Online Biochemistry

[NeuroSurgPA]

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Hey everyone! I am looking to take biochemistry online (since I will be working full-time) and I was wondering if anyone had any input or advice. There are quite a few classes that I have been looking at; Colorado State, Minnesota, Berkeley, Kansas State, & Oregon State. I know there is a lot of discussion already, but I was specifically looking for some input on Colorado State's course. I haven't seen it being discussed very extensively, and it is 4 credits which I need to finish my degree. My preference is going to be towards a 4 credit biochem class because then I won't have to commute 3 hours each day starting in August to finish my degree.

Additionally, any input on any courses that I mentioned or did not mention would also be hugely appreciated.

Thanks in advance!
-W.

 

[apumic]

I wouldn't suggest Biochem online. For a number of reasons, including:

1) You're not likely to learn it as well.
2) It's online. It's also a prereq at a number of schools and that number is ever-increasing. Most schools either strongly dislike but will consider on a case by case basis (25%) or will just plain out reject any prereqs done online regardless of circumstances (65%). Only 10% of schools will accept prereqs online w/o strong extenuating circumstances.
3) It will be perceived as "less than" a traditional biochem course. Online is generally considered worse than a CC. Now, if there is truly no way to tell, that's different, but most schools indicate online coursework on the transcript in some way.

 

[rhesuspieces]

In my experience, online courses are perceived as "equal" to regular courses as long as they're taught through a reputable university (i.e. not U of Phoenix) and exams are proctored (i.e. taken in person). I'm not sure how med schools feel about situations in which exams are taken online.

If it's take biochem online or don't take it at all (because you shouldn't have to deal with a 3 hr commute), then take the course online. Biochem lends itself to online teaching much more easily than, say, OChem.

As a side note, I have a close friend who did the biochem online course here at U Minnesota and really enjoyed it. I think she had to take the exams in person, though...I'm not sure what the policy is for students taking the class from another state.

 

[ICD 3]

I took the online biochem course through Michigan State. It was pretty good. I don't see how med schools could ding you for taking the "online" version because it was identical to the classroom version, other than you couldn't actually see the professor when she was talking. The exams had to be proctored and there were a lot of them, 5 plus a final (the final could replace the average of the 5 exams so I just took the final). The only down side was cost. I already have my bachelors so they make you pay grad school rate which makes the course stupid expensive. It was the only way I could take biochem and keep my job though.

 

[Sesom]

Online classes are such a waste. Totally not worth your money to take a class online.

 

[deleted357625]

some schools specifically say they won't except online classes..

But I'm not sure about the part that they accept it if it's from a reputable school..so idk.

 

[PhoenixBlaze500]

What if you are situation where you took medical biochemistry at one school but did not do well in it and that course did not include a lab? Would it be okay to retake an online version for medical biochemistry?

 

[meji]

I'm taking biochem online because it isn't available in my area. I'm just starting so I can't tell you how it is yet, but here's the link (decent tuition rates for online courses, too):

http://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/soc/....htm?subject=BB&coursenumber=450&termcode=all

A friend took genetics online through them and said it wasn't bad at all.


if that link doesn't work try:

1. http://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/
2. click "schedule of classes" (left side of page)
3. click "by subject - all terms"
4. find Biochemistry and Biophysics section
5. locate "BB 450"

 

[MissionalMed]

Genuine curiosity here: My undergraduate institution does not record a course taken as "online" or otherwise. How would a medical school know if a course was completed online?

 

[LaughingMan]

Genuine curiosity here: My undergraduate institution does not record a course taken as "online" or otherwise. How would a medical school know if a course was completed online?

I believe you designate classes as distance learning when applying.

 

[MissionalMed]

I believe you designate classes as distance learning when applying.

That's good to know. Thank you.

 

[mehc012]

Would they still be useful for GPA repair? I'm having a hard time finding enough courses for it...I've already taken most of the BCPM courses offered at the 4-year I'm using for postbacc, and there are none I could take at the CC. The 4yr I'm considering offers some onlines though, and I'm considering using them to supplement my GPA repair program (it would also help me minimize the number of times I'm forced to commute 1.5hr to class in heavy traffic each week.) I wouldn't take any of the actual prereqs online.

 

[kami333]

Genuine curiosity here: My undergraduate institution does not record a course taken as "online" or otherwise. How would a medical school know if a course was completed online?

They can't. Unless you took the class during a semester when you had an internship in on the other side of the country and would have been physically unable to attend a classroom lecture, there isn't a way to tell.

I believe you designate classes as distance learning when applying.

No.

 

[mehc012]

So does that mean that they won't be able to tell if I take a few of my courses online?

 

[HipChick]

I dont think you designate. I've never heard or seen that. Non of my classes are designated online. I am taking online genetics and took online bio and I plan on taking online biochem.

 

[virtuoso735]

I think I might take an online biochem course because a few schools require it and they have said an online course would fulfill the require (these are DO schools, btw). Which one's the cheapest, or all they all around the same price?

 

[HipChick]

http://www.oakland.edu/

 

[StudyShy]

I believe you designate classes as distance learning when applying.

They don't make you do this, thankfully. 🙂

 

[blubearzangel]

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