<p>I have hard that most bio courses possess an oral and written component? Is this true and if so can you please elaborate how each component plays a role in one's grade and when each component is taken? Are all exams both multiple choice and short answer? Are there TAs and tutors who are helpful and if additional help is needed? </p>
<p>What is so difficult about biochem at Cornell because everyone seems to say that it is the toughest course there for bio sciences majors? Please elaborate on this.</p>
<p>Also do all bio courses have associated labs with them? Are labs difficult overall, such as are exams given in labs about stuff done and are long lab reports given each week?</p>
<p>No…bio related labs are separate from the course. Although I do believe the Bio 101-102 sequence requires enrollment in the lab courses. </p>
<p>None of the bio courses I took had an oral component…only written exams. The exams are a mixture of multiple choice and short (sometimes long) answer. </p>
<p>The courses have TAs and they are helpful…the professors are also very willing to help students. You won’t be left hanging.</p>
<p>Dewdrop, in your opinion are courses fair? The reason that I ask is because my current institution, my bio final was 80% of my grade. Is this common in Cornell? It just seems very easy to fail no matter how much effort one puts in.</p>
<p>I think the grade distributions in the bio courses I’ve taken were more than fair. In fact, your final exam will often count for less than your other exams.</p>
<p>Ex. In biochem this semester the 3 exams counted for 70% and the final counted 30%.</p>
<p>The toughest course for bio majors is BioGD 281 Genetics.</p>
<p>Biochem at Cornell is actually really easy, unlike its reputation at other schools. I remember scoring in the 90’s on the tests for both BioBM331 and BioBM332. Any exam where you don’t even have to rely on the curve is more than fair.</p>
<p>Was genetics helpful for MCATs? Should I probably hold off on genetics until maybe senior yr so that it doesn’t affect my GPA badly? What bio courses did you take each yr norcal? Is taking physics and orgo the same yr suicidal or is waiting until junior yr with physics better?</p>
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<li><p>Genetics is not helpful for the MCAT. All of the genetics on the MCAT (simple Mendelian genetics and some pedigree analysis) is learned in 2-3 classes of BioGD281. Most bio major premeds do wait until senior year to take it. </p></li>
<li><p>A good chunk of premeds take physics w/ orgo and a good chunk of premeds take physics and orgo separately b/w the sophomore and junior years. I took them together so that I could take the MCAT at the end of my sophomore year. No complaints with that strategy. I think they’re manageable together although you have to be somewhat good at time management.</p></li>
<li><p>I won’t go too indepth but I spent the first 5 semesters or so clearing out the general bio requirements (evol bio, genetics, 2 semesters of biochem, intro bio) and the last 3 semesters were devoted to the 6 or so additional bio courses I needed to take for my molecular/cell bio concentration. So, b/w 1-2 bio courses a semester.</p></li>
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