Organic Chemistry on MCAT... WTF?!

[MedGrl@2022]

I am studying using the Exam Krackers Home Study Guide (I am using Berkeley Review, Columbia Review, Kaplan, internet, EK1001 and my college textbooks as supplements). I am on week 7 and my exam is on Aprul 26th I think. I am on lecture 3 in organic chemistry using the EK books mainly and literally I feel like it is reaction after reaction after reaction. I have only taken one AAMC practice exam recently I know I should take more. But I took the Kaplan course and the real MCAT 5 years ago. From what I can remember Orgo is not a big part of the MCAT. Am I right?! In addition, I shouldn't be memorizing the reactions? Or should I? I should just know the basics regarding the functional groups, etc, right?!

I am just getting nervous about trying and having to memorize all these equations on top of everything else. Can someone clue me in on as to how I should study for the organic chemistry portion of MCAT?

Thank you,

Verónica

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[gettheleadout]

The idea that the MCAT doesn't test much organic is a myth. People frequently get 3 passages of straight organic material in their BS section.

You need to know the reactions, and for some of them the mechanisms as well. Also don't take more AAMC practice tests until you've finished content review.

 

[MedGrl@2022]

The idea that the MCAT doesn't test much organic is a myth. People frequently get 3 passages of straight organic material in their BS section.

You need to know the reactions, and for some of them the mechanisms as well. Also don't take more AAMC practice tests until you've finished content review.

should i just go ahead and start making flash cards of all the reactions in the EK organic chem book?

 

[gettheleadout]

should i just go ahead and start making flash cards of all the reactions in the EK organic chem book?

I can't say because I don't have the EK Organic book, sorry.

 

[Postictal Raiden]

I followed EK's advice that only basic ochem knowledge is tested on the MCAT and got screwed by two tough passages.

Now that I'm preparing for a retake and actually studying everything in the TPR books, I've noticed that ochem isn't as bad as everyone think it is. There only ~25 different types of reactions you should know (That includes carboxylic acid derivatives preparation). Know the basics about their mechanisms, know your stereochemistry, read through the laboratory techniques, and you should be prepared.

 

[MedGrl@2022]

I followed EK's advice that only basic ochem knowledge is tested on the MCAT and got screwed by two tough passages.

Now that I'm preparing for a retake and actually studying everything in the TPR books, I've noticed that ochem isn't as bad as everyone think it is. There only ~25 different types of reactions you should know (That includes carboxylic acid derivatives preparation). Know the basics about their mechanisms, know your stereochemistry, read through the laboratory techniques, and you should be prepared.

Thank you for the heads up guys! I will be definitely be memorizing the details regarding the major reactions now. I just hope that I will have EVERYTHING down and ready to go in April. 🙂

 

[brood910]

I followed EK's advice that only basic ochem knowledge is tested on the MCAT and got screwed by two tough passages.

Now that I'm preparing for a retake and actually studying everything in the TPR books, I've noticed that ochem isn't as bad as everyone think it is. There only ~25 different types of reactions you should know (That includes carboxylic acid derivatives preparation). Know the basics about their mechanisms, know your stereochemistry, read through the laboratory techniques, and you should be prepared.

Maybe you didnt prepare thoroughly.
EK has all the info you need.

 

[kgpremed11]

I am studying using the Exam Krackers Home Study Guide (I am using Berkeley Review, Columbia Review, Kaplan, internet, EK1001 and my college textbooks as supplements). I am on week 7 and my exam is on Aprul 26th I think. I am on lecture 3 in organic chemistry using the EK books mainly and literally I feel like it is reaction after reaction after reaction. I have only taken one AAMC practice exam recently I know I should take more. But I took the Kaplan course and the real MCAT 5 years ago. From what I can remember Orgo is not a big part of the MCAT. Am I right?! In addition, I shouldn't be memorizing the reactions? Or should I? I should just know the basics regarding the functional groups, etc, right?!

I am just getting nervous about trying and having to memorize all these equations on top of everything else. Can someone clue me in on as to how I should study for the organic chemistry portion of MCAT?

Thank you,

Verónica

CHill, I did a poll a recently and most people only had 1 or 2 passages that were orgo. here is the link http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=960000.

However, you probably still need to know those reactions. My test is on the 27th of April so good luck.

 

[kgpremed11]

should i just go ahead and start making flash cards of all the reactions in the EK organic chem book?

The book should have came with flash cards, just use those

 

[BerkReviewTeach]

The idea that the MCAT doesn't test much organic is a myth. People frequently get 3 passages of straight organic material in their BS section.

You need to know the reactions, and for some of them the mechanisms as well. Also don't take more AAMC practice tests until you've finished content review.

I have to second this as excellent advice. Sure, you may luck out and get an exam with very little organic chemistry. But why take the risk of blowing it off when you study given that there's a chance you could get an exam like the one gettheleadout described?

I am studying using the Exam Krackers Home Study Guide (I am using Berkeley Review, Columbia Review, Kaplan, internet, EK1001 and my college textbooks as supplements). I am on week 7 and my exam is on Aprul 26th I think. I am on lecture 3 in organic chemistry using the EK books mainly and literally I feel like it is reaction after reaction after reaction. I have only taken one AAMC practice exam recently I know I should take more. But I took the Kaplan course and the real MCAT 5 years ago. From what I can remember Orgo is not a big part of the MCAT. Am I right?! In addition, I shouldn't be memorizing the reactions? Or should I? I should just know the basics regarding the functional groups, etc, right?!

I am just getting nervous about trying and having to memorize all these equations on top of everything else. Can someone clue me in on as to how I should study for the organic chemistry portion of MCAT?

Thank you,

Verónica

You should probably fish through the official MCAT threads at SDN for the various test dates from last year and see what people said in terms of the exam distribution. That would give you the best answer.

Review materials are great for preparing, but they can also give you a false sense of security (or a false reality in some instances). Review books aren't updated with every exam, so by their nature they can be a little outdated (some more than others). You mentioned one particular book that's from a company that hasn't been active for a while. I assume it's a book you used five years ago when you studied before. Blindly trusting what a book tells you about the content of the MCAT is not a good idea, especially with older books (or books that haven't been updated for many years). Use your review books for learning, reviewing, and practicing passages, but don't let them tell you what will be on your exam. Only AAMC can tell you that.