How important is taking BioChem before taking the MCAT ?

[Arukas]

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I have heard that taking BioChem before the MCAT is very useful but I cant fit into my sechedule next fall before taking the April MCAT. Does anyone have any experience with taking the MCAT without BioChem and doing very well or taking the MCAT and wishing they had taken biochem ?

Thanks !

 

[OSUdoc08]

I have heard that taking BioChem before the MCAT is very useful but I cant fit into my sechedule next fall before taking the April MCAT. Does anyone have any experience with taking the MCAT without BioChem and doing very well or taking the MCAT and wishing they had taken biochem ?

Thanks !

You need the following before the MCAT:

Gen Chem
O-Chem
Bio
Physics

The following are GREATLY recommended:

Genetics
Physiology

The following will help, but are not essential:

Cell/Molecular Biology
Biochemistry

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Make sure you get genetics & phys done before you worry about biochem. They recently added more genetics in lieu of o-chem to the bio section.

 

[DrET]

I did well on the MCAT without biochem. I'd say if you can't fit it in don't worry

 

[stoic]

physiology will help you more than biochem on the mcat, hands down.

good luck,
s

 

[Medikit]

You need the following before the MCAT:

Gen Chem
O-Chem
Bio
Physics

The following are GREATLY recommended:

Genetics
Physiology

The following will help, but are not essential:

Cell/Molecular Biology
Biochemistry

------------------------------------------
Make sure you get genetics & phys done before you worry about biochem. They recently added more genetics in lieu of o-chem to the bio section.

I definitely agree with you, OSU

 

[SamDC]

I have heard that taking BioChem before the MCAT is very useful but I cant fit into my sechedule next fall before taking the April MCAT. Does anyone have any experience with taking the MCAT without BioChem and doing very well or taking the MCAT and wishing they had taken biochem ?

Thanks !

IMHO, biochem is not going to help that much. I managed an 11 (april 2004) and 12 (august 2004) on the MCATs without ever taking biochem (or genetics). I took a physiology class taught from an engineering perspective but can't really say that helped either.

I think your time would be better spent studying with some good prep material (I personally recommend EK) and really investing time to "understand" the MCAT rather than killing yourself with additional coursework for marginal gain.

Good luck!
Sam

 

[DrWorkNeverDone]

hmmm I have found Biochem a great help for my lack of knowledge from gchem....I was young, didnt pay attention, anyways,,,my professor goes through a lot about kinetics and such, which was the hardest for me,,,but now I AM THE MASTER HAHAHA

Really though, if you can take it, it is a great way to tie everything together...if you can't though, like everyone else has said, don't worry!

 

[freaker]

I can't speak to the merits of having taken biochem, but I can say that I hadn't taken any science courses for three or four years and did very well on the MCAT.

It really isn't rocket science, and you're going to have to review a lot of material, no matter which courses you take.

 

[Brain]

It's not essential. However, there was a biochemical pathway on the MCAT when I took it that I had learned in biochem so I was grateful for having had the class.

 

[DianaLynne]

Stuff as advanced as biochem will have all the information you need in the passage. Make sure all the requireds are done, then everything else is a crapshoot. I took physiology to do better on the MCAT and in the test I took there was like ONE question on it about physiology! It was a really genetics heavy administration, so you never know. I don't think you'll ever learn everything you need for the MCAT as an undergrad, besides, the test is about drawing conclusions and processing info rather than about regurgitating facts. There is some of that, but that stuff is usually in the basic requireds.

On that note, and not meaning to gloat, but THANK GOD I'm done with that test. I never have to do that again. Well, only Step I of the boards. Oh yeah, and Step II. Oh and Step III...

 

[medstylee]

Biochemistry was helpful to me, for MCAT preparation. After taking the class, I felt like I had a better grasp on a lot of the organic chemistry topics on the MCAT. Just my experience. In any case, I'd definitely recommend taking the course before medical school, at least. It will be a great help.

 

[UCLAstudent]

I didn't take biochem before the MCAT and did well. Physiology would be more helpful.

 

[mwhou]

hmmm I have found Biochem a great help for my lack of knowledge from gchem....Really though, if you can take it, it is a great way to tie everything together...if you can't though, like everyone else has said, don't worry!

I think that is the only reason any advanced classes could help - they force you to review and tie together the basics. You need to know the basic classes cold - all of the questions can be answered from this material. MAYBE there is the odd question where it seems advanced knowldege would help. But honestly mostly likely all the info necc to answer the question from basic knowlede was in the passage - and it just seemed to the test taker that an advanced class helped. At worst you could definitly score 13-14 on the sections without having taken more than the basics

 

[RangerD]

All you need are the basics, which are the prereqs. You don't need biochem or physiology. If you want to take them, great. However, if you learned what you should have from the prereq classes, you will have all you need to do well.

 

[nikibean]

So, everyone has a different MCAT, obviously. I had taken physiology, had taken a prep course, and had studied my butt off for all sections. I wasn't worried about the Bio section because I *love* organic chem, and my understanding of bio was really good- even though I'm a post-bac student, I've had a LOT of anatomy/phys, bio courses throughout my life.

My bio section had a TON of biochem-based passages. Probably 7 out of 11. Although I could glean a lot of the info from the passages to answer questions, after I took biochem this past summer, I realized how incredibly helpful the class would have been on the MCAT. Yes, I scored in the double-digits on bio anyway, but not as high as I feel I could have.

So, that being said, I think the more tools and understanding you have coming into the MCAT, the more prepared and confident you will feel.

The most important thing about the MCAT is a) don't second guess yourself and b) don't panic.
And yes, EK is great for bio prep. Make sure you have some carbohydrate chemistry behind you at least.

 

[Vandyfox]

I, personally, thought Biochem was a Must for anybody taking the MCAT. But by reading others' arguments, they make lots of good points about just "another avenue to review / tie together the same info." And physio could do the same / better, etc.

I did quite well on my M-kitty and attributed a lot of it to biochem, but more importantly-

Now, as a first year med student, I REALLY appreciate already being familiar with a lot of biochemistry aspects. Although, had I taken a physio class in U-grad, i would probably say the same thing about physio.

So, for what it's worth. There's my $0.02.
Good luck with everything and remember, unfortunately for us SDN'ers: there is no perfect formula for success on enterance to med school. So, do what you like, work as hard as you can. . . . .that's about it.

Good luck
-Vandyfox

 

[njbmd]

Hi there,
I had more than enough Biochem from the second semester of Organic Chemistry. You do not need to take a formal Biochemistry class before taking the MCAT. You DO need to be able to take your basic knowledge from your pre-med coursework and apply it to the questions on the MCAT. Having a thorough knowledge base from the four pre-med courses is more useful than taking extra coursework.

I found that I really didn't need anything above General Chemistry, General Biology, Organic Chemistry and General Physics. I was fortunate to have taken this courses at a very good university and done fairly well but I was able to read the question and answer the question that was asked.

Good luck and do plenty of practice exams like the required MCATs that are available. These are the best guage of you readiness for this exam.

njbmd 🙂