Is biochemistry considered organic chem on applications?

[calimed214]

I'm in the process of completing secondaries and noticed that some schools separate Organic Chem from Biochem... like when they ask you specifically how many hours of O. chem you've taken, they have one spot for O. chem and one for biochem...

I thought that Biochemistry lecture and lab classes were considered Organic chemistry, at least in terms of meeting prerequisites for applying to med schools? It's making me nervous now, because if Biochem doesn't count as Ochem, then I'm short 1 unit of Ochem to apply.

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[beachblonde]

I believe that to meet the pre-reqs, you must take Organic Chemistry I & II. Biochemistry doesn't count as "organic chem" because it's a very different course.

 

[calimed214]

.

 

[beachblonde]

Um...having never been to a CA school nor having ever been on a quarter system, I can't say I know either way for your situation.

But the typical sequence is 4 credits each of organic chem I and organic chem II (3 + 1 for the lab). So, 8 credits. What's the equivalent for a quarter system?

 

[calimed214]

.

 

[beachblonde]

Hmm, so it looks like you're missing a lab credit, then? But maybe not. It sounds like you took the recommend pre-med courses, so I would hope they wouldn't lead you astray and have you not fulfill the necessary requirements.

Um....I know there are UCLA students on the board. It's hardly some unknown school! They're going to be a lot more help than me. 😳

 

[calimed214]

Yeah I know, thanks for trying Beachblonde 🙂 I'm just kinda freaking out.. thought I was all set to apply and then in the middle of the U. Pitt secondary it makes you list out all the classes with the units, and I realized OH CRAP it's not adding up. 🙁 Hopefully some fellow Bruins can give me some insight?

 

[m_rivera84]

Best to ask your own career center. UC Berkeley tells us to list biochem for both o-chem and biochem. According to the career center, only one medical school is known to not accept this.

 

[amakhosidlo]

Actually, biochem can sub in for a quarter of o-chem at quite a few schools, just as microbiology or physiology can fulfill the bio requirement.

This is of course a moot point however because o-chem is usually a prerequisite for biochem. Any legitimate biochem course anyway...

 

[bigslick]

I'm from UCLA but I took the 20 series. However, I think you should be fine b/c usually schools say the requirement is "1 year of general chemistry" and "1 year of organic chemistry," and technically you do have one year's worth.

 

[Lukkie]

8 semester units = 12 quarter units

One class in a quarter system is generally equal to 4 units. Unless it's a lab class or something of that sort, then it might be worth a little less -- like 3 units. At UCLA the lab classes and the lecture classes were taken separately.

So my coursework would look like this:
Chem 14A (inorganic) -- 4 units
Chem 14B (inorganic) -- 4 units
Chem 14BL (inorganic lab) -- 3 units

Chem 14C (organic) -- 4 units
Chem 14CL (organic lab) -- 3 units
Chem 14D (organic) -- 4 units


that's 11 units each right? it's not adding up.. or do you think med schools will sort of consider all that to equal 1 year each? I freaking hate the quarter system.

i wouldnt worry about the numbers exactly. most of the premeds here do take the 14 series and its fine for med school. as someone stated above its required to take one YEAR and 3 courses is definitely 1 year worth

 

[calimed214]

Ok thanks for the reassurances guys 🙂 I'm going to call a couple places tomorrow just in case, but I feel a lot better now. Sorry for the freak out. This whole application process kind of brings out the Jekyll & Hyde in me.

 

[BrainBuff]

I am not aware of any school that accepts Biochemistry in place of the Organic Chemistry requirement. You better check with the specific schools.

 

[MaryLennox]

you seem alright . . . all you need for each prereq is eight hours "with lab." you have eleven. so you have more than enough.

Every lab I have taken has only been worth one credit, and the lecture was 3. so compared to you I have less per year (6 of lecture, 2 of lab= 8.) The magic number is 8. why are you freaking out about having 11? If it's one year it should be ok.

and it looks like you DO have all the ochem credits you need, but in case anyone else was wondering, there are lots of schools that will accept biochem in place of the second semester of ochem. that's what i am counting on, since i have taken bchem already but not ochem and i dont want to waste more time. so i will just apply at whichever schools let me do that (its usually somewhere in the fine print, but not all schools do it, so it's prob not a good idea to go this route on purpose.)

 

[calimed214]

you seem alright . . . all you need for each prereq is eight hours "with lab." you have eleven. so you have more than enough.

Every lab I have taken has only been worth one credit, and the lecture was 3. so compared to you I have less per year (6 of lecture, 2 of lab= 8.) The magic number is 8. why are you freaking out about having 11? If it's one year it should be ok.

Because you're referring to 8 SEMESTER hours. the 11 hours I have are QUARTER hours. Generally 8 semester hours = 12 quarter hours... hence my dilemma.

But no worries, will make a few phone calls today and get it straightened out 🙂

 

[MaryLennox]

i just thought that quarters were the same as 'block scheduling' in which the amount of material is the same, just in a shorter time. thus making credits/units/ what have you equal regardless of how long it took. (like how 3 credits in the summer is the same as 3 credits in the fall even though it was 6 weeks vs. 16.) the material covered is the same.

anyway, i doubt they would create a system with a flaw that would screw you over like that.

 

[capn jazz]

If you have taken an autumn, winter, spring Gen Chem and an autumn, winter, spring OChem, you're fine.

 

[iA-MD2013]

Best to ask your own career center. UC Berkeley tells us to list biochem for both o-chem and biochem. According to the career center, only one medical school is known to not accept this.

yeah...which school is that? I'm not mcb, so i never took 102. their stupid system screwed me over a little 😛

 

[m_rivera84]

yeah...which school is that? I'm not mcb, so i never took 102. their stupid system screwed me over a little 😛

not sure... but if i had to hazard a guess, i'd say something like a texas school.

 

[Raryn]

i just thought that quarters were the same as 'block scheduling' in which the amount of material is the same, just in a shorter time. thus making credits/units/ what have you equal regardless of how long it took. (like how 3 credits in the summer is the same as 3 credits in the fall even though it was 6 weeks vs. 16.) the material covered is the same.

anyway, i doubt they would create a system with a flaw that would screw you over like that.

Nope, quarters go at the same pace as semesters, just cover less material. 3 quarters worth of material=2 semesters... Pretty much, the "faster pace" is just a result of the middle of the term coming that much faster, so you get tests more often.

 

[capn jazz]

Nope, quarters go at the same pace as semesters, just cover less material. 3 quarters worth of material=2 semesters... Pretty much, the "faster pace" is just a result of the middle of the term coming that much faster, so you get tests more often.

for year-long classes that's true, but for semester-long classes (like biochem, or intro to psych, etc), you learn the same amount, but it's condensed into 10 weeks instead of 15, which makes it harder.