why is a major in Biochemistry a good preparation for med school?

It is because it has a combination of biology and chemistry? it focuses on enzymes, protein, DNA, and more. Why is a biochemistry better then say Microbiology or molecular biology? I assume biochemistry gives students a firm background of biology.
Answer:
biochem is of no more use in medical school than any other major. I have people in my class that have master's and are getting their phds in biochemistry and they had as much trouble in biochemistry as everyone else did. Because you are not majoring in Medical Biochemistry in college, it doesnt help you as far as the medical aspects. sure you learn the enzymes and proteins and amino acids a little better than everyone else, but that is such a minor part of the med school curriculum, it is forgotten as soon as biochem is over. The same goes for Cell and Micro Biology. We had cell our first year and people that majored in cell and micro had as much trouble as everyone else even though they knew the terminology and had the background. Do not major in something to get ready for med school. Major in something that is of interest to you because you will enjoy it and your grades will reflect that. And if you dont get into med school, having a biochem degree is not what you want to fall back on.Edit: DO NOT rely on your major to make you look good to admissions committees. Science majors are so diluted that you have to have outstanding stats (grades, research, volunteer, etc.) to be considered different than the other science majors. The reason 50% of biochem and chemE students get into med school is because they are smart and good at what they do. And chemE is better for the MCAT because you get the math and physics background that you dont get with biochem.
And bringing prior knowledge to the MCAT can hurt you because the 80% of questions come from passages to keep people with more outside knowledge from having an advantage over everyone else, and because you will think you know an answer because "you have had it before" but if its not what the passage is referring to, you will miss it.

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LOL. In schooling now and just had one heck of a biochem exam involving the Cori Cycle, Phosphate Shunt, Glycolysis, Krebs and Phosphorolation. Would highly advise taking a Biochem primer.Many of the dysfunctions in the human body are caused by problems with proteins. Understanding the amino acid builds of these proteins helps identify underlying causes of pathology based on nutritional needs.Knowing the lack or over-abundance of vitamins, minerals and co-enzymes required by the body (and whether they're interacting as they should) is a basis for many malfunctions of the body's systems.Being able to analyse a blood test can reveal a wealth of knowledge if you understand the biochemical makeups of the elements analysed.Knowing the basis of the Krebs and associated cycles are required as they cycles not only create energy, but also the intermediaries are used to produce bile salts, heme groups, raw materials for DNA, etc...Theres loads more, including the makeup and fuctions of neurotransmitters and the like.These biochem courses are required as a science, even in post-grad school and are quite considerable. They vastly expand upon the basic college level biochemistry course. Having the basics down (or at least something to refer back to) takes off a considerable amount of the work load and is invaluable in understanding the advanced concepts. People I'm training with who haven't previously taken any biochem are practically ripping their hair out.

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Biochem touches organic, physiology, nutrition, metabolism, synthesis etc not to mention the pharmaceutical foundations in terms of drug activity and targeting pathways.That said, for med school, it is really all about MCAT.In MCAT, the biochemistry covers broader subject areas in the biology questions. It naturally gives you the benefit of having more advanced knowledge than the questions in the test challenges you.With biochem, your chance is better than a chemE, however, both will get in med school very easily. According to the stats in the MCAT hand book, the admin rate to med school is above 56%In general, when you have something over 50% admission rate, I will consider it is essentialy a free admission. Don't you ?

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A solid biochem background can help in med school - but biochem is only one class you'll take first year. Taking the premed reqs alone will give the sufficient background for medical school - do the biochem major if that is what you like. If you'd rather major in something else, do it - just finish your premed reqs.

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