Online Biochemistry Course

[dmiller0704]

I am currently taking the Introductory Biochemistry Course through UC Berkeley, and am completely dissatisfied with my professor and UC Berkeley is doing nothing to help. She grades what she feels like, how she feels like and when I ask for explanation she tells me that I didn't answer X, Y and Z which the questions never asked for. I have a C (first one ever), but her grading is so sporadic that I'm afraid I won't do well on her final.

Anyway, Besides UNE (I don't have, and am not willing to take Organic Chem) are there any other online biochemistry courses that are good any good. There is NO WAY for me to take an in person course because I live in the middle of nowhere and no schools here offer it.

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[KCgophervet]

1. Pre-vet forum more helpful
2. Search bar
3. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/online-upper-division-biochemistry-and-genetics.1079102/

There you go.

 

[DVMDream]

(I don't have, and am not willing to take Organic Chem)

If you want to be a vet, which I am guessing that is what you want since your status is "pre-vet" and you are posting in a veterinary forum... then you don't really have a choice on the above. You HAVE to take organic chemistry it is a pre-req for veterinary school.

 

[dmiller0704]

If you want to be a vet, which I am guessing that is what you want since your status is "pre-vet" and you are posting in a veterinary forum... then you don't really have a choice on the above. You HAVE to take organic chemistry it is a pre-req for veterinary school.

Actually since Ross University is my number one choice, they DO NOT require organic chemistry. So this statement is false.

 

[DVMDream]

Actually since Ross University is my number one choice, they DO NOT require organic chemistry. So this statement is false.

And Ross is your first choice because of what reason? Is it just so that you don't have to take ochem? Because you can't avoid specific classes in vet school. Not wanting to/refusing to take courses shows a sign of laziness that is not good for the profession.

 

[dmiller0704]

I have worked with 3 amazingly talented doctors that have gone there, one turned down the opportunity at Purdue to have an "adventure", and he never has regretted it, the location is amazing, and from what I have seen in my interaction not only with the admissions office, and many professors, they actually care if you succeed. Also, whats the point of taking a class if you don't have to put yourself through it. I have a 3.6GPA and squeezed by in GenChem1 and 2, but did amazing in all other science classes (nothing less than an A, where as Chem 1 I took twice an got a C, and chem 2 I got a B). Chemistry is not my thing, and I see no reason to subject myself to it if I have no reason to. I have a 2 friends that that have graduated from Ross School of medicine and they have amazing residencies. and 1 friend currently in the Vet School and all have success.

Just because some people view Caribbean schools as Less than, doesn't mean they actually are. Unless you've gone there and experienced what it is like, you never know fully. We hired a brand new Grad that came from a major veterinary college, and he only got to do 1 spay, 1 neuter, and 1 small growth removal and self-admitted he was pretty lost, but he is an amazingly smart guy, who is amazing at pathology. My friend who is at ross has done much more than that and feels like she is a capable surgeon and ready for the "real" world once she is graduated. So, yes, its my choice.

 

[KCgophervet]

I have worked with 3 amazingly talented doctors that have gone there, one turned down the opportunity at Purdue to have an "adventure", and he never has regretted it, the location is amazing, and from what I have seen in my interaction not only with the admissions office, and many professors, they actually care if you succeed. Also, whats the point of taking a class if you don't have to put yourself through it. I have a 3.6GPA and squeezed by in GenChem1 and 2, but did amazing in all other science classes (nothing less than an A, where as Chem 1 I took twice an got a C, and chem 2 I got a B). Chemistry is not my thing, and I see no reason to subject myself to it if I have no reason to. I have a 2 friends that that have graduated from Ross School of medicine and they have amazing residencies. and 1 friend currently in the Vet School and all have success.

Just because some people view Caribbean schools as Less than, doesn't mean they actually are. Unless you've gone there and experienced what it is like, you never know fully. We hired a brand new Grad that came from a major veterinary college, and he only got to do 1 spay, 1 neuter, and 1 small growth removal and self-admitted he was pretty lost, but he is an amazingly smart guy, who is amazing at pathology. My friend who is at ross has done much more than that and feels like she is a capable surgeon and ready for the "real" world once she is graduated. So, yes, its my choice.

The main problem with Ross is not that it is "less" of a school, but rather that it costs more typically than an IS school, and more than some OOS schools especially when travel, cost of living, etc are taken into account. For these reasons, not many people choose Ross or many of the island schools as their first choice, so when people see you claiming it's your #1, we only want to make sure you've done the research and know what you're getting into. Vet school is 4 years, but student loans can impact a lifetime.

 

[dmiller0704]

Totally understand that, I'll be 30 this year and have been saving about $3,000 a year for the last 10 years to cover travel and some regular expenses (obviously besides tuition) I wanted to make sure that I could afford all of my own bills and wouldn't have to put travel into student loans. Also I have no undergraduate student loans, I have paid them all off. So I'm ready for my adventure!

 

[DVMDream]

I have worked with 3 amazingly talented doctors that have gone there, one turned down the opportunity at Purdue to have an "adventure", and he never has regretted it, the location is amazing, and from what I have seen in my interaction not only with the admissions office, and many professors, they actually care if you succeed. Also, whats the point of taking a class if you don't have to put yourself through it. I have a 3.6GPA and squeezed by in GenChem1 and 2, but did amazing in all other science classes (nothing less than an A, where as Chem 1 I took twice an got a C, and chem 2 I got a B). Chemistry is not my thing, and I see no reason to subject myself to it if I have no reason to. I have a 2 friends that that have graduated from Ross School of medicine and they have amazing residencies. and 1 friend currently in the Vet School and all have success.

Just because some people view Caribbean schools as Less than, doesn't mean they actually are. Unless you've gone there and experienced what it is like, you never know fully. We hired a brand new Grad that came from a major veterinary college, and he only got to do 1 spay, 1 neuter, and 1 small growth removal and self-admitted he was pretty lost, but he is an amazingly smart guy, who is amazing at pathology. My friend who is at ross has done much more than that and feels like she is a capable surgeon and ready for the "real" world once she is graduated. So, yes, its my choice.

You've kind of highlighted my point. You're avoiding something because you think it will be hard and you won't be good at it. You can't do that as a veterinarian. Just because the dog is too sick or that surgery is too long or that blood work is too complicated doesn't mean you can avoid them. And you'll be in those situations numerous times. To me, it shows that you are admitting defeat to something you think is hard. Why subject yourself to that unstable DKA patient with renal disease, that's complicated. Even more so than ochem.

No one is saying Ross is a poor school or "less" of a school. But it is a very hefty price tag to take on especially if part of the reason is to avoid a class. We had another person on here not too long ago that refused to take a course because of similar reasons and my response was the same.

You can't just avoid things because they are hard and if that is your attitude you really need to rethink it and be more confident in yourself before plunging into a career in medicine, human or animal.

Also, Gen Chem sucks monkey balls, I found ochem and biochem to be MUCH easier.

 

[LetItSnow]

Oh look. Another "my professor sucks that's why I'm getting a bad grade" post ......

Might be time to mature past that complaint. You don't really get to pick your profs in vet school, for the most part.

Dvmd didn't say anything negative about Ross. Certainly nothing to warrant all that defensive "I know good vets that came from Ross" stuff.

 

[dmiller0704]

Oh look. Another "my professor sucks that's why I'm getting a bad grade" post ......

Might be time to mature past that complaint. You don't really get to pick your profs in vet school, for the most part.

Dvmd didn't say anything negative about Ross. Certainly nothing to warrant all that defensive "I know good vets that came from Ross" stuff.

I don't appreciate your tone of voice/T0ne of writing. If you talk to someone on a forum with such distain, I can't imagine how you talk/will talk to clients. There are bad professors out there and I have one; I'm powering though. How about instead of speeding negativity, realize that I'm a person too, with my own beliefs and feelings, and spread positive thoughts in a world already filled with crappy people.

 

[Osudairy]

Also, Gen Chem sucks monkey balls, I found ochem and biochem to be MUCH easier.

I can not describe how much I agree with this statement!😉

I don't appreciate your tone of voice/T0ne of writing. If you talk to someone on a forum with such distain, I can't imagine how you talk/will talk to clients. There are bad professors out there and I have one; I'm powering though. How about instead of speeding negativity, realize that I'm a person too, with my own beliefs and feelings, and spread positive thoughts in a world already filled with crappy people.

I had Ochem and biochem with a professor that got into trouble for how bad he was failing his students. Even with all of this most of my friends and I still passed with a B or higher, but it was hell. We all have had at least one of those professors. I am unaware if it is possible to take Biochem without Ochem first (at least that's how it was at my university) so you may want to look into that. I can see what you are saying about not wanting to take it if you don't need it, but students learn a lot from Ochem and it is usually required because it provides you with a more solid foundation in chemistry. For veterinary school, you definitely need a strong chemistry foundation as well as biology, etc. No one here has downed Ross as a school and I personally know a great vet that graduated from there, but (as said earlier) it is extremely expensive and you will graduate with a lot more debt than a US student. Also, plenty of other schools care if you succeed! There are resources to help you if you are struggling in vet school.

 

[DVMDream]

I don't appreciate your tone of voice/T0ne of writing. If you talk to someone on a forum with such distain, I can't imagine how you talk/will talk to clients. There are bad professors out there and I have one; I'm powering though. How about instead of speeding negativity, realize that I'm a person too, with my own beliefs and feelings, and spread positive thoughts in a world already filled with crappy people.

Oh look, another treat me like the "special" person that I believe I am...

Yes, there are bad professors out there, I can guarantee we all have stories about them. The difference is you can either buckle down, deal with it and get the best grade you can or you can whine and complain about it and blame your grades on the professor.

In undergrad, you have a small luxury of being able to possibly take a course with a different professor, you don't get that in vet school. You are stuck with whoever and however they grade, best get used to it now. That is what LIS is saying. It wasn't rude or mean, you are taking it personally when instead you should be learning the lesson in what he is saying

 

[Osudairy]

Oh look, another treat me like the "special" person that I believe I am...

Yes, there are bad professors out there, I can guarantee we all have stories about them. The difference is you can either buckle down, deal with it and get the best grade you can or you can whine and complain about it and blame your grades on the professor.

In undergrad, you have a small luxury of being able to possibly take a course with a different professor, you don't get that in vet school. You are stuck with whoever and however they grade, best get used to it now. That is what LIS is saying. It wasn't rude or mean, you are taking it personally when instead you should be learning the lesson in what he is saying

Well said

 

[VetMedVetMed]

I am currently taking the Introductory Biochemistry Course through UC Berkeley, and am completely dissatisfied with my professor and UC Berkeley is doing nothing to help. She grades what she feels like, how she feels like and when I ask for explanation she tells me that I didn't answer X, Y and Z which the questions never asked for. I have a C (first one ever), but her grading is so sporadic that I'm afraid I won't do well on her final.

Anyway, Besides UNE (I don't have, and am not willing to take Organic Chem) are there any other online biochemistry courses that are good any good. There is NO WAY for me to take an in person course because I live in the middle of nowhere and no schools here offer it.

Hi there, I am a pre-vet student as well, and i hope it's ok to respond on the Vet forums since I think I could be of some help!

I searched for a while for a good online Biochem course as well, and will be taking it through Oregon State U. While I searched, I wrote down a list of schools that you can take Biochem online through as a non-degree seeking student. From what I remember most of them DID require at least one semester of Ochem, but you'd have to check with each school and ask. I have taken one semester of Ochem myself, and trust me I didn't want to and it wasn't easy. However, I survived! It was something all of us had to do! I took it b/c I am not going to ONLY apply to my top choice school (which requires only one semester of Ochem). I need to be realistic and give myself options. Vet school is hard enough as it is to get into, so don't sell yourself short by only applying to one school (if you are only applying to Ross). Honestly, you may end up liking another school just as much. Especially if your GPA is a 3.6, if you get into a school where the tuition and cost of living is significantly lower, that other school may become your top choice in the end... I am just trying to give you an outside perspective. ALSO wanted to mention that Ochem 1 you can take online through UNE (and many other schools). I know specifically with Ochem through UNE though because a friend of mine took it and said it was very manageable and was actually easy.

Anyways, the schools I found that offer Biochem online are: Michigan State, Oregon State, Rutgers, Kansas State, U of Minnesota, U of New England, and Colorado State U. I am not sure what the prerequisite is for each, but you would need to call and ask or email the professor. I don't think the teacher would override the system and allow you to add the class if you haven't taken Ochem though.. Also, don't get upset but could this be another possible reason why you're struggling with Biochem? There is a reason why Ochem is a prereq for Biochem.

Hope this helps!