14 since graduating university: how preparing for mcat, prerequisites etc question

[Midoritori2018]

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So I graduated from university 14 years ago. I got As in all my sciences as an undergrad. I had a 4.0 in sciences and 3.8 overall GPA. At that time I took bio, oceanography, physics, etc. But it's been 14 years. Some medical schools say you need to have taken courses like bio and chem in the last 5 years, others don't. But I am rusty in chem and physics although I keep very on top of bio. Should I retake many of these prerequisites and then study for MCAT? Or would buying study materials for MCAT be enough to refresh my memory? Just not sure how to proceed here after so long. Also, would I do best to take some kind of certificate program that covers all these things but also gives me something to show for it by the end that would prepare me for MCAT? Thanks

 

[Rachapkis]

Whether you need to retake these prerequisites is something only you can answer. I would recommend that you take two steps: 1) determine how many of the medical schools you would like to attend would require you to retake these classes; and 2) investigate the MCAT further and take a practice exam to see whether you think retaking these prereqs is necessary for you to be successful.

 

[stayathomemom]

Whether you need to take these prerequisites is something only you can answer. I would recommend that you take two steps: 1) determine how many of medical schools you would like to attend would require you to retake these classes; and 2) investigate the MCAT further and take a practice exam to see whether you think retaking these prereqs is necessary for you to be successful.

I second this advice. If you are good at independent learning, then you may get by without retaking prerequisites.

I have a similar story to yours. I bought used textbooks (and answer keys) for those courses and the Kaplan 7-book set. I went through the set for C/P and B/B sections, and supplemented with text and problems out of the textbooks as needed. For P/S, I used the 100-page document (search for it on the premed subreddit at reddit) that basically summarizes all of the videos on Khan academy. For CARS, I practiced every day with Jack Westin and prayed to my God of choice. When you are done with content review, use Uworld and take lots of practice tests. Expect to spend ~2-3 months on content review and ~2 months with Uworld and practice tests. I scored a 520.

 

[Midoritori2018]

I second this advice. If you are good at independent learning, then you may get by without retaking prerequisites.

I have a similar story to yours. I bought used textbooks (and answer keys) for those courses and the Kaplan 7-book set. I went through the set for C/P and B/B sections, and supplemented with text and problems out of the textbooks as needed. For P/S, I used the 100-page document (search for it on the premed subreddit at reddit) that basically summarizes all of the videos on Khan academy. For CARS, I practiced every day with Jack Westin and prayed to my God of choice. When you are done with content review, use Uworld and take lots of practice tests. Expect to spend ~2-3 months on content review and ~2 months with Uworld and practice tests. I scored a 520.

Thanks so much for all that info! Great to know. Which textbooks would you recommend?

 

[stayathomemom]

Thanks so much for all that info! Great to know. Which textbooks would you recommend?

Any set you can find for the "Intro to..." courses (biochem/chem/ochem/physics) from a online used book seller (I like thriftbooks.com) that have come out in the last 15 years.
Edit: these can often be found for $10-20 very used but usable.

 

[Midoritori2018]

Any set you can find for the "Intro to..." courses (biochem/chem/ochem/physics) from a online used book seller (I like thriftbooks.com) that have come out in the last 15 years.
Edit: these can often be found for $10-20 very used but usable.

Wonderful. Thanks