MCAT prep book v. textbook

[coolcucumber91]

I know almost everyone uses an MCAT prep book to study, but I don't really hear about people using a textbook to study. What if I planned to look at the AMCAS list of topics to know and studied the textbook for those certain (many) subjects? Would it just take too long? Sorry if this is a dumb question

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[hiyaman]

textbooks tend to go in depth about each subject when you only really need to know the gist of things to do well on the mcat. Prep books tell you what you need to know and nothing more. It'll be more efficient use of your time and mental energy.

 

[Nymphicus]

textbook studying for the mcat

hahahaha...that's a good one

 

[campbellsoup29]

textbooks tend to go in depth about each subject when you only really need to know the gist of things to do well on the mcat. Prep books tell you what you need to know and nothing more. It'll be more efficient use of your time and mental energy.

+1

 

[mmmcdowe]

I know almost everyone uses an MCAT prep book to study, but I don't really hear about people using a textbook to study. What if I planned to look at the AMCAS list of topics to know and studied the textbook for those certain (many) subjects? Would it just take too long? Sorry if this is a dumb question

The MCAT covers essentially the basics of each topic. The test itself is primarily focused on making you utilize that knowledge, so studying for a textbook would be in many ways inefficient and, as you mentioned, very time consuming.

 

[QuizzicalApe]

Agreeing with the above. Stick with MCAT review books. Venture over to a textbook if and only if your review books are just confusing the hell out of you on some point and you need a different point of view, and also for some reason the internet doesn't work because we are in a post-apocalyptic hellscape or something.

In that situation, kill a drifter for his gasoline to fuel up your spikey motorcycle, head to the library, defeat the warlord basing himself out of the main lobby, and then if you remembered your library card check out a physics textbook so you can finally learn optics.

 

[EBTrailRunner]

Keep it simple and go with MCAT review books. They lay out what you do and don't need to know for you. Use Wikipedia if you need to have a concept explained further.

 

[FormerCorpsman]

I know almost everyone uses an MCAT prep book to study, but I don't really hear about people using a textbook to study. What if I planned to look at the AMCAS list of topics to know and studied the textbook for those certain (many) subjects? Would it just take too long? Sorry if this is a dumb question

Currently, I am using the Berkeley Review material to prepare for the MCAT, but I am taking a year to prep. However, I find that knowing the superficial basics of the MCAT does not present the big picture that is requisite for tackling the passage questions of the test. Personally, I believe the details are just an extrapolation of the basic, but provide the bigger picture and intuition, if you will, to master the test.. I have a friend who study from the ExamKracker material and felt that they did help in a small way, but ultimately his text books enabled him to score a 37T.

Therefore, coupled with my Berkeley Review texts I have included texts to help provide the necessary panorama for the MCAT. Also, I am a detail oriented person, who must know the workings of all the tasks I endeavor to overcome. If I am over prepared, I guess I will just have to reap the benefit of my sacrifice. Here are some of the texts I am using for each subject with a brief ramble attached:

For GENERAL CHEMISTRY, I highly recommend "Chemistry and Chemical Reactivity, 6th edition" by Kotz. I have used two other texts, but none compare to this one. It explains things very nicely and flows well.

http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Che...9406/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1334874656&sr=8-8

For Organic Chemistry, the book I have chosen to go with is "Organic Chemistry, 5th or 6th edition" by L.G. Wade, Jr. Though I have not taken Organic Chemistry, I did extensive research on which book is the best. Many chemists have recommended this book on Amazon and other forums I have perused.

http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemistry-Edition-Leroy-Wade/dp/013033832X/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_4

Also, another topic that is test heavy on the MCAT is Genetics. I did some research on this on my own and read numerous reviews and recommendations. The book that was recommend and present high quality material is "Genetics: The Continuity of Life" by Daniel J. Fairbanks. I went out on a limb upon completing research on genetic texts and bought it. It is worth every penny. It is well written, and has companion study guide that can be purchased as well.

http://www.amazon.com/Genetics-Info...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334875701&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Student-Compa...ns-Genetics/dp/053425277X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b

While in the first half of physics I used the standard College Physics text by Serway, and hated it with a passion. Then, I discovered "College Physics" by Peter Urone. I hope you can find a copy, it is a great text.

http://www.betterworldbooks.com/college-physics-id-9780534376888.aspx

That is my two cents. Accept or reject, does not matter to me.

 

[Morsetlis]

Well, textbooks are only $5-10 on Amazon anyway, if you get the used last edition models. They are heavy, though. Might give you a scoliosis ;p

 

[Thego2guy]

How does one prepare for orgo without taking it? Do Princeton Review/Kaplan/EK books suffice? I have found that learning orgo from EK is really challenging. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[ur2l8]

Currently, I am using the Berkeley Review material to prepare for the MCAT, but I am taking a year to prep. However, I find that knowing the superficial basics of the MCAT does not present the big picture that is requisite for tackling the passage questions of the test. Personally, I believe the details are just an extrapolation of the basic, but provide the bigger picture and intuition, if you will, to master the test.. I have a friend who study from the ExamKracker material and felt that they did help in a small way, but ultimately his text books enabled him to score a 37T.

Therefore, coupled with my Berkeley Review texts I have included texts to help provide the necessary panorama for the MCAT. Also, I am a detail oriented person, who must know the workings of all the tasks I endeavor to overcome. If I am over prepared, I guess I will just have to reap the benefit of my sacrifice. Here are some of the texts I am using for each subject with a brief ramble attached:

For GENERAL CHEMISTRY, I highly recommend "Chemistry and Chemical Reactivity, 6th edition" by Kotz. I have used two other texts, but none compare to this one. It explains things very nicely and flows well.

http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Che...9406/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1334874656&sr=8-8

For Organic Chemistry, the book I have chosen to go with is "Organic Chemistry, 5th or 6th edition" by L.G. Wade, Jr. Though I have not taken Organic Chemistry, I did extensive research on which book is the best. Many chemists have recommended this book on Amazon and other forums I have perused.

http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chemistry-Edition-Leroy-Wade/dp/013033832X/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_4

Also, another topic that is test heavy on the MCAT is Genetics. I did some research on this on my own and read numerous reviews and recommendations. The book that was recommend and present high quality material is "Genetics: The Continuity of Life" by Daniel J. Fairbanks. I went out on a limb upon completing research on genetic texts and bought it. It is worth every penny. It is well written, and has companion study guide that can be purchased as well.

http://www.amazon.com/Genetics-Info...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334875701&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Student-Compa...ns-Genetics/dp/053425277X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b

While in the first half of physics I used the standard College Physics text by Serway, and hated it with a passion. Then, I discovered "College Physics" by Peter Urone. I hope you can find a copy, it is a great text.

http://www.betterworldbooks.com/college-physics-id-9780534376888.aspx

That is my two cents. Accept or reject, does not matter to me.

Interesting. Thanks for taking the time to write this. Have you taken the mcat yet?

 

[sector9]

Thread moved to "MCAT Discussions"

 

[FormerCorpsman]

In terms of preparation, I wanted to comment on the verbal section. From what I have gathered thus far, the The Berkeley Review and The Princeton Review Hyper are the best resources, along with the EK Verbal 101. However, many people believe that just reading will not improve their performance on this important section. I think very much otherwise, but it is dependent on what you are reading. Many boast of the Economist, which purports the Keynesian economic model, a model proven to be filled with fallacious logic. It is true that economics majors score higher than any major on the LSAT, but it is not due to the model they study, instead it is grounded in the rigorous intellectual workout of inductive and deductive logic. This workout is more apparent in the realm of microeconomics than in Macroeconomic. The macroeconomic model emerged in John Meynard Keynes magnum opus "The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money." This theory of economics is convoluted and hard to follow logically.

Therefore, in my opinion, if one endeavors to ameliorate his/her's reading performance, dive into the world of classical economics or microeconomics in general. This is the approach I am taking, as it has benefited my ability absorb and sift through complex arguments and harangues. Also, the Classics will help in this realm as well. This coupled with MCAT preparation material seems to me to be a recipe for success.