help an old fa*t

[rsh]

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Folks,
It's been 12 years since I took Bio/Chem/ Math and have finally decided to give up my high paying job to go to Med School. I was wondering if any of you enlightened ones can point to a few resources for refreshing Bio/chem/math for MCAT.
I am going to take Kaplan / EK at some point but I am 31 years old and want to cover my basics before supporting Kaplan's bottom line.

Thank you for your suggestions

 

[efex101]

retake the classes and check with medical schools some do not accept pre-reqs more than X years old.

 

[QofQuimica]

Folks,
It's been 12 years since I took Bio/Chem/ Math and have finally decided to give up my high paying job to go to Med School. I was wondering if any of you enlightened ones can point to a few resources for refreshing Bio/chem/math for MCAT.
I am going to take Kaplan / EK at some point but I am 31 years old and want to cover my basics before supporting Kaplan's bottom line.

Thank you for your suggestions

I was in the same position as you; I just took the MCAT this past August and I had taken physics and biology in 1993 so I really needed to study those subjects like crazy. But if you go through all of the Kaplan material and take all of the practice tests, you should be in good shape. Do the foundation reviews and subject tests before your classes, too; they will give you some extra help in the sciences. Kaplan really helped me a lot....Good luck with your MCAT.

 

[bdt]

I was in the same boat as you last January (took biochem in 1994). I have worked in biology labs, but haven't kept up on chem and such. You'll find that MCAT sciences really are "intro" level so you don't need lots of depth, just lots of practice.. I read over old kaplan books first then used the Exam Krackers to study (no review course). Worked pretty well ( mid 30's score).

I didn't run into the "Classes must have been taken within last x years" except at Duke. Check with the schools you're interested in (websites usually have the info).

I have heard that if you haven't been in sciences/health care some schools want you to take post-bacc classes to show your science isn't outdated.

Check around local med schools. If you can convince an admin director that you're not "gunning" for a spot in their school, they may be willing to sit down with you and discuss your options. Not always easy, but if you can get the meeting, it can be a good source of info.

from one thirty-something to another .... Good Luck.

 

[rsh]

Thanks, bdt, QofQuimica.

 

[doogyhowser]

here's what i'm doing, won't know if it's worth anything until may/june i suppose.

last exposure to basic chemistry= 7 years ago, got a B in the course

completed the kaplan comprehensive review book already and am enrolled in the princeton review course beginning in january. can't even say i've retained much of the kaplan chemistry review yikes!
planning on buying the AMCAS tests and supplementing whatever weak areas i identify with EK materials. here's to variety and practice exams!

the mcat is my dragon, i feel pretty stacked everywhere else: solid gpas, lors, etc.

got my masters in biomedical science at a medical school and have worked as a PA for 3 years. i'm really counting on that carrying me cause i know the mcat is gonna be a mother b!tch.

good luck to everyone else goin' back for those two initials!
i love the thought of showin' those "straight outa undergrads" what's up- if i can just get in somewhere!

 

[Skialta]

I feel your pain. I took Kaplan and it helped quite a bit but my physical science score on MCAT was a little low (8) but I still got in. I would suggest you go through some practice material and then take some questions and see how you fare, if something seems totally foreign then I would audit the class before. I studied my ass off for 4 months before I took the exam. Good Luck! 👍

Skialta MS2

 

[njbmd]

Folks,
It's been 12 years since I took Bio/Chem/ Math and have finally decided to give up my high paying job to go to Med School. I was wondering if any of you enlightened ones can point to a few resources for refreshing Bio/chem/math for MCAT.
I am going to take Kaplan / EK at some point but I am 31 years old and want to cover my basics before supporting Kaplan's bottom line.

Thank you for your suggestions

Hi there,
If you do not need the coursework for grades, then audit your courses. You can get good refreshment of data without worrying about a grade. If you need the course for updating expired coursework, then you won't be able to audit. Just don't overlook the utility of an audit if you need knowledge refreshment.

MCAT has changed in the past couple of years so make sure that you have taken or audited an updated course in General Biology. Do plenty of practice exams (the ones from the MCAT folks are the best) and take a good inventory of knowledge gap versus test-taking skills gap. The MCAT is after all, a test of applied knowledge and test-taking ability.

Good luck!

njbmd 🙂

 

[ShyRem]

If you're going to self-study, I highly recommend EK. I tried Kaplan and Princeton Review, and thought it so boring I used it when I had insomnia. Worked like a charm - asleep in 10 minutes flat every time. EK was well-written, not so dry, and covered all the basics in a very readable doable format that sticks in your brain.

Good luck!!