Semester/Quarter (UCLA) Mix?

[Doc Z]

I'm having a little trouble understanding the Organic Chemistry requirements for medical school in the context of my transfer from a semester to a quarter school.

I took one semester of Organic Chemistry with lab. Now I'm at UCLA and I have to complete Chem 30B (lecture) and Chem 30BL (lab) in order to get my degree. However, there is a 3rd quarter of Organic Chemistry at UCLA, Chem 30C and Chem 30CL, which is not required for my degree but possibly required for medical school. Now I have heard that I only have to take up to Chem 30C and NOT Chem 30CL (lab component of 3rd quarter) for medical school. That doesn't make any sense to me though - the Organic Chemistry requirement is 1 year with lab. If I took one semester with lab, one quarter with lecture and lab, and a last quarter of Organic Chemistry lecture with NO lab component then it doesn't add up to one year.

It would be greatly appreciated if someone could explain how to approach this situation. Thanks!

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[Doc Z]

Anyone?

 

[funkydrmonkey]

At most of the UC's you only have to take 2 quarters of Ochem lab.

 

[SiR99]

i think biochem 153L makes it a year of chem lab. So you would have your two regular Ochem classes with lab, and then biochem 153A and 153L. Thats for bio majors though.

something has to be right because they specifically make the bio major for pre-health students, and they make sure it takes care of all the requirements for med-schools

 

[funkydrmonkey]

i think biochem 153L makes it a year of chem lab

I thought 153L counts as a bio lab?

 

[SiR99]

In the biology major requirements outline, these classes are listed as Chemistry 153A and 153L, not biology, where as all the other bio related classes are titled "Something" bio

I'm not 100% sure about this, but it may count as one or the other depending on what you need, but for most regular bio majors at UCLA they are only required to take 2 lower div chem Labs, and the upper div 153L

 

[funkydrmonkey]

In the biology major requirements outline, these classes are listed as Chemistry 153A and 153L, not biology, where as all the other bio related classes are titled "Something" bio

I'm not 100% sure about this, but it may count as one or the other depending on what you need, but for most regular bio majors at UCLA they are only required to take 2 lower div chem Labs, and the upper div 153L

But it is BIOchemistry... Err.. that is not good... I was planning on taking this to fulfill the last quarter of bio lab required for medical schools...😱

 

[Doc Z]

I'm a Phy Sci major so I think it's a little different for me. But yes, Chem 153A and 153L are requirements for me. I don't know if that would fulfill my Ochem requirement since it is a Biochem class and med schools look at them differently. Some med schools even require for you to take a separate Biochem class while most just prefer it.

 

[Lukkie]

you need 30C but NOT 30CL.

basically here's the courses I took:
20A
20B
20L
30A
30B
30C
30AL
30BL

 

[Lukkie]

I'm a Phy Sci major so I think it's a little different for me. But yes, Chem 153A and 153L are requirements for me. I don't know if that would fulfill my Ochem requirement since it is a Biochem class and med schools look at them differently. Some med schools even require for you to take a separate Biochem class while most just prefer it.

cool, i majored in phy sci. no, (bio)chem153A and L do not fill your ochem requirements for medschool or your major.

 

[Doc Z]

you need 30C but NOT 30CL.

basically here's the courses I took:
20A
20B
20L
30A
30B
30C
30AL
30BL

Thanks! And you're 100% sure about this? I've heard all kinds of horrible things about Bacher and Chem 30CL so I really hope I don't have to take it lol

 

[Lukkie]

Thanks! And you're 100% sure about this? I've heard all kinds of horrible things about Bacher and Chem 30CL so I really hope I don't have to take it lol

you absolutely do not have to take CL. yes its an awful class from everything i heard. at most, they'll make you take BL which is pretty bad but not as much as CL. if you're really in doubt you should be able to talk to Inna (is she still the PhySci counselor?) who can straighten it out.

 

[Doc Z]

Yeah she mentioned I only have to take Chem 30C but she didn't sound too sure. Connie in the Chem department couldn't give me a definitive answer either but she said that pre-pharmacy and pre-dental students do have to take Chem 30CL for sure.

When I transferred to UCLA, I was offered to receive credit for 30BL since I took a pretty rough organic chemistry course at my previous school but they were worried that I wouldn't do well if I went on to 30CL. Now that I know I don't need 30CL, technically I could just receive my credit for 30BL and not take any more ochem except 30B/C...but that only helps with my degree and not with my preparation for med school as I'd still have only one semester of ochem with lab and 2 quarters of lecture. So guess I'm gonna have to take 30BL, even though I've covered most of the material already.

 

[Doc Z]

cool, i majored in phy sci. no, (bio)chem153A and L do not fill your ochem requirements for medschool or your major.

How did you like Phy Sci? Phy Sci 107 is kicking my ass right now lol

It's the first time I actually truly had to work. I'm really enjoying the material - it's by far the most interesting class I've ever taken...but wow it's insane to get an A!

 

[Lukkie]

Yeah she mentioned I only have to take Chem 30C but she didn't sound too sure. Connie in the Chem department couldn't give me a definitive answer either but she said that pre-pharmacy and pre-dental students do have to take Chem 30CL for sure.

When I transferred to UCLA, I was offered to receive credit for 30BL since I took a pretty rough organic chemistry course at my previous school but they were worried that I wouldn't do well if I went on to 30CL. Now that I know I don't need 30CL, technically I could just receive my credit for 30BL and not take any more ochem except 30B/C...but that only helps with my degree and not with my preparation for med school as I'd still have only one semester of ochem with lab and 2 quarters of lecture. So guess I'm gonna have to take 30BL, even though I've covered most of the material already.

yeah i guess all the counselors are pretty worthless tbh... i only talked to my college counselor once and inna once. again, if you can pass out of BL, DO IT. don't touch CL with a 10 foot stick. makes sense that pharm students have to take CL but you aren't pharm.

How did you like Phy Sci? Phy Sci 107 is kicking my ass right now lol

It's the first time I actually truly had to work. I'm really enjoying the material - it's by far the most interesting class I've ever taken...but wow it's insane to get an A!

i loved it. a lot. 107 was definitely one of my favorite classes in my entire undergrad. I was a UA for the lab too. it definitely is 'insane' to get an A but its like 90% memorization just like most of the classes in the major. but you'll learn a ton in 107, the 111 series and of course the electives are really kick ass. is phelps teaching the whole quarter? tony friscia involved at all?

 

[Doc Z]

yeah i guess all the counselors are pretty worthless tbh... i only talked to my college counselor once and inna once. again, if you can pass out of BL, DO IT. don't touch CL with a 10 foot stick. makes sense that pharm students have to take CL but you aren't pharm.

I'd love to pass on BL, all I have to do is tell Connie I want to do so and it's done, but then I wouldn't have completed my ochem lab requirement for med school - it would simply complete my degree requirement for UCLA. And besides, my previous ochem class covered most of the stuff BL covers and Bacher said I would be fine in BL with that background.

i loved it. a lot. 107 was definitely one of my favorite classes in my entire undergrad. I was a UA for the lab too. it definitely is 'insane' to get an A but its like 90% memorization just like most of the classes in the major. but you'll learn a ton in 107, the 111 series and of course the electives are really kick ass. is phelps teaching the whole quarter? tony friscia involved at all?

Yeah you do learn a ton, I'm just really worried about forgetting stupid small details here and there. Overall, I'm incredibly happy that I switched from a Bio major to Phy Sci - it was the best possible decision I could have made. Phelps just finished her half of the lectures and Friscia just started lecturing yesterday. Can't really tell who I like more yet...I REALLY liked Phelps though.

 

[Lukkie]

I'd love to pass on BL, all I have to do is tell Connie I want to do so and it's done, but then I wouldn't have completed my ochem lab requirement for med school - it would simply complete my degree requirement for UCLA. And besides, my previous ochem class covered most of the stuff BL covers and Bacher said I would be fine in BL with that background.



Yeah you do learn a ton, I'm just really worried about forgetting stupid small details here and there. Overall, I'm incredibly happy that I switched from a Bio major to Phy Sci - it was the best possible decision I could have made. Phelps just finished her half of the lectures and Friscia just started lecturing yesterday. Can't really tell who I like more yet...I REALLY liked Phelps though.

yeah so if you take BL you'll have all your bases covered. iirc like 90% of the grade is based on the final which he gives you a review book for so honestly your background probably isn't too important.

friscia is a really chill guy and i liked those muscle/skeleton labs the best. you'll have a blast with the cadavers.

well im off to bed, if you got any more questions feel free to shoot me a PM 👍

 

[JokerMD]

why in god's name you would take the physical science series i have no idea....


you guys have no idea how easy the 14 series is

 

[Doc Z]

Yeah so I hear. Unfortunately, as a transfer student I'm only allowed to take the 30 series.

 

[Lukkie]

why in god's name you would take the physical science series i have no idea....


you guys have no idea how easy the 14 series is

was completely undecided where I wanted to go in life when i started. wanted to have that base covered

 

[SiR99]

why in god's name you would take the physical science series i have no idea....


you guys have no idea how easy the 14 series is

Thats a rumor from the people who took the physical science series

If you thought the 14 series was easy then you would have thought the 30 series was easy as well, its just longer.

the added competition in pre-health classes makes up for the added difficulty in the physical science classes so it equals out.

 

[Doc Z]

Very interesting...Bacher told me that some medical schools require a third quarter of Ochem lab and lecture - meaning I'd need 30CL. I decided to follow up on this by emailing Harvard just to see what they'd say. And the verdict is....you do indeed need 30CL.

 

[SiR99]

Very interesting...Bacher told me that some medical schools require a third quarter of Ochem lab and lecture - meaning I'd need 30CL. I decided to follow up on this by emailing Harvard just to see what they'd say. And the verdict is....you do indeed need 30CL.

Whow, I actually asked a councilor about this and they said that every medical school knows that UCLA does things a little differently and they just accept that since its a well known school,

That just shows how much they new, Seriously though, sometimes I wonder where they find these councilors, it seems like UC councilors are all worthless at giving correct information about medical school

 

[Snake Doctor]

you do NOT need 30CL for med schools. Now for pharm schools, you need 30CL...
I wanted to be pre-pharm but 30CL is ummm... not my cup of tea.
Honestly, I have no idea why 30CL is required at all because 30AL and 14CL are virtually similar (just look at the labs both courses do and they're 80% identical). 30AL has the soil lab (which isn't that bad actually). 30AL should be listed as "Gen Chem and O chem Lab II" (just like 14CL) instead of "Gen. Chem Lab II" because it's mostly ochem material anyways.

I repeat, 30CL is NOT required for medical schools 👍

 

[dwc929]

you do NOT need 30CL for med schools. Now for pharm schools, you need 30CL...
I wanted to be pre-pharm but 30CL is ummm... not my cup of tea.
Honestly, I have no idea why 30CL is required at all because 30AL and 14CL are virtually similar (just look at the labs both courses do and they're 80% identical). 30AL has the soil lab (which isn't that bad actually). 30AL should be listed as "Gen Chem and O chem Lab II" (just like 14CL) instead of "Gen. Chem Lab II" because it's mostly ochem material anyways.

I repeat, 30CL is NOT required for medical schools 👍

I, too, can attest to this. You need 30C, don't need CL. I don't know a single one of the schools that I applied to the specified that you needed one year of ochem labs and even if they did, I feel like I was able to play off 153L as one.

 

[misslala]

Hi everyone,
does anyone know if 30C is required for MCAT? has it helped anyone to better prepare for MCAT?

Thanks

 

[DreamPills]

I took 30CL because I was told it was required...? There were lots of pre-pharm in that class, but there were also some pre-meds in there. The class isn't that bad...but the quarter I took it, Bacher only gave out two As.

 

[snorlax]

Sorry to bring this up again, but I am so confused! and the mixed messages aren't helping 🙁. I would realllllllllly appreciate closure on this issue.

I'm NOT a biochem major OR a bio major. so Chem 30CL and Chem 153L are NOT required for my major.

Do I have to take ANY of these classes for med school?

I have already taken Chem 20L, 30AL, and 30BL. And I will be taking Chem 114 (Physical Chem Lab), and C185 (Materials Chem Lab) in the future.

Thanks!

 

[bigslick]

Sorry to bring this up again, but I am so confused! and the mixed messages aren't helping 🙁. I would realllllllllly appreciate closure on this issue.

I'm NOT a biochem major OR a bio major. so Chem 30CL and Chem 153L are NOT required for my major.

Do I have to take ANY of these classes for med school?

I have already taken Chem 20L, 30AL, and 30BL. And I will be taking Chem 114 (Physical Chem Lab), and C185 (Materials Chem Lab) in the future.

Thanks!

My friend has been accepted to both UCLA and UCSD, and is not planning on taking Chem 30CL nor Chem 153L. I'm headed to Texas A&M and verified that Chem 30CL/153L were not required either. We're both engineering majors. However, Chem 30C is required by most med schools, so you should definitely take that. Keep in mind you only need to finish these by matriculation, not when you're applying. So if you get accepted to a med school, ask them if you completed all requirements and if not, you can still take them last minute during your last quarter.

 

[ReptarBar]

you dont need to take biochem lab i believe...i dont think any school requires biochem lab (just biochem itself). a lot of schools dont even have biochem lab.

im not too sure about your lab situation. im in the 14 series, so we only have bl/cl, which i know cover the requirement (bl combines with 14A/B to make a year of g chem with lab; cl with 14C/D for a year of ochem with lab). im pretty sure you dont have to take CL...wouldnt really make any sense. you have your gchem labs from 20L/30AL and your ochem lab from 30BL...you should only need one of each, which you have.

 

[snorlax]

Thanks so much! This is so helpful to me. Now I can finally ignore all my friends who confidently claim "lots of people take 153L so if you don't, you'll look bad". lol

 

[thehibo]

OP, take it from someone who goes to a school on the quarter system: My school only offers ochem lab for two quarters. The first quarter of ochem lecture does not have a lab, but medical schools will accept this. Don't worry about it. There have been many people who have graduated from my school that have gone on to medical school.

 

[eagle311]

UCLA grads/students: If we don't need to take 30CL for medical schools..which btw is listed as "Org Chem Lab II" then where does our second Org Chem Lab come from? We would only be taking one organic chemistry lab so this doesn't make sense to me. I'm interested in going to D.O. school btw.

PLEASE HELP ME GET THIS!

The school i'm interested in says 12 quarter units of organic chem w/lab are required.

😕

 

[Fivo]

UCLA grads/students: If we don't need to take 30CL for medical schools..which btw is listed as "Org Chem Lab II" then where does our second Org Chem Lab come from? We would only be taking one organic chemistry lab so this doesn't make sense to me. I'm interested in going to D.O. school btw.

PLEASE HELP ME GET THIS!

The school i'm interested in says 12 quarter units of organic chem w/lab are required.

😕

Usually that means 12 quarter units of lecture and lab can be done with 4 quarter units (2 quarters) at the UCs. I think at a few UCs, the 3rd quarter of Ochem lab is reserved for chem majors only, though not 100% sure.