<p>Hello,
UCLA has recently made changes to a lot of majors to lighten the upper division course load. The Biochemistry Major has been changed also. When I entered UCLA the major required 2 quarters of general chem and 3 quarters of ochem. Also, it required 2 quarters of gen chem lab and 2 quarters of ochem lab. The new major only requires one quarter of ochem lab. The counselor told me that I can switch to the new major requirements or stick with the old one. I think the new major requirements give me more freedom with my upper divs. My question is, will one quarter of ochem lab be fine to fulfill med school requirements?</p>
<p>Thanks for you time and sorry for the long post.</p>
<p>Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but one quarter of OChem lab will not suffice, and neither will two quarters of Gen Chem. For most med schools, you will need one full year of Gen Chem and one full year Organic Chem, which at UCLA is three quarters each. Some med schools (emphasis on some) will accept one term of biochem in lieu of one term of organic chem. Thus, taking biochem+lab will work at those schools. Other med schools will accept upper division chem (Inorganic, for example) in lieu of Gen Chem, but that is on a med school-by-school basis.</p>
<p>check out the individual UC med schools for examples. Or UCLA’s own website for premeds.</p>
<p><a href=“http://career.ucla.edu/Students/GradProfSchCounseling/PreHealthCareerServices/Medicine.aspx[/url]”>http://career.ucla.edu/Students/GradProfSchCounseling/PreHealthCareerServices/Medicine.aspx</a></p>
<p>Thanks for the response!..but I’m not quite sure I understand what you mean, sorry. Do you mean 2 quarters of General Chemistry will not suffice or General Chemistry Lab. Because at UCLA they only offer 2 Quarters of Gen Chem and 2 Quarters of General Chem Lab in the 20/30 series. </p>
<p>There is a 14 series which only offers 2 Quarters of General Chem and 1 qrtr of General Chem lab and 2 Qrtrs of OChem and 1 qrtr of OChem lab. So as you can see the series that I am in offers the most chemistry classes. There is no way that I can take 1 more quarter of gen chem or gen chem lab because no such courses are offered. </p>
<p>Also I will be taking one full year of Ochem but only 1 qrtr of ochem lab but I will also be taking 3 qrtrs of Biochem and 1 Biochem lab. Additionally, most medical schools require 2 years of chemistry, the 20/30 series counts as 2.5 years.</p>
<p>sorry, my bad. UCLA certifies that the 14 series will satisfy all prehealth requirements since the Gen Chem is accelerated. (And the 20 series satisfies prehealth as well.)</p>
<p>Back to your original question: follow the guidelines on UCLA’s premed website.</p>
<p>[UCLA</a> Career Center](<a href=“http://career.ucla.edu/Students/GradProfSchCounseling/PreHealthCareerServices/Medicine.aspx]UCLA”>http://career.ucla.edu/Students/GradProfSchCounseling/PreHealthCareerServices/Medicine.aspx)</p>