<p>Can anyone go into detail about the MCB and IB majors and what you can do with them? I am confused on the difference between the two. If you are/was in either of these majors, how did you like it? Pros/Cons etc. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Also, I would like to go the Pre-med track, so I like the aspect of research that they offer at UIUC.</p>
<p>-Pacamed-</p>
<p>Hi.</p>
<p>I’m a freshman here, so I can answer your questions. When you are admitted to this university, you are admitted into the “Biological Sciences - General” program as you cannot actually declare your major (MCB or IB) until after the first year in which you will have taken both the MCB 150 and IB 150 introductory courses. Even if you took AP Biology and received a score of 4 or 5, you won’t be able to declare until after your first year. I do recommend, however, that you take MCB 150 regardless of your AP Biology score because the jump from AP Biology to MCB 250 (the course after MCB 150) is much, much greater than from MCB 150 to MCB 250. Many students who attempt this have not done well in MCB 250. IB 150 is a course you can skip if you’d like, but it is an “easy A,” so it’s your choice as to whether you want 4 hours of 4.0 GPA in a biology course or perhaps a 4.0 GPA in however many hours of another course in which you may be interested and in which you can receive an easy A.</p>
<p>Now to answer your question. In MCB, the molecular and cellular biology and how it affects the larger systems (tissues–>organs–>systems–>organism) is studied. In IB, the whole organism is studied, and the cellular and molecular parts aren’t emphasized nearly as much. </p>
<p>Some of the higher-level MCB courses include Neurobiology, endocrinology, immunology, cell physiology, microbiology, etc.</p>
<p>I don’t know about the higher-level IB courses, but the courses are about zoology, plant biology, ecology, etc.</p>
<p>IB is the “easier” major. I, however, am interested in MCB and am therefore majoring in that. If you are an MCB major, you can still take IB courses, and vice-versa. Regardless of your major, you will need to take some MCB courses anyways to prepare you for the MCAT. These include biochemistry, molecular genetics, and human anatomy and physiology. </p>
<p>I’m also researching now and intend to remain with the same professor for my duration here, so I may be able to answer any questions you have in regards to research.</p>
<p>If you have any other questions, just PM me.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the information! That really helped me alot. You seem like you love the college and I wish you the best in furthering your college experience! I’ll be sure to let you know if I have more questions. Thanks again!</p>