Should I take Biochem Lab?

[Archdelux]

Hi everyone,

I am taking Biochem this semester, and I don't particularly want to take the 1 credit lab with it. Is there any specific reason I should? I heard that med schools might look favorably on it, but do certain med schools require it? Is it worth taking?

Thanks!

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[dshnay]

take classes that are required by your major, or classes that you want to take, don't take a class cause it looks "good" on a medschool app if such thing even exists, I never did. In my school biochem lab was required and all we learned was enzyme kinetics, purifying proteins among some other stuff. If you're interested at this go for it.

 

[baylormed]

There is no reason why you should take the lab if it is not required by your major. Enjoy the class...labs are a pain in the rear.

 

[awk]

Yeah its very rare for a med school to require the Biochem req. If a school does have this req I would take the lab too. Actually I did

 

[Droopy Snoopy]

Plus once you get to med school it's highly unlikely you'll have a lab with your Biochem course, so it's not like it's helping you prepare for anything. Skip it and take Ballroom Dancing or something. Guarantee you'll get more adcom intrigue over that one.

 

[Wizard of Oz]

Plus once you get to med school it's highly unlikely you'll have a lab with your Biochem course, so it's not like it's helping you prepare for anything. Skip it and take Ballroom Dancing or something. Guarantee you'll get more adcom intrigue over that one.

Take it if you like that stuff. It didn't really help me learn biochem though. Med schools aren't going to care one way or the other.

 

[BigRedPremed]

Med schools aren't going to require it but I did learn many techniques in biochem lab that are useful in research.

 

[awk]

You responders are jumping the gun! Here is an exact FAQ off an allo website...

Q: My school's biochemistry class is only three credit and doesn't offer a lab. Do I need to take another biochemistry class?

A: If your undergraduate school's biochemistry class is only three hours and has no optional lab, then the requirement is fulfilled. If you school's biochemistry class has an optional lab and you chose not to take it, you must take the lab prior to matriculation.


Check it!

 

[Wizard of Oz]

You responders are jumping the gun! Here is an exact FAQ off an allo website...

Q: My school's biochemistry class is only three credit and doesn't offer a lab. Do I need to take another biochemistry class?

A: If your undergraduate school's biochemistry class is only three hours and has no optional lab, then the requirement is fulfilled. If you school's biochemistry class has an optional lab and you chose not to take it, you must take the lab prior to matriculation.

Check it!

Most schools don't even require biochemistry yet much less the lab, so this is not good advice.

I can't check it because you didn't give a link.

 

[LifetimeDoc]

Most schools don't even require biochemistry yet much less the lab, so this is not good advice.

I can't check it because you didn't give a link.

That looks like it was taken from the University of Florida's COM website FAQ...

http://www.med.ufl.edu/oea/admiss/site/FAQ.shtml#4

 

[Wizard of Oz]

That looks like it was taken from the University of Florida's COM website FAQ...

http://www.med.ufl.edu/oea/admiss/site/FAQ.shtml#4

From the same school's website...

Basic Science Requirements: The minimum science admissions requirements include basic introductory courses and laboratories in the following subjects:

Biology - 8 semester hours (12 quarter hours/lab)
General (Inorganic) Chemistry - 8 semester hours (12 quarter hours)
Organic Chemistry - 4 semester hours (2-3 quarter hours)
Biochemistry - 4 semester hours (6 quarter hours)
Physics - 8 semester hours (12 quarter hours)

A med school that requires biochem. Cool!

They've come right out and said biochem is a must; I think that my school says biochem or genetics or physiology (or something like that). There is a movement out there to do what UF has done, so please enlighten me to other schools that have gone this route.

For the class of 2008 (the newest MSAR I have), I'm seeing that they only took Florida residents. I wonder how they verify labs for people who went oos for undergrad. Do they have to call the school? OP, if you're not from Florida, I wouldn't treat this advice as useful to you. Look at the requirements of schools that you're applying to specifically.

After looking at the actual link, it's clear to me that what awk is quoting is a rule exception for students whose biochem lecture was not supplemented by a lab. UF probably made the requirement 4 hours to try to force 'em to take a lab since such lectures are often 3 hours, but from the actual requirements I can't see how they'd not allow two lecture classes (say 6 hours of biochem lecture) in place of the lab, which I'd still say would be more valuable than taking the lab.

 

[45408]

You responders are jumping the gun! Here is an exact FAQ off an allo website...

Q: My school's biochemistry class is only three credit and doesn't offer a lab. Do I need to take another biochemistry class?

A: If your undergraduate school's biochemistry class is only three hours and has no optional lab, then the requirement is fulfilled. If you school's biochemistry class has an optional lab and you chose not to take it, you must take the lab prior to matriculation.


Check it!

Most schools don't require biochem, and my school didn't offer biochem lab (I took the lecture).


Don't bother. You won't need it in med school.

 

[awk]

Most schools don't require biochem, and my school didn't offer biochem lab (I took the lecture).


Don't bother. You won't need it in med school.

No Duh. But if you are applying to one that does you should take the lab. That was my point.

Above poster was right, the FAQ is from UF COM.

 

[LifetimeDoc]

No Duh. But if you are applying to one that does you should take the lab. That was might point.

Above poster was right, the FAQ is from UF COM.

Our pre-med office has gone back and forth about the UF requirement for 4 credits of biochemistry. UF has told us that our separate lab called Biochemistry Lab isn't part of the Biochemistry I course, so it's not required from students from my school. However, now I'm worried that even though I'm taking Biochemistry II to make sure I satisfy the 4 credits of biochemistry requirement, it looks like the rules are changing again and I'll have to take the lab. Time to contact my pre-med adviser again.

 

[awk]

I am a student at UF and I enrolled in the Lab this semester. Even though the BCH course here is four credits the lab is still required.

 

[Rumplestilskin]

I am a student at UF and I enrolled in the Lab this semester. Even though the BCH course here is four credits the lab is still required.

glad i found this thread. i was debating tonight whether to drop biochem lab myself. the school i have been accepted to does not require it or the course, and i am just taking the course for more science experience and interest, but the lab sucks **&, so i think i am just going to drop it.


r~

 

[Summer Sweet]

I'm enrolled in both for my major. Maybe I'm weird, but I find lab more fun than lecture (gasp!). I think part of this might be due to the fact that the lecture portion is starting to get equation-intensive, and I've always disliked the heavy math portions of science. I caught a mild cold last week in the coldroom, though, but I haven't decided whether or not I want to be the only student in biochem lab wearing a parka next week