Beginning Study:Books

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

Darkskies

Full Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2008
Messages
622
Reaction score
10
I am a Junior currently and I am just about to begin studying for the MCAT. I probably won't apply to schools until after graduation so I guess I have some more time. I read through some of the older posts on this forum and they have given me some idea of what books I should get for self-study. However I can't seem to find any of the BR books on half.com/amazon and so it would be particularly helpful if any of you could direct me to an online site that does have reputable MCAT study review books at the best prices. I would also appreciate it if the name of the entire book and/or ISBN number was listed as well when replying so I could have an easier time finding it.

Now that that's said, it seems that EK bio(is this 1001 questions?) and 101 passages(what's the full name for this book?) is the best for bio. I particularly need help in physics and probably orgo so Berkeley review books seem the best for those, correct(perhaps Nova for physics?)? For gen. chem I guess I would be using BK and for the verbal section EK verbal and 101 passages(same questions as for bio). If I were to obtain these books and work through them would that be a solid study technique or do I need more books/require a course? It also seems like I would have to buy the AAMCAS practice exams and apparently Kaplan exams are also very useful but these are unobtainable without paying for the classroom course,correct? What else is recommended(especially for physics/orgo review?)

Members don't see this ad.
 
You can get BR books from BR.

http://www.berkeley-review.com/

EK Bio is the content review book.
EK Bio 1001 is the book from the EK 1001 series. There is no 101 passages book for Bio.
EK Verbal only has a few passages. Then there's an EK 101 Verbal that has 101 verbal passages.

I wouldn't waste your time and resources studying when you're so far away from your planned test date. The only MCAT related activity you could do is to read various articles and journals. Right now, you should focus on building your application and learning the material in your classes.


Originally Posted by TheBoondocks
This question gets asked like every three days. In short, EK series are stripped down with the basics you need to know. Get EK bio, it is by far the best for bio, all the responses on SDN say this. Know this book cold. If you don't believe me, type in EK bio in the search function. Personally, you learn the best from passages, If you have time and the cash I highly suggest purchasing Berkeley Review Gen Chem and Ochem. There physics is good too, but with PR it may be redundant. You will thank me later. You'll probably want EK biology review and EK 101 biology passages and EK verbal 101. PR is good, however, if you want to kill the MCAT you have to be able to integrate material. That's what BR does better than anyone else. Like, be able to answer questions if you see the circulatory system wired in parallel series.

bio - 1. EK bio and 1001 Bio 2. Kaplan 3. PR/BR however, these don't suck, they're just detailed which turns off many people.

Physics 1. BR/Nova 2. PR 3. Kaplan I really think BR but they're are a lot of people who swear by Nova on this site

Verbal 1. Ek verbal and 101 passages 2. PR 3. BR 4. Kaplan (read stay from)

Gen Chem 1. BR by far 2. PR 3. Kaplan/EK

O Chem 1. BR by far 2. toss up between Kaplan/PR/Ek

That is a general list of what i have read on SDN for the past 4 years, i came here and lurked throughout highschool. Good luck and hopefully this will help. EK is for people who KNOW the material and want review. If you are weak in something BR is the best since it's the most detailed and PR is detailed too, Kaplan is in the Middle, and EK is the least detailed but that doesn't mean it's bad. Just depends on the person. If you can I would buy the BR Chemistry books and Physics book. If you complete the PR science workbook along with BR passages and EK bio, you will kill the sciences. Ek Verbal should help you out with verbal.
 
Top