looking for advice

[stupibname]

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I posted this in the MCAT forum but thought I could get more relpies here... feel free to move it back to the MCAT forum is need be

I was wondering if some of the sage members of this board can give me some advice about when I should take the MCAT. I am currently a freshman right now and came into college with 5s in AP Chem, Bio, Calc, and physics B. I took the credit for the intro courses, and am taking physics I and II, Cell Bio, and Analytical chem this year. So my question is, should I

a. Study this coming semester for the MCATs (spring semester is relatively light for me) and ensure that I don't forget too much of the Bio/Chem/Phys from high school

b. Study for it over the summer the take it in August

c. Wait until the summer of 2007 after I have taken a year of organic next year.

I am under the impression, perhaps wrongly so, that I could do fine by learning the necessary Orgo stuff on my own next semester. I took 3 years of chem in high school and senior year was IB Chem HL so I learned basic level Orgo (naming, reductions, a few reaction mechanisms). Anyway, anyone who has taken the test, what do you suggest? I took one of the practice tests and the orgo was not too bad, however, I have heard the extent of the orgo in the Bio section fluctuates from exam to exam. Basically what this boils down to is... Is keeping the info fresh better than learning all the info for the test... sadly I have to chose one or the other I think
__________________

 

[chef_NU]

Take orgo first dude. The stuff you need to learn for the MCAT from physics and chem is very basic and it won't be hard to pick it up again. You really don't have a good base in orgo coming into college. I suggest that you take the MCAT at the earliest the summer after soph year.

 

[chandelantern]

I posted this in the MCAT forum but thought I could get more relpies here... feel free to move it back to the MCAT forum is need be

I was wondering if some of the sage members of this board can give me some advice about when I should take the MCAT. I am currently a freshman right now and came into college with 5s in AP Chem, Bio, Calc, and physics B. I took the credit for the intro courses, and am taking physics I and II, Cell Bio, and Analytical chem this year. So my question is, should I

a. Study this coming semester for the MCATs (spring semester is relatively light for me) and ensure that I don't forget too much of the Bio/Chem/Phys from high school

b. Study for it over the summer the take it in August

c. Wait until the summer of 2007 after I have taken a year of organic next year.

I am under the impression, perhaps wrongly so, that I could do fine by learning the necessary Orgo stuff on my own next semester. I took 3 years of chem in high school and senior year was IB Chem HL so I learned basic level Orgo (naming, reductions, a few reaction mechanisms). Anyway, anyone who has taken the test, what do you suggest? I took one of the practice tests and the orgo was not too bad, however, I have heard the extent of the orgo in the Bio section fluctuates from exam to exam. Basically what this boils down to is... Is keeping the info fresh better than learning all the info for the test... sadly I have to chose one or the other I think
__________________

Some things to think about...
1. When will you be applying? MCAT scores are only good for 3 years, so make sure they'll still be good with your application plans.
2. Since you have the time, I would take it! Take physiology, o-chem, biochem, etc. There's alot of that on the MCAT and it's better to have a course and then review for the test than to have to learn it all for the test. It doesn't sound like you'll lose your chem/physics since you had it so extensively (and are still taking physics and analytical chem now...)
3. Many schools WILL NOT accept AP classes for pre-requisites, so you might want to look into that. You might have to take a year of chem w/ lab, a year of calc, a year of bio w/ lab, etc in college anyway (talk to your pre-med advisor at your school and/or call the schools you are considering applying to.)
4. The MCAT is changing in 2007...do you want to just wait and take it on the computer? The test will be shorter, and it is likely that everyone you are applying with would have had the computerized test.
5. The science sections are only 2 parts of the MCAT...do you have the background needed to excel in the verbal section as well, because that score is really important to alot of schools. Definitely not cool to have an 8 on VR and 13's in the sciences...I've heard some schools weight the VR section the most.

Good luck!

 

[Law2Doc]

Definitely not cool to have an 8 on VR and 13's in the sciences...I've heard some schools weight the VR section the most.

Good luck!

While I agree with your post up to this point, a 13,13,8 is still a pretty competitive score.

 

[DrBowtie]

I posted this in the MCAT forum but thought I could get more relpies here... feel free to move it back to the MCAT forum is need be

I was wondering if some of the sage members of this board can give me some advice about when I should take the MCAT. I am currently a freshman right now and came into college with 5s in AP Chem, Bio, Calc, and physics B. I took the credit for the intro courses, and am taking physics I and II, Cell Bio, and Analytical chem this year. So my question is, should I

a. Study this coming semester for the MCATs (spring semester is relatively light for me) and ensure that I don't forget too much of the Bio/Chem/Phys from high school

b. Study for it over the summer the take it in August

c. Wait until the summer of 2007 after I have taken a year of organic next year.

I am under the impression, perhaps wrongly so, that I could do fine by learning the necessary Orgo stuff on my own next semester. I took 3 years of chem in high school and senior year was IB Chem HL so I learned basic level Orgo (naming, reductions, a few reaction mechanisms). Anyway, anyone who has taken the test, what do you suggest? I took one of the practice tests and the orgo was not too bad, however, I have heard the extent of the orgo in the Bio section fluctuates from exam to exam. Basically what this boils down to is... Is keeping the info fresh better than learning all the info for the test... sadly I have to chose one or the other I think
__________________

You will be taking the CBT version. No way around it. Current Soph. are the earliest that would have Aug 2006 valid.

I think taking organic would be a good idea since it is a pretty tough subject much less teach it to yourself.

 

[stupibname]

Alright you have convinced me. Saldy I bought the stupid MCAT review book already. O well. So you all are sure that orgo is a big deal on the MCATs... the prcatice test I took must have been messed up then. Go figure. Thanks once again.

 

[Law2Doc]

Alright you have convinced me. Saldy I bought the stupid MCAT review book already. O well. So you all are sure that orgo is a big deal on the MCATs... the prcatice test I took must have been messed up then. Go figure. Thanks once again.

Every test is different. Depends on the form, the year, etc. Why chance it?

 

[jebus]

Alright you have convinced me. Saldy I bought the stupid MCAT review book already. O well. So you all are sure that orgo is a big deal on the MCATs... the prcatice test I took must have been messed up then. Go figure. Thanks once again.

There are 77 questions on the bio section of the MCAT. Let's pretend only 20 of them are orgo, you get all 57 biology questions correct and by chance 8 orgo questions correct. Based on the numbers at e-mcat.com (old mcat tests and keys from AAMC), you'll get a 10 or an 11 MAX. That's it, and it's only if you get all the bio questions correct.
I would take organic chemistry were I in your position.

 

[glp]

definitely wait until you have taken organic. it has been deemphasized from 5 yrs ago (according to my princeton review teacher) but it will be imposssible to do very well (11-12+) on bio without it. i took the mcat during my 2nd semester of orgo (in april) and there were still things on the test that we didnt get to until may. take the MCAT in spring of sophomore year if you want to apply as a junior and skip senior year. if you want to apply senior year, then take mcat the august after sophomore year and study all summer. that is what i would do. foremost, chill out. you are only a freshman. go get drunk be irresponsible for petes sake.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

I posted this in the MCAT forum but thought I could get more relpies here... feel free to move it back to the MCAT forum is need be

I was wondering if some of the sage members of this board can give me some advice about when I should take the MCAT. I am currently a freshman right now and came into college with 5s in AP Chem, Bio, Calc, and physics B. I took the credit for the intro courses, and am taking physics I and II, Cell Bio, and Analytical chem this year. So my question is, should I

a. Study this coming semester for the MCATs (spring semester is relatively light for me) and ensure that I don't forget too much of the Bio/Chem/Phys from high school

b. Study for it over the summer the take it in August

c. Wait until the summer of 2007 after I have taken a year of organic next year.

I am under the impression, perhaps wrongly so, that I could do fine by learning the necessary Orgo stuff on my own next semester. I took 3 years of chem in high school and senior year was IB Chem HL so I learned basic level Orgo (naming, reductions, a few reaction mechanisms). Anyway, anyone who has taken the test, what do you suggest? I took one of the practice tests and the orgo was not too bad, however, I have heard the extent of the orgo in the Bio section fluctuates from exam to exam. Basically what this boils down to is... Is keeping the info fresh better than learning all the info for the test... sadly I have to chose one or the other I think
__________________

take it as soon as you get done with orgo and have had a summer to study...make sure you don't discount verbal either, since that can rape your score if you dont do well on it. I might worry more about gpa, research, volunteering, and extracurrics right now if I were you. Those will produce a greater return on your time than studying for the mcat as a freshman. -qm