With grad school starting in about a month-and-a-half, I cant run from my my horrible horrible secret anymore. Actually, secrets.
- Ive never taken a course in microbiology
- Ive never taken a course in biochemistry
Im not retarded! Its just that I managed to sneak out of taking micro and took virology instead (micro was a 200 level! virology was a 500 level, and FUN!), and I never had a chance to take biochem because it always filled up before I registered (small school, one biochem), but I got to take advanced eukaryotic genetics!
*sigh* I got street smarts. I gotta get book smarts. So I borrowed Boss Mans biochem book, and Im going to try to use my blog to help me learn! WHOOO!!! hehehehehehehe!
8 comments:
I've been following this blog for a while, but have never posted a comment... I just had to write in response to your secret. It's no big deal! Like you, I "learned my biochem on the streets" as a lab tech (also studying HIV). I had studied cognitive psych as an undergrad and didn't take biochem until after starting my PhD in molecular bio. I don't think it made a lick of difference compared to my classmates who had taken biochem as undergrads—I was even asked to TA one of the first year biochem courses during my second year. You should have nothing to worry about!
I suspect you'll learn more your first year as a grad student than you learned in your entire undergrad career.
No worries, it'll be fine.
Street smarts should do fine in the short term. If they ask you to make up the coursework, do your best to take a course that your assistantship will pay for...that might mean shooting for a 400-level course. Look for something that will stimulate your brain and challenge you to think - chances are memorising the enzymes involved in glycolysis or purine synthesis aren't going to matter much to you. Look at the course, shop around, stand up for yourself. But, at the same time, don't waste too much effort on coursework. It's a hoop to jump through. Find a hoop that neither bores you to tears, nor that will consume all your time and brainpower, and never lose sight of what's really important: blogging! (your public needs you).
Well, if you live near a Tim Hortons. There are ways to persuade a certain Canadian Biochemist to do your bidding.
Ha! Doesn't matter. My two highest degrees are in plant pathology and ecology. I didn't taken a course in either of them.
Bob
"...you'll learn more your first year as a grad student than you learned in your entire undergrad career."
Agreed. Always good to ponder the basics though, even if you've already grasped the bigger picture...you're doing fine!
Eh thanks, guys :) Im probably imagining it will be worse than it will be, but I still want to be more prepared than I am. Like I couldnt even list all the amino acids right now, much less which ones are acidic, etc. We didnt have to memorize that stuff in advanced genetics. I feel way behind.
dean-- Oh Id love to meet Larry, but I the only people I have cursed with an open invitation to Oklahoma are Mooney, and now Nisbet :)
I really doubt you'll need any help. I personally think it is easier to get the details once you know the big picture.
In any case, I got my undergraduate in biochem. So, if you need any pointers, just shoot me an email (although I can guarantee I've probably forgotten anything useful, lol).
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