Optional Biochem

[jdwmont]

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I have been admitted to several schools that recommend, but do not require biochemistry. As I have not taken the class yet, I was wondering what current MD students think I should do. I would likely take an online class.

 

[bodonid]

I have been admitted to several schools that recommend, but do not require biochemistry. As I have not taken the class yet, I was wondering what current MD students think I should do. I would likely take an online class.

not necessary. Most people have forgotten all but the very basics by the time medical school starts anyway. If you want you can buy a review book and try to learn a little, but that is not even necessary, IMO

 

[lildave2586]

I have been admitted to several schools that recommend, but do not require biochemistry. As I have not taken the class yet, I was wondering what current MD students think I should do. I would likely take an online class.

Here's the thing. Anything you do in an undergrad Biochem class will likely encompass two weeks of material in a med school class. But that's two weeks that you'll be ahead. I took a full year of undergrad biochem (actually got a Biochem major) and it helped me a ton.

You'll be fine either way. If you want to be more prepared, take the class. If you would like to enjoy your time before med school, don't take the class.

 

[deuce924]

I took Biochem in undergrad and, like previously stated, the material you learn in the undergrad course will either be forgotten or covered in the 1st 2 weeks of medical school. I still think there was some advantage because knowing Kreb's Cycle, Glucose and Protein Metabolism, and Amino Acids can't hurt you and you are only going to have to learn it again in medical school.

 

[justdoit31]

Our entire biochem course was taught in 2 weeks (which is the only downside I have found with the block scheduling) I didn't have biochem in undergrad and didn't do very well for the exam because I couldn't process 1 year + of undergrad biochem in 2 weeks.

Looking back I wish I would have taken a course (maybe pass/fail) just so it wasn't brand new (my gen bio just did glycolysis and TCA and we didn't memorize them just were familiar with products)

 

[Morsetlis]

Here's the thing. Anything you do in an undergrad Biochem class will likely encompass two weeks of material in a med school class. But that's two weeks that you'll be ahead. I took a full year of undergrad biochem (actually got a Biochem major) and it helped me a ton.

I was auditing two med school classes at NYMC. The first lecture was on COPD, which amazingly my physiology and EMT classes covered, so I knew 90% of the materials covered. Some second-year student asked at which blood O2 sat the person would be considered in hypoxia, lol. The second lecture was on CICR in cardiac myocytes, which amazingly my physiology and biochemistry classes covered, so I knew 90% of the materials.

The moral of the story, take classes that you think will help your GPA ;p

 

[randombetch]

Interesting - alumni from my school who went to Penn Med came back and said our biochem course covers waaay more info than we need to know for medicine.

 

[Catalystik]

My one year of undergrad Biochem was covered in six weeks in med school, using the same text (Lehninger). I considered it a huge advantage to be reviewing that material in med school rather than learning it for the first time. You'll see it again in pharmacology, the second year, so it's helpful if you really understand it.

 

[Morsetlis]

My one year of undergrad Biochem was covered in six weeks in med school, using the same text (Lehninger). I considered it a huge advantage to be reviewing that material in med school rather than learning it for the first time. You'll see it again in pharmacology, the second year, so it's helpful if you really understand it.

I have the same book!

I also suggest taking pharmacology. It's basically all memorization, and the class is helpful in all healthcare fields (it'd impress the doctors you're shadowing, too).

 

[riverjib]

I have been admitted to several schools that recommend, but do not require biochemistry. As I have not taken the class yet, I was wondering what current MD students think I should do. I would likely take an online class.

Why bother? I had to take Biochem I & II for my major. I won't use 90% of what I learned. Honestly, it wasn't all that interesting, either. Some of it was kind of fun (given the protein S-H-R-E-K, find out the isoelectric point), but I'm enjoying my writing class and the non-science major version of quantum mechanics more. It covers just as much extraneous information (in the sense that I'll never NEED it), and there's probably no other time in my life that I'll get to learn something different just for fun.

Your short course in med school biochem will cover all the pertinent clinical info you'll ever need, without setting a ridiculous curve to weed out juniors in a pre-med program. If you're not interested enough in biochem to major in it, I'm not sure why you'd want to take it when you're already accepted. If you're only interested in getting an edge, you may as well study pharm, physio, anatomy, and histology while you're at it. Or you could enjoy your acceptances and the last few months that you don't have to study too hard. Your time is probably better spent doing the latter. You've worked hard enough. Congrats on your acceptances!

 

[Morsetlis]

Oh, already accepted?

In this case, do research.