Knowing What Is Invovled..........

[Iain]

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I am looking into the possibility of going back to school in the next few years to gain the science requirements in order to get into Medical School. I went to university abroad and got my degree in business. My marks were not too bad, however where I studied you only take classes that are relivent to your degree program, so the last time I cracked open a biology book or other science book was during high school.

What I am looking to do is get myself familiar with the material that I will be covering in the coming years before making such a large commitment. Because it has been a long time since I have looked at a science book, it would not only would it help me academically, but would ensure I am not biting off more then I can chew, or is something that really does not interest me as much as I think it will. What would be the best way to go about this?

I was considering buying one of the test preps for the MCAT - not like the question bank ones, but the almost 1000 page reference books. Would you say that was a good idea - it would cover everything but would it be way above my head.

Your advice is certainly appreciated.

 

[beanbean]

I went back to the academic world two years ago to complete my premed requirements after an eleven year absence. I hadn't seen a chemistry, biology or physics book in 13 years. My undergrad was biomed engineering but I had been a stay at home mom for 6 years. I was very unsure how I would do being back in a science course after so much time had passed...I needn't have worried - everything went just fine. I started out taking Gen. Chem during the Summer of 2001 and found the material much easier than the first time I had seen it so many years ago. Over the next two years I completed my post-bacc work and took a number of advanced classes in addition to the basic requirements.

I would recommend starting out slow and taking a basic level bio or chem class. There will be others in the class that have never seen the material before and some who like yourself haven't taken a science class in some time. If there is a school that offers smaller classes in your area, a smaller size class might be easier to acclimate yourself in rather than a large lecture hall. Get to know your professor and read before the lectures.

The MCAT review manuals will give you an idea of what material will be covered (or should be covered) in your basic prereq classes. Check out the MCAT forum on SDN for what books people recommend.

Best of luck to you.