anyone do well on mcat PS but not college physics or gchem?

[javandane]

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i'm thinking to myself, "i totally blew physics and gchem in college. how the hell am i gonna manage the mcat PS?" looking for some inspiration from others who didn't set the class on fire with their physics/gchem excellence, but still got a respectful PS score. . . .

 

[UCLAstudent]

I got a B- in my first g-chem class and got an 11 on the MCAT PS section. Honestly, I think I learned more about g-chem from studying for the MCAT. MCAT g-chem is a lot more conceptual.

 

[nina512]

I was always borderline B/C in gen chem, o-chem and physics. Considering how much I hated physic and ochem, I was pretty happy with my 9 in PS and 11 in BS.

 

[adamj61]

I got a 12 in PS. But I am a biochem major....I did have B's in both Gen chem and Physics. BUT, I took the hardcore honors version of Gchem, which was invite only...and for physics, I took the physics for engineers and physics majors. I learned a lot, but the curves were really bad, and it was only frosh and soph year. I think the PS on the mcat is a joke 👍

 

[adamj61]

Interestingly, the first day of class in Gchem my frosh yearm we did particle on a box and particle on a ring...which lead to more crazy quantum mechanics...all calc based. So you can get the picture, it wasn't just called honors. Big mistake....oh, and I took Anal Chem, which helped a bit I guess

 

[IndyZX]

i did fine in gen chem and physics at school, but i didnt feel like i grasped any of the material the first time around. i just learned what i needed to pass the tests and forgot it immediately. i was able to pick up most of that stuff again to where i was competant, but i think MCAT sciences are really all about problem solving skills, whereas the verbal tests something a little more higher ordered...

just my 2 cents

 

[Blake]

Ah, the painful memories of physics are back. I just can't believe I understood some of that stuff. Physicists are insanely brilliant people. I know a polonian genius at my college who's planning to get a PhD in theorical nuclear physics, while I'm '' only '' getting a MD

 

[ma-bas]

i'm thinking to myself, "i totally blew physics and gchem in college. how the hell am i gonna manage the mcat PS?" looking for some inspiration from others who didn't set the class on fire with their physics/gchem excellence, but still got a respectful PS score. . . .

I got a C+ in gen chem and then a D and then a C+ in analytical chem. about 7-9 years ago

I took physics years later at a way less competitive college and got As but it was a total joke.

I got a 13 on PS. Don't ask me how. All I know is it is possible.

 

[chickenpotpie]

I got a B- in my first g-chem class and got an 11 on the MCAT PS section. Honestly, I think I learned more about g-chem from studying for the MCAT. MCAT g-chem is a lot more conceptual.

how did you do in physics? i didn't do so well in g chem either.

 

[KatieOConnor]

I nearly flunked my first Gchem test when I got to college. I somehow managed to pull it up to a B- and then got an A- in Gchem2. I got a 13 on PS.

I got a 12 on the BS portion of the exam after barely making Bs in biology in a school known for its grade inflation. The premeds were all getting As, or so it seemed, and some of these A students didn?t do as well as me.

Then, I got an A no problem in orgo, and I really really struggled through MCAT orgo (I did fine in the end, but this is just further proof that how you do in class may not seal your fate with the MCAT)

Don't let less than stellar grades erode your confidence! Its a whole different test.

 

[yaypoker]

didnt take college gchem...placed out frosh year even tho didnt take AP chem test (did take ap chem course tho). physics did take in college. got 15 on PS mcat....study hard stuff at kaplan and did fine

 

[nomo15]

got more B's than A's in G Chem and Physics...and a 15 on PS. Stupid engineering track classes screw pre-meds man

 

[jpro]

Ah, the painful memories of physics are back. I just can't believe I understood some of that stuff. Physicists are insanely brilliant people. I know a polonian genius at my college who's planning to get a PhD in theorical nuclear physics, while I'm '' only '' getting a MD

Why, thank you. 😀

UH '04
Physics BS
Summa Cum Laude

I thought about studying string theory or gravity and relativity. The truth is that I don't really enjoy programming or long research projects. Medicine fits me the best. Radiology or Radiation Oncology is where its at.

 

[sunflower79]

gen chem A-
physics 1st semester B-
physics 2nd semester C+
12 PS

Don't worry. I hated physics, but the mcat stuff is so much less than what you have to know for class. Just read the review book stuff and do their questions, don't bother with your college texts or problem sets!

 

[curlycity]

i'm thinking to myself, "i totally blew physics and gchem in college. how the hell am i gonna manage the mcat PS?" looking for some inspiration from others who didn't set the class on fire with their physics/gchem excellence, but still got a respectful PS score. . . .

I ended up with B's all around in the Physics and most of my Chems - this was mostly due to super time crunch in my curriculum/life, although some of my trouble in O-Chem was due to problems with mental 3-D/spatial stuff which I resolved with some hard work and now rock at. I learned Physics II from going to MCAT prep instead of to lecture 🙄 and got a B that way ... ended up with 11 on PS. The MCAT is different from a class - you can study 'to the test' very well, because you have plenty of time; you know exactly what will be on it, and you can acquire the very specific set of problem-solving skills the MCAT tests. Don't lose hope just because you didn't get an A in the class. Sometimes people have a hard time with MCAT if they can't "unlearn" some of their usual study techniques, or they choke under pressure. I know many many people whose GPA far outshines their MCAT, and vice versa. That's one good reason schools look at both - they indicate different skills.

 

[jpro]

Remember the MCAT is not about how much you know. It's all about how well you can apply what you know. You might have been taught to simply memorize every equation or table, but the MCAT provides most of those on the test and what you have to do is know the concepts that allow you to apply the equations correctly. Conservation laws, vectors, ect.....

That could explain B/C grades and 12+ PS

 

[adamj61]

got more B's than A's in G Chem and Physics...and a 15 on PS. Stupid engineering track classes screw pre-meds man

It hurts even more when you are not an engineer! 😡

 

[medstylee]

yeah - the PS on the MCAT will surprise you, especially if you took Kaplan. I was shocked how simple the concepts on my PS passages were on the exam compared to the ones on the Kaplan exams. In college I was pretty much all Bs in Physics and I opted just to use my AP credit for GenChem, so I hadn't really taken it since High School. I ended up getting a 13 on PS. I think it was just that I was most nervous about PS so I ended up studying it a lot more.

 

[Samus Aran]

this thread gives me hope, I hate physics w/a passion 🙂

 

[VFrank]

I got all B's in Gen Chem and Physics and I got a 14 on PS (but I also go to a really competitive school). The MCAT PS section is really rudimentary stuff, so just know the basics and how to apply them.

 

[tupac_don]

Sup there,

I'll give you my situations. I had a 57% in physics, got a 10 on the MCAT, also didn't take physics in 5 years. Bottom line, ask urself why u got that grade. I got it cuz I didn't study, not b/c I couldn't comprehend physics. If you are having trouble with comprehension ur in deep water, otherwise smooth sailing. Peace.