Should I take physiology?

[vitanuova]

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I'm entering my 2nd year of an informal post bacc and I'm trying to decide which classes to take. I have a BA and an MA in humanities and last year I completed Chem 1 & 2, Bio 1 & 2, a year of psych, and Physics 1. This coming year I'll be taking the Orgo 1, Physics 2, and a 2 credit physics lab.
I am also currently enrolled in a 4 credit honors physiology class but I am wondering if it is worth my time and money to take it. Does anyone have any input on the usefulness of a physiology course?
It is not a required or recommended class at any of the med schools to which I hope to apply but I have heard that it is helpful for the MCAT.
Advice?

 

[NuttyEngDude]

did your biology class cover the human body? do you know how the nervous system works, the action potentials, how the nephron works, which part of the brain covers homeostasis? the m-line, z-line, a-region, sarcomeres?

cause mine didnt and boy was i in for a rude awakening when prepping for the mcat. now... even after taking physiology at my school, it STILL didnt cover everything i needed for the mcat, but boy do i know how to work an algebra equation... so, the answer i'll give you based on my experience is an emphatic YES!

on the other hand, my bio classes covered cell biology ad nauseum. go go GPCR receptors!


edit: obligatory link to mcat biological science topics:
https://www.aamc.org/students/download/85566/data/bstopics.pdf

 

[vitanuova]

My bio classes covered very little of human physiology... it was mostly genetics, cell bio, plants, and evolution.
So perhaps I should stay in the physiology course. Thanks for the advice.

 

[The_Sunny_Doc]

I've heard it was helpful from the premeds at my school, so I'm taking it in the fall. 🙂

 

[Elevencents]

Take physiology. If you have a choice between anatomy and physiology, then take physiology! Seriously - it is in my opinion the most useful or one of the most useful courses.

Agree. Learned a ton from physiology. Very interesting and pertinent course.

 

[Beandog]

Agree. Learned a ton from physiology. Very interesting and pertinent course.

👍

I took A&P (4.5 credits) and very glad I did. Doing some MCAT prep and realizing my biology courses doesn't get into depth physiologically.

 

[SrootsWwings]

If you feel you can handle it and make the grades, it is helpful for the MCAT.

If you are doing other MCAT prep work (Kaplan, PR, TBR, etc...), you will get the phys review that is essential (I can say this for Kaplan and TBR w/ certainty, and I presume PR and EC are similar), so it would be redundant to take the class only for MCAT reasons if you are using one of these. Obviously, phys will go more in depth than the prep material, but that is a marginal profit for the time and money.

But it is a cool class, it covers systems generally considered to be good to be familiar with on the test (nervous, muscular, circulatory, etc...), and, if you are looking to yank up the GPA, there are two birds and one physiostone.

 

[docelh]

I'm studying for the MCAT now. It's helpful to have a solid background in physiology and genetics for the Biology subject, BUT the practice passages are really about synthesizing new data/information in real-time. In other words, it will only be marginally helpful.

 

[Kmd001]

I was advised that it was unnecessary but I took it any way (I am VERY glad I did).

 

[qwerty2012]

ConstanzooO00o. I loved that name. Lol.

I agree, study physio since it will be highly emphasized on the tests later on. However, you will find out that med school courses cover much more details. Nonetheless, it is always good to have some base.

 

[The_Sunny_Doc]

Great thread. Definitely cemented my decision in the fall.

Vitanuova, I'm in my second year too. May I ask why you're taking psych?

 

[ven2083]

I am in Animal physiology right now (5 credit undergrad class) and I am finding it very helpful. Mind you that I already knew about APs, neurons, anatomy (basically the basics) before I started the class this summer from my previous courses. I did still learn a lot that I did not know so I would recommend it. Don't be afraid and take course by the horns! It will only make you more knowledgeable about the human body.

 

[ThirdEye]

Physiology is a BIG part of medicine. You can't know enough

 

[drold2013]

What about anatomy? It's not as important as physiology, or what (Mcat-wise)?

 

[ThirdEye]

Anatomy only if you want the prep for med school. It's useless for the mcat

 

[drold2013]

Anatomy only if you want the prep for med school. It's useless for the mcat

Wow. Thanks ThirdEye. I had no idea. I'm glad I asked about it. I thought you need both to do good on the MCAT.

 

[Live 2BMD]

I did not take Physiology before I took my MCAT and I did just fine. However TAKE IT as a pred -med because it will give you an edge once you are in medical school.

 

[Gfliptastic]

Physiology is a BIG part of medicine. You can't know enough

THIS!

You will reap so many rewards w/ the physio class. On the MCAT. And in medical school. A keen understanding to physio is a huge asset when you push forward in your career. Patho hinges on physio. Pharm (and adverse effects) also hinges on physio. Physio is super high yield for the Step 1. The docs in your clinical rotations EXPECT you to know physio cold.

Long story short, physio is NOT going anywhere, and it is almost everything in the practice of medicine. Get as much exposure to physio and thinking in physio terms, if you are serious about medical school. 👍

 

[vitanuova]

Great thread. Definitely cemented my decision in the fall.

Vitanuova, I'm in my second year too. May I ask why you're taking psych?

I took psych because the DO program where I plan to apply requires a year of behavioral science.

 

[vitanuova]

Thanks for all of the advice.
After a lot of thought I decided not to take physiology for financial reasons. I did however buy the textbook for the course and I have been working through it. I hope to learn what I will need for the MCAT on my own rather than paying the university an unnecessary $2000.