HELP! -- Am I taking the relevant Physics course for MCAT?

[fcshot]

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Hello, all.
I wanted to complete the first semester of physics over the summer at a local college -- unfortunately, 'General Physics I' was full. I opted to take 'Concepts in Physics w/ Lab' instead and take General Physics II during the fall. However, I am concerned as to whether or not this coursepath will give me the necessary foundation needed to excel in the MCAT. Should I just try to get in to Gen. Physics I, then?

Here is the course description for the Concepts in Physics class --

"COURSE DESCRIPTION: Concepts in Physics
This course examines the classical foundations of physics and modern twentieth-century physics. Topics included in the classical foundation are description of motion, free fall, force, weight, and mass; Newton's laws of motion and law of gravitation; momentum; work and energy; the atomic nature of matter; temperature, heat, and energy; and electricity and magnetism. Topics in twentieth-century physics include electronics, wave properties and particle properties of light, photons and the photoelectric effect, the nucleus and Bohr's treatment of the hydrogen atom, the wave nature of matter, X-rays, radioactivity, nuclear structure, and nuclear transformations."


Versus General Physics I description:


COURSE DESCRIPTION:
3 lecture hours; 1 recitation hour; 2 lab. hours; 4 credits
This course is a quantitative study of the principles and techniques of physics. It is the first half of a one-year survey of physics. The following topics are studied: Equilibrium of a rigid body, planar motion of bodies, Newton's laws, work and energy, conservation principles, elasticity and periodic motion, fluid statics and dynamics, temperature, heat, thermodynamics, mechanical waves, sound, and molecular properties of matter. This course is designed for students with an interest in the natural sciences, computers, mathematics, or statistics. (Not open to students who have completed PHY 1003.)

Thanks!

 

[JESSFALLING]

Have you completed General Chemistry II? If not, then I suggest that you don't take General Physics II w/o General Physics I, as you may not have adequate problem solving experience to do well in the course. Also, you should verify with the schools that you plan on applying to that this 'Concepts' course will be acceptable for admissions.

Personally, I don't recommend skipping General Physics I. This 'Concepts' course would be very good preparation for the general physics I, but it isn't a substitute in my opinion.

 

[UCUCUC]

why not check what the mcat test topics are and compare?

from a brief look, looks fine to me.

 

[fcshot]

Have you completed General Chemistry II? If not, then I suggest that you don't take General Physics II w/o General Physics I, as you may not have adequate problem solving experience to do well in the course. Also, you should verify with the schools that you plan on applying to that this 'Concepts' course will be acceptable for admissions.

Personally, I don't recommend skipping General Physics I. This 'Concepts' course would be very good preparation for the general physics I, but it isn't a substitute in my opinion.

Yes, I've completed all the pre-reqs except for Physics I/II, but I've never taken Physics even in HS so I was pretty unsure as to what would be the best option with regards to both those choices.

 

[JESSFALLING]

why not check what the mcat test topics are and compare?

from a brief look, looks fine to me.

The description of the 'Concepts' course seems to cover all the Physics topics on the MCAT......but would it actually leave one prepared for the exam? I haven't taken the MCAT nor the 'Concepts' course so I don't know. But, if you actually need to solve problems, using math, then I suggest taking both semesters of General Physics.

 

[JESSFALLING]

Yes, I've completed all the pre-reqs except for Physics I/II, but I've never taken Physics even in HS so I was pretty unsure as to what would be the best option with regards to both those choices.

If you've never taken Physics, then you'd likely benefit from taking the 'Concepts' course first. All three courses might make for the best education if you have the time. Otherwise, I recommend trying to get into the General Physics I course. Use khanacademy.org to learn some of the basic concepts if you need help.

Also, be sure to brush up on your basic trig if you're rusty at it. General Physics uses a lot of vectors, so you want to be able to find the components quickly. Just make sure you know SOH CAH TOA, at least.

P.s. If you handled Gen Chem okay and you're good at math, you'll do find with the General Physics series. However, if you found yourself struggling in either math or Chem, then you likely should approach physics more cautiously.

 

[live911wire]

I'm pretty sure that the level 1000 course in Baruch does not satisfy the premed requirement. I believe that the level 2000 course in Physics is the one that is accepted by AMCAS, and the one that will "prepare" you for the MCAT.

 

[sotto voce]

The only problem I foresee is you taking this very broad introductory course, it not counting for med school, and then you having to take PhysI, except you can't because you took the introductory course. Just be careful about this. But I don't think med schools care about the actual classes you take, they just want 8+ hours w/ lab.

 

[Aerus]

The description of the 'Concepts' course seems to cover all the Physics topics on the MCAT......but would it actually leave one prepared for the exam? I haven't taken the MCAT nor the 'Concepts' course so I don't know. But, if you actually need to solve problems, using math, then I suggest taking both semesters of General Physics.

Yes, any college physics course (as long as it actually teaches the material on the MCAT) will suffice. Even an AP Physics course in high school is overkill for MCAT physics. MCAT Physics has very basic concepts, with only the reading being the arguably "hard" part.

@OP: You could visit any academic advisers and ask if that course covers all the MCAT physics concepts.