Advice needed for MCAT bio

[shoehornlettuce]

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I made a post a little while ago and guess I'm looking to elaborate a bit on it. Anyway, I'm not a science major so I just took the pre-reqs as electives and am now preparing for the MCAT. My Bio I class was pretty solid but my Bio II class was complete ****. The professor just talked about whatever was on his mind that day and we learned absolutely nothing. I'm basically looking for some direction on how to learn what I need to know for the MCAT. I've gone through some of TBR bio but I'm finding I don't have a strong enough background in bio to even attempt many of the questions. Would it make sense to read through all of TBR bio before attempting any of the passages and come back to the passages after I've finished both books? Will just TBR give me the knowledge I need for the MCAT bio or do I need to supplement it with a textbook? I appreciate any advice. I'm just a bit flustered because I went though a few sections of TBR and felt I understood everything they were saying, then when I got to the passages I realized more outside info was often needed.

 

[MT Headed]

TBR Bio, while educational, would be a huge discouragement for you right now.

I'd suggest getting EK Bio, EK Bio 101 passages, EK Audio Osmosis, and going through the Interactive Physiology series (you can google it, it's a series of educational flash movies aimed at high school students).

I know where you are coming from, my own school had the same type of solid bio 1, lame bio 2. Honestly, you would most benefit from taking a class in physiology (or A&P) from the nursing or paramedicine program at your school.

Good luck. It's a shame our schools didn't teach biology "to the MCAT test", but c'est la vie.

 

[Penguin89]

Hi

I am in the same boat as you, expect my bio class was taken over 4 years ago. But I believe that the Biology in both TBR and TPRH are more than sufficient material for the mcat. it seems like an overwhelming amount of information, but I just learned to break it down and take it a bit at a time. what I do is study about 10-15 pages of bio a day and an entire chapter of the physical sciences or verbal. This way I am not overwhelmed with an entire chapter of bio. And I think that you're okay with reading the material and then coming back a second time to actually attempt passages. However you need to always review or you will forget

 

[vashka]

If you have enough time, you can watch general biology recorded classes from UC berkeley. on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRiokVd-ID8&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=SP58DC5865AE85BA28

 

[shoehornlettuce]

Thanks for all the advice. A few of my friends are studying with examkrackers so I'll check out their books and see if it makes a bit more sense. Thinking I'm gonna go through TBR Bio and do the passages after I read everything unless anybody else thinks that would be a bad idea. Maybe refer to Campbell when I'm really stumped. Also, thanks for that link. Those videos look great.

 

[medhope4]

If you have enough time, you can watch general biology recorded classes from UC berkeley. on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRiokVd-ID8&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=SP58DC5865AE85BA28

Wow, would watching this series be like taking an actual biology class, minus the labs ofcourse?