Microbiology or Vert Phys

[hillbelly]

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I have to choose between the two and was wondering which would be most helpful for the MCAT.

 

[Nebulizer]

micro

 

[Fusion]

Tough call. Microbiology covers a lot of ground - viruses, pathogens, immunology, etc. But vert physiology does too and is very similar to human phys. It is quite possible that you could get an MCAT bio passage on something related to vert phys. You probably couldn't go wrong with either course, so take the one that you think you will enjoy the most and can make the best grade in.

 

[45408]

I don't think it matters that much. Most of my bio passages weren't *that* specific.

 

[wendywellesley]

i would take physio for sure.
it *will* help on bio (that was my experience).
went up 3 points on BS after taking physio (and biochem and cell bio...)

 

[mshheaddoc]

Any other feedback ... I have to pick as well ...

 

[Fermata]

Micro is more fun. 😀

 

[kdnysux]

I have to choose between the two and was wondering which would be most helpful for the MCAT.

Micro...i just found that reading the passages in the Bio sec was a lot easier bec I was familiar with the experiments regarding bact path, etc. Besides, Micro major covers most info (cell bio, biochem, etc.) on top of the virology, immunology, etc., courses that Physio majors dont really get to cover in detail. Have to watch out though, Micro has sooo many lab classes (in my school, at least)...it's the longest science major in my university!

 

[fotolilith]

Micro - its good to be familiar with some of those pathways.

I took vert phys, thinking it was physiology, but it seemed to focus mostly on action potentials. Mainly I was unhappy with the (powerpoint junky) prof, but it certainly didn't seem applicable to the MCAT (no more than my intro structures and functions class, really).

 

[chondrocyte]

definintely take micro, good luck

 

[VPDcurt]

i would have to say that almost any physiology course is more interesting than a micro course. I took micro in college and thought it was the most miserable thing ever - there is nothing fun about looking at petri dishes and wondering why something did or did not form plaques. physiology makes sense when you break it down so it is a science that is actually fun to figure out. however, i think micro would probably be more helpful for the mcat, but i wouldn't worry about this too much - physiology will help as well.

 

[UCLAstudent]

I think micro is more fun, but gosh, a physiology course would have REALLY helped on four of the passages I got on the MCAT.

 

[tank you]

i have taken both micro and physio (human) at my university. i liked physio better, i recommend it.

 

[relentless11]

One can learn MCAT microbiology straight from the MCAT prep books or courses. It is not indepth, and merely stems from everything you learned in your first quarter of biology.

If there's anything new, it'll be provided in a passage, and if you have at least avarage reading skills it should not be a problem to glean this information.

With regards to physiology, thats a big generalized class. Many aspects can be covered by the MCAT, from reproduction to the central nervous system, and beyond. Although one can actually learn this from the MCAT books too, i personally think it would be better to have been exposed to this course before taking the MCAT.

SO my suggestion would be take physio.