Is organic chem II really needed?

[floatingribs]

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I was looking up upper tier schools and as per requirements organic chem II seems to not be there. Just biochem in it's place.

Also I was able to compare my university's curriculum (state school) with some the private schools around me and apparently lots of universities orgo I & II just cover what we do in orgo I, so I'm assuming how people say orgo II is on the MCAT might be skewed. When I checked a couple of yrs ago everyone had 1 years of orgo but after the new MCAT there seems to be shift of biochem instead of orgo II, so is this going to be the new trend? as far as the AMCAs general pre-reqs go they still have a year of orgo listed.

I'm applying in the 2019 cycle so I don't see the need in taking orgo II if it's not going to be a requirement at the majority of schools by then, since the majority of what's covered in the class isn't even on the MCAT. Also I'm a non-trad and my semesters have been 19 credits my first semester, and course overloads since then so do you think it would also be situational as universities evaluate applicants taking biochem in place of orgo II?

 

[Gurby]

If you're applying during the 2019-2020 cycle (3 years from now) I would vote for skipping it. The trend is towards not requiring it, and by that point the few schools still requiring it probably will have changed. Also, you can always skip it for now and take it during the application cycle if you get an interview at a school that does require it.

I applied in the 2016-17 cycle and skipped OChem2... But it turned out that a bunch of my top choice schools require it so now I'm taking it this spring. I'm a little bitter that needing to take the class screwed up my pre-matriculation globetrotting plans, but doing it this way gave me more time to dedicate to MCAT study.... no ragrets.

 

[Luka75]

I was looking up upper tier schools and as per requirements organic chem II seems to not be there. Just biochem in it's place.

Not sure how true this is but even if it were, would you really want to restrict your choice solely to Upper tier schools that don't seem to require OChem II?

 

[floatingribs]

Not sure how true this is but even if it were, would you really want to restrict your choice solely to Upper tier schools that don't seem to require OChem II?

john's hopkins, harvard, actually all the ivys I'm pretty sure now and a bunch of other mid tier ones instead. Just mentioned upper tier because I wanted to know if that would indicate the general trend among the rest of the med schools in a couple of years since it's gonna be some time before I apply

 

[floatingribs]

If you're applying during the 2019-2020 cycle (3 years from now) I would vote for skipping it. The trend is towards not requiring it, and by that point the few schools still requiring it probably will have changed. Also, you can always skip it for now and take it during the application cycle if you get an interview at a school that does require it.

I applied in the 2016-17 cycle and skipped OChem2... But it turned out that a bunch of my top choice schools require it so now I'm taking it this spring. I'm a little bitter that needing to take the class screwed up my pre-matriculation globetrotting plans, but doing it this way gave me more time to dedicate to MCAT study.... no ragrets.

I didn't even think of this! I thought when they list pre reqs those are generally before applying, but having to take ochem II after acceptance (hopefully lol) when it'll be the only class to take would be optimal. Thanks for the info on this wasn't even aware this happened.

 

[Gurby]

john's hopkins, harvard, actually all the ivys I'm pretty sure now and a bunch of other mid tier ones instead. Just mentioned upper tier because I wanted to know if that would indicate the general trend among the rest of the med schools in a couple of years since it's gonna be some time before I apply

Columbia, Pitt and Mayo still require it fwiw. Not sure about other schools but I'm sure there are more. However, 3 years from now, probably nobody will be requiring it IMO.

 

[Luka75]

john's hopkins, harvard, actually all the ivys I'm pretty sure now and a bunch of other mid tier ones instead. Just mentioned upper tier because I wanted to know if that would indicate the general trend among the rest of the med schools in a couple of years since it's gonna be some time before I apply

About time, I always thought Biochem to be more relevant to medicine than Ochem II! Personally though, unless it disturbs my schedule in any meaningful way, I'd rather be safe than sorry. That said, if schools don't require it by the time you apply and you don't wanna take, don't take it.

 

[hiddencurriculum]

Near useless for the MCAT. I don't think I even opened an organic chem prep book during my studies. A lot of the Orgo (at least in my case) that I got was very fundamental in nature.

 

[Dagrimsta1]

For the MCAT, I agree that orgo 1 is enough. As a young scientist trying to enter medical school, just take the damn course... You've taken Orgo 1 and Orgo 2 is basically building on the same concepts. Orgo 2 is meant to be the start of biochem with dehydration reactions, glucose and glycolytic bonding etc. Orgo is the best science course I've ever taken and I feel like without it, I wouldn't be prepared.