what's a biochemistry major? How many people major in Biochemistry?

Question

what biochemistry about? a combination of biology and chemistry. which is more?. Is this major taken by a lot of students in college? Is this major a great way to prepare for the MCAT and medical school?

Answer 1

Biochemistry is not the most popular major, and the descriptions above are excellent in their consideration of the broad ideas covered. However, medical schools do consider strength of schedule so keep this in mind regardless of the major you choose. The biochemistry major will make the MCAT very easy for you, it is the best preparation besides a course you can have as the physical and biological sections are 75% biochemistry/chemistry which is what you will focus on. Do take an MCAT prep class, over half of all applicants do this and they it does help since learning how to take the test is important.

Answer 2

I feel the description above about biochemistry is very good. I also like to add that biochemistry is also looking at the biology from a more analytical aspect with a mathematics basis at times.

I have to admit that biochemistry is a rarely taken major because it is considered one of the most difficult.

As for a person going to medical school, although it would be one of the most helpful curiculums to follow, due to the difficulty, I would recommend not persue this major. Medical school requires only a little need for understanding biological and chemical sciences. There are aspects of health policy and other issues you need to address which biochemistry falls short.

Also in your third and fourth years of college, you should consider your application to medical school another course. Although you earn no credit, it will take a weekly effort over many weeks during the college education time. You should remember that the MCAT will be the SECOND most difficult test you will ever take in your medical life after your medical board exam. In the third and fourth year of a biochemistry major, you will take a course load known as P-Chem or Physical Chemistry.

If you look at the Chemistry portion of Yahoo! Answers, every question is about thermodynamics, pretty much. This is half of P-Chem. The other portion is quantum physics.

You will also take physiology in your third or fourth year. This is another course which takes great care in understanding and is considered a larger breadth course.

I'd consider an easier biology curiculum to ensure application to medical school is something you can easily do.

The biochemistry major is ideal for a person on the research track. Basically a person finishing biochemistry with a B+ average is considered a gifted scholar within the graduate school track. A B+ average would be the "kiss of death" for a person going to medical school.

Best of luck to you.

Answer 3

Biochemistry is specifically the study of the chemistry of organisms. So, you'll deal with the structure and function and metabolism of amino acids and proteins, sugars, lipids, nucleic acids. Largely, you'll look at them from a chemical perspective more than from their biological roles.

A biochem major will have fewer and different Biology courses than a bio major, and will have more chemistry. I think it's a good major for pre-med folks, but you'll really need to take an anatomy and physiology class to help you deal with the MCAT.

Hope this helps.