Just started this Pre-req journey!

[isupsych253]

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Hi everyone,

I'll graduate in December with a bachelor's in Psychology, but over the past few months decided to head towards Medicine instead. Anyways, just started the fall semester and I'm taking my first pre req course (Bio 1 w/ Lab). Does anyone have any advice for how to really retain this information for the long run (study techniques, books, etc)? I probably won't end up applying taking MCAT until spring of 2013.

Also, if anyone has any advice regarding what sort of sequence of classes I should be taking next out of the pre reqs, let me know! (I can go to school full or part time from here on out - I'm just concerned with difficulty of courses). Thanks!

 

[stsa84]

I completed the pre-reqs in 4 semesters. I remember my naive self asking my Bio 1 professor if I could keep my tests because I was going to be taking the MCAT in a year and half and wanted them to study from. She told me, rightly so, that that wasn't necessary. If I did well I'd retain the info fine, and my MCAT-specific studying later would refresh everything in my mind.

My path:

Spring 2010: Bio 1, Gen Chem 1
Summer 2010: Gen Chem 2
Fall 2010: Bio 2, Orgo 1
Spring 2011: Cell Bio, Orgo 2, Physics 2
MCAT: 6/16/11

This order worked well for me, and beginning MCAT studying immediately after finishing Cell Bio, Orgo 2, and Physics 2 was very helpful.

To retain the info: attend class every day, keep up with textbook reading, study every day...that's about it. Own the material the first time through, and you'll have very good recall when you have to study for the MCAT later. Good luck on your journey.

 

[Chip N Sawbones]

Biology and organic chemistry stress concepts, while general chemistry and physics are all about the math. I believe the best idea would be to take biology with chemistry, and then physics with organic so you're not getting overloaded on either the math or the concepts. But then, I'm taking biology, organic, statistics and physics all at the same time next year, so my advice might not be worth all that much.

 

[JESSFALLING]

I ended up going with Gen Chem & Physics to start. I concluded that I might do better in biology if I have a better chemistry background. I would also recommend taking statistics....but I think you likely nailed that for your psych major! Good luck!