science classes in undergrad

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NRAI2001

NRAI2001

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Did classes like physio, anatomy, endocrinology, immunology, biochem, neuroscience taken while an undergrad helping you in med school? If so how much?

Any other classes taken as an undergrad that are helping u or atleast giving u an advantage now in med school
 
I definitely recommend getting some sort of background in the basic sciences by taking classes in undergrad that you will have to deal with in med-school. Granted, you don't need a detailed background to do well, but you'll thank yourself when you get to classes that you are familiar with. I caution you not to get too overconfident in your background, it'll still be a lot of work :horns:
 
People have different views on this question. Some argue that whatever you need to know, they'll teach you, and the coverage you get as an undergraduate is next to useless, because it will be at a different level of detail. I suppose at some medical schools, they really do give everything to you, but at many schools, they aren't going to cover everything you need to know. At the very least, having heard it once before will help you integrate what is going on. Based on my own experience, I'd strongly recommend a good class in Cell Bio (good background for histo), Biochem (it'll be taught differently in med school, but it's great to hear it once in whatever form before you get there), and Molecular Bio. To a lesser extent, physio and immunology. I wouldn't bother with anatomy unless you're going to be getting a really good course (don't do a single term combined course in anatomy and physiology), unless you either want to be a surgeon or you've got spare time (or both). Anatomy is fun, though, so if you want to do it, go for it.

Best of luck with everything! And you have fun to look forward to -- med school is a blast.

Anka
 
exposure to these classes definitely helps, but you can do fine in med school without having them in advance. I had taken biochem, anatomy, and physiology. Don't think it gave me any advantage, honestly.
 
MOST DEFINITELY THEY HELPED! If you didn't jack off during those classes, they provide a VERY solid foundation to stand upon for your MS1 classes I think. For anatomy I don't have to waste my time memorizing a lot of structures and relationships and focus mainly on detail and such.
 
TTSD said:
MOST DEFINITELY THEY HELPED! If you didn't jack off during those classes, they provide a VERY solid foundation to stand upon for your MS1 classes I think. For anatomy I don't have to waste my time memorizing a lot of structures and relationships and focus mainly on detail and such.
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Maybe my problem was that I had taken all but biochem 10 years before starting med school...and biochem was still 6 years before med school 😉 Oh, well.
 
YES! Take as many of the biology courses as you can. In undergrad I took biochem and developmental biology (A's each) and first semester in med school they are helping tremendously -- we have anatomy, biochem, dev. bio, psychiatry (blow off). Almost everything for the first exams were a review, I didn't study very much and high passed or honored everything. A LOT of people have been complaining about how hard things have been with the quantity of material and difficulty (esp. second block), but its been relatively easy for me. I have lots of free time and honestly haven't been working much at all. As soon as I decide to turn it on I think I'll have a very good chance of honoring (maybe) all of my classes.

Now, I worked VERY hard in undergrad, spent a lot of time studying and did very well. The knowledge carry over has been pretty high even though I started school ~2 years after graduating. Classes I took: above mentioned + neurobiolgy (2 sems), immunology, biology, cell biology. Wish I would have had anatomy.

During my interviews each of my interviewers mentioned that the first two years of school wouldn't be so hard for me because of the classes I took and its been very true.
 
Didn't take biochem and having no problems. The students who took it as undergrads feel it is of very limitted help.

Took anatomy with the nursing students and very glad about it. It was extremely superficial in comparison, but gives a good foundation and atleast 1/2 the structures seem familiar. Plus you get the terminology, which was not tought here (they just start using it) The students who did not take any undergrad anatomy seemed to have a lot more trouble and stress early on.

Cell bio..... wish I had. Lots of pure memorization and a real pain in the ass. Did have histo in my undergrat anatomy and that has been nice.

As for the others, I will tell you when I get there. One thing I have noticed is a false sense of security amongst those who have taken a lot of undergrad bio. Many times they end up doing poorly at first.
 
General concensus: While you're not up a creek if you don't take them in undergrad, it may help ease the burden a little bit. I can't tell you how many times I've been able to use my undergrad hematology and undergrad biochem this year. Could I have done it without them, thogh? sure. Do I think it helped? you bet.
 
A more important question is WHICH classes to take.. (as if you won't take ANY beyond the pre-recs). Do you need to take EVERY damn class? absolutely not. Biochem, in my opinion is a waste, in undergrad. (However a solid understanding (not memorization) of orgo can help some). I didn't have it (am not a whiz) and got an A in medical biochem while I knew many who were biochem majors (aka whiz) and struggled. Undergrad biochem adn medical biochem are not the same.

Now, anatomy, it doesn't hurt but as it is mostly a memorization thing, you will likely forget most of it before you get there... but it doesn't hurt.

Much more conceptual stuff, however, can definately ease the burden. (a great physiology class will do you wonders- covers some biochem, some endo, lots of clinical path, micro etc) And a good immuno course can ease your life...

So if you are selecting, go conceptual.... that's my .02
 
One thing you don't realize as a first-year, the second-year is MUCH worse! And, there are few undergraduate courses that will help you with it. Microbiology and pathology are both 99% memorization. Path is interesting, but, it too is probably 98% memorization. In short, the first-year is hard-work, but it is very doable for all people. Also, if you are at a graded school and want to get honors in this stuff, I think you will find yourself having to work pretty much all the time regardless of your background. And, more importantly, no matter how much undergrad bio you take, you will pretty much be as screwed as everyone else with the second-year stuff.
 
WatchingWaiting said:
One thing you don't realize as a first-year, the second-year is MUCH worse! And, there are few undergraduate courses that will help you with it. Microbiology and pathology are both 99% memorization. Path is interesting, but, it too is probably 98% memorization. In short, the first-year is hard-work, but it is very doable for all people. Also, if you are at a graded school and want to get honors in this stuff, I think you will find yourself having to work pretty much all the time regardless of your background. And, more importantly, no matter how much undergrad bio you take, you will pretty much be as screwed as everyone else with the second-year stuff.
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I've heard that too.. though I wouldn't say HARDER per se. Just pure memorization, enough to drive one completely looney.

Yeah, trying to honor your courses is actually pretty difficult. I don't know for other schools, but trying to maintain a 90% avg is tough.. no problems trying to pass.. but honoring is hard.
 
shaggybill said:
Ignoramous here, but how do you pass the MCAT without taking some these classes?

FYI, Im not even an undergrad yet...
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the mcat only tests the material covered in the pre-req classes...2 semesters of general chem, 2 semesters of organic chem, 2 semesters of physics, and 2 semesters of biology, and 1 semester of english. you have to have these classes to apply to any med school, and the mcat is limited to the material covered in those classes.
 
Sweet Tea said:
the mcat only tests the material covered in the pre-req classes...2 semesters of general chem, 2 semesters of organic chem, 2 semesters of physics, and 2 semesters of biology, and 1 semester of english. you have to have these classes to apply to any med school, and the mcat is limited to the material covered in those classes.
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I've skimmed through some MCAT books (but never really looked at the english section, which is my question). As far as english goes, is it much like the SATs? I believe that there are passages that need to be read, are they science-based passages, vocabulary, or just mere comprehension?

I should probably go find this out myself, but any replies would be nice.
 
fpr85 said:
I've skimmed through some MCAT books (but never really looked at the english section, which is my question). As far as english goes, is it much like the SATs? I believe that there are passages that need to be read, are they science-based passages, vocabulary, or just mere comprehension?

I should probably go find this out myself, but any replies would be nice.
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No, the SAT verbal section holds nothing to the MCAT passages. Probably the best comparison might be your AP Literature exam.

Some of the passages can deal with the "sciences." Nothing like a science journal article if that's what you mean. But it might talk about some applications of science but nothing really hardcore.
 
TTSD said:
No, the SAT verbal section holds nothing to the MCAT passages. Probably the best comparison might be your AP Literature exam.

Some of the passages can deal with the "sciences." Nothing like a science journal article if that's what you mean. But it might talk about some applications of science but nothing really hardcore.
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Comprehension I assume? Never took AP Literature, took IB English HL (lived in Europe) but never took the test.
 
fpr85 said:
Comprehension I assume? Never took AP Literature, took IB English HL (lived in Europe) but never took the test.
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It's not like the SAT...the MCAT verbal is long boring passage, the lots of questions. No vocab, no analogies, just verbal reasoining. Big fun. Actually, it was my best subject, but it's really hard for some people and tends to be the hardest subject to improve your score and study for...it's not like memorizing a bunch of equations and then applying them.

The MCAT forum has lots of good info on the MCAT structure. 🙂
 
Our first block includes Anatomy and Histo... If you can take a good Histo class, embryology, and cell biol they would definitely make things easier. Especially the histo.
 
hmmm, never took the SAT's......... 😀
 
tugbug said:
Our first block includes Anatomy and Histo... If you can take a good Histo class, embryology, and cell biol they would definitely make things easier. Especially the histo.
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I thorougly second this. If you wanted to sub genetics for embryo, that would work too. Physio is the class I found most helpful for the MCAT (Bio sci was my best sub section too).
 
Eventually. I skipped my senior year of highschool adn went straight to a state college (long story). when I transferred to SMU for my film degree as a jr., they said: btw we need an SAT or ACT just as a matter of course. I took the ACT cold adn thankfully did well....

not really fair since I was already a jr but.... 😀
 
I didn't take the prereq's and score high on the MCAT. MCAT science isn't 'real' science. It's more of a reading test anyway.
 
Very very true. However, trying to take the test without basic chem, orgo and physics is SERIOUSLY goign to kill you. I had several students try variations on this and they regretted it.
 
I had Org1..... that's it. The rest I learned from TPR.
 
thackl said:
I had Org1..... that's it. The rest I learned from TPR.
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What about the rest of the prereqs? Org2?
 
The way I see it I could've spend 1 full year in undergrad Biochem to maybe help me out a bit with the 1st 9 weeks of med school (thats how long our biochem course here was) and that's a big maybe. Is it worth it? In my eyes absolutelly not. Enjoy your time in college. Do something you like as opposed to busting your ass in Biochem for a year. They'' teach you all the biochem you need in the 1st 9 weeks of med school. Did I suffer because I took it easy in college. Hell no! Still wound up doing really well in all those 1st year courses. Enjoy college life and work hard in med school.

Bottom line: Enjoy all the free time you can get before med school, because once you get here there ain't much of it.
 
AlexRusso said:
The way I see it I could've spend 1 full year in undergrad Biochem to maybe help me out a bit with the 1st 9 weeks of med school (thats how long our biochem course here was) and that's a big maybe. Is it worth it? In my eyes absolutelly not. Enjoy your time in college. Do something you like as opposed to busting your ass in Biochem for a year. They'' teach you all the biochem you need in the 1st 9 weeks of med school. Did I suffer because I took it easy in college. Hell no! Still wound up doing really well in all those 1st year courses. Enjoy college life and work hard in med school.

Bottom line: Enjoy all the free time you can get before med school, because once you get here there ain't much of it.
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YEa ur probably right, having fun ur last few semester of college will probably help u more than anything. Have fun the ur senior year and be ready to study once u get into med school.
 
biochem, anatomy, cell/tissue bio, embryology, physiology

take yer pick.......a good foundation in any one of these (for me, biochem and physio have helped) will help
 
NRAI2001 said:
What about the rest of the prereqs? Org2?
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Took them the summer and fall after the MCAT.
 
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