critical thinking and reasoning and/or logic courses

[Omyss]

I was talking to a philosophy counserlor at my school and she said that the 1st year phil course: critical thinking and reasoning is an excellent tool for ppl studying for the MCAT and LSAT, in fact she said that many people take it specifically for improving their LSAT and MCAT score. She also said that a logic course could be good, but she said that the crit/reasoning course was superior.

If you have taken this course do you think it can really help your MCAT scores? its a full credit course so i want to make sure i'd be making the right decision.

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[RAD11]

Wish I could have taken a course like that.

 

[docolive]

I am a phil. major and logic--yes, for the LSAT but not for the MCAT. I took Logic I and II and neither helped for the MCAT. However, other phil. courses will be helpful in sharpening your reading skills as well as your ability to synthesize dense material in a short amount of time. However, as I mentioned, Logic is good for the LSAT....at least that's how my courses were structured.

 

[docolive]

ps Advisors don't know s***

 

[Omyss]

I am a phil. major and logic--yes, for the LSAT but not for the MCAT. I took Logic I and II and neither helped for the MCAT. However, other phil. courses will be helpful in sharpening your reading skills as well as your ability to synthesize dense material in a short amount of time. However, as I mentioned, Logic is good for the LSAT....at least that's how my courses were structured.

since critical thinking and reasoning is such an important part of the mcat, i thought that a critical thinking/reasoniong course would be good...

So you think the logic courses aren't good for the mcat, but what about a crit. thinking/reasoning course?

Also what phil courses would recommend specifically?

 

[novawildcat]

I took mathematical/formal logic and it was pretty interesting. It definitely sharpens your reasoning skills, although I didn't use any logic at all on the mcat. Logic trains you to reason in a methodical manner which could be useful on the mcat.

 

[docolive]

Okay, personally, I do not think Logic involves any critical thinking....that is, if you have been taught predicate and propositional logic. These courses involve rote memorization and application of rules to proofs. The only adv. is learning how to distinguish a valid argument from an invalid one.

I would recommend heavy duty reading courses like 17th c. Philosophy, any honors colloqium courses that make you speak up and challenge your own interpretation of a text; Metaphysics;
Any Philosophy course will be a good exercise in critical thinking: Medical Ethics; Feminist Philosophy, etc...even intro to Philosophy where you will be introduced to major philosophers and their sometimes, complex ideas.
But, like I said, Logic is LSAT material--- not too great for expanding one's horizons on the MCAT.

 

[metastasis]

I agree with docolive. The logic courses don't prepare you for the MCAT verbal reasoning. They concentrate mostly around fallacies, and trying to prove the opponent wrong. However, I do believe that a philosophy course about moral issues, politics, religion, will be much more beneficial. In these courses you have a lot of reading to do, and the readings are fairly complex.

 

[Omyss]

ok maybe i'm getting confused... is the critical thinking/reasoning course the same as the "logic" course, b/c i thought they were different courses all together?

Have anyof you taken a clssical studies course like classical civilization?
would this be a good option too?

 

[docolive]

ok maybe i'm getting confused... is the critical thinking/reasoning course the same as the "logic" course, b/c i thought they were different courses all together?

Have anyof you taken a clssical studies course like classical civilization?
would this be a good option too?

Well, all phil. courses are critical thinking/reasoning courses. Logic is different from other philosophy courses in that it is like a math course....there are symbols involved in tracking arguments. My univ. considers it a math credit.
Anyhow, you would be better off taking something in classical studies or in philosophical thought.
Like I said, anything with more complex reading/discussion would be beneficial. Also, someone else mentioned checking out journals (the titles skip my mind right now). Also, JSTOR and the Philosopher's Index are good resources for philosophy...you can access those through your library database.