<p>I have heard that this is THE GPA killer.... of MCB.
Is there any truth behind this claim?
If so, are all the subdivisions of MCB hard?</p>
<p>The overall department is killer.
If any subdept is significantly easier than the department as a whole, I don't know.</p>
<p>Chembio in CoC is probably harder though.</p>
<p>If you are interested in biochem and you really want to do it, MCB's BMB Track #1 is probably the easiest route.</p>
<p>Chembio in CoC is probably harder though.</p>
<p>If you are interested in biochem and you really want to do it, MCB's BMB Track #1 is probably the easiest route.</p>
<p>i am wondering about this too.</p>
<p>saying chem bio in CoC is probably harder than biochem is an UNDERSTATEMENT!
chem bio is easily one of the hardest majors on campus.</p>
<p>I'm done with BMB Track 2 now and would recommend chem bio instead. The difference is one year of physical chemistry and a tendency to take more chem electives - sounds modest, but I've been learning a ton more from my chem courses.</p>
<p>Straight chemistry is also a good alternative if you are into biochem.</p>
<p>Among the MCB emphases, I'd say that BMB, neuro, and genetics have less rote memorization, not to say that it is not there. The lower GPA is due to the number of classmates who study their asses off and memorize every reaction pathway mentioned in lecture. MCB is a major anyone with a good work ethic can do well in. It's the nature of the life sciences and probably why the average salaries upon graduation look uncomfortably low.</p>
<p>Anyways, "GPA Killer" claims go around for at least half the majors here. Cal students use it as self-validation so don't take it to heart and don't let it dissuade you from biochem. The quantitative and physical sciences aside, biochem is THE scientific frontier of biology.</p>
<p>^there is numerical evidence that MCB actually is a GPA killer.
MCB has an average 2.9 departmental GPA.</p>
<p>It hardly makes a difference when so many other majors hover around the low 3s. There's too many factors floating around to make any kind of distinction (inter-major variation of student interest, intelligence, work ethic, selectivity, fit in the major, etc), and besides, we don't have any information on the spread.</p>
<p>MCB courses are not at all unmanageable, and your scores will be heavily correlated with how much you study. It's not at all frustrating compared to majors where you can actually not understand course material. When I get a B in an MCB course, I know that it is because I could have studied harder. It beats having lectures potentially fly over your head.</p>
<p>Relative to other bio majors it is really bad</p>
<p>From CampusBuddy</p>
<p>IB is 3.34
BioE is 3.51
EPS is 3.50
ESPM is 3.45
ES is 3.39
PMB is 3.28
Public Health is 3.62</p>
<p>MCB is 2.96</p>
<p>The difference is significant</p>