Classes to take BEFORE Mcat?

[camshark]

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Ok so Im a junior in college and could graduate in May. So esentially I could apply for MD/DO school this summer. However I have not taken the MCAT yet and know I need to score high to help out my gpa. So I have taken my gen bio 1 and 2, gen chem 1 and 2, physics 1 and 2, orgo chem 1, calculus, various other bio classes BUT I havent taken orgo chem 2 (will this coming spring) and my orgo chem 1 was taken a while ago. So what i am wondering is should I wait to take MCAT next spring when im almost complete with orgo chem 2 or will that class even help my MCAT?

 

[unhappytnt]

This was asked before and the general consensus seems to be that you can take the MCAT without having taken OChem II. Just make sure to study the review for the covered material in your prep book.

 

[SN2ed]

Bad idea. Take O-chem 2. The MCATs given over the past couple years have had quite a bit of O-chem. You do not want to go in unprepared which is what you'd do if you skipped O-chem 2.

Furthermore, while it may be different at other schools, O-chem 2 was not route memorization of formulas. During O-chem 2 we had to know those formulas and apply them through retro synthesis. Often times, the retro synthesis problems we were given involved 8+ steps and we had to defend our choice, both of which required good critical thinking skills. All that doesn't even cover how we had to utilize spec information (NMR and the like), know the various solvents, how to alter set conditions like temperature, keep in mind the stereochemistry, etc during our problems.

So there's more to O-chem 2 than you might think and the skills you develop will help you greatly on the MCAT.

 

[Silverfalcon]

This was asked before and the general consensus seems to be that you can take the MCAT without having taken OChem II. Just make sure to study the review for the covered material in your prep book.

Obviously, you got this from some other census than the one I know, and I've been here for a while.

 

[TuloRocks]

Bad idea. Take O-chem 2. The MCATs given over the past couple years have had quite a bit of O-chem. You do not want to go in unprepared which is what you'd do if you skipped O-chem 2.

I would disagree. My MCAT on 3/26/11 had only one orgo passage, and no stand alone orgo questions.