It crossed my mind that higher mathematics courses beyond the scope of most biology majors and pre med requirements (if you are a biology major who just got mad at me when I said that, i'm sorry. I am a biology major myself) require critical thinking, application, and analysis. Would this translate to making for higher critical thinking skills for the MCAT?
Mutivariable Calculus/Linear Algebra = success on MCAT?
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I would say not in the slightest. Remember, any math you will be doing on the MCAT is purely things you can and HAVE to be able to with with your brain, a pencil, and paper. There wont be anything outlandish that you'd need coursework in those two classes to comprehend. KNowing how to do basic algebra and understanding the concepts is really all you'll need for any serious math questions.
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It's an interesting question. You'd certainly not need to do anything close to that level of math on the MCAT, but it might help with critical thinking and analysis. I only took two years of calculus and, although I did well on the MCAT, have no idea if the extra three math courses contributed to that score. Quite a lot of the MCAT seems to involve reading comprehension and analysis of passages, so I'd expect that extra liberal arts classes would be at least as likely to help.
@avivance I do think that analysis is important for the passages but problem solving is important for answering the questions. I am considering whether the same approach could be taken with upper level physics coures
@allenlchs With time management skills and willingness to work hard and smart, anyone can make time for anything. You will be surprised how much time you gain when you use it wisely.
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This.
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@JoyKim456 I'd imagine that anything that gives a person practice thinking hard would help with the MCAT to some degree. I didn't focus on problem-solving because the problem-based questions seemed pretty straightforward as MCAT questions go, but that might just be a result of a skewed perspective due to studying engineering. Most of the first two years of calculus were heavy on pattern recognition, and I could see both that and the reasoning needed for proofs helping with the MCAT.
took 5 calculus courses, they wont help you in the slightest imo. though i've resorted to calculus when doing projectile motion and some physics problems.
Multivariable - ehhh maybe one question in some physical science section involving angles/cross products at most
Linear algebra - lmfao never
Multivariable - ehhh maybe one question in some physical science section involving angles/cross products at most
Linear algebra - lmfao never
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yeah linear algebra was my saving grace through the mcat, helped me with everything from the ochem to the verbal
lol jk no it doesnt help at all
lol jk no it doesnt help at all
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Calculus and linear algebra will do absolutely nothing for you on the MCAT. Calculus and linear algebra are mindless memorization classes (and the facts/methods you memorize in these classes are not tested on the MCAT). The MCAT is the opposite.
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just no
No, they probably won't. Diddo on real analysis/abstract algebra..., as those require a lot more reasoning with proofs. However, as someone in math, if you're interested in linear algebra/calc... and think you'd do well in them, I'd suggest taking them as electives (especially if you're thinking of clinical trial research at some point, as a lot of the algorithms used to set up those studies correctly are based on those two areas of math).
The body of evidence supporting the intellectual growth caused by a rigorous education is irrefutable.
However, two mathematics class -in themselves- don't satisfy the criteria for this.
(Besides, linear algebra and multivar calculus were way easier than all the prereqs I took as of yet.)
However, two mathematics class -in themselves- don't satisfy the criteria for this.
(Besides, linear algebra and multivar calculus were way easier than all the prereqs I took as of yet.)
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I agree with this^. The overwhelming response is no and for good reasons.
Trust me as a engineering graduate who has taken high levels of math class and has taken the MCAT, it won't help. In calculus and linear algebra, you are really memorizing and applying the same principles to general problems more than analyzing anything. If you were to work on a math research project that analyzes theories and logic then I would suspect that could help you hone your critical thinking skills. But, then again, any type of analytical work or research project can sharpen those skills. For the sciences on the MCAT, it's better to focus on knowing the material, which is enormous in volume. Do what interests you but also challenges you to hone your critical thinking skills so you will be ready for VR.
p.s. engineering courses from my experience require more application and analysis type thinking than higher level math courses. if you can take a high level engineering elective then I think that would be more beneficial. And you said it yourself, most people said the math is easy. Critical thinking is not an easy skill to acquire for most. So for that reason I don't think these math classes will help. Best of luck.
My problem is that the biology courses at my school are reputed of being "memory based" which means that I won't gain critical thinking skills. What do you guys recommend I do in order to increase my critical thinking skills. There are some people I know that read advanced engineering textbooks (after taking physics and calculus) and tried making sense out of them. Another thing is that the 2015 MCAT (which I will be taking) is more critical thinking based.
No way. I found that my more advanced education in physics, math and chemistry actually hindered me at first. I never had such simple problems on homework or exams (even in introductory courses), so my first instinct was always to look for a more complicated answer to the problem. Part of studying for the PS and organic chemistry parts of the MCAT was learning to go to the simplest explanation instead of trying to find a more complicated explanation.
I would not say a more advanced understanding of concepts sets you up better for the MCAT. I think once it comes down to the difference between a 32 and a 37, it's really more about how good you are taking these sorts of tests and/or how hard you study.
In my last few practice exams, all my sub-scores varied widely from 10-13, but my overall score stayed mostly the same. This to me suggested a lack of endurance, which could have probably been fixed by studying more. Unfortunately, I had run out of time and had to take the exam if I wanted to apply this cycle.
EDIT: I guess the biology section is a different story, though. My biology courses were very concept-oriented and not very memory-heavy. My courses were also more centered around cell biology than physiology, so studying for the BS section of the MCAT required a lot of memory-oriented studying. I think the best way to prepare yourself for the critical thinking parts of the BS section would just be to do a ton of practice problems.
I would not say a more advanced understanding of concepts sets you up better for the MCAT. I think once it comes down to the difference between a 32 and a 37, it's really more about how good you are taking these sorts of tests and/or how hard you study.
In my last few practice exams, all my sub-scores varied widely from 10-13, but my overall score stayed mostly the same. This to me suggested a lack of endurance, which could have probably been fixed by studying more. Unfortunately, I had run out of time and had to take the exam if I wanted to apply this cycle.
EDIT: I guess the biology section is a different story, though. My biology courses were very concept-oriented and not very memory-heavy. My courses were also more centered around cell biology than physiology, so studying for the BS section of the MCAT required a lot of memory-oriented studying. I think the best way to prepare yourself for the critical thinking parts of the BS section would just be to do a ton of practice problems.
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I took both courses and got As. PS was my strongest MCAT section in practice (consistent 13-14s), and then I crashed and burned with an 11 on the real thing. n=1, mind you.
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Do you really have the time in your schedule to take engineering or advanced math classes? While these classes do help train your critical thinking skills, it's important to remember that the "point" of these classes is to teach you how to be a better engineer or a better mathematician. If you want to train your critical thinking skills, practice doing puzzles or learn a new language (though you're probably an extremely neurotic gunner if you learn a new language just for the MCAT). Do things that make your head hurt. Though if you're just trying to get a high score on the VR section, my advisor says that reading has the highest correlation with top VR scores.
D
deleted407021
You don't need a higher level engineering text to practice critical thinking...
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OP you are adorable. Join the penguin nation.
The one upper division thing you may have to take is a third physics portion if physics part 1 and 2 did not talk about optics/lasers.
You can study for this on your own though and not take the third physics portion. Most people don't.
