I've been lurking for awhile and see some of the classes you guys take. Besides the required Bio, Chem, Orgo and Physics, what other classes are suggested?
Classes that help for the MCAT
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Physiology-- the class was a lot more detailed than the basics you need to know for the MCAT, but that just made the physio passages easier to digest.
Genetics or microbiology-- I didn't take these classes, but I think it would be helpful, especially because it feels like the MCAT is emphasizing both subjects more than before.
Genetics or microbiology-- I didn't take these classes, but I think it would be helpful, especially because it feels like the MCAT is emphasizing both subjects more than before.
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Genetics and microbiology I have heard are very helpful (my brother and his wife both just graduated med school and they strongly recommended taking them before the MCAT)
Look through your college or university catalog of classes and look for some kind of chemistry review class, usually a 4000 level class..at my university in tx there is an organic/inorganic chemistry review class that is pass/fail that im taking this winter-mester. supposedly very very helpful.
Look through your college or university catalog of classes and look for some kind of chemistry review class, usually a 4000 level class..at my university in tx there is an organic/inorganic chemistry review class that is pass/fail that im taking this winter-mester. supposedly very very helpful.
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I've had to take a lot of genetics and micro classes and I found them very helpful for the biology section. My year long biochem sequence was also very helpful.
However, I wouldn't take these classes just for the MCAT. The majority of what you will learn will not be on the MCAT. They only help with solidifying concepts and, after many of these classes, you will likely find that many of the bio passages make more sense and are on topics you are familiar with.
All you need are the premed classes to score high. Rather than take classes for the MCAT, get the Examkrackers books and go through them as you take your general science classes. If I did this, I would have scored much better even though I scored above a 33 without doing this.
However, I wouldn't take these classes just for the MCAT. The majority of what you will learn will not be on the MCAT. They only help with solidifying concepts and, after many of these classes, you will likely find that many of the bio passages make more sense and are on topics you are familiar with.
All you need are the premed classes to score high. Rather than take classes for the MCAT, get the Examkrackers books and go through them as you take your general science classes. If I did this, I would have scored much better even though I scored above a 33 without doing this.
I found biochemistry to be a big help, because it forced me to incorporate many things from my LS classes and from chemistry. The information was okay, but the thinking was really helpful.
Physiology was the only school class that I think was an absolute must. You need time to digest that material, and a four month MCAT review might not be enough.
I like Coffee's suggestion of paralleling a review book while taking the classes, although having used EK and a few other books (I spent so much money and time, 🙁 ), I'd suggest BR books. They're a little more detailed which would help with the classes more. They also have great tricks that EK lacks.
Physiology was the only school class that I think was an absolute must. You need time to digest that material, and a four month MCAT review might not be enough.
I like Coffee's suggestion of paralleling a review book while taking the classes, although having used EK and a few other books (I spent so much money and time, 🙁 ), I'd suggest BR books. They're a little more detailed which would help with the classes more. They also have great tricks that EK lacks.
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I just really can't believe that phys. is a must take course. If it was, you would think it would be a pre-med requirement. Plus, from what I've seen from practice passages, the phys. knowledge they expect you to have to answer the question is incredibly basic compared to a phys. class.
It's also a pretty irrelevant class to most majors, which I why I'm assuming they don't require it and don't go into incredible depth on the MCAT (Like they do with OChem, Physics and GChem). For instance, at my school physiology is a 5 credit class with a long lab and twice a week discussion. I can't think of a time in any semester when I had room to fit in an extra 5 credit class when it would be 5 useless credits towards my neurobiology major.
It's also a pretty irrelevant class to most majors, which I why I'm assuming they don't require it and don't go into incredible depth on the MCAT (Like they do with OChem, Physics and GChem). For instance, at my school physiology is a 5 credit class with a long lab and twice a week discussion. I can't think of a time in any semester when I had room to fit in an extra 5 credit class when it would be 5 useless credits towards my neurobiology major.
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