Microbio or genetics good to take before MCAT???

[PreMedHopeful]

Hey, so I wanted to know if I should take microbio, genetics, or both before taking the mcat. Will those classes help me on the mcat or are they unnecessary? I will also be taking organic chemistry and physics so 3 science classes may be too much but if it helps, I'll do it.

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[SN2ed]

I found Genetics to be the most helpful. Plus, I think genetics is usually a weakness for content review books.

 

[rockaction]

I'd say Genetics is more important than Micro. A course in Micro likely goes over lots of specifics, but what you really need is general info for the MCAT. A review book would be fine for the Micro stuff. But Genetics is getting bigger and bigger on the MCAT so I'd suggest taking a class.

 

[PreMedHopeful]

what I meant is should I take genetics AND microbio along with organic and physics?

 

[rockaction]

Genetics - probably. Micro - not so much.

 

[vman51]

what I meant is should I take genetics AND microbio along with organic and physics?

if you think you can handle it, but i'd strongly advise against it..

are you generally strong in one of those? then its doable taking 3 of them together, but all 4 wouldn't be the wisest thing to do, imo

 

[PreMedHopeful]

well I would take physics 1, organic chem1, and microbio one semester, and then physics 2, org. chem 2, and genetics 2nd semester....

 

[G1SG2]

Does anyone know any good website to learn genetics from for the MCAT?

 

[Saulty]

You should be able to handle that NO problem if your taking only 3 courses per semister. Keep in mind every person is different, but my second year of uni i took physics, organic chem, microbiology, human physiology, and genetics/statistics (5 courses per semister). I found this course load pretty heavy and would suggest taking 4 courses per semister.

Also, be prepared to study a crapload for organic 2. Organic 1 aint so bad, but 2 is a NIGHTMARE.

 

[229141]

well I would take physics 1, organic chem1, and microbio one semester, and then physics 2, org. chem 2, and genetics 2nd semester....

You would be fine but there will be a lot of labs

My micro bio lab was 6 hrs a week mandatory plus we often came in another 3 hrs a week to check results/do more experiments...so micro was 9 hrs a week in the lab!

 

[PreMedHopeful]

for us microlab is 3 hours a week and we don't come in extra so hopefully I'll be fine:/

 

[JJMrK]

what I meant is should I take genetics AND microbio along with organic and physics?

Depends on if they all have a lab. At my school that would be do-able because O-chem and Genetics have separate lab classes.

 

[image187]

The MCAT is a test of basic principles learned in Biology, General Physics, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry, nothing more, nothing less and you do not need a class in Microbiology, Genetics, Anatomy/Physiology etc. in order to get a good score or even an advantage for yourself. My advice to you is to take only the classes you need to and focus your energy only on the tested material when studying for the MCAT. The information required for the one or two discrete genetics questions is part of general bio anyway

 

[JJMrK]

The MCAT is a test of basic principles learned in Biology, General Physics, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry, nothing more, nothing less and you do not need a class in Microbiology, Genetics, Anatomy/Physiology etc. in order to get a good score or even an advantage for yourself. My advice to you is to take only the classes you need to and focus your energy only on the tested material when studying for the MCAT. The information required for the one or two discrete genetics questions is part of general bio anyway

Physiology and Genetics will certainly give you an advantage.

 

[nlax30]

Definitely Genetics more so than Micro.

I took both and I remember seeing some genetics stuff, but I don't think Micro really helped at all.

If you have the time and space in your schedule take whatever you want, take 'em both.... but if you're trying to decide between the two then take Genetics.

 

[PreMedHopeful]

I was reviewing the Bio stuff, and anatomy/physiology seems to be a big chunk and helpful that I took it....yeah I'm most likely taking genetics for sure and microbiology depends...we will see

 

[pakbabydoll]

def Genetics! micro is too specific..

 

[PreMedHopeful]

one of my classmates told me to take Cell/Molec biology and Biochemistry...is she talking crazy or am I lost?

 

[capn jazz]

If your intro bio covered cell/molecular, then you don't need to. However I find knowing biochem to be really useful for studying. It's not required, though.

 

[PreMedHopeful]

I think I'm just going to take them all: bio 1/2, anatomy 1/2, chem 1/2, physics 1/2, organic 1/2 and then micro/genetics....NO BIOCHEM/CELL&MOLEC BIO

 

[capn jazz]

anatomy will be useless for the MCAT. any anatomy you need will be covered in physiology. you should substitute something else for micro, which is pretty unnecessary - biochem is probably your best bet.

also, i'm confused. you make it sound like you haven't taken ANY of the prereqs but you've posted about MCAT prep courses/graduating early.

 

[PreMedHopeful]

oh sorry for the confusion, here's what I have taken and still have to take:

already finished: Bio 1/2, Chem 1/2, Anatomy/Physiology 1 and 2

Need to take: Organic 1 and 2, Physics 1 and 2, Microbio, Genetics, Biochem, Cell/Molec

but I'm not taking biochem/cell-molec since thats too much to jam pack in my schedule and I can just study that using review books?

 

[capn jazz]

If you don't want to jam pack your schedule, I would drop Microbio. What did your Bio 1/2 class cover? You don't need to take Genetics and Cell/Molec since that should have been covered in enough depth into Bio 1/2.

 

[PreMedHopeful]

I didn't take Bio 1 or 2 because I used my AP credits so my counselor told me to take Microbio....and people told me to take genetics because sometimes MCAT may have a few passages focuses on these classes...

SO NO BIOCHEM AND NO CELL/MOLEC?!!!!

 

[capn jazz]

Ok... not sure where you're getting that...

NO microbio
YES genetics if you haven't ever covered genetics in class
MAYBE biochem since it would be helpful
NO cell/molecular since your bio course almost certainly covered it

 

[Doodl3s]

Ok... not sure where you're getting that...

NO microbio
YES genetics if you haven't ever covered genetics in class
MAYBE biochem since it would be helpful
NO cell/molecular since your bio course almost certainly covered it

YES to that! imho
So, genetics is a small part of the bio section, so I don't see why taking it is so helpful when compared to Molecular and Cell biology (which in my school is apparently similar to Biochem)
Molec and Cell taught me EVERYTHING about transcription/translation, ALL the organelles, the Cell membrane and transport proteins, Action potentials, THE WHOLE FRIGGIN KREBS CYCLE..... ALL IN EXTREME DEPTH...

Bio I and II taught stuff like ecology and just an overview of everything above. Molec and cell was probably the best class I could have imagined taking before the MCAT... The only thing you need to know for genetics anyway is hardyweinberg, punnett squares, and the inheritance tree.

 

[capn jazz]

That's why I asked what her bio covered. MY bio 1/2 covered cell/molecular/genetics/physio.

 

[ShinyDome19]

I would say if your looking for purely which subject will help you the most on the MCATs, I would go with Genetics. I have a BS and a MS in Microbiology, and after taking the actual MCATs a couple times and all the AAMC practice exams, I think I have seen 4-5 questions between all of them where my micro background helped me. However, I have seen atleast 2-4 genetics questions on each exam I have taken.

 

[sdsweetie]

People mention that genetics is tested frequently on the MCAT---are they referring to Mendelian genetics or molecular genetics?

thanks

 

[PreMedHopeful]

okay as of now I'm taking both micro and genetics...but based on recent posts, should I add Biochem or Cell/Molec...my roommate took Cell/Molec but people say its sooo in-depth omg idk im so confused

 

[sponnal]

okay as of now I'm taking both micro and genetics...but based on recent posts, should I add Biochem or Cell/Molec...my roommate took Cell/Molec but people say its sooo in-depth omg idk im so confused

Also note that keeping a high GPA is an important part of being a competitive medical school applicant. If you think you will not be compromising your GPA by taking so many science classes at once, then take them.
Otherwise, take the classes which will give you the best chance of keeping (or improving) your current GPA.
My friend was a Chem major, and he didn't even take Physiology, and did fine on the mcat.
Also, the MCAT prep books for bio prepare you well the biological sciences portion of mcat.

 

[PreMedHopeful]

yeah but my bio classes I have gotten a B in anatomy/physio 1 and 2, so I need to ace micro and genetics....I didnt take Bio 1/2, used AP Bio credit....

 

[1complication]

I liked micro more than genetics and it was more useful for my mcat. Most micro courses cover all the genetics you would ever need to know for the mcat.

 

[CaliforniaKid]

None. MCAT does not cover upper division science. stick to the basics.

 

[PreMedHopeful]

yeah but I need Micro and genetics because I need to ace some Bio classes to show med schools I can memorize bull**** as well as become a doctor...haha sorry but micro is nonsense

 

[CaliforniaKid]

I see. In that case by all means take Genetics. Of course this is a biased advice coming from a guy who majored in genetics🙂)). Further, I disagree with previous statement that "microbiology containing all the genetic information that is on the MCAT" This is absurd.
The MCAT contains human genetics e.g. pedigree analysis, and simple punnet square problems, sex-linkage problems, etc. I will highly, highly, highly doubt that these topics will be covered in Microbiology.

best of luck

 

[PreMedHopeful]

yes I just took a MCAT practice test where there was pedigrees and a lot of genetics and anatomy/physiology but not so much micro....none at all:/

 

[rockaction]

None. MCAT does not cover upper division science. stick to the basics.

I disagree. Upper level science can only help.

 

[PreMedHopeful]

yeah seriously I feel like the stuff on MCAT was not Bio, it was more Cellular/Molecular Biology and it was harder and more complex, of course

Also, I feel MICRO is a waste of my time and I should take it my senior year??? There was no micro, is there ever micro on MCAT? What sort of things?

 

[Cunninglinguist]

All you micro haters... I thought micro helped, but I can't say what helped the most.

If I had to decided between and advanced cell class or a genetics class I would take the cell class. Cell has as much if not more applicable genetics than genetics does.

All you would be short on in a genetics class is some basic mendelian genetics, which you could cover in about 8 pages in EK Bio.


Overall, I had some questions on my last exam that I KNOW I would not have gotten correct without advanced classes in biology. I know they say you don't need it, but I would disagree. I think an advanced cell class is better than genetics because it covers; genetics, cell structure, replication, steroid/peptide hormones, ECM, Lymphocytes, and a number of different cell culture/genetic identification techniques. (or at least mine did.) I slept through genetics to get an "A," but I busted my ass in cell to get an "A."

 

[PreMedHopeful]

I personally think Cell/Molec is fascinating because I LOVE the ORGANELLES...micro is BORING because I hate bacteria and all that nonsense haha and then I think genetics is pretty cool especially nowadays as genetic testing becomes prevalent in fighting disease and preventing disease in the family....

I think I'm not going to take Biochemistry because it's a senior level course and too much chemistry which I'm bad at will make me get a poor grade affecting my gpa before med school...so in the end I'm going to take the following courses next year:

Cell/Molecular Biology
Genetics
Organic 1 and 2
Physics 1 and 2
POSSIBLY MICRO!?

Those will be all my sciences next year since I already took Gen Bio 1 and 2 and Gen Chem 1 and 2 and A&P 1 and 2....

Man next year is going to be tough, complicating, confusing, and interesting, and I'm ready for the challenge🙂