OK but it definitely wouldn't hurt.

 

[hereIcome]

I found that Genetics was ALL OVER my MCAT. And I was well-prepared having just come from a Genetics course that Spring. Biochem was a prereq for Genetics at my school, so that's the only reason it was worth it for me. I think in general the concepts in Biochemistry are too advanced for the MCAT. At least that was my experience.

 

[drizzt3117]

I found that Genetics was ALL OVER my MCAT. And I was well-prepared having just come from a Genetics course that Spring. Biochem was a prereq for Genetics at my school, so that's the only reason it was worth it for me.

Yes, there is a lot of genetics on the MCAT now and a lot less O Chem.

I think in general the concepts in Biochemistry are too advanced for the MCAT. At least that was my experience.

I'm not sure I'd agree with this...

Glycolysis
Krebs Cycle
B Oxidation
Protein Synthesis/Breakdown
Fermentation
Gibbs Free Energy, Entropy
Amino Acid function
Protein structure
Gluconeogenesis
Oxidative Phosphorylation
The role of bicarbonate
Hemoglobin and changes in oxygen affinity

Those are all biochem concepts that could be covered on the MCAT just off the top of my head. I had two passages from this laundry list on my test.

 

[KeyzerSoze]

Yes, there is a lot of genetics on the MCAT now and a lot less O Chem.



I'm not sure I'd agree with this...

Glycolysis
Krebs Cycle
B Oxidation
Protein Synthesis/Breakdown
Fermentation
Gibbs Free Energy, Entropy
Amino Acid function
Protein structure
Gluconeogenesis
Oxidative Phosphorylation
The role of bicarbonate
Hemoglobin and changes in oxygen affinity

Those are all biochem concepts that could be covered on the MCAT just off the top of my head. I had two passages from this laundry list on my test.

Actually, many of those are basic biology or chemistry topics.

 

[drizzt3117]

Actually, many of those are basic biology or chemistry topics.

As I mentioned before, many of them are covered in intro bio and other courses, but most of them fall under the purview of biochemistry.

 

[FurmanJon]

The only OChem I saw on the MCAT in the BS was really Biochem--but of course this was just one administration, and they can throw anything at you. Like someone else said, if it fits in your schedule and you can continue your normal study/review, then by all means, do it.

 

[Inuranic]

Two courses I wish I had taken for the MCAT:

Genetics
Biochem

I would recommend it if you can manage it. If you have a professor who knows they're stuff, it's not exactly a cake-walk.

 

[gobears2007]

Two courses I wish I had taken for the MCAT:

Genetics
Biochem

same here. i can't even begin to explain how frustrating it was to walk out of those two classes every day and think to myself "damn, that was on my MCAT".

while these topics are covered in intro bio, i did really poorly in that class (ignorant and naive sophomore that i was). biochem and genetics can really cover your ass if you missed the point the first time around.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

Physiology would be much more helpful than Biochem for the MCAT -- at least the MCAT I sat for.

 

[hereIcome]

Yeah, I guess I just had those topics in my Biology classes. My Biochem was SO detailed that it was hard for me to see the concepts themselves the way I could in Bio II. But I guess you guys are right that it is important.

 

[brsboarder]

I would tend to disagree with most people on this topic. I believe that the biochem and genetics on the mcat can be learned in under 3 days. A biochem class goes into so much detail that might just mix you up. Honestly, every topic on the MCAT is easy to learn its just that there are so many topics to learn

 

[se2131]

If you're confident in your intro bio background, then I wouldn't bother. Usually on the MCAT, you only need an intro level coming in, and the rest of the material is given to you in the passages. But if you feel like you didn't understand the intro bio concepts very well, then consider taking biochem (but if this is the case, then you may not do well in the class...)

 

[dally1025]

It's all luck of the draw as to what you'll be tested on but I'm very glad I took biochem. My PS section went up 5 points after taking it. Although I did well in gen chem I never fully understood the basics until biochem (such as pH, pKa, etc). If you've got time than I would go for it.

 

[TheRealMD]

The more important fact that people are overlooking is that less hours are almost always better when preparing for the MCAT. Plus, I'd say that biochem isn't THAT necessary for the MCAT. However, my genetics class definitely helped (because everything relates back to genetics in some way or another).

 

[brsboarder]

I tend to agree with SE2131. I took 1 into bio class at a community college in 11th grade and never took one after that. I struggled with the bio in general because my basic bio wasn't developed. However, I do have a good understanding of biochem/molecular bio and thought that it didn't help me too much

 

[bsax007]

Physiology would be much more helpful than Biochem for the MCAT -- at least the MCAT I sat for.

Amen to that.

As mentioned earlier, most of the biochem on the MCAT was just basic chemistry or bio in disguise. Know the basics well and have an ability to apply the concepts you know. Your time is better taking practice tests.

 

[thoffen]

Physiology would be much more helpful than Biochem for the MCAT -- at least the MCAT I sat for.

Absolutely my experience, too. I haven't taken biochem, so take my experience FWIW. Anything I saw that was biochem I had studied for with examkrackers.

 

[63768]

having biochem under my belt raised my MCAT score by 6 pts. i'm thinking it was because it got me to think in a more scientifically-critical way.

 

[tdkneo]

Spring enrollment is approaching and I am contemplating wether or not I should take Biochemistry this year or my senior year. I will be enrolled in 13 hrs worth of other upper level science classes and taking the Kaplan course for the MCAT prep, which is also 6 hrs a week. If I take Biochem, I will have 16 hrs, and all will take a lot of work to get the grade that I want. Will taking Biochem this spring help with my MCAT prep, or should I just wait until next year. This is definately a class that I want to take before Med School. Also, this is my last semester before applying to schools, how much will it help my chances if I were to get all A's in 16 hrs of upper level scince classes?

Thanks for your help...

3.6 GPA
3.9 Science GPA

it's not a must but it helps.......

 

[Adradr]

I hadn't taken Biochem when I took the MCAT, and I didn't miss it. You can take the course now, or you can read the chapter in your MCAT book that covers the basics that you need to know and take the course when you have more time. I chose the second option, and I've been pleased with how it's worked out...

Any reputable test prep company (Kaplan, TPR, etc.) will fill you in on the basics of all of the "advanced" subjects (Genetics, Immunology, etc.) that you need to know. The level of detail of an upper-level Bio course in each simply isn't necessary.

Best of to you!

 

[SigurRos]

I didn't take biochem before the mcat, but am taking it now as a senior. I am finding in hindsight that even still, biochem woudl not have helped that much. It is far too much in detail to be useful for the MCAT.

I got a 13 in BS, so take it however you want to

 

[tiburones]

personally i hated biochem with a passion, but i will have to admit that when it came to studying for the mcat (with my kaplan books) i think it was definitely an advantage to have that background (even though i hadn't done particularly well in the class, at least i had seen the material before and was somewhat familiar with it). i think on the actual mcat it's luck of the draw, my mcat was much more systems based (THANK GOD) but my friend's, who took it the same day as me, had 3 biochem/molec bio passages (ewww....)

 

[ADeadLois]

There are many different opinions, but I'm in the camp that taking a course simply to help you with a specific topic on the MCAT is a waste of time. The MCAT rarely goes beyond the curriculum of your basic science pre-reqs. While taking courses like Biochem and Genetics will certainly help, as it supplants some of the topics, but it's not an efficient use of your time. Take the time you would spend taking Biochem and take practice tests. This will improve your score, and is a much more efficient method of studying.

 

[WiscDoc]

biochem is much more helpful for med school than it is for the MCAT. If you are worried about not doing so hot in it, take it your senior year after applying (just for the knowledge).

 

[enigma85]

Basically, don't take it if either your Biochem grade or your MCAT score will suffer due to time constraints

I learned all the biochem I needed for the MCAT from my review course material. At least at my college, Biochem went into WAY more depth than necessary for the MCAT. It would be more beneficial to take Genetics or Physiology, if you have not taken those courses.

 

[paranoid_eyes]

Actually, many of those are basic biology or chemistry topics.

i was about to say, it really depends on how your Bio I/II classes are structured. some people have really intense bio classes that go into horrifying details on those topics

 

[milliya]

great! i'm already overly-familiar with half the topics discussed here!

 

[brianmartin]

How important is Biochem for the MCAT?

Not very.

 

[nka1985]

biochem is much more helpful for med school than it is for the MCAT. If you are worried about not doing so hot in it, take it your senior year after applying (just for the knowledge).

Definitely take it before med school if you don't take it before the MCAT. The people who didn't take it are really regretting it right now since they expect you to know EVERY enzyme and intermediate in TCA, glycolysis, beta ox of fatty acids, cholesterol biosynthesis, amino acid synthesis and degradation...just to mention a few. I took it in undergrad, and it's helped me keep my sanity as we finish up biochem this week. Also, genetics is BIG in med school, so take at least one good genetics course some time during undergrad.