MCAT w/o 2nd sem. Ochem.

[NotShorty]

Gee... I think my subject kind of sums it up pretty well.

I'll be taking the August MCAT without having taken the second semester (or as we Buckeyes would say, the 3rd quarter) of organic chemistry.

Can anyone suggest a book/plan of attack/anything to prepare myself for this? I am interested in ExamKrackers at this point. How well did this help for any of you?

Thanks,
NS

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[jnormandin]

I took the April MCAT without having taken the second semester of O-Chem or Physics. I used Examkracker's materials and felt pretty good about it going into the test.

If I had to do it all over again, I would definitely use Examkracker's to study with and would still feel comfortable going in without having taken the Physics/O-Chem classes.

Jason

 

[IndyZX]

cool, that reply helps me as well.

 

[dreaminOfMD>.<]

I've actually heard of a couple of people doing the same thing, some haven't taken physics 2 etc...

With that being said, I think you should really be careful. The 2nd part of o-chem is very tedious and there are a GREAT many things to be learned that will help tremendously with the MCATs.

Good luck though...

 

[IndyZX]

its probably like anything else... if you know what you have ahead of you, and are willing to put in the work, its possible to be prepared for the test.

 

[yearningone]

I think you should also be careful. If you're going to take a course, you can't expect them to teach you the science you were already supposed to have learned.

If you're a good book learner, I'd suggest cracking open your textbook and going over the concepts as outlined by a Kaplan or Princeton Review. They have summaries, but those summaries are only supposed to be refreshers.

Some say that it would be too much effort to try to learn everything. I think if you never look at something, there's less chance for you to recall it on test day.

I just took the April 2003 MCAT and my difficult section was the Physical Sciences. I'm hoping I didn't mess up the Physics portions too bad. Verbal and Biosciences were better than expected, but I can't say what I expect my scores to be because of the mixed reactions from everyone who took the test.

Either way, come up with a plan of attack to review all of the material you're supposed to know for the test. My friends bought me the super thick Kaplan review book because they knew I couldn't afford the $1500+ to take the course. From what I gather, if you're pretty smart, it could be a waste of time. They teach some tricks, but I believe they publish most of them in the book. Then get your hands on a bunch of practice questions and go over everything you answered incorrectly.

I had no life as a postbac working full time taking 2-3 courses per semester. With the added responsibility of reviewing for the MCAT, I am surprised I escaped with my sanity, but here I sit writing to you today!

 

[birdie]

There is such little o-chem on the bio section now, I think you'll be fine. My mcat last month had only about 2 o-chem passages. It was mostly molecular bio.

 

[Ramoray]

You are so fine without 3rd Q ochem, as all 3rd Q is is rxns that just follow basic ochem rules into new types of rxns and stuff. All the mechanisms rae the same . Plus the ochem on the mcat is quite basica.. konw ur NMR, Chirality stuff, seperatoins and purifciations. SN1/2 E1/2 and basic rules like why things attack what etc. And u are fine. All of htat is learned in Q 1 and 2 forsure. Dont worry aobut it

 

[bella_dottoressa]

Hey!! I go to Ohio State too!!

 

[spumoni620]

I took the MCAT without 2nd sem o-chem or physics. Best prep materials for me: PR for Physics, Kaplan/Examkrackers for O-chem. PR was good for O-chem as well but very detailed. Examkrackers summed everything up nicely.

Good luck!