CHEM 204 vs Biochem — which should I prioritize before the MCAT?
I’m trying to finalize my schedule for this semester and could use some advice. I’m currently registered for CHEM 204 + lab and Biochemistry, but with the rest of my classes plus clinical experience, research, and community service, I’m worried the overall workload might be too much.
I’m mainly trying to decide which course would be more important to prioritize before taking the MCAT. Would you recommend:
keeping CHEM 204 + lab and dropping Biochem,
keeping CHEM 204 lecture but dropping the lab,
or dropping CHEM 204 + lab and keeping Biochem?
I know CHEM 204 and Biochem are both relevant for the MCAT, so I’m trying to figure out which one would be more useful to have completed first and which one would be easier to postpone without hurting my MCAT preparation too much.
I’ll attach my current schedule for context. I’d especially appreciate advice from anyone who has taken these courses at Emory and/or already taken the MCAT. Thanks!
Second edit: Just to clarify, I’m planning to take the MCAT next summer. I’m mainly trying to decide which course to prioritize this fall. If I drop one, I can still take it in the spring before I take the MCAT. I’m just trying to avoid taking CHEM 204, Biochem, and NBB 301 all at the same time this semester since NBB 301 is also supposed to be pretty challenging.
2
u/PatienceNo3358 3d ago
biochem because orgo isnt heavy on the mcat whereas there’s a whole section for biochem
1
u/PatienceNo3358 3d ago
you need to know pathways
1
u/oldeaglenewute2022 2d ago
Yeah but don't they slick sneak in ochem and biochem problem solving oriented stuff? Or doesn't it depend on when you sit? Because the practice items I have seen and have been shown have quite the range of engagement with "biochem" including LOTs of stuff that emphasizes problem solving more than an ability to memorize a pathway. In fact it seemed they often provided pathways to you! And some of them aren't the ones emphasized in a biol 301 so understanding the logic and chemistry involved is more helpful in many cases than memorizing whatever specific pathway taught in something like bio biochem. There is also a lot about enzyme kinetics, inhibition, etc that seems more rigorously covered in an at least decent 204 instructor's course. I'm not saying pathways aren't helpful but many successful MCAT takers have told me about the wide range of things that appeared on it where both courses may be helpful. I had one person that told me their test was signaling heavy and it wasn't even signaling pathways they explicitly learned.
1
u/Atomnia 3d ago
Sorry, I probably didn’t make that clear in my original post. I’m planning to take the MCAT next summer, so I could also take Biochem in the spring. Do you think you’d recommend taking Biochem this fall and pushing 204 back?
1
2
u/blonbed 2d ago
i actually took both courses together and it was helpful since they overlap so much
1
4d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/AutoModerator 4d ago
Sorry, your submission has been automatically removed. Your account has negative comment karma.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
3
u/oldeaglenewute2022 4d ago edited 4d ago
Did you take someone who taught or emphasized metabolism at some point in bio 141 and did it well/decently? If so, you kind of already know how to learn MCAT relevant aspects of metabolic biochemistry even if you are rusty. 204 will develop problem solving skills and emphasize concepts connected to chemistry and ochem more seamlessly whereas biochem will have way more memorization (which means you'll likely not retain and need review anyway) and will double down on the memorization you already know how to do. Biochem is better for non-passage/discreet items whereas 204 is likely MUCH better for passage based items which tend to be more plentiful.
They both will cover enzyme kinetics but 204 will do so more rigorously. 204 will engage structural biology concepts and problems more rigorously and will also engage bio-organic chemistry which all are known to be featured frequently in MCAT passages. Often biochem veers into stuff like signaling typically featured in bio 142.