Which class should i take?

[docdiva22]

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Hello. I was wondering what class will most benefit me in general...for the MCAT, medical school, apps out of the following:

1) Microbiology
2) Human Physiology

I already took Human Anatomy.

Thank you.

 

[joanofarc0907]

Hello. I was wondering what class will most benefit me in general...for the MCAT, medical school, apps out of the following:

1) Microbiology
2) Human Physiology

I already took Human Anatomy.

Thank you.

Physiology is my vote. I really enjoyed it and learned a lot of useful informaiton that I think is pertinent. basic micro didn't do as much for me. Just my opinion

 

[GoodDoctor]

Hello. I was wondering what class will most benefit me in general...for the MCAT, medical school, apps out of the following:

1) Microbiology
2) Human Physiology

I already took Human Anatomy.

Thank you.

Definitely Physiology. I took both, and TA'd for Physiology. My MCAT bio had 2 sections that were complete no-brainers because they were straight out of my Physiology class (oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve, kidney function). I got a 13 on bio (and I hate o-chem). For the MCAT, Genetics seems bigger than Micro (most of the micro stuff on the MCAT you pick up in Cell bio anyway). To me it seems that the MCAT biology is largely Phyiology and Cell Bio with a bit of Genetics and Microbio and a smattering of Evolution, Vertebrates, etc.

If your Microbio class is like the one at my school (upper division - higher than Phyiology and Genetics), it will help to take Physiology and Genetics before (yes, even though it isn't a specific pre-req, my profs taught it as if everyone understood everything from these other 2 classes).

 

[docdiva22]

so...physio is the way to go? cuz ive heard micro helps more. i took Physiological Psychology and Psychoactive Drugs and Behavior....i personally think micro is the way to go since ive already taken anatomy and physio...

 

[FizbanZymogen]

personal experience forces me to vote phys. Take all the MCAT practice tests and you'll quickly see it is much more usefull than micro. I also found this to be true on the MCAT I took this last April. The subject I think that gets overlooked but is tested heavily is genetics. Good luck

 

[docdiva22]

personal experience forces me to vote phys. Take all the MCAT practice tests and you'll quickly see it is much more usefull than micro. I also found this to be true on the MCAT I took this last April. The subject I think that gets overlooked but is tested heavily is genetics. Good luck

is there a difference between the 2006 mcat and the one in 2007 and later since the format changed and its online now?

 

[GoodDoctor]

so...physio is the way to go? cuz ive heard micro helps more. i took Physiological Psychology and Psychoactive Drugs and Behavior....i personally think micro is the way to go since ive already taken anatomy and physio...

Here are the MCAT Bio topics from AAMC:

http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/studentmanual/biologicalsciences/biology.pdf

It's 11 pages. Pages 5-10 are all from Human Physiology. Microbio only get 1/2 of a page, and the topics were largely covered in my Cell Bio class. In fact, the first 4 pages (Molecular Bio, Microbio, and Euks) were all mostly covered in my Cell Bio class.

If you're talking Microbiology, as in Pathology, then the class will cover virus and infectious bacteria with a look at drugs, etc. that will not be covered much on the MCAT. If you're talking Microbial Biology, then this will be a specialized version of Cell Bio, but still not as usefull as Cell Bio, and certainly not as usefull as boning up on more Human Physiology if you only took a combined Anat/Physio class (each really deserves its own semester).

 

[GoodDoctor]

is there a difference between the 2006 mcat and the one in 2007 and later since the format changed and its online now?

No. The physical format is different, the test is shorter, but the topics are the same.

Quote from aamc:
Beginning in 2007, the number of questions will be reduced by about one-third (without changing the content representation), and the allowed testing time will be reduced by about 30 percent.

http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/cbt.htm

 

[docdiva22]

oooh ok. Thank you. Wow...5 pages of physio? Damn. good for me...i love that stuff. Thanks. Physio it is then.

also...i didnt take anat/physio combined they were seperate, however the physio class that i took was physiolgical psychology....which was cool but it was kind of weird b/c you would be talking about everything physio and then you go into the behavior and psych stuff...but yea. thanks again. 🙂

 

[docdiva22]

Here are the MCAT Bio topics from AAMC:

http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/studentmanual/biologicalsciences/biology.pdf

It's 11 pages. Pages 5-10 are all from Human Physiology. Microbio only get 1/2 of a page, and the topics were largely covered in my Cell Bio class. In fact, the first 4 pages (Molecular Bio, Microbio, and Euks) were all mostly covered in my Cell Bio class.

also....thank you for providing that topics list for the bio section. i have been looking for that. I know this is sort of off topic, but whatever. DO you think i should take the PR online course for the MCAT or can i, in theory, just make a huge study sheet from the link that you provided for every section? What you think?

 

[GoodDoctor]

also....thank you for providing that topics list for the bio section. i have been looking for that. I know this is sort of off topic, but whatever. DO you think i should take the PR online course for the MCAT or can i, in theory, just make a huge study sheet from the link that you provided for every section? What you think?

If you know how to study on your own, you can save money by not taking the PR online course. The common wisdom seems to be to use the Exam Krackers MCAT set of books and the 6 AAMC MCAT tests (3-9). SDN bookstore has Exam Krackers through Amazon for $110, which is one of the best prices I've seen:
Buy Exam Krackers MCAT from SDN Amazon
Check out the reviews on Amazon, you'll see what I mean.

Here's the link to the MCAT tests:
http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/practicetests.htm

Here's the full MCAT Student Manual:
MCAT Student Manual

This is all I and most of my friends used to study for the MCAT.

 

[SeaAngel45]

physio is better I think

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

Are molecular bio and microbio the same thing? My school only has the former...

 

[vtucci]

physio. No contest. If you are interested in micro, read Micro made ridiculously easy.

 

[MirrorTodd]

The one that allows you to get an A. Yes, I know "there's more to an application than A's." That's why this post is entirely sarcastic and is designed to waste time because everyone already posted smart stuff. 😛

 

[docdiva22]

here are the catalog descriptions of the classes...maybe that will help. I also added in the description of the english class i am interested in taking.

PHYSO 101—INTRODUCTORY HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY 4 Units
Prerequisite: Successful completion of ANAT 125 (Human Anatomy) and satisfactory completion of CHEM 143 (General Chemistry, 1st semester)
Study of function, integration and homeostasis of the major body systems using biochemistry, cell metabolism, acid-base relationships and membrane functions. Transfer: CSU, UC (CAN BIOL 12, CAN BIOL SEQ B) (CC BIOL 60) General Education: (CSUGE: B2) (IGETC: 5B)

MICRO 101—MICROBIOLOGY 4 Units
Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of CHEM 143 or high school chemistry with a grade of A or B.
Characteristics of microbial life and microbial interactions with humans in disease, environment, and industry. Field trips may be required. Lecture/Laboratory. Materials fee required. Transfer: CSU, UC (CAN BIOL 14, CSU, UC) (CC BIOL 65) General Education: (MJC-GE: A) (CSU-GE: B2) (IGETC: 5B)

ENGL 103—ADVANCED COMPOSITION AND CRITICAL THINKING 3 Units
Prerequisite: ENGL 101
Advanced composition course that focuses on critical inquiry and the techniques and principles of effective writing argument. Examines style, diction, inference, evidence, reasoning, and rhetorical strategies in written argument. Field trips may be required. Lecture. Transfer: CSU, UC (CC ENGL 1C) General Education: (MJC-GE: D2) (CSUGE:
3A) (IGETC: 1B)

Which one (physio, micro) and the english is ok correct?

Thanks again for everyone's help.

 

[docdiva22]

The one that allows you to get an A. Yes, I know "there's more to an application than A's." That's why this post is entirely sarcastic and is designed to waste time because everyone already posted smart stuff. 😛

ummm...i wasnt being sarcastic at all....i'm serious about this post which is why i posted it.

 

[BrianUM]

what's funny is that I had the exact same question with the exact same classes in mind...only I'm interested in what helps me prepare for med school...I'm leaning towards physiology

 

[Dancing Doctor]

Are molecular bio and microbio the same thing? ...

Not in most places. My school has both micro and molecular, and molecular bio healped me a great deal on the MCAT but micro did nothing for me. I majored in an area of molecular (genetic engineering) so I loved the class; there were only 12 of us who took it. Also helped in biochemistry....

If faced with physiology or micro I'd take physiology. Our physiology class was combined with anatomy and a waste of my time. It was an easy A though.

 

[MirrorTodd]

ummm...i wasnt being sarcastic at all....i'm serious about this post which is why i posted it.

Sorry, I meant that I was being sarcastic and that my post was designed to waste time because everyone had already given good advice to you. Now I feel all sheepish. Need to work on my online humor. 🙂

 

[docdiva22]

Oh sorry...i need to get online jokes.

PHYSIO it is!!! Thanks everyone.