- Joined
- Jul 7, 2006
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Hey everyone, I'm new here. I'm entering my junior year at a liberal arts school. I'm a Bio major in a school that teaches exclusively at the molecular/micro level (basically not much bigger than a cell). I finished Gen Chem (thank god that's over) my freshman year and took Orgo/Bio this year. Orgo was fine and I loved it, something not many people can claim, so I feel rather secure. Our intro bio course was structured in quarters...Cell/Cell Structure first quarter (i.e. organelles, microtubules/IFs/etc, proteins, and such) followed by genetics and then biochemistry and finally a quarter of model organisms (including some comparitive embryology). This upcoming year I'm taking immunology and cell signaling, which will be helpful for the MCAT.
Now, my disadvantage is that I've barely ever learned the human biology systems that are tested on the MCATs. I'm fairly good at teaching concepts to myself and between an AP Bio textbook (borrowed from someone else) and the ExamKrackers books I have collecting dust on my shelf, I feel rather secure in being able to teach myself the material...It certainly feels more straightforward than the Bio I've been doing this past year (mostly lab and contemporary research-based).
I'm aiming for the April 2007 exam (problem number 1, motivating myself for a test so far away). I'm taking physics this year so that's not really factoring in, and Orgo is not really worrying me much. I have about 7 weeks of summer vacation and want to cover the Bio material once so that I'm familiar with it; memorizing at this point is certainly not going to benefit me much since I can't exactly remember things from two months ago. I figure that instead of flat-out memorizing things, that if they make sense in my head through reading and reviewing, then memorizing should be a breeze. I plan on reading textbook chapters and then rereading them as I write out notes and make index cards.
My question is, am I under or overestimating myself? I've only seen a few sample MCAT questions but never gave them much thought. The ExamKrackers books seem well-rated...between the Bio book and a solid-looking AP Bio text, should all the material I will need to know be covered?
I'm not particularly worried about verbal reasoning because I'm an avid reader and, at a liberal arts school, take at least one or two reading/writing intensive courses per semester for my own enjoyment (to get away from sciences once in a while).
Whew, long post, and I'm sure if I'm being overly-anal. Knowing me, that'd be highly possible. Thanks!
Now, my disadvantage is that I've barely ever learned the human biology systems that are tested on the MCATs. I'm fairly good at teaching concepts to myself and between an AP Bio textbook (borrowed from someone else) and the ExamKrackers books I have collecting dust on my shelf, I feel rather secure in being able to teach myself the material...It certainly feels more straightforward than the Bio I've been doing this past year (mostly lab and contemporary research-based).
I'm aiming for the April 2007 exam (problem number 1, motivating myself for a test so far away). I'm taking physics this year so that's not really factoring in, and Orgo is not really worrying me much. I have about 7 weeks of summer vacation and want to cover the Bio material once so that I'm familiar with it; memorizing at this point is certainly not going to benefit me much since I can't exactly remember things from two months ago. I figure that instead of flat-out memorizing things, that if they make sense in my head through reading and reviewing, then memorizing should be a breeze. I plan on reading textbook chapters and then rereading them as I write out notes and make index cards.
My question is, am I under or overestimating myself? I've only seen a few sample MCAT questions but never gave them much thought. The ExamKrackers books seem well-rated...between the Bio book and a solid-looking AP Bio text, should all the material I will need to know be covered?
I'm not particularly worried about verbal reasoning because I'm an avid reader and, at a liberal arts school, take at least one or two reading/writing intensive courses per semester for my own enjoyment (to get away from sciences once in a while).
Whew, long post, and I'm sure if I'm being overly-anal. Knowing me, that'd be highly possible. Thanks!