If you had only one choice

[Samus Aran]

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between biochemistry, physiology and genetics to help prepare you for the MCAT, which one would you choose? I did a search for classes that help people out on the MCAT and these are the ones that most people seemed to find the most helpful. My problem is, this upcoming year will be my last and it looks like I will have to take 18 and 15 semester hours next fall and spring, respectively, to be eligible to graduate next May, leaving me with room to take one (MAYBE 2) extra class. These last 33 hours are mainly common curriculum courses, so I'm not too concerned with overloading on the hours, but I really want to prepare myself the best I can (aside from practice tests, etc.) for the MCAT.

So for those of you who have taken the MCAT, which of these 3 courses did you find was most beneficial (if any)?

 

[idq1i]

Toss-up between biochem and physio. They are both very integrative. Both will help you equally. I'd throw cell bio into the mix, if it's available

 

[BigRedPingpong]

Physiology,

On the last MCAT (aug 03) there were at leas 3 passages dedicated only to physio. I believe there was one on biochem, and only part of a passage on genetics.

 

[hamhamfan]

Originally posted by Misty504
between biochemistry, physiology and genetics to help prepare you for the MCAT, which one would you choose? I did a search for classes that help people out on the MCAT and these are the ones that most people seemed to find the most helpful. My problem is, this upcoming year will be my last and it looks like I will have to take 18 and 15 semester hours next fall and spring, respectively, to be eligible to graduate next May, leaving me with room to take one (MAYBE 2) extra class. These last 33 hours are mainly common curriculum courses, so I'm not too concerned with overloading on the hours, but I really want to prepare myself the best I can (aside from practice tests, etc.) for the MCAT.

So for those of you who have taken the MCAT, which of these 3 courses did you find was most beneficial (if any)?

I'd say physiology. I took it at the community college, even though I wouldn't get credit for it, just for the MCAT. Biochem would also help....there normally isnt much genetics on the MCAt.

 

[TRUE]

biochemistry is really not covered on the MCAT. Physio definately is.

 

[hamhamfan]

Originally posted by facted
biochemistry is really not covered on the MCAT. Physio definately is.

Eh there were occasionally questions on proteins. Maybe you learned that stuff in another class.

 

[TRUE]

Originally posted by hamhamfan
Eh there were occasionally questions on proteins. Maybe you learned that stuff in another class.

Perhaps...but the amount of physio on there is >>> than the biochem.

 

[klooless]

I never took physio. But I took a year of biochem and, thus, felt very prepared...

 

[ChiaPet312]

i think physio is definetly worth taking. it's really good review for the biological section of the mcat.

 

[jbish]

I took all three and I think physio would be the best if you haven't taken an organismal bio class. Biochem would be good if it's been awhile since you did Gchem as it's really just gchem + proteins. As for helping w/ med school classes, I think both are helping me about the same so really I'd choose whichever you feel you are weaker in (gchem or bio) and go with that one.

 

[ndi_amaka]

Genetics. I know that the MCAT peeps made an announcement that future exams will have less orgo and more genetics. I took the Aug. MCAT and I didn't see it. There was just as much orgo and it was hard. Bt just to cover your bases, I'd make sure my genetics was solid.

 

[Mr. Rosewater]

I disagree strongly w/ everyone here. I do not think you should take any of those classes if your sole aim is to improve on the mcat. I took the mcat w/ taking one sci. class more than what's required and i got a 12 and an 11 in the sciences. What I would reccomend is that you take ALL that time that you'de be studying/going to class etc. for one of those classes, and invest that in EXTRA mcat review. I really don't think you can overdo the studying at this point (you're shooting for the april mcat, i imagine).

 

[hamhamfan]

Originally posted by Mr. Rosewater
I disagree strongly w/ everyone here. I do not think you should take any of those classes if your sole aim is to improve on the mcat. I took the mcat w/ taking one sci. class more than what's required and i got a 12 and an 11 in the sciences. What I would reccomend is that you take ALL that time that you'de be studying/going to class etc. for one of those classes, and invest that in EXTRA mcat review. I really don't think you can overdo the studying at this point (you're shooting for the april mcat, i imagine).

For the bio section at least, the ideal is to take a whole ton of biology classes. Then study/review like crazy before the MCAT. Once you've improved up to the 11's and 12's on the MCATs, going up to 13's and 14's is much more difficult. I think that taking classes does make the difference, because the prep classes don't have all the material (at least not directly) that is on the MCAT.

 

[UCLAstudent]

Genetics.

 

[Tiki]

I had tons of Genetics questions on the August MCAT.

So I would go with Genetics, but any of the three would be helpful.

 

[hamhamfan]

Originally posted by Tiki
I had tons of Genetics questions on the August MCAT.

So I would go with Genetics, but any of the three would be helpful.

Whoa. We must have had two really different forms. I came out of the MCAT disappointed that all my genetics cramming wasn't put to use. Any genetics on my form was probably really light (I have yet to take genetics and it's my junior year already).

 

[jlee9531]

i only took biochem and advanced ochem...it helps with the familiarity of the passage and gives you a confidence boost obviously but not really necessary to take any of these classes.

wants to test your basic science knowledge.
the basic 1 year bio, physics, gen chem and ochem should cover everything that will be on the test.

the genetics should be covered in your bio year so nothing too much to worry about.

but obviously all of us have taken the mcat and different versions of it so you should still take everyone else's advice into consideration as well. i can only give you my experience.

 

[ek6]

Biochem or genetics

 

[Nike]

Take physiology. I'm a chemistry major and never took genetics. I did have some genetics questions on it, but nothing that was harder than what you would have learned in a basic bio class, and I still got a 13 in bio. Although I took biochemistry, I didn't feel like I used any of it on the test. Best of luck!!

 

[DD214_DOC]

None of them, because you're only tested on the two intro-level biology courses. Save your time and money.

 

[kito]

Originally posted by Misty504
between biochemistry, physiology and genetics to help prepare you for the MCAT

None off the above. Choose wine tasting, it'll help take the edge off.

 

[Optimist]

Originally posted by jlee9531
the genetics should be covered in your bio year so nothing too much to worry about.

Despite this, I really think genetics will help a lot. Unless you're weak at o-chem, in which case biochem will probably reinforce your abilities in that area, especially understanding reaction mechanisms, etc.

 

[IrishOarsman]

A writing intensive philosophy course. You'll do fine on BioSci. Real points are made/lost in verbal.

 

[hamhamfan]

Originally posted by IrishOarsman
A writing intensive philosophy course. You'll do fine on BioSci. Real points are made/lost in verbal.

That seems like a pretty hard class to take considering his schedule.

 

[exmike]

Originally posted by JKDMed
None of them, because you're only tested on the two intro-level biology courses. Save your time and money.

you're wrong.

 

[chameleonknight]

Originally posted by exmike
you're wrong.

Well, he would be wrong if you take it at face value; if you MEMORIZE your intro bio text and are able to confidently manipulate the material within, I think you could get a 10-11 on the bio section. The concepts are still the same, but the material will be all new to you.

However, taking upper level bio (I agree with the physio rec, but last april had a good bit of cellular bio as well) will most assuredly prepare you for analyzing difficult biological info.

remember, adcoms look at how much upper level bio you've had and how well you did in it. An "A" in genetics will look very nice; don't some schools recommend that you take a genetics, embryology, or molecular/cellular bio class?

 

[care bear]

physio!!!

 

[LauraMac]

physiology