MACT and biochemistry ???

[emomd]

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Hi everyone,

For those who took the MCAT, are there any advantages by taking biochemistry in preparing for the MCAT??

 

[patzan]

yes.

There seemed to be a lot of passages that one would be able to solve with logic, but you would already know the answer if you had taken biochem. (one about hemoglobin's O2 dissociation curves comes to mind).

 

[bkmonkey]

I would definitely say that biochem was super useful. Although you probably won't be asked about some intricate pathway that's not presented in a passage, having an idea about what the passage is talking about is useful.

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

If you haven't taken Genetics, that is the highest priority. You are guaranteed to have genetics problems on the MCAT.

Next highest priority is physiology. Physiology gives you the tools you need to reason out virtually any Human Biology problem.

Then biochem. Biochem is useful in a variety of circumstances.

 

[mikeyboy]

I took biochem while studying for the MCATs and it really helped. Our final was the day before the MCAT. While maybe it was difficult at the time, we had a long question on the final on the exact same topic as one of the passages on the actual test. I never took physio or genetics, but we had some of each in biochem.

 

[Dr. N]

Hi everyone,

For those who took the MCAT, are there any advantages by taking biochemistry in preparing for the MCAT??

I took sample MCAT exam last Sat, and yes I came across many passages that required biochem and genetics background. Many questions on hemoglobin (which I studies in very detail during my biochem 1), and few problems on genetics. Also make sure you know your amino acids and to which group they belong: hydrophobic, - or + charged and so on. So yes, defenitly take Biochem.

 

[hardyharhar]

I don't know about the MACT, but I know the combination of memorization and application study skills that I learned taking biochemistry applied to preparing for the MCAT.

 

[HawkeyeBFP]

Agree with above. I didn't take biochem or genetics until the semester after the MCAT and it would have been great to have had both of them. Really understanding amino acids and the O2 dissociation curve would have saved me significant time on the test; you can figure out what they're talking about from the passage, but you have to work at it.

Still haven't taken physiology, but there's always first year. 😀

 

[emomd]

thanks guys.

did anyone take genetics over the summer?

 

[Amy B]

thanks guys.

did anyone take genetics over the summer?

I took my Genetics course before I took the MCAT and I took it in a summer session.

I would HIGHLY recommend Physiology before the MCAT!!! Also take genetics before due to more genetics and less organic on the MCATs after 2003. And cellular biology is a must.

If you can take Biochem before, great, but if you can't, don't sweat it.

 

[PublicEnemy]

I've had an extensive MACTing career. Biochem definitely helps. Though honestly, the genetics on the MCAT is quite basic. Mostly limited to Mendelian genetics, pedigree analysis, and basic population stuff. You definitely need to know that stuff, but its not hard learning the genetics you need even if you haven't taken a class in it.

On the other hand, having background in biochem and especially cell biology is huge. Understanding the dissociation curves, knowing the amino acids or even just being familiar with them, knowing what second messengers are, the roles of Ca2+, etc. gives you a huge edge on the passages. The passages are often intended for you to deduce information with some basic background info but if you already know what they're talking about, then you're set. I agree Physiology is a must too.

 

[bigbassinbob]

I think biochem would be a very useful course, but most of the topics you would have on the MCAT that relate to biochem are usually covered in other classes (like the afforementioned hemoglobin curves which are covered in physiology). Biochem is, however, an important course that ties together a lot of information you learn in earlier classes, so I think it would help your general understanding of biology.

 

[Bluemirage]

I took my Genetics course before I took the MCAT and I took it in a summer session.

I would HIGHLY recommend Physiology before the MCAT!!! Also take genetics before due to more genetics and less organic on the MCATs after 2003. And cellular biology is a must.

If you can take Biochem before, great, but if you can't, don't sweat it.

When you are referring to Physiology, is it General Physiology or Human Anatomy and Physiology? I ask this because at UTSA for some reason they do not have a Human Physiology Class (except under Allied Health Science department, which does not count towards prereqs...most schools stipulate that course need to be from Biology department). It is called General Physiology (Course Description: Fundamental properties and processes in living things). If this is not going to be useful for MCAT I will probably take Human Anatomy and Physiology at community college. Also, would a class in Microbiology be sufficient to cover the cellular material? Thanks!

 

[UseUrHeadFred]

If your Biology department offers a physiology class, it may be called "Basic Physiology", "Human Physiology" or even "Mammalian Physiology" or "Animal Physiology."
The Anatomy stuff is fun, but of limited use on the MCAT. I'd consider taking Anat and Phys anyway, as an elective, if you like that sort of stuff.

Microbiology may or may not help, I'd try several practice MCATs to see if there's anything missing.

 

[ddmo]

On the MCAT I took, cell bio/molecular bio was much more helpful than biochem. If you can read journal articles in these areas without much difficulty (it takes practice) then you will be at a definite advantage.

 

[g3pro]

Nice! By the time I take the MCAT, I'll have genetics, OC, biochem, anatomy and physiology, histology, embryology, immunology, molecular and cellular biology. I think I'm set for the biology section.