Molecular Biology vs. Neuroscience

[ilovebiology]

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Let me explain the 2 different types of biology majors you can declare at my school before I go into the classes...

You can either be a "Biology Major with a Pre-Med emphasis" in which you have a certain course catalog, which you need to take cerain bio classes (that including Molecular Bio)...Or...you can declare a "Biology Major with whatever minors you happen to be" (Chemistry & Art for me), which you can choose, which biology classes you want to take therefore I wouldn't take Molecular Bio, I would take Neuroscience because it would be more interesting to me, however more challenging (harder material and proff).

I am currently under the catalog as the Bio major with a Pre-med emphasis...I can switch easily to the other making me able to take neuro instead of molecular. My question is: What would you recommend in taking to not only better myself in preparing for the MCAT, but also for med school. I would appreciate your opinions and why. Thanks! 😀

 

[red10]

Since major doesn't really matter as long as you have a good science background, do whatever your heart desires. If you want to be free to take w/e minor classes and bio classes you want, then do that.

It really all comes down to what you think you'd like most. Its not worth hating your major just because you think its the one you "need" for med schools. Since you're going to be bio either way, and you have to do the same pre-reqs for most any med school, I don't think you can pick wrong here

 

[Van Chowder]

Agreed with the above post, do what your heart desires... I mean they are both useless if you dont actually end up going to medical school anyway

 

[theacks1]

You want to take Neuro, take Neuro. Simple as that. Premed focus gives you nothing special.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

Actually I think Mo Bio was much more useful in terms of general knowledge of how the cell operates and it complements more classes, like genetics and biochem. It's probably a little more useful for the MCAT. Neuro is much more focused.

That said, I was a Neuro major and loved this stuff. I took every neuro class I could get my hands on and ate it up. It's much more interesting... but less applicable. I did happen to get a neuromuscular junction passage on the BS which kind of worked in my favor though 😀

It also depends on the other bio classes you're taking. If your taking b-chem, genetics or cell bio, less of a need for mo bio. If you're taking physio or developmental bio, less need for neuro.

Ultimately, I'd just take whatever you want to take.

 

[ilovebiology]

Thanks everyone for your opinions! I'll just say that ya I know its simple to take whatever one I am more interested in, but the times are different to when I would take these classes. I go to a very small school so classes aren't offered every semester or quarter like most schools, they are offered every other year! So if I did decide to take Molecular, I would be taking it this Fall my Junior year (along with an MCAT class that I'm taking throughout the year, the last semester of physics, Cancer Biology, and Genetics)...if I decided to take Neuro, I would be taking it Fall Senior year (along with Biochem, Histo, and Vert Phys)...kind of a difference in class load to me I think. I have already taking Cell Bio, which is another reason why I don't really want to take it because it wasn't that interesting to me. 😕

 

[MaryLennox]

do whatever you think you'll like. but i would take molecular bio if you can, i think it'll help a lot for the mcat (much more so than neuro will.) genetics too if it's an option. i think the mcat nowadays is very heavy on genetics and molecular bio stuff. they also have a lot of 'experiement based' passages where you have to read and interpret results . . . so maybe get involved in a scientific journal club or take a 'bio research methods' class if it's offered. do you have to be a bio major to do premed there? be an art major! be a bio minor and take premed classes and neuro and genetics and molecular bio! 😀

 

[BennieBlanco]

Let me explain the 2 different types of biology majors you can declare at my school before I go into the classes...

You can either be a "Biology Major with a Pre-Med emphasis" in which you have a certain course catalog, which you need to take cerain bio classes (that including Molecular Bio)...Or...you can declare a "Biology Major with whatever minors you happen to be" (Chemistry & Art for me), which you can choose, which biology classes you want to take therefore I wouldn't take Molecular Bio, I would take Neuroscience because it would be more interesting to me, however more challenging (harder material and proff).

I am currently under the catalog as the Bio major with a Pre-med emphasis...I can switch easily to the other making me able to take neuro instead of molecular. My question is: What would you recommend in taking to not only better myself in preparing for the MCAT, but also for med school. I would appreciate your opinions and why. Thanks! 😀

It doesn't matter in any way.

Some will major in art and get a 40 on the MCAT.

Preparing for med school --> good brain and good science foundation (built by MCAT)... prepared.

 

[ilovebiology]

do whatever you think you'll like. but i would take molecular bio if you can, i think it'll help a lot for the mcat (much more so than neuro will.) genetics too if it's an option. i think the mcat nowadays is very heavy on genetics and molecular bio stuff. they also have a lot of 'experiement based' passages where you have to read and interpret results . . . so maybe get involved in a scientific journal club or take a 'bio research methods' class if it's offered. do you have to be a bio major to do premed there? be an art major! be a bio minor and take premed classes and neuro and genetics and molecular bio! 😀

I am taking genetics for sure this spring...and I'm just going to be thinking a lot about this class and what I want out of the two. I will probably just stay in it once school starts and if I read through the syllabus and stay for a week or two and end up thinking I'd rather take Neuro, I'll drop. 😛 I'm not worried about keeping that "pre-med" title because it doesn't mean s***, I am actually an art minor though and I love it! They don't offer art as a major at my school because if they did it would be pretty tempting. 🙂

 

[MaryLennox]

I am taking genetics for sure this spring...and I'm just going to be thinking a lot about this class and what I want out of the two. I will probably just stay in it once school starts and if I read through the syllabus and stay for a week or two and end up thinking I'd rather take Neuro, I'll drop. 😛 I'm not worried about keeping that "pre-med" title because it doesn't mean s***, I am actually an art minor though and I love it! They don't offer art as a major at my school because if they did it would be pretty tempting. 🙂

the thing about neuro is, it IS hard and won't help you on the mcat at all. if you really want to take it, i'd take it as a senior after you've already taken the MCAT and started applying to schools. in case it drops your gpa 🙁 but if you're interested in it, taking it as a senior would be nice because it WILL give you an edge when you have to take it in med school.

this is coming from an art major who 1) took molecular bio before the MCAT and is eternally grateful for that, 2) avoided neuro due to fear of GPA damage and didn't miss anything, and 3) wishes she took genetics, but got enough of it in her other classes that overall it was ok. a lot of genetic stuff like DNA structure and replication will be covered in molecular bio. it's a very valuable class!!!

 

[dr seuss]

I would take neuro.

 

[ilovebiology]

the thing about neuro is, it IS hard and won't help you on the mcat at all. if you really want to take it, i'd take it as a senior after you've already taken the MCAT and started applying to schools. in case it drops your gpa 🙁 but if you're interested in it, taking it as a senior would be nice because it WILL give you an edge when you have to take it in med school.

this is coming from an art major who 1) took molecular bio before the MCAT and is eternally grateful for that, 2) avoided neuro due to fear of GPA damage and didn't miss anything, and 3) wishes she took genetics, but got enough of it in her other classes that overall it was ok. a lot of genetic stuff like DNA structure and replication will be covered in molecular bio. it's a very valuable class!!!

ya I know neuro is hard, and at my school the prof really challenges you so it would have to be worth it that molecular is that horrible to drop it. I might take it my senior year who knows, its just i have all of those other upper divison classes as well, but I will be done with the MCAT so who knows. 🙂 ya those who took molecular at my school say it helped a bit more with the MCAT than not taking it all, so that is a plus to me, but I feel like I'm going to hate every minute of it because I had such a bad experience with cell bio. Geeze..I don't we'll see what I decide once school starts! 😛 Thanks for your advice, I appreciate it everyone! 👍

 

[jammy22]

It also depends on the other bio classes you're taking. If your taking b-chem, genetics or cell bio, less of a need for mo bio. If you're taking physio or developmental bio, less need for neuro.

I think the above is very ture. Another thing to consider is if you took molecular bio you'll probably get 2 neuro passages on your MCAT, and if you decide to go with the neuro you'll get a ton of molecular. While there are trends with MCAT stuff (heavy on molecular and genetics), there are plenty of tests that have very random passages.

take what you are interested in, and whatever you do, make sure you have time to study for the MCAT even if that means a tougher senior year.

 

[stud247]

it does not matter. If you're interested in research in either molecular bio or neuro, you can come from any of the biological science disciplines. Your professor will introduce you to his lab.

 

[ilovebiology]

I think the above is very ture. Another thing to consider is if you took molecular bio you'll probably get 2 neuro passages on your MCAT, and if you decide to go with the neuro you'll get a ton of molecular. While there are trends with MCAT stuff (heavy on molecular and genetics), there are plenty of tests that have very random passages.

take what you are interested in, and whatever you do, make sure you have time to study for the MCAT even if that means a tougher senior year.

Ya I'm sure thats how it happens, especially with my luck! I am taking the MCAT May of next year so that was another factor in my decision making between the 2 classes. Whatever I choose it'll be to benefit my education and MCAT prep. 👍 Thanks again!

 

[zayka]

Take Neuro 👍. I'm a Neuroscience specialist (like two majors in one field) and it's awesome! It's also very useful in med school - you get a mini break when your class gets into all the neuro stuff. I think that it is good to challenge yourself and take stuff you enjoy, because if you are actually interested in the material, you will do well!

 

[ilovebiology]

Take Neuro 👍. I'm a Neuroscience specialist (like two majors in one field) and it's awesome! It's also very useful in med school - you get a mini break when your class gets into all the neuro stuff. I think that it is good to challenge yourself and take stuff you enjoy, because if you are actually interested in the material, you will do well!

aaah I don't know what to do! I feel like it would be such an amazing class, but it would just make my senior year that much more stressful, however this year I am going to be even more stressed and busy studying/taking the MCAT, volunteering like crazy, 18 credits both semesters, and applying next June-ish...so it might be best for me to actually take neuro when I'm done and over with the stressful process of med school apps. 😛 so much to think about..