MCAT w/o physics?

[USAF_Dentman]

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I havent had physics yet and i would like to take the August MCAT....Basically, how much of the test is physics? I might be able to learn it in 2 months, will it be alright just to study outta kaplans book for physics?

 

[wetlightning]

I havent had physics yet and i would like to take the August MCAT....Basically, how much of the test is physics? I might be able to learn it in 2 months, will it be alright just to study outta kaplans book for physics?

that's what i did -- i haven't gotten my scores back, so i don't know how i actually did, but i was getting 10's on the kaplan physics tests, and between 11-13 on the aamc tests. i think you should be fine, if you really focus on the physics, but i can't guarantee that you won't have issues with the PS section.

PS is about 50/50 gen chem and physics

good luck!

 

[USArmyDoc]

If you are one of those that can assimilate information rapidly go for it. I was getting 9's on my Physical sections. I had physics in high school but it was only a refresher not new information. Your best bet is to try to learn it. If it doesn't work well then don't take the test.

 

[chaeymaey]

I recommend taking physics over the summer, maybe at your local state school or auditing it at a CC (if you don't want a CC on your record). If you're bio or chem-oriented, physics may throw you for a loop because it's not really studied in those classes. With the science on the MCAT, it's important for it to be instinctual. You have to know Physics well enough that you can have a reliable instinct on a lot of the questions.

 

[USAF_Dentman]

I recommend taking physics over the summer, maybe at your local state school or auditing it at a CC (if you don't want a CC on your record). If you're bio or chem-oriented, physics may throw you for a loop because it's not really studied in those classes. With the science on the MCAT, it's important for it to be instinctual. You have to know Physics well enough that you can have a reliable instinct on a lot of the questions.

I wont be able to take physics over the summer because of a full-time job i have already committed to.. I did well in o-chem, calculus and bio but just average in gen-chem..

i understand what you mean, as it might be hard to get a year's of physics in a few months..I guess the main thing is, will the kaplan book be enough to study from for physics?

 

[wetlightning]

I wont be able to take physics over the summer because of a full-time job i have already committed to.. I did well in o-chem, calculus and bio but just average in gen-chem..

i understand what you mean, as it might be hard to get a year's of physics in a few months..I guess the main thing is, will the kaplan book be enough to study from for physics?

kaplan book has everything you need, but i'd recommend diversifying and using EK, and any others you can find

 

[chaeymaey]

I took Princeton Review, and I thought the book and class were helpful. Then again, Shrike was my teacher so of course it was helpful.

 

[gujuDoc]

I took Princeton Review, and I thought the book and class were helpful. Then again, Shrike was my teacher so of course it was helpful.

 

[Shredder]

I havent had physics yet and i would like to take the August MCAT....Basically, how much of the test is physics? I might be able to learn it in 2 months, will it be alright just to study outta kaplans book for physics?

just gauge from your practice tests. if youre screwing them up, put off the mcat and take physics. i guess you could say 1/6 of the mcat is physics. i think its actually a little less and that general chemistry is emphasized slightly more. physics is probably the least pertinent section to medicine unless you do radiology or something tech oriented.

 

[DrBowtie]

I wont be able to take physics over the summer because of a full-time job i have already committed to.. I did well in o-chem, calculus and bio but just average in gen-chem..

i understand what you mean, as it might be hard to get a year's of physics in a few months..I guess the main thing is, will the kaplan book be enough to study from for physics?

If you already have a full time job and your trying to study for the MCAT over the summer, you will be a busy (wo)man especially having not seen any physics before. Combined with your average gchem background your PS score might be in trouble as that is the section that most would say is the most difficult. Try to focus your initial studying on the PS topics and take 7R or 8R. If your hitting decent then continue, if not your plate might be a bit full.

 

[HistoRocks]

I wont be able to take physics over the summer because of a full-time job i have already committed to.. I did well in o-chem, calculus and bio but just average in gen-chem..

If you've had calculus, then I'm sure you've been exposed to a few concepts already: velocity/acceleration as derivatives, moment of inertia, etc. So its not as if you're starting from scratch. You can definitely learn physics I in 2 months. The kinematics stuff is largely plug and chug. Newton's laws are relatively simple. Moment of inertia you must have already done. Fluid dynamics you might want to spend a little time on. Other than this, the rest of my physics I class was largely chem stuff - PV work done by a gas, specific heat, energy required to go from one state to another, etc, all stuff you've seen in gen chem anyway. Physics II, I haven't done, so can't comment on that. I heard there's also modern physics on the MCAT -this might cut into your plans a bit.

 

[HistoRocks]

I left out the circular motion stuff. If you've had Calc III, its pretty much the same concept. Otherwise, you just use a few equations to replace the corresponding kinematics equations from before. Work and energy - thats straightforward.

 

[DrBowtie]

Without a doubt physics I is easy to get. It is commonly observable stuff. Physics II is where is gets tough as it becomes more conceptual since you can't observe all of the phenomena.

 

[Scottish Chap]

I havent had physics yet and i would like to take the August MCAT....Basically, how much of the test is physics? I might be able to learn it in 2 months, will it be alright just to study outta kaplans book for physics?

I'm going to (respectfully) strongly disagree with those that say Kaplan, EK, or Princeton notes will be enough for you. I had never taken physics in college or high school and tried to self-teach from Kaplan review notes (I never took the course). The notes are exactly that - a review. Although the concepts are really simple, nothing beats taking the class and being challenged with tests to reinforce your understanding; this type of learning is what the MCAT draws on. Even with very strong chemistry (plus a Ph.D.) before the MCAT and gaining A's in physics I and II AFTER taking the MCAT, my MCAT PS section was just horrible and I had to explain my cavalier stupidity at interviews. Don't make the same mistake I did...after I started getting 10's on timed Kaplan exams, I was fooled into a false sense of security. I was working 60+ hours per week so my time may have been worse than what you can use...I don't know but, IMHO, you should delay the MCAT and take physics I and II.

 

[BradenDO]

I was told that it's hard to do well on the physics section of the MCAT without having calc...have you found this to be true??

 

[Scottish Chap]

I was told that it's hard to do well on the physics section of the MCAT without having calc...have you found this to be true??

Knowing calculus will give you zero advantage on the MCAT. The physics section is not calculus-based, just basic material from first year college.