Taking OChem 2 and Biochem together

[Halcyon32]

Hey guys,

So I'm planning on taking the MCAT in january of 2017 and applying during that cycle. I'll be a junior then. I really want to take biochem 1 before then (solely to be prepared for the MCAT) and the earliest I can take it is fall of 2016, so the semester before I want to take the MCAT. If I were to do this, I'd have to take Ochem 1 next semester and then Ochem 2 the same semester as biochem 1 and that's possible because my uni has Ochem 2 as a prereq or concurrent enrollment required for biochem 1.

My question is would it be too difficult to succeed and understand biochem I if I'm taking Ochem 2 at the same time as I have heard people have difficulty with biochem if they don't have Ochem 2 down well.

All that the course description for Ochem 2 says is that it's a continuation of Ochem 1 whose course description reads: "Structure, reactivity, and synthesis of organic molecules"

Biochem 1's course description is:
"Chemistry of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids"
It doesn't cover metabolism and biosynthesis of macromolecules; that's covered in biochem 2

The other course of action is doing the same thing as above but instead of taking biochem 1, I would be taking introductory biochem at the same time as Ochem 2. The reason I'm considering this is because the prereq required for intro biochem is only Ochem 1, which leads me to believe I'll be able to understand and do well in that class since I won't need prior knowledge of Ochem 2. But I'd only want to take it if would be beneficial for the MCAT. Here's the course description for intro biochem:
"Structure and function of cellular constituents; enzymology; metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, nucleotides; molecular biology of biosynthesis of proteins and nucleic acids"

I'm leaning towards taking intro but I'd love to hear you guys' opinion
Thank you all in advance for your help!

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[Fedekz]

You'll be fine. Biochem didn't require much from ochem 2, if at all. If you don't feel comfortable taking them together in the same semester, good luck in med school...

 

[deleted577188]

Take them together, especially if metabolism isn't covered.

 

[Halcyon32]

You'll be fine. Biochem didn't require much from ochem 2, if at all. If you don't feel comfortable taking them together in the same semester, good luck in med school...

My other issue was with the content; I was under the impression that enzymatics and metabolism were the key parts of biochem on the MCAT and since those are covered in intro biochem and not biochem 1, I was thinking it would be better to take intro, no?

Take them together, especially if metabolism isn't covered.

Take which two together? regardless, I'm taking Ochem 2, it's just a matter of taking it together with intro biochem (which apparently covers metabolism) or biochem I (which doesn't cover metabolism)

 

[Fedekz]

My other issue was with the content; I was under the impression that enzymatics and metabolism were the key parts of biochem on the MCAT and since those are covered in intro biochem and not biochem 1, I was thinking it would be better to take intro, no?

Take which two together? regardless, I'm taking Ochem 2, it's just a matter of taking it together with intro biochem (which apparently covers metabolism) or biochem I (which doesn't cover metabolism)

Enzymes was pretty big for the MCAT, but that's very easy to learn by yourself. I'm not sure what biochem 1 covers that the intro doesn't, but my mcat bio section was essentially a biochemistry journal reading comprehension exam. So maybe biochem 1 would better prepare you for that.

 

[Zen Arcade]

I was in the same situation as you but took ochem 2 over the summer. If you can do that it would be best. Otherwise you'll be fine, just know your functional groups well.

 

[deoxyribonucleicacid]

At my university, both were really tough classes and both required a lot of research and studying outside of class. I took them together and it is one of my regrets in my undergraduate year because I was not able to fully concentrate on one or the other.

HOWEVER: the biochemistry on the MCAT I had ended up practically acing! A lot of the sorts of questions we had to answer in class had related to the MCAT as well as a lot of the pathways, etc.

So then again, it is really up to you. If you feel you can handle it, then do so! If not, then maybe reconsider your schedule 🙂

 

[takeurmeds02]

TL;DR I took both at the same time in undergrad. It's definitely doable and they kinda compliment each other depending on the institution. If you absolutely have to choose only one, I would choose biochem to take closest to the MCAT

 

[caffeinemia]

You'll be fine. Biochem didn't require much from ochem 2, if at all. If you don't feel comfortable taking them together in the same semester, good luck in med school...

True that basic biochem is not so o-chem heavy. It's nice to understand some concepts - such as the structure/functional groups of carbon rings, chirality, and basic o-chem linkages (esters, alcohols, etc.), but that's really about it.

Also med school has very relatively little biochem/ochem. Don't let this pre-med noob scare you.

 

[bee17]

I think your biggest concern should not be whether or not you can handle O-chem 2 + Bio chem, but rather if you can handle O-chem 2 + Biochem + MCAT studying. Why not take the MCAT later in the spring to give yourself more study time?

 

[Halcyon32]

I think your biggest concern should not be whether or not you can handle O-chem 2 + Bio chem, but rather if you can handle O-chem 2 + Biochem + MCAT studying. Why not take the MCAT later in the spring to give yourself more study time?

Because in case I do bad the first time in january, I want to give myself time for a retake so that I can still apply during that cycle

 

[MiniMD]

Definitely depends on a number of things: your foundation in O Chem I, the professors you would have for both classes, any other classes/work you'd have going on at the same time. I tried taking Biochem and O Chem II at the same time, and it also was one of my undergrad regrets, because it was too much for me. I ended up withdrawing O Chem II and taking it again later, but I kinda wish I took O Chem II first then Biochem, because IMO Biochem pulls a lot from O Chem I & II. And I would also say that the MCAT (or at least the version I had this past summer) had MUCH more Biochem than O Chem, so you definitely want to do well in Biochem, to complicate things more. But hey, there's always those people that just *get* it and do just fine taking both at the same time.

 

[Halcyon32]

Definitely depends on a number of things: your foundation in O Chem I, the professors you would have for both classes, any other classes/work you'd have going on at the same time. I tried taking Biochem and O Chem II at the same time, and it also was one of my undergrad regrets, because it was too much for me. I ended up withdrawing O Chem II and taking it again later, but I kinda wish I took O Chem II first then Biochem, because IMO Biochem pulls a lot from O Chem I & II. And I would also say that the MCAT (or at least the version I had this past summer) had MUCH more Biochem than O Chem, so you definitely want to do well in Biochem, to complicate things more. But hey, there's always those people that just *get* it and do just fine taking both at the same time.

I'll probably end up taking those 2, another bio course like genetics or cell bio or something, and maybe a spanish class, which probably won't be too difficult. But I'm also probably gonna be part of a research lab. Is that too much all at once do you think? on top of studying for the MCAT?

 

[MiniMD]

I'll probably end up taking those 2, another bio course like genetics or cell bio or something, and maybe a spanish class, which probably won't be too difficult. But I'm also probably gonna be part of a research lab. Is that too much all at once do you think? on top of studying for the MCAT?

How funny, I actually took Genetics when I attempted to take O Chem II & Biochem at the same time! Genetics was easy for me, O Chem II & Biochem were definitely not and required a lot of dedicated studying. I would say, see how O Chem I goes for you. Maybe you're really great at it and would be fine taking Biochem & O Chem II at the same time. But if you struggle in O Chem I, it's probably an indicator that you may struggle in O Chem II & Biochem and really should focus on one or the other. And studying for the MCAT is a whole other ball game. Just because you have completed all pre-reqs does not mean you are automatically ready to take the MCAT. I'm sure you have read on here people who spend 6+ months studying for it.

I totally get the feeling that you want to don't want to waste any time applying for med school, but you don't want to mess up your GPA, especially with these classes.