MCAT & Genetics

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WhittyPsyche

WhittyPsyche

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Forgive me if this is a dumb question.

How important is a Genetic course in terms of taking the MCAT. My two majors will take a different Biology track that leads to Micro and Physio, but Genetics requires a separate prerequisite track, so I will have to start over at 100 level in order to do it.
 
Some people say it's beneficial, but I didn't take it and didn't feel like I needed it. The basic genetics you get in general bio + content review should be enough for the MCAT. My personal recommendation is human physiology and biochem.
 
I found it helpful to have, but it is fairly easy stuff that could be self taught no problem.
 
I'm pursuing a PHNB major so human and general mammalian is covered. I was hoping I could take Biochem my senior year though,..hoping.. because I'll have so many neurosci and neurobio labs at once with all the other sciences I thought it would be impossible to do before the test.
Is it a must?
 
WhittyPsyche said:
I'm pursuing a PHNB major so human and general mammalian is covered. I was hoping I could take Biochem my senior year though,..hoping.. because I'll have so many neurosci and neurobio labs at once with all the other sciences I thought it would be impossible to do before the test.
Is it a must?
Click to expand...

No, it's not a must. I just took biochem the same semester I was studying for the MCAT and I found it beneficial because the cycles and random things were still fresh in my mind. But no, don't feel pressured to take it before the test.
 
just do some basic population genetics and you're set. good luck!
 
I take it in a few days and genetics has been hugely helpful in prep. If you are not strong, I'd say take the course (although your curriculum sounds weird... you honestly can't just take a genetics course as a bio major?). Maybe you can cover everything in a day if your general bio course was really solid, but if not, there is a fair bit of stuff you have to know.
 
slz1900 said:
I take it in a few days and genetics has been hugely helpful in prep. If you are not strong, I'd say take the course (although your curriculum sounds weird... you honestly can't just take a genetics course as a bio major?). Maybe you can cover everything in a day if your general bio course was really solid, but if not, there is a fair bit of stuff you have to know.
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I am pursuing a double major, psych and PHNB the psych is a BS with a concentration in neuroscience. obviously know what the PHNB focus is. Between the two I have a crapload of courses to take with labs. The way my school offers genetics is in 300 level, and there are two prereqs before it, none of which I would have already taken for either major or pre med reqs, meaning I have to take a separate bio sequence to lead to genetics. I simply do not have the room for three more classes, tbh.

I am sure I would have covered genetics significantly through the PHNB track, but premed list recommends I take the actual genetics course, I am assuming it is going by the general bio major
 
WhittyPsyche said:
I am sure I would have covered genetics significantly through the PHNB track, but premed list recommends I take the actual genetics course, I am assuming it is going by the general bio major
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My undergrad made this same recommendation, and it's totally overkill. The only knowledge that wasn't in gen bio with respect to genetics was more of the molecular stuff. Those topics are pretty simple, though, so in a worst case scenario you could just learn them using whatever prep sources you end up using.
 
Ismet said:
Some people say it's beneficial, but I didn't take it and didn't feel like I needed it. The basic genetics you get in general bio + content review should be enough for the MCAT. My personal recommendation is human physiology and biochem.
Click to expand...

Ismet said:
No, it's not a must. I just took biochem the same semester I was studying for the MCAT and I found it beneficial because the cycles and random things were still fresh in my mind. But no, don't feel pressured to take it before the test.
Click to expand...

I personally didn't find biochem that helpful.

NickNaylor said:
My undergrad made this same recommendation, and it's totally overkill. The only knowledge that wasn't in gen bio with respect to genetics was more of the molecular stuff. Those topics are pretty simple, though, so in a worst case scenario you could just learn them using whatever prep sources you end up using.
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Pretty much. My test had an overwhelming amount of genetics in it but I still found the genetics prep from the books to be more than sufficient. Physio and Cell are the two big classes, the rest can be nice but is probably 90-95% stuff that won't be useful for a test like the MCAT.
 
WhittyPsyche said:
Forgive me if this is a dumb question.

How important is a Genetic course in terms of taking the MCAT. My two majors will take a different Biology track that leads to Micro and Physio, but Genetics requires a separate prerequisite track, so I will have to start over at 100 level in order to do it.
Click to expand...

you probably don't need it at all. I majored in genetics and I never saw anything other than the most simple concepts on my MCAT. I never saw anything unusual and no non-mendelian patterns.
 
The classes that I've found to be most helpful for MCAT material have been: Biochemistry, Human Physiology, and Generics. Probably in that order. The genetics on the MCAT is pretty simple, and mostly covered in Intro Biology.
 
Is it more worth my time to take a molecular genetics class or not take it and just use the time to study for the MCAT (the class would be during the semester that I am planning on taking the MCAT)?
 
cerno said:
Is it more worth my time to take a molecular genetics class or not take it and just use the time to study for the MCAT (the class would be during the semester that I am planning on taking the MCAT)?
Click to expand...

I took a genetics course because it was "recommended" to us and it was pretty much a complete waste of time. The enjoyable component was the lab because Drosophila are kinda fun.

I wouldn't take it unless you have an interest in it. It is absolutely unnecessary for the MCAT.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717
 
On my version of the test, there were multiple passages where experience reading genetics research papers was very helpful. I wouldn't have gotten that experience from self-study or the concepts and terminology alone. I attribute my 14 on that section to the fact that genetics, biochem, and ochem were all fresh in my mind (took MCAT in March of the semester I took all those courses). From what everyone else said here about their tests, though, it sounds like it's unlikely you'll find genetics as absolutely useful for your test as I did. Luck favors the prepared, but I'd rather be lucky than prepared.
 
Sounds like some mix reviews.. I will have biochem and ocher that semester though so I'll hopefully have the same experience in that aspect. Maybe I'll try to take Genetics in the winter or summer prior to be safe, but I know for sure cannot fit in all three courses within the coming semesters.
 
Resurrecting thread to ask a question. Here, it seems that people agree that genetics is helpful in studying for the MCAT, but not so helpful that everyone would recommend it. I was going to take cell biology in the spring, but my schedule ended up making me register for human genetics. On the course description, it seems to be a class all about genetic diseases and the tools used to diagnose and treat them. Do y'all think this would give me a good background that will help me study for the MCAT? Thanks!
 
BrainsIsCool said:
Resurrecting thread to ask a question. Here, it seems that people agree that genetics is helpful in studying for the MCAT, but not so helpful that everyone would recommend it. I was going to take cell biology in the spring, but my schedule ended up making me register for human genetics. On the course description, it seems to be a class all about genetic diseases and the tools used to diagnose and treat them. Do y'all think this would give me a good background that will help me study for the MCAT? Thanks!
Click to expand...

Not really. The genetics you need to know is already mentioned in prep books quite well.
 
cerno said:
Is it more worth my time to take a molecular genetics class or not take it and just use the time to study for the MCAT (the class would be during the semester that I am planning on taking the MCAT)?
Click to expand...

Did you end up taking it AND studying for the MCAT or decide on just MCAT studying? I'm in the same little predicament with my sole reasoning for taking genetics is 1) to get another upper level biology 2) raise my GPA, but I can only raise my GPA a small amount. However, this will be the first time to take the MCAT (March 22, 2014). I don't want to do both concurrently. Any advice?
 
I would, IMO, take a Physio class instead. Genetics isn't that heavy (detail-wise) from what I heard. As long as you know the basics, then you can apply what you know to supplement passage practice(of course with MCAT review materials). I think Physio is great because, at least in my institution, they really hammer in the concepts that could take a while to learn if one were to self-study. I think about 1/3rd of the BS outline as physio in it so It wouldn't hurt to take the class. The MCAT these days are transitioning away from the pre-req bio and more along the lines of a Cell/Molec Bio and Physio type of passage based material.
 
JohnnyRomanes said:
I would, IMO, take a Physio class instead. Genetics isn't that heavy (detail-wise) from what I heard. As long as you know the basics, then you can apply what you know to supplement passage practice(of course with MCAT review materials). I think Physio is great because, at least in my institution, they really hammer in the concepts that could take a while to learn if one were to self-study. I think about 1/3rd of the BS outline as physio in it so It wouldn't hurt to take the class. The MCAT these days are transitioning away from the pre-req bio and more along the lines of a Cell/Molec Bio and Physio type of passage based material.
Click to expand...

Would you suggest taking either of those classes over studying for the MCAT without taking any classes? I was choosing Genetics because the professor and his teaching style are wonderful (easy) and this would help free time for MCAT studying. I'm okay with not having another upper level biology on my application next spring, but my MCAT score is what needs to draw attention since my GPA is unfortunate looking. Sorry for the questioning, but since you replied I'm clinging to you as a mentor, haha.
 
If it's really an easy A, and the Genetics is above 300 lvl, take the class. Advanced courses and acing them looks better, plus all the Physio you need are in the MCAT books.
 
If you are an excellent self-learner, you don't need any specific field bio courses to do well on the MCAT. At this point in your academic career, you should have a good grasp on whether you fit that profile or not.
 
Thanks for the input. Yeah, inycepoo, I am a good self-learner (self-teacher?). If anything, the human genetics class will introduce me to some diseases and some biotechnology as well as expose me to more literature.
 
Biology will most likely cover it, there wasn't anything advanced in genetics on my test.
 
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