New MCAT2015 Self Teach Biochemistry

[peudamour]

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Would it be considered inadvisable to self teach Biochemistry for the new MCAT 2015? I know its hard to tell right now since no one has taken it yet. I'm just wondering if I should plan to delay my MCAT to take Biochem, or try and self-teach.

EDIT: Just fyi, if I self teach I can potentially apply very early in the cycle. If I wait to take the class, I may miss the cycle altogether.

If self-teaching is possible or advised, please cite any known resources.

Thanks!!

 

[Admissions to Medicine]

This is a question that only you can answer. You know how you learn. Have you learned a topic before via self study? A science related one? How did you do? If not, I would highly suggest against starting now with MCAT prep. -Admissions Advice Online

 

[baxt1412]

This is a question that only you can answer. You know how you learn. Have you learned a topic before via self study? A science related one? How did you do? If not, I would highly suggest against starting now with MCAT prep. -Admissions Advice Online

I'd go with this.

And there is nothing wrong with missing the first app cycle. Can you take the MCAT before the 2015 MCAT starts? If so, that would potentially eliminate your problem.

 

[DeathandTaxes]

I think Biochemistry is in general a very good course in preparation for the MCAT because it familiarizes you with a lot of laboratory techniques and dense small bio literature. Because of that class, glycolysis, proteins, the amino acids, how hemoglobin works is second nature to me.


Since the MCAT is really a science themed aptitude test (at least it more so than regurgitating content), I'd advise taking biochemistry first because it'll probably improve your score. If you think you can score 30+ without it, then maybe self studying could be sufficient. If you want to score 35+ .... then you should think hard about it.

 

[Low Flow]

Definitely don't self-study. You will not learn a subject in enough detail when you're not being forced to regurgitate it in the form of a classroom exam.

 

[peudamour]

I'd go with this.

And there is nothing wrong with missing the first app cycle. Can you take the MCAT before the 2015 MCAT starts? If so, that would potentially eliminate your problem.

I know there's no rush, but I won't be a traditional applicant. I am graduating this year, and am enrolling in a graduate program while I take my remaining prerequisites. The way my schedule works out, I will not be able to take the MCAT before the new one comes out. I do want to get the equivalent of a 33+ because my dream school is a top 25 school and is very hard to get into. I really don't wanna miss a whole year for Biochemistry if I don't have to.

I may try self-teaching...it may be helpful to see what people are saying about the Biochem content once the new exam is available.

 

[Jean Luc]

I took the experimental (trial) section in biochemistry in April and I can tell you that it was much more detail than I was expecting. If you are going to self teach yourself make sure you have a very good and experienced tutor as the questions are very in dept and go way beyond knowing the content.

 

[peudamour]

I took the experimental (trial) section in biochemistry in April and I can tell you that it was much more detail than I was expecting. If you are going to self teach yourself make sure you have a very good and experienced tutor as the questions are very in dept and go way beyond knowing the content.

Do you think having a private MCAT tutor at the Princeton Review along with support from my Chemistry department would be going in the right direction? I may have found a way to take Biochemistry I before the MCAT, but there's no way that I would be able to take Biochemistry II without missing the entire cycle.

 

[Jean Luc]

Do you think having a private MCAT tutor at the Princeton Review along with support from my Chemistry department would be going in the right direction? I may have found a way to take Biochemistry I before the MCAT, but there's no way that I would be able to take Biochemistry II without missing the entire cycle.

Yes I think it will help alot. Also you need to be fluent in interpreting research data. For that there is no better way tham reading and understanding the reasoning and logic in reseach articles.

 

[docwho21]

So I had a question. At my school under the chemistry department, biochemistry is split into two semesters, in which metabolism of lipids, glycolisis and the citric acid cycle are covered in the second semester. I have just taken the first semester which covered a lot on enzyme kinetics and proteins (particularly hemoglobin). I can't take the second semester of biochemistry next fall because of a schedule conflict and I plan on taking the MCAT in the spring. Would it be advisable/feasible to self-study topics as lipid metabolism, glycolisis, and the citric acid cycle? I plan on studying now over the summer to prep myself, especially by reading through my textbook, doing MCAT prep questions, and online videos. Thanks!