Most Difficult MCAT Topics

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
H

HarvardMedical

New Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2012
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
I am trying to get a sense about which MCAT topics folks find most challenging. Please, feel free to list a couple if that is the case (it was for me!), and why you find them challenging. Thanks!
Members don't see this ad.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
HarvardMedical said:
I am trying to get a sense about which MCAT topics folks find most challenging. Please, feel free to list a couple if that is the case (it was for me!), and why you find them challenging. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Physics: Fluids.

For some reason it has just never gelled for me! I feel like I understand the concepts and formulas but I tend to fail miserably when it comes to putting them to practice. Well "miserably" might be an overstatement but it's certainly my weakest area of all MCAT topics.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Members don't see this ad :)
SoulinNeed said:
The female reproductive system is complicated as hell, as well.
Click to expand...

I'm a female and that section still drove me nuts to follow XD

Basically, Bio in general for me because it's always been my weakest point. I don't like memorizing a shizload of words, I prefer equations or general ideas. I always get the idea, but then when it asks which hormones comes from where to do what, I don't remember anything :/ KhanAcademy helps though!!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
i agree with the above posts - the female reproductive system. zona pellucida? folliculogenesis? corpus luteum? i honestly don't ever remember learning any of this stuff. it frustrated me so much that i probably won't even look at it until the week before my MCAT

and i should note that i have lots of sex, so i'm pretty familiar with the female reproductive system (kidding)

no but seriously that section made me want to kill a baby kitten
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
fas376 said:
i agree with the above posts - the female reproductive system. zona pellucida? folliculogenesis? corpus luteum? i honestly don't ever remember learning any of this stuff. it frustrated me so much that i probably won't even look at it until the week before my MCAT

and i should note that i have lots of sex, so i'm pretty familiar with the female reproductive system (kidding)

no but seriously that section made me want to kill a baby kitten
Click to expand...
This sh...Female reproductive system with all these hormones...gosh...my worst fear.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I actually agree. Reproductive system is prob my worst topic in bio...Physics it's magnetism. God I hate magnetism. GC im not sure, maybe acids..
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Reproductive system and latter half of physics are probably my weakest. (fluids for sure...)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
And you could be smashin every friday and saturday night and still not know **** about the reproductive system :\ trust me :\
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Magnetism! I don't get it at all. When I was in class I could get by cuz there are only so many calculation question that they could come up with. But mcat u really have to understand it intuitively
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
So the AAMC frequents this site, probably more than we do and somehow we decided to do them the honors by giving them a list of dreaded topics?!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Members don't see this ad :)
mzblue said:
So the AAMC frequents this site, probably more than we do and somehow we decided to do them the honors by giving them a list of dreaded topics?!
Click to expand...

Haha. I was thinking the same thing. HarvardMedical is probably an AAMC representative looking for more ways to torture test takers! (just kidding!)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
mzblue said:
So the AAMC frequents this site, probably more than we do and somehow we decided to do them the honors by giving them a list of dreaded topics?!
Click to expand...

Funny that you mention that. An admissions officer for UTSW medical school spoke at my university last week. One of the first things he did was write "studentdoctor.net" on the board and put a big X on it. He said this site is full of BS and will stress you out for no reason. I'm staring to believe it...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
fas376 said:
Funny that you mention that. An admissions officer for UTSW medical school spoke at my university last week. One of the first things he did was write "studentdoctor.net" on the board and put a big X on it. He said this site is full of BS and will stress you out for no reason. I'm staring to believe it...
Click to expand...

Interesting...

Did he give any advice you can share with us?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Thanks everyone for your responses!

I am not associated with AAMC in any way. I am a Harvard medical student and an MCAT sciences instructor and tutor. I am in the process of creating online resources to help students boost their chances of getting accepted to medical school. One of the resources is "MCAT Problem of the Day" with appropriate topic review, and I would like to start with the topics that folks find most difficult.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Bean Counter said:
Interesting...

Did he give any advice you can share with us?
Click to expand...

His main points were:
1. Submit your application, even if you haven't taken the MCAT
2. Submit early, he said he considered any application after June 15th to be late. He said the absolute absolute latest you should take the MCAT is the end of June
3. Stay off sites like SDN. He is on the admissions board, but he also an adviser for some pre medical students. He told us that many people often come crying to him because they don't think they can get in. When he asks why, they tell him because of SDN. I somewhat agree. I hate reading posts about people with 3.9s and 35s asking if they should retake the MCAT. I have a 3.65 and when I read stuff like that, it's incredibly discouraging. Hence why I quit using this site for input. I mainly use it for questions (such as TBR ones I can't figure out)

He didn't tell us anything that significant. just the basic stuff that most people know. but at least 15 times he told us to aim to submit our application in may. i knew it was important, but he sorta put it into perspective i guess.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
he also said take care of your rec letters NOW (like, email your professors this week). also said to wear a nice suit in your picture that you submit (although that's common sense). he told us last year he got a picture of a dude laying on the couch with his cat 😀
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
fas376 said:
His main points were:
1. Submit your application, even if you haven't taken the MCAT
2. Submit early, he said he considered any application after June 15th to be late. He said the absolute absolute latest you should take the MCAT is the end of June
3. Stay off sites like SDN. He is on the admissions board, but he also an adviser for some pre medical students. He told us that many people often come crying to him because they don't think they can get in. When he asks why, they tell him because of SDN. I somewhat agree. I hate reading posts about people with 3.9s and 35s asking if they should retake the MCAT. I have a 3.65 and when I read stuff like that, it's incredibly discouraging. Hence why I quit using this site for input. I mainly use it for questions (such as TBR ones I can't figure out)

He didn't tell us anything that significant. just the basic stuff that most people know. but at least 15 times he told us to aim to submit our application in may. i knew it was important, but he sorta put it into perspective i guess.
Click to expand...

My tutor said the same thing! He gets mad at me everything I bring up SDN. I actually think the Female Reproductive System is pretty easy, but I reallly reallllly hate kinematics =/
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
For me
Bio is not bad at all, it just takes some time but it's not difficult conceptually
BUT mechanics, pipes and sound, stoichiometry and ogo rxn's im like wtf?
i'd rather have a test on electrochem,electromag and you name it than mechanics and sound...
I surprisingly enjoy thermo, acid/base chemistry, kinetics and several other topics
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Thank you so much guys for being so helpful!

And thanks TXKnight for mentioning orgo reactions. Any particular ones?

Also any other orgo topics? Thanks!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
HarvardMedical said:
Thank you so much guys for being so helpful!

And thanks TXKnight for mentioning orgo reactions. Any particular ones?

Also any other orgo topics? Thanks!
Click to expand...

I think purification and separation problems could be really tricky since the concepts are not too harsh but the applications vary. Also, NMR is another major issue for me.

I also agree that inputs from this site regarding expected GPA's and MCAT scores are counter-productive.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
HarvardMedical said:
I am trying to get a sense about which MCAT topics folks find most challenging. Please, feel free to list a couple if that is the case (it was for me!), and why you find them challenging. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Some of the organic chemistry questions which ask you to pick out which one is the structure of the final molecule... it is not hard to do but I find it challenging to do under tight time conditions
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You guys?! Reproductive system bring it on...I've got this, lol!

I'm not liking verbal right now. 🙁
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
fas376 said:
i agree with the above posts - the female reproductive system. zona pellucida? folliculogenesis? corpus luteum? i honestly don't ever remember learning any of this stuff. it frustrated me so much that i probably won't even look at it until the week before my MCAT
Click to expand...
Psh, I know right! Why do women have to be so complicated?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I think the most challenging part of studying is when things begin conflicting each other ... like that whole anode/cathode distinction (electrochemisty vs. batteries). You really gotta organize everything well in your brain while studying, otherwise everything will go into disarray.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Carbohydrate chemistry, linked genetics, hormones, optics, organic chemistry mechanisms, circuits, electrochemistry, kinetics...actually, just **** the whole test.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0 Downvote
General Chemistry: Electronic Structure

Physics: Torque

Biology: Immunology

Organic Chemistry: Carbohydrates

Verbal: Everything🙁
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
General Chemistry: Electronic Structure

Physics: Torque

Biology: Immunology

Organic Chemistry: Carbohydrates

Verbal: Everything

I don't think your bio and physics weaknesses are going to be too high yield but you never know...As for orgo, they do like to combine orgo and bio info into a passage so get on that but I don't think carbs are that high yield either but again you never know. As for verbal, that's the most common vice.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
SuperDhooper19 said:
General Chemistry: Electronic Structure

Physics: Torque

Biology: Immunology

Organic Chemistry: Carbohydrates

Verbal: Everything

I don't think your bio and physics weaknesses are going to be too high yield but you never know...As for orgo, they do like to combine orgo and bio info into a passage so get on that but I don't think carbs are that high yield either but again you never know. As for verbal, that's the most common vice.
Click to expand...

What about gChem? What's the likelihood of having a passage about energy shells and orbitals? This topic kills me.

In regards to Immunology, my friend took the mcat this year and had a passage on it. :scared:
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Ibn Alnafis MD said:
What about gChem? What's the likelihood of having a passage about energy shells and orbitals? This topic kills me.

In regards to Immunology, my friend took the mcat this year and had a passage on it. :scared:
Click to expand...
You'd be very lucky to have a passage on energy shells and orbitals. It's a very straight forward topic once you understand it well.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Ibn Alnafis MD said:
What about gChem? What's the likelihood of having a passage about energy shells and orbitals? This topic kills me.

In regards to Immunology, my friend took the mcat this year and had a passage on it. :scared:
Click to expand...

You shouldn't be scared of any topic in particular. Usually, when someone is scared of a topic it's because he or she hasn't familiarized him or herself with it. Like the person before me said, orbitals etc. are pretty straight forward. If you're asking about something like orbitals it's probably going to be a passage but really discrete question like what is the hydridization of this atom in this molecule (in the passage).

Just study the topics you're unsure of if it unsettles you. Spend a day doing it and get back to your normal routine. Don't spend too much time worrying about your weaknesses and too little time studying what you think are your strengths. You'll be surprised at how what you thought was a weakness turns into a strength on the real thing and vice versa.
Just keep plowing through and don't let one topic worry you. If you must, take one day a week and revisit the topics that worried you.

As for immuno I haven't seen a lot of it. If it's there, it's probably in the context of molecular biology. With that being said, there are objectives to know about the lymphatics system, immune cells, etc. Make sure you get them down. The prospect of immunology in general though or a immunology passage should be stressed about IMO.

Oh, and I think you're fine but technically we aren't supposed to discuss the topics of the actual exams. That's why I'm really vague in posts. They actually do reused passages and discretes. I know this because some idiot typed out a whole discrete and then got his account on hold the next day and I had that one on my exam. Also, I saw someone going into detail about a passage I knew was on my exam. Also has his or her account on hold.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Ah oxidation and reduction questions are the worse. Also specific gravity, female reproduction, and every verbal passage.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
pre med 2014 said:
Endocrine system and stuff about pregnancy.
Click to expand...

After taking some princeton material, all the AAMCs, and the actual thing twice I think that new molecular biology stuff was the hardest (i.e. the Ebola Passage on AAMC 11). Reproduction in general is kind of tough when they tie in cell division and developmental biology with tons of details as well.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
It's different for everyone. For example, I'm very surprised people on here find torque difficult because in my opinion it is one of the easier, if not the easiest, physics concept.

Things that rustle my jimmies:

-Physics: Circuits. I was taught this very poorly in my class. In my entire E&M class, I had to solve one circuit that had one resistor. That's it. Optics -- I was also taught this very poorly. Work/Energy theorum, not too bad, I just need to spend some more time on it.

-GChem: Electrochemistry & Rate kinetics.

-Bio: I'm a bio major so I've covered most of the physiology in my electives. I finally got the kidney down, that was my weakness for a while. I guess I've still been too lazy to memorize all of the steps of the electron transport chain and various specifics about metabolism.

-Orgo: I know a little about everything, but have almost nothing nailed down 100%. A quick review and I'll have it all down.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
i didn't enjoy all that double slit experiment optics jazz.

maybe people might find verbal snippets helpful. like maybe have a paragraph excerpt with a question dealing with some sort of logic or reasoning based on it. idk, just spitballing
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Circuits. The concepts themselves aren't bad but when they give you a crazy passage with alternate voltage sources it throws me off like crazy. Fluids too.
In bio, I can't seem to nail down the hormones and reproductive system, and the effing kidney and its filtration function is my archenemy
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P
MCAT Prep Advice
Replies
4
Views
1K
BerkReviewTeach
B
L
MCAT 2025 Study Buddy
Replies
0
Views
93
leodelva
L
C
Berkley Review MCAT
Replies
0
Views
712
chubjectsubject
C
L
MCAT study prep
Replies
5
Views
2K
dimplesage
dimplesage
Anonymouse2100
Advice on MCAT Dilemma
Replies
1
Views
751
stew_md
S
Top