Courses to take before the MCAT

[shyandlovesneuro]

I am a first year psychology student at UTM, and I am in the process of making my 4 year plan. I was a little bit worried about fulfilling pre-requisite courses throughout my degree as I hope to be accepted into the "Behaviour, Genetics, and Neurobiology" specialist program, however I have plenty of credits left to take courses outside of neuroscience. My question is, what courses should I be taking prior to taking the MCAT? I spoke with a 3rd year pre-med student earlier in the year, and he recommended that I take organic chem second year, biochem third year, and physics second or third year. Biochemistry is a third year course, and I was planning to write the MCAT the August before I start my third year so I can study for it during the summer. I personally wouldn't mind taking the MCAT the august before my fourth year but i'm pretty sure that means I wouldn't be able to apply in time to start medical school right after graduation (no gap year). I do not want to take it during the school year, studying for it during the summer is a must for me. So what should I do?

Also, I was curious about whether taking physics is necessary? I know that it is on the MCAT, but would I be able to get away with teaching myself physics? or taking some sort of MCAT prep course? I just really don't like physics haha. And in terms of classes that I should generally take, are classes in physiology, anatomy, cell biology, microbiology, etc, good classes to take? I feel as if there are some 'unwritten rules' to courses you should take as a pre med, and I would appreciate any recommendations for courses that will help me succeed on the MCAT/ help me out in medical school 🙂

PS: If you happen to go to/ went to UTM, which biochemistry courses should I take?

CHM333H5 Bioinorganic Chemistry (SCI,EXP)
CHM361H5 Structural Biochemistry (SCI)
CHM362H5 Metabolism and Bioenergetics (SCI)
CHM372H5 Techniques in Biological Chemistry I (SCI)
CHM373H5 Techniques in Biological Chemistry II (SCI)

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[787593]

Disclaimer: I was too lazy to read the whole post

Chem 1/2
Bio 1/2
Physics 1/2
Ochem 1/2
Biochem 1

Helpful: psych/soc, genetics, cell bio, physio

 

[Turkishking]

I did not read the entire thing.

Take all of the pre-reqs before the MCAT.

 

[shyandlovesneuro]

Disclaimer: I was too lazy to read the whole post

Chem 1/2
Bio 1/2
Physics 1/2
Ochem 1/2
Biochem 1

Helpful: psych/soc, genetics, cell bio, physio

1/2 meaning 1/2 credit? How do I know which half of those courses is needed? For example in order to do BIO153H5S, I would have to take BIO152H5F. Should I just take the first half of all of the courses you mentioned?

 

[shyandlovesneuro]

I did not read the entire thing.

Take all of the pre-reqs before the MCAT.

Thank you!

 

[Toutie]

1/2 meaning 1/2 credit? How do I know which half of those courses is needed? For example in order to do BIO153H5S, I would have to take BIO152H5F. Should I just take the first half of all of the courses you mentioned?

No, 1/2 means 1 and 2.

 

[JB50]

The ones AAMC recommends

 

[zurc2014]

1/2 meaning 1/2 credit? How do I know which half of those courses is needed? For example in order to do BIO153H5S, I would have to take BIO152H5F. Should I just take the first half of all of the courses you mentioned?

He mean the first and second part. So bio 1 and bio 2, physics 1 and physics 2, and so on. You MUST take biochemistry before you take the MCAT. Don't set yourself up for failure. It will help a ton if you take genetics, cell physiology,and upper level psychology classes (social psychology, ect).

 

[787593]

No, 1/2 means 1 and 2.

Yep!

 

[787593]

He mean the first and second part. So bio 1 and bio 2, physics 1 and physics 2, and so on. You MUST take biochemistry before you take the MCAT. Don't set yourself up for failure. It will help a ton if you take genetics, cell physiology,and upper level psychology classes (social psychology, ect).

You betcha 🙂

 

[787593]

https://lmgtfy.com/?q=classes+to+take+before+mcat 😉

I am a first year psychology student at UTM, and I am in the process of making my 4 year plan. I was a little bit worried about fulfilling pre-requisite courses throughout my degree as I hope to be accepted into the "Behaviour, Genetics, and Neurobiology" specialist program, however I have plenty of credits left to take courses outside of neuroscience. My question is, what courses should I be taking prior to taking the MCAT? I spoke with a 3rd year pre-med student earlier in the year, and he recommended that I take organic chem second year, biochem third year, and physics second or third year. Biochemistry is a third year course, and I was planning to write the MCAT the August before I start my third year so I can study for it during the summer. I personally wouldn't mind taking the MCAT the august before my fourth year but i'm pretty sure that means I wouldn't be able to apply in time to start medical school right after graduation (no gap year). I do not want to take it during the school year, studying for it during the summer is a must for me. So what should I do?

Also, I was curious about whether taking physics is necessary? I know that it is on the MCAT, but would I be able to get away with teaching myself physics? or taking some sort of MCAT prep course? I just really don't like physics haha. And in terms of classes that I should generally take, are classes in physiology, anatomy, cell biology, microbiology, etc, good classes to take? I feel as if there are some 'unwritten rules' to courses you should take as a pre med, and I would appreciate any recommendations for courses that will help me succeed on the MCAT/ help me out in medical school 🙂

PS: If you happen to go to/ went to UTM, which biochemistry courses should I take?

CHM333H5 Bioinorganic Chemistry (SCI,EXP)
CHM361H5 Structural Biochemistry (SCI)
CHM362H5 Metabolism and Bioenergetics (SCI)
CHM372H5 Techniques in Biological Chemistry I (SCI)
CHM373H5 Techniques in Biological Chemistry II (SCI)

 

[shyandlovesneuro]

He mean the first and second part. So bio 1 and bio 2, physics 1 and physics 2, and so on. You MUST take biochemistry before you take the MCAT. Don't set yourself up for failure. It will help a ton if you take genetics, cell physiology,and upper level psychology classes (social psychology, ect).

Ahhh but biochem requires Ochem 1/2, and I have to take Ochem 1 before Ochem 2! Does this mean I should take Ochem 1 this summer so I can take Ochem 2 during the fall semester of 2nd year, and biochem 1 during the winter semester of second year? I can't be the only one who faces this conflict, do people usually take the MCAT during their third year?

 

[premed1234567891011]

I had taken all pre-reqs except Psych/Soc and Physics 2. I self-studied for those two and still did well on those sections of the test.

What I'd suggest taking before the new MCAT: Physics 1/2, Biochem, Intro bios, and at least one upper division bio course (I'd suggest cell bio or molecular bio).
The Psych/Soc section is very easy to self-study for with Khan academy videos and some wikipedia reading imo. Most of that section was interpreting graphs and understanding passages plus some rote memorization like "Which psychologist was known for blah blah?"

 

[zurc2014]

Ahhh but biochem requires Ochem 1/2, and I have to take Ochem 1 before Ochem 2! Does this mean I should take Ochem 1 this summer so I can take Ochem 2 during the fall semester of 2nd year, and biochem 1 during the winter semester of second year? I can't be the only one who faces this conflict, do people usually take the MCAT during their third year?

Yep, you gotta take them in order bud. It's long but you gotta learn that info. Don't make the mistake of rushing to take that test and run face first into a brick wall. Don't flirt with this ex and play around cause it will win lol. Just suck it up, take the sequence of classes, ace them and learn the material, then take the test. If you think you can handle Ochem in the summer then go for it. I took both ochems plus labs and bio chem in the summer and made all As. It's possible. But for everyone one of us that made As that summer, tons of other students crashed and burned. **** gets real in those classes in the summer. You have no room to catch up if you fall behind. My advice is take these classes the long way and learn it right so you won't have to retake and/or take a year off before applying.

 

[Meeehai]

I am a first year psychology student at UTM, and I am in the process of making my 4 year plan. I was a little bit worried about fulfilling pre-requisite courses throughout my degree as I hope to be accepted into the "Behaviour, Genetics, and Neurobiology" specialist program, however I have plenty of credits left to take courses outside of neuroscience. My question is, what courses should I be taking prior to taking the MCAT? I spoke with a 3rd year pre-med student earlier in the year, and he recommended that I take organic chem second year, biochem third year, and physics second or third year. Biochemistry is a third year course, and I was planning to write the MCAT the August before I start my third year so I can study for it during the summer. I personally wouldn't mind taking the MCAT the august before my fourth year but i'm pretty sure that means I wouldn't be able to apply in time to start medical school right after graduation (no gap year). I do not want to take it during the school year, studying for it during the summer is a must for me. So what should I do?

Also, I was curious about whether taking physics is necessary? I know that it is on the MCAT, but would I be able to get away with teaching myself physics? or taking some sort of MCAT prep course? I just really don't like physics haha. And in terms of classes that I should generally take, are classes in physiology, anatomy, cell biology, microbiology, etc, good classes to take? I feel as if there are some 'unwritten rules' to courses you should take as a pre med, and I would appreciate any recommendations for courses that will help me succeed on the MCAT/ help me out in medical school 🙂

PS: If you happen to go to/ went to UTM, which biochemistry courses should I take?

CHM333H5 Bioinorganic Chemistry (SCI,EXP)
CHM361H5 Structural Biochemistry (SCI)
CHM362H5 Metabolism and Bioenergetics (SCI)
CHM372H5 Techniques in Biological Chemistry I (SCI)
CHM373H5 Techniques in Biological Chemistry II (SCI)

I think that's a good plan but I would take the physics course as well. You don't have to take any of these courses really, you can teach yourself everything if you really wanted to but it requires more effort and going slowly through one subject area via an introductory course will really make it easier for you in the long run. The test has changed since I've taken it but there was no anatomy on there, but I would recommend taking anatomy toward graduation because it will help in med school. The MCAT is a test that covers a pretty broad range of material - I remember getting a passage about colligative properties which I killed because of a thermo class I took - so it's hard to assess which upper division courses are best to take. It's really better to focus on how to do well on the test as opposed to trying to cover as much material as possible.

I do not recommend ANY prep course, it usually costs a lot of money and it just ends up being a tutor regurgitating what you can read yourself in a comprehensive study guide.

 

[stickgirl390]

I have a different perspective than the others on here. I would suggest:

Bio 1/2
Chem 1/2
Ochem 1
Phys 1/2 (emphasis on 2 more than 1)
Psych
Soc
Memorize the amino acids

You really don't "need" ochem 2 for the MCAT. It's helpful, but if you understand the basics of how electrons work in organic molecules, you'll do fine. I personally found that a strong understanding of biology and ochem 1 were enough for me to answer the biochem questions. Aside from memorizing the amino acids, the biochem is doable without taking the class first. You should deff read a biochem MCAT book at minimum though.

These are just my experiences. You have to find what works best for you. Good luck!