I've been getting feedback from a lot of my upperclassmen that it is very well possible that i could study for the MCAT without taking Organic Chemistry II and Biochemistry. I just wanted to make sure that i am not setting myself up for failure, at my university it seems that its the norm to not have biochemistry completed before taking the MCAT, so far the highest score i heard from my peers was a 520. I was also told that i could self-study biochemistry and that organic chemistry II wasn't heavily tested on the official exams. Thoughts?
Has anyone scored well without taking organic chemistry II and biochemistry?
- Thread starter airquis91
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o chem 2 is probably not terribly important, but biochemistry is a MUST. Biochemistry concepts permeate both BB & CP sections.
If you think you can effectively study biochemistry on your own, then yeah, you don't need to wait to take the class to take the MCAT. But that type of self study (not just review, but teaching yourself brand new concepts) takes a lot of dedication and is not for everyone, so make sure that is something you are personally capable of. I learned the hard way that that isn't for me. Just because your peers did it doesn't mean it's a good idea for you, and that doesn't make you any less capable of being a good doctor than them either. Since I don't know you I can't advise you one way or the other, so be honest with yourself.
Also, if I were to do this, I wouldn't just simply study a review book and call it good. Study a review book, use Khan Academy videos, and find a cheap biochem textbook or two to look up concepts you still have trouble with after the first two steps (review book +khan).
Make sure you can "check off" all the MCAT biochem concepts that the AAMC lists on their website, and do some research on which prep materials are best for biochemistry.
Just to reiterate, biochemistry is the most important subject to have a strong foundation in before taking the mcat.
good luck!
If you think you can effectively study biochemistry on your own, then yeah, you don't need to wait to take the class to take the MCAT. But that type of self study (not just review, but teaching yourself brand new concepts) takes a lot of dedication and is not for everyone, so make sure that is something you are personally capable of. I learned the hard way that that isn't for me. Just because your peers did it doesn't mean it's a good idea for you, and that doesn't make you any less capable of being a good doctor than them either. Since I don't know you I can't advise you one way or the other, so be honest with yourself.
Also, if I were to do this, I wouldn't just simply study a review book and call it good. Study a review book, use Khan Academy videos, and find a cheap biochem textbook or two to look up concepts you still have trouble with after the first two steps (review book +khan).
Make sure you can "check off" all the MCAT biochem concepts that the AAMC lists on their website, and do some research on which prep materials are best for biochemistry.
Just to reiterate, biochemistry is the most important subject to have a strong foundation in before taking the mcat.
good luck!
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If you are the type of student that is self-taught then yeah go for it. Ochem II isn't super important and from what get out of the review books you'll be good to go. But now with respect to biochem...GOOD LUCK!!! It is really important and plays a role in many sections of the MCAT (not just the bio portion). But if you have the discipline and level of intelligence required to teach yourself a topic such as biochem, then absolutely do it as it will save you time.
I taught myself it the first time I took it. My scores were 126/126/126/127 (505). I am retaking it this summer with a biochem course now under my belt.
I taught myself it the first time I took it. My scores were 126/126/126/127 (505). I am retaking it this summer with a biochem course now under my belt.
The key factor here is biochemistry more than organic II. Has somebody somewhere taken the MCAT without having those courses and done well? Probably. Will that person be you? Most likely not. Don't shoot yourself in the foot.
