EK classroom course

[hopeinternist]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

hi ,

first time posting on the boards lol, anyway i m gonna be a sophmore this september, and I was wondering whats a good time to take the MCAT so that I have enough time to study and retake it if necessary? Is there anything I can start doing to prepare for it now, like reading a specific newspaper or something i dunno. Also has anyone taking the EK classroom class in the NJ area, a lot of people have recommended it to me over Kaplan, since it seems more to the point and doesnt give you too much information to memorize. I know their study packs are really good liek 1001 questions and stuff, just wondering if anyone has taken their actual class and what they thought about it thanks🙂

 

[almo88]

hi ,

first time posting on the boards lol, anyway i m gonna be a sophmore this september, and I was wondering whats a good time to take the MCAT so that I have enough time to study and retake it if necessary? Is there anything I can start doing to prepare for it now, like reading a specific newspaper or something i dunno. Also has anyone taking the EK classroom class in the NJ area, a lot of people have recommended it to me over Kaplan, since it seems more to the point and doesnt give you too much information to memorize. I know their study packs are really good liek 1001 questions and stuff, just wondering if anyone has taken their actual class and what they thought about it thanks🙂

Hi there! Welcome to SDN! I hope it doesn't consume your life for the next 3 years! 😉

Okay, you'll be a sophomore, but what pre-reqs have you taken? You'll need:

Physics I
Physics II
Chem I
Chem II
Orgo I
Orgo II
Physio--well..it would be helpful.

Well, that's what you need if you want to be totally prepared for the MCAT, and not have to teach yourself the most of the material. Of course, the MCAT covers more than just the subjects listed, but those are the main components.

However, the review books you can buy have pretty much everything that will be covered on the MCAT. So, it is not absolutely necessary to take those courses, but it if you do you won't have to teach yourself all of the crucial topics. I personally couldn't imagine teaching myself Orgo.

AAMC states this their website:
"Hoping to improve their scores, some students enroll in MCAT prep courses offered by commercial firms. The material here, along with a rigorous undergraduate education, should make enrollment in such courses unnecessary.

Some review courses imply that they will give their students the opportunity to see and study questions that may appear on the MCAT. We make strenuous efforts to ensure that this is not the case.

One study involving over 20,000 students during a five-year period compared the MCAT performance of those who had enrolled in commercial review courses with that of those who had not. The study results indicated that gains derived from commercial review courses are small. The small differences in the scores of individuals who received such coaching could be due simply to the time devoted to reviewing the relevant material."

But, if you have an extra 2k sitting around, be my guest.

I have not heard much about EK's classroom course, but I have heard that most of their books are wonderful. (All but physics)

But, for the next year I would focus on your school work. What pre-reqs have you taken so far?

 

[hopeinternist]

heyy thanks for replyingg 🙂

I ve taken bio and gen chem and calc. i m planning to major in neuroscience, so this fall I ll be taking basic neuroscience w/lab statistics w/lab orgo obviously w/lab and math. I want to be able to take it and still have a lot of time to do my apps, and retake the test if necessary.

 

[hopeinternist]

Bumpp

 

[almo88]

heyy thanks for replyingg 🙂

I ve taken bio and gen chem and calc. i m planning to major in neuroscience, so this fall I ll be taking basic neuroscience w/lab statistics w/lab orgo obviously w/lab and math. I want to be able to take it and still have a lot of time to do my apps, and retake the test if necessary.

I would go ahead and take the MCAT in January, if you'll think you'll be ready by then. If not, wait until April. Then, if you don't get the score you want you can retake in June or July and still have your Application in pretty early in the cycle (which is VERY important with rolling admissions). But, don't take the test until you're TOTALLY ready. Good Luck!

 

[hopeinternist]

wait january as in the spring of my junior year? just clarifying

 

[almo88]

wait january as in the spring of my junior year? just clarifying

Sometimes my memory fails me. You're going to be a sophomore, right? Well, if you think you will be adequately prepared, you can take it next summer (between soph/jr years) if not, I would definitely take it by Jan. of your Jr. year. Dude, seriously though...just worry about your school work for the next year. Get your basics out of the way and come back to SDN in about 9 months.

That being said, the earlier you feel "comfortable" taking your MCAT, the better. Up to you.