MCAT prep

[BubTheZombie]

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Hey guys!
So, I was on a website called Khan Academy watching some Chemistry videos, and I decided to take a look at their MCAT articles out of curiosity. I'll be honest, I didn't understand ANY of it. I know I'm a senior in high school, and can't be expected to know the answer completely, but I mean, I might as well have been trying to read Japanese. That's how severe my lack of understanding was. Is this normal for someone who's still in HS? At what point in your undergraduate education did you really start going into the complicated topics that the MCAT tests you on? Thanks.

 

[frosted_flake]

Have you ever even taken chemistry? If not, you most likely would not understand it.
Don't worry, you will when you start taking the courses and studying the material yourself 🙂 And also, the MCAT is FAR in your future... for now, kick butt in the pre-requs and just do your best to get a great GPA!

As far as when you begin going into the material, it is when you start taking your pre-requisite courses such as intro chem, bio, psych, sociology, etc. your freshman year.

PS- Khan is an excellent resource for learning!

 

[iforget2]

The MCAT is a longgggg ways away for you, so don't worry about it for now. You eventually learn the material you need through the classes you take like bio, chem, physics, etc. I didn't start studying specifically for the MCAT until the 2nd semester of my junior year in college and did fine. Good luck!

 

[KitKat30]

Good Lord, I don't think I had even heard of the MCAT when I was your age. Just relax and enjoy life while you can.

 

[efle]

You're supposed to take a year each of college level chem, physics, bio, organic chem, plus biochem for good measure, before being able to easily comprehend MCAT science passages. So don't worry.

 

[jedrek]

Hey guys!
So, I was on a website called Khan Academy watching some Chemistry videos, and I decided to take a look at their MCAT articles out of curiosity. I'll be honest, I didn't understand ANY of it. I know I'm a senior in high school, and can't be expected to know the answer completely, but I mean, I might as well have been trying to read Japanese. That's how severe my lack of understanding was. Is this normal for someone who's still in HS? At what point in your undergraduate education did you really start going into the complicated topics that the MCAT tests you on? Thanks.

I think it varies from individuals to individuals.

Some students understand MCAT material in high school,some later on in life. I belong to the category that is in between high school and undergraduate,and am already looking through MCAT materials.That's primarily because of my free time(gap period) transiting from high school to undergraduate.

My advice is:
1. Focus on high school first,get a good GPA and hopefully,have more room of opportunities to apply to a better pre-med college.More choice is better than no choice.

2.It's never too late to start prepping.MCAT materials are amazingly huge! Biology,Biochemistry,General Chemistry,Organic Chemistry,Inorganic Chemistry,Physics/Maths,Sociology/Psychology,Critical Analysis and Reasoning. (took me 3 months of own time,own target learning to grasp the concepts of Biology,Biochemistry and Sociology/Psychology materials) <<Decided to work on these as I had little exposure to them in high school,lol. Deal with the difficult ones before the easier ones.

3.Don't land in the pitfall of solely wanting to do medicine. A common pre-med issue,that has led many to a state of burnt-out. Focus on process of learning over results 🙂

4.Don't forget about university GPA too.Some will say focus on GPA,others will say focus on MCAT.There's no one size fits all,but I feel the best approach to go,is to prepare during holidays in university. Your university notes aren't gonna materialise before the next semester,in general.(exception that you borrow your senior's materials to read up ahead) So,where should the free time go?

 

[Doxorubicin]

A friend's older brother was studying for the MCAT while I was in high school, and I looked through his review books. It was definitely all Greek to me, too.

Don't worry right now. It's a few years away. Enjoy your senior year and study hard in college. It will all come together.