Useful Classes for MCAT Biology

[MissionStanford]

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Which of these classes are/aren't "necessary" (or really useful) to do well on MCAT biology?

-Introduction to Biology (With lab)
-Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology (With lab)
-Genetics and Evolution
-Molecular Biology
-Human Physiology
-Molecular Biochemistry I
-Developmental Biology

I'm not making my schedule based on classes useful for the MCAT. I'm just wondering.

 

[mr chievous]

Which of these classes are/aren't "necessary" (or really useful) to do well on MCAT biology?

-Introduction to Biology (With lab)
-Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology (With lab)
-Genetics and Evolution
-Molecular Biology
-Human Physiology
-Molecular Biochemistry I
-Developmental Biology

I'm not making my schedule based on classes useful for the MCAT. I'm just wondering.

Physiology will help tremendously.

I'd say Physiology > Genetics > the rest

 

[NickNaylor]

Physiology will help tremendously.

I'd say Physiology > Genetics > the rest

I agree.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I'm somewhat inclined to believe Cell Bio is also helpful. It basically takes bio 1 reviews it and then goes over everything in more depth.

 

[rawkfist]

Biochemistry is useful as heck if you wanna add in a class

 

[Mehd School]

To answer your original question, all of the classes you posted will be helpful for the MCAT.

I've taken Biochemistry, Histology, and Vertebrate Anatomy as upper levels, and all were tremendously helpful. Histo and Anatomy was systems based, kind of like the EK bio book is. We went into crazy depth, though.

 

[GomerPyle]

physiology by a long shot...then genetics (for the very few genetics questions that are on the test..)

 

[Hemorrage]

1. Physiology
2. Biochemistry I and II if your school lets you (as a non biochem major)
3. Genetics
4. Cell Biology

I placed these in order of emphasis i've seen in TBR questions

 

[DNA]

1. Physiology
2. Biochemistry i and ii if your school lets you (as a non biochem major)
3. Genetics
4. Cell biology

i placed these in order of emphasis i've seen in tbr questions

this!

 

[NickNaylor]

1. Physiology
2. Biochemistry I and II if your school lets you (as a non biochem major)
3. Genetics
4. Cell Biology

I placed these in order of emphasis i've seen in TBR questions

Definitely agree with the addition of biochem. There's not any material that you need to know from biochem, but it can definitely help with random BS and PS questions.

I was never convinced that genetics was all that helpful since it seems like most of the genetics on the MCAT is covered in gen bio, but most people seem to think otherwise. I never took cell bio and it didn't seem to hurt me.

 

[Temperature101]

physiology by a long shot...then genetics (for the very few genetics questions that are on the test..)

This

 

[Mehd School]

Definitely agree with the addition of biochem. There's not any material that you need to know from biochem, but it can definitely help with random BS and PS questions.

I was never convinced that genetics was all that helpful since it seems like most of the genetics on the MCAT is covered in gen bio, but most people seem to think otherwise. I never took cell bio and it didn't seem to hurt me.

Cell bio was quite similar to biochemistry at my school. My text defined biochem as the chemistry and biology of the cell.

I disliked both equally.

 

[NickNaylor]

Cell bio was quite similar to biochemistry at my school. My text defined biochem as the chemistry and biology of the cell.

I disliked both equally.

That's how it was at my undergrad, as well - cell bio and biochem I were basically the same class.

 

[Spinach Dip]

That's how it was at my undergrad, as well - cell bio and biochem I were basically the same class.

That's funny. At mine, Cell Bio, Biochem, and Molecular Bio were all completely different.

😕



OP: I would suggest these ranked by order of helpfulness:

1. Physiology
2. Biochemistry
3. Clinical Genetics (aka, Human Genetics. Note that Intro to Genetics is generally a pre-req)
4. Cellular / Molecular Biology