waiver out of Biochem?

[lotanna]

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Ok everyone, I'm considering doing the waiver exam, its 2hrs, 60 questions multiple choice, and I've access to old exams from past several yrs for my sch. Its basic biochem, and they actually encourage people to waiver out of it. I figure I've nothing to lose, as a 75% is Passing, and if I get at least a 75, I'll get a P, if not oh well, i take the half a semester class. I've lippincott and the old exams, especially old finals, which were also 60 multiple choice questions. I've about a month to study for it. Any advice? 😀

 

[W222]

Good luck on the test. That is awesome that you can test out of a class like that, I took MS1 Pharmacology but I cant test out of pharm at the med school I am going to. I would definitely do it, you got nothing to lose.

 

[lotanna]

Good luck on the test. That is awesome that you can test out of a class like that, I took MS1 Pharmacology but I cant test out of pharm at the med school I am going to. I would definitely do it, you got nothing to lose.

Yeah I figure nothing to lose, I'm not paying to take it, worse case scenario i dont get a 75% oh well big deal. I'll need to know

basic biochem terminology
structures of the major types of biochemical compoinds
pH and the Henderson-Hass equation
protein structure and function
enzyme behavior and kinetics
significant aspects of the major metabolic pathays and their control
and structure
biosynthesis
catabolism of nucleotides.

 

[lotanna]

we've a separate Genetics class which is also half a semester and so I wont have to know about the DNA rep, RNA synthesis and protein production or anything molecular bio related.

 

[omarsaleh66]

so if u place out, u dont have to take biochem at all? Man i think biochem is the most important class ur first semester. Dont u guys learn about the liver, porphyrias and the clinical stuff in biochem too?

I would take it and learn it real good so u can have good recall for Step 1. I dont know, its just people tell me there's alot more biochem on Step than histo and anatomy, so it would be a class i'd wanna take.

Even if u take the test, and pass, nothing beats going to lectures and studying the material in the class for retention. I skipped biochem all first semester, and crammed for the tests and passed but I really dont know any of it now and i wish i went to class and really learned the material.

peace

 

[Howard Roark]

My medical school doesn't even teach BIOCHEMISTRY. I would take the class if offered and thus make USMLE studying that much easier later on. Although if you know it so well that it doesn't matter then go ahead and test out of it. Just my thoughts. Good luck.




.

 

[lotanna]

so if u place out, u dont have to take biochem at all? Man i think biochem is the most important class ur first semester. Dont u guys learn about the liver, porphyrias and the clinical stuff in biochem too?

I would take it and learn it real good so u can have good recall for Step 1. I dont know, its just people tell me there's alot more biochem on Step than histo and anatomy, so it would be a class i'd wanna take.

Even if u take the test, and pass, nothing beats going to lectures and studying the material in the class for retention. I skipped biochem all first semester, and crammed for the tests and passed but I really dont know any of it now and i wish i went to class and really learned the material.

peace

biochem is more low yield, mol bio and genetics is whats more high yield for the boards. In my schl, my Cell Bio and Physiology course is the most important our 1st semester especially looking ahead towards the boards.
I think folks are mistakening Biochem and Genetics, we have a separate genetics course. The prof said he encourages anyone with any biochem background to attempt it.
If y'all check on the USMLE forums, and talk to the folks there, u'll see that Biochem is low yield, mol bio and genetics is what was quite high yield. Even when u look at 1st aid biochem section, which i've rviewed, u see they only mention the genetics and mol bio part, hardly anything on enzymes even or amino acid structures. This is a half a semester course for us.

 

[omarsaleh66]

ummm ok then my advice is to take the exam!!!

 

[pikachu]

the highest yield thing that came out of my Biochem course was the inborn errors of metabolism. you should make sure this is covered in the genetics section of your course and if not study it hard for Step 1 (if you test out of biochem) since this was a pretty high yield subject.

 

[lotanna]

the highest yield thing that came out of my Biochem course was the inborn errors of metabolism. you should make sure this is covered in the genetics section of your course and if not study it hard for Step 1 (if you test out of biochem) since this was a pretty high yield subject.

thats not covered in our biochem, and we have genetics, plus i also got the hy mol bio &genetics book cause i know many people on here used it for step I