Undergrad Classes to Help with MCAT

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MuhammadNoorani

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Hello everyone. I am currently about to start my undergrad classes with a minor in biology. I was wondering if certain classes would help more than others. I want to form a class plan so that I can complete the minor both effectively, and be prepared (or at least have an idea) for the MCAT. These are the classes being offered and I hope someone can help me pick out which ones are the most helpful.

Cell/Molecular Biology​

Choose at least one from:

BIOL 3401General Microbiology
BIOL 3403Medical Microbiology andÿ Immunology
BIOL 3412Cell Biology
BIOL 3415Molecular Biology
BIOL 4313Endocrinology
BIOL 4330Molecular Evolution
BIOL 4333Immunology
BIOL 4361Neuroscience I: Cellular and Molecular
BIOL 4413General Virology
BIOL 4417Microbial Genomics
BIOL 4418Electron Microscopy
BIOL 4421Biotechnology
BIOL 4428Medical Genomics

Developmental/Morphology​

Choose at least one from:
BIOL 2428Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
BIOL 3405Histology
BIOL 3406Developmental Mechanisms
BIOL 3407Comparative Embryology
BIOL 3408Plant Morphology

Organismal/Environmental​

Choose at least one from:
BIOL 2310/MARS 2310Marine Processes and Ecosystem Dynamics
BIOL 3404Conservation Biology
BIOL 3414Invertebrate Zoology
BIOL 3420Environmental Biology
BIOL 4316Environmental Toxicology
BIOL 4318Ethnobotany
BIOL 4319Medical Entomology
BIOL 4388Global Change Ecology
BIOL 4389Goegraphical Information Systems in Biology
BIOL 4402/MARS 4402Marine Zoology
BIOL 4403Introduction to Remote Sensing Technology
BIOL 4404Ichthyology
BIOL 4407Animal Parasitology
BIOL 4408Plant Pathology
BIOL 4409Herpetology
BIOL 4410/MARS 4410Marine Botany
BIOL 4412Ornithology
BIOL 4414Plant Taxonomy
BIOL 4415Entomology
BIOL 4416Mammalogy
BIOL 4423Wildlife Ecology and Management
BIOL 4424Microbial Ecology
BIOL 4426/MARS 4426Marine Ecology
BIOL 4427/MARS 4427Marine Animal Field Studies
BIOL 4432Animal Behavior

Physiology​

Choose at least one from:
BIOL 1322Human Nutrition
BIOL 2401Anatomy and Physiology I
BIOL 2402Anatomy and Physiology II
BIOL 3310Neurobiology
BIOL 3311Mammalian Physiology
BIOL 3345Animal Nutrition
BIOL 4317Disease Epidemiology
BIOL 4362Neuroscience II: System, Developmental, and Disorders
BIOL 4405Plant Physiology
BIOL 4411Ecological Physiology of Animals

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Top 3 from the first box: Microbiology, cell biology, and immunology.

Histology

Animal parasitology

Mammalian physiology
 
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I tend to agree with Justice1071. My experience from both the old and new MCAT is that a typical general biology sequence plus cell biology is adequate for what you will need on the molecular side while a anatomy/physiology sequence should give you the fundamental systems knowledge.
 
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Honestly, if it's all the same to you, then I'd take whichever classes are easiest and use the saved time doing literally anything else. You don't need upper level science courses for the MCAT- as long as you took the prereqs and study enough, then you'll be fine.

Kevin W, MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors
 
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Cell bio, micro bio, genetics, A&P, histo are all high yield for M C A T and preclinical years.

Edit: histo is high yield for preclinical but not the mcat.
 
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What A&P covers must differ drastically from school to school. The overlap between the classes at my school and the MCAT is minimal. Knowing all of the bones and muscles wouldn't have helped on the MCAT and that's what A&P 1 covers at my school.
 
What A&P covers must differ drastically from school to school. The overlap between the classes at my school and the flowers is minimal. Knowing all of the bones and muscles wouldn't have helped on the flowers and that's what A&P 1 covers at my school.
And then there's the type of flower schools that have you memorize all 206 bones in the body in third grade (I still remember making the flash cards) and then you're set for Physio at university (no anatomy required). More bunnies means more bunnies.
 
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