Classes prior to taking MCAT

[Truth_seeker]

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What classes would you absolutely have under your belt prior to taking the MCAT? What MCAT would you recommend taking, April or August? Are Kaplan or Princeton necessary to get a 30 and above?

 

[dok101]

Well, most people will have 1 year of biology and 1 year of inorganic chemistry completed. Many will also have at the minimum 1 semester both of physics and organic chemistry completed before sitting for the exam.

The April MCAT is definitely advised over the August MCAT because it allows for the application process to be completed as early as possible.

There are many people who do not take a formal review course and still achieve scores of 30 or above.

 

[Truth_seeker]

Thanks dok101. Here's another question in relation to my dilemma. According to TPR, one should take the April test a year and a half prior to enrollment. They also advise that you have at least 1yr. of Bio, 1yr. of physics, 1yr. of general chem. and 1yr. of orgo, basically all your pre-reqs done prior to sitting for the exam. So if I follow that advice and take the test in April of 06, I will have only had 1yr. of Bio, 1 sem. of General chem. and 1 sem. of physics and no orgo. I don't think that's enough to take this test and really stand out on it. Do you all agree? So should I wait to take it in August 06. By that time, I will have had 1yr. of Bio, 1yr. general chem., and 1 yr. of physics, still no orgo. If I waited till April 07, I will have completed all my pre-reqs. Thanks for any advice.

 

[titoincali]

Thanks dok101. Here's another question in relation to my dilemma. According to TPR, one should take the April test a year and a half prior to enrollment. They also advise that you have at least 1yr. of Bio, 1yr. of physics, 1yr. of general chem. and 1yr. of orgo, basically all your pre-reqs done prior to sitting for the exam. So if I follow that advice and take the test in April of 06, I will have only had 1yr. of Bio, 1 sem. of General chem. and 1 sem. of physics and no orgo. I don't think that's enough to take this test and really stand out on it. Do you all agree? So should I wait to take it in August 06. By that time, I will have had 1yr. of Bio, 1yr. general chem., and 1 yr. of physics, still no orgo. If I waited till April 07, I will have completed all my pre-reqs. Thanks for any advice.

I would have at least some orgo before taking the MCAT. Why put yourself at a disadvantage of having to learn difficult material instead of just reviewing and practicing?

 

[ntmed]

I would have at least some orgo before taking the MCAT. Why put yourself at a disadvantage of having to learn difficult material instead of just reviewing and practicing?

I agree. You really should complete all of your prereqs before taking the MCAT (1 yr biology, 1 yr chemistry, 1 yr organic, 1 yr physics).

Don't try to rush things just so you can apply a year early. You don't want to do poorly on these courses or the MCAT, and hurt your chances of getting into medical school.

You might want to consider a formal post-bacc program that has a linkage to one or more medical schools (http://services.aamc.org/postbac/). This would allow you to complete all these courses in one year. It would also allow you to skip the 15-month application process (also called the glide year), if you perform in your post-bacc program at a certain level.

 

[SailCrazy]

Well, most people will have 1 year of biology and 1 year of inorganic chemistry completed. Many will also have at the minimum 1 semester both of physics and organic chemistry completed before sitting for the exam.

What?!? 😱 That advice sounds pretty crazy to me!

Most people take the MCAT having taken *all* of the prereqs (1 year GenChem, 1 year bio, 1 year physics, 1 year Organic) and many have taken additional classes (Genetics, Physioligy, BioChem, Micro - I would recommend them in that order.)

 

[Phoenix.]

What?!? 😱 That advice sounds pretty crazy to me!

Most people take the MCAT having taken *all* of the prereqs (1 year GenChem, 1 year bio, 1 year physics, 1 year Organic) and many have taken additional classes (Genetics, Physioligy, BioChem, Micro - I would recommend them in that order.)

If you're in a one year postbac program, and taking the April MCAT, wouldn't you by definition not have finished your second semester in bio, physics and org chem when you take the MCAT? Most one year postbac prmed programs have you complete chemistry in the summer, and then take two semesters of bio, physics and org chem at the same time, with the MCAT in the spring of that year. I'm planning on a similar scheme, and had assumed that it was fine to be in your second semester of physics and org chem when taking the MCAT. Anyone think differently?

Also, if you had to pick between being in your second semester of org chem and bio, or your second semester of org chem and physics when you were taking the MCAT, which would you pick? Thanks.

 

[blee]

Taking the April MCAT during your second semesters of orgo, physics, and bio is fine. You will need to spend some extra time that semester to prepare for the test, but a lot of the information will still be fresh in your head. By the date of the actual test, most curricula will have covered just about everything you need to do well.

As for picking which two to take, I would probably lean towards orgo and bio. Most of the bio on the MCAT comes from animal and cell topics, nearly all of which was presented in the fall at my school. The topics you'll need in orgo will probably be presented all the way up to the test, but you will have learned enough to do very well regardless.

Also, from a stress perspective, I personally think it's less stressful to take the MCAT in April. Despite the busy spring semester, you'll have it done and out of the way before the summer, which means you can concentrate instead on preparing your application and living the rest of your life.

 

[SailCrazy]

I can't find the emoticon for splitting hairs.... 😛 but yes, not completing the last week of the physics/organic/etc class in which you are currently enrolled does "by definition" mean that you haven't finished your second semester - but you have covered almost all of the material. 👍
There is a big difference between finishing them a week or two after the MCAT and not taking them at all!

One note of caution: A friend of mine took this April's MCAT with one topic area left to cover in his Physics 2 class (post-MCAT.) Guess what topic was involved in TWO passages in his PS section... Yep. He went from around an 11 averag on practice tests to a 9 on the real thing.

If you're in a one year postbac program, and taking the April MCAT, wouldn't you by definition not have finished your second semester in bio, physics and org chem when you take the MCAT? Most one year postbac prmed programs have you complete chemistry in the summer, and then take two semesters of bio, physics and org chem at the same time, with the MCAT in the spring of that year. I'm planning on a similar scheme, and had assumed that it was fine to be in your second semester of physics and org chem when taking the MCAT. Anyone think differently?

Also, if you had to pick between being in your second semester of org chem and bio, or your second semester of org chem and physics when you were taking the MCAT, which would you pick? Thanks.

 

[SailCrazy]

What MCAT would you recommend taking, April or August? Are Kaplan or Princeton necessary to get a 30 and above?

Forgot about those last questions...

Unless you absolutely can't avoid it, take the April MCAT or the August from the year before your application. The earlier you submit, the beter your chances. Also, if you're a non-trad and would like the adcom to take the time to look over your file in more detail, they are more likely to do this early on when they have more time.

If you take the August MCAT you don't have your score until October - deep into the application cycle.

Kaplan and Princeton aren't necessary, but they do help.

 

[Frogmed]

If your are serious about going to medical school and want to get in the first time you apply: finish your pre-req, take a MCAT prep course, take a few upper division science courses and english courses. You don't have to do these things, but I did them. I did everything I could to be successful. I knew if I didn't perform as well as I needed, my confidence would be injured. Not a risk I was willing to take.