How useful is a biochem elective?

[yasha83]

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Would anybody be so kind as to tell me what they think about this. Having been accepted to one school, and waiting on two others that are in my top 3 to make a decision, I have researched their pre-reqs. Biochem is not one of them so I do not need to take that class. I previously planned to take it since one of the schools I had then seriously considered required it. Now that that school is out of the picture, I no longer need it. Will an intro to Biochem in college really help me out when I take it in Med school? I'm considering not taking it, to allow myself some breathing room, in my last collegiate semester (since this class is one of the most challenging classes at my university) so as not to be too burned out prior to matriculation. Mainly, would someone shed some light as to their own personal experience with biochem in college and/or med school? Will the effort be worth it when I take it in med school? or is the difference between the two so large that a collegiate class isn't much preparation for med-school Biochem?

 

[pem8erly]

The best thing to do is ask current students at the schools that you are possibly going to attend. See what the different students with and without biochem background say about the biochemistry program at their school. Some schools teach from the basics up, while others may assume that you have some general knowledge and go from there.

 

[MikeyLu2010]

I would take it..but not try too hard.getting a C is ok..since you have an acceptance in hand..Im a biochem major..and can tell you that biochem is friggin hard..which is why it would benefit you to be exposed slightly to the material even though med school biochem is different than undergrad biochem ..there are pathways that are universal..krebbs, glycolysis, etc..therefore my advice is to take the class..and dont strive for an A..or even B...go for the C so you can at least see the material before you have to relearn it in med school

 

[Unsui]

I'm gonna go against the grain here and tell you that you most certainly won't need it.
1) An undergrad biochem class is just like many other undergrad classes--all of the info you would have learned will be covered in the first or second class period once you're in med school.
2) You'll have likely forgotten plenty of it anyway since it's mostly small details. Most importantly,
3) the medical biochem you'll be getting next year is focused on metabolism and the clinical implications of defects in such processes (certain enzyme deficiencies, diabetes, etc.), while an intro biochem class, at least mine anyway, will mainly be kinetics/protein folding, and other boring topics that you can pick up on the fly. Just grab a Lippincott Illustrated Reviews: Biochem and you'll be good to go.

Where I'm coming from: I attend UNECOM, where biochem is required. What little I did remember from that undergrad biochem class was of not much help to me. I got the Lippincott, leaned on that, and I'm doing great.

Good luck, and way to go on those acceptances! 🙂

 

[HunterGatherer]

I'm gonna go against the grain here and tell you that you most certainly won't need it.
1) An undergrad biochem class is just like many other undergrad classes--all of the info you would have learned will be covered in the first or second class period once you're in med school.
2) You'll have likely forgotten plenty of it anyway since it's mostly small details. Most importantly,
3) the medical biochem you'll be getting next year is focused on metabolism and the clinical implications of defects in such processes (certain enzyme deficiencies, diabetes, etc.), while an intro biochem class, at least mine anyway, will mainly be kinetics/protein folding, and other boring topics that you can pick up on the fly. Just grab a Lippincott Illustrated Reviews: Biochem and you'll be good to go.

Where I'm coming from: I attend UNECOM, where biochem is required. What little I did remember from that undergrad biochem class was of not much help to me. I got the Lippincott, leaned on that, and I'm doing great.

Good luck, and way to go on those acceptances! 🙂

Not sure how useful biochem is in med school but I have a copy of lippincott's review and in our first semester we covered about half the book. In this semester I feel confident that lippincott's will be easy to digest come 1st year. One less class to stress about.

I'm a biochem major so have no choice. I'm not sure I would suggest others to go out of their way to take this class as this poster stated there are topics on here not needed for med school biochem and the detail it goes into for each step in a particular cycle may not be needed(basically 1/3 of biochem I)

Very important: aim for an A on the first couple of exams.I don't want to see you posting about what will happen if you get a D in biochem. 🙂

MikeyP00 how did Pchem go? Somehow I got a B. 🙂 👍

 

[packerfan]

I am taking biochem 2 audit on advice of the biochem 1 teacher who also teaches MS1 biochem. She said the really pertinent material is covered in the second class.Having some understanding of the processes is better than none. That being said the class is taught by a professor who is a researcher and new to teaching so it is very challenging even overly difficult hence the auditing of the class.

 

[dcratamt]

.........about as useful as tits on a bull.

 

[yasha83]

.........about as useful as tits on a bull.

thanks for the input guys, you have all given me some things to mull over before classes start on monday...if I do take it will be hard to aim for a C, I have this switch that I only goes ON/OFF when I study so I would try to do well anyways. This has been a big help!

 

[raptor5]

If it interests you take it, if not take something that does interest you. You will get all the Biochem you need in med school w/o the BS (ie w/o having to know structures). I would have taken it in undergrad if it were not for the lab. I think I took two Economics electives instead.

Raptor5
PCOM 2008