Starting with biochemistry.

[littlefred]

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My school decided that this year's MS1 students should take Biochemistry as their first class. Does anyone know if this is good or bad for us students, and if any other medical schools take this approach?

 

[deleted263296]

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[OPPforlife]

my school will do the same. I think its a good idea, that way anatomy will make more sense may be. At least, on a molecular level.

 

[GoLakers310]

my school will do the same. I think its a good idea, that way anatomy will make more sense may be. At least, on a molecular level.

No, Biochem won't help you a bit for anatomy -completely different. I took Biochem during my undergrad, albeit I forgot everything about glycolysis and Kreb Cycle. Therefore, I had easier time understanding most concepts, compare to those that never had it.

 

[ChemEngSoonMD]

My school decided that this year's MS1 students should take Biochemistry as their first class. Does anyone know if this is good or bad for us students, and if any other medical schools take this approach?

You are asking the wrong question. Your question should be HOW not WHY. It should be:

"how do I do good in the class already decided" not "why did they chose this class".

1. Since they are teaching the class, I would hope they know a bit more than you. If not, why are you taking the class?

2. Even if their idea of which class to take is the wrong one, knowing this does not increase your chances of anything.

 

[littlefred]

Actually it was decided by the faculty that biochem would be taught first, because MS2 students complained about their biochem. They said that the class had little or no relation to medicine... So this year they added clinical correlations and basically the class focuses more on the effects of biochem rather than the raw facts.

I just wanted to know if other schools did this too. I'm not asking how to get good grades in the class that's already been decided...

 

[greatnt249]

my school will do the same. I think its a good idea, that way anatomy will make more sense may be. At least, on a molecular level.

Gross anatomy is just that; a macroscopic overview of the anatomy of the human body. Knowing biochemistry does not do a bit of good when it comes to studying gross anatomy.

 

[riceman04]

hmmm....I won't see anatomy and micro-anatomy until second year

 

[Cp22kjer]

Hmm well I have BioChem, Anatomy and Histo all starting off....guess I get the best of both worlds lol.

 

[Adam638]

I think for most schools, they start with biochem because it's kind of the odd-ball class and gives you a nice foundation for which the other classes build. By that, I mean after this course, everything is grouped into organ systems. Knowing the biochemical pathway of gluconeogenesis is important because once you get to the GI system, they will talk about how the liver is important in this and if you haven't seen the actual pathway, then you won't have a clue how everything relates. At least that's the way it is a most med schools I know.

 

[corbis11]

I started with anatomy...talk about a HUGE learning curve, yikes...but you get used to it (or should) after a week or so

 

[njbmd]

My school decided that this year's MS1 students should take Biochemistry as their first class. Does anyone know if this is good or bad for us students, and if any other medical schools take this approach?

Makes no difference one way or another. Everyone (in the United States) essentially covers the same material by the end of year 2. Chill out, because obsessing over what comes first or last is useless as you can't change anything.

 

[Mattabet]

I think having biochem pretty early on is common. It's a nice class to ease in with, because many people have seen big chunks of this material before in undergrad biochem/biology/orgo/etc.

 

[45408]

I think having biochem pretty early on is common. It's a nice class to ease in with, because many people have seen big chunks of this material before in undergrad biochem/biology/orgo/etc.

I'm not sure you'll be using the words "easing in" after another week or two...


I started with biochem, anatomy and embryology in fall of M1.

 

[ucsfstudents]

It'll be over with before you know it. Every school is different. Try going to the usmle.org website, seeing what biochemistry topics are tested in the USMLE Step 1, and make sure to learn those really well. Everybody learns biochem at some point in the first 2 years. Good luck.

 

[turkeyjerky]

hmmm....I won't see anatomy and micro-anatomy until second year

No ****? What do they have you taking first year then?

Imho, biochem is the most useless pos class in med school. Be glad to get it out of the way early.

 

[MossPoh]

Everyone makes a big deal out of anatomy because it is that class everyone thinks of when they think of med school, but the returns for most people are pretty low. Success in anatomy has some of the lowest correlations with USMLE score. So bottom line, doesn't really matter. I know people that rocked anatomy having it first and sucked at biochem second. Everyone has their skills and weaknesses and each class has things that will make it difficult or easy for certain people.

 

[Ravendown]

It may make a difference if it boosts your ego; Biochem is waaaaay easier than anatomy, so far at least. I just finished it this past fall semester and took the shelf exam. however it is for you, don't think that all's well after it though. There's a huge difficulty increase, or at least time increase in the amount you study, and how well you have to study in order to do a good job in the class.