MCAT2015 self-study without taking biochemistry?

[balopathic45]

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Hi,
It seems that the new MCAT will include quite amount of biochemistry in it. If my memory serves correctly one section is 25% and another 15%. My only problem is that I need to take my MCAT this summer if I want to avoid a gap year and I can't take biochem at my university without ochem 2 which I will be taking this spring. My ochem 1 class had a very simple introduction into biochem i.e. Lipid, carbohydrate, AA, and nucleic acid structure and reactions.
My question is, is it feasible to self-teach biochem (and I guess psych and soc as well) in the roughly 10 weeks I have set aside to study for the MCAT?
I have received As in all my biology, gen chem, physics, and ochem 1 classes and I tutor in these courses as well so I feel like they will be pretty fresh when I begin to study.
Thanks and HNY!

 

[deleted407021]

You would want to take biochem for the thermodynamics, bilayer structure, enzyme kinetics, etc.

 

[DrHart]

I second that. Enzyme kinetics is a pain to learn. Quite a few graphs and the different types of inhibition and how that affects the velocity and Km of an enzyme. Also, learning the ins and outs of carbon metabolism is a pain but also very useful. It would be difficult to do it all by yourself- but if you are very determined and have the free time to study it, I suppose it could be done.

 

[prettylittledoctor22]

Similar to what OP said, I will be taking biochem while studying for the MCAT in the same semester. Is this feasible?

Thanks

 

[Albino Dino]

I just purchased the Princeton Review MCAT 2015 book and it looks like the biochemistry is going to be pretty hard to self-study.

 

[wuhsabee]

I just purchased the Princeton Review MCAT 2015 book and it looks like the biochemistry is going to be pretty hard to self-study.

Get another book for Biochem Review because TPR does not adequately cover the amount of Biochem needed for the MCAT. It's only 40 pages, I believe. Kaplan is good and super extensive. Combine that with Khan Academy, and you should be okay. I used Khan Academy to understand the hard topics (enzyme kinetics, etc) while taking my Biochem courses, anyway. You can definitely self-study. It will just be a pain.

 

[Shirafune]

Let's put it this way. If I were going to self-study any topic on the MCAT, biochem would be the last one I would choose.