PCAT before org chem?

[Pharmergirl28]

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The way my schedule is going to work out will put me in org chem I in fall 07. I will probably sign up to take the pcat that october. Is this a good idea, to take the pcat before you have even finished org chem I? I will be finished with all of the other prereqs by then, but I am worried about the chemistry. Should I wait until the next october, after I've finished org chem II to attempt the pcat, or take my chances with it only having part of org chem I? I just don't want to have to wait another whole year to take the pcat and apply to pharm school.

Any advice?

 

[pharmis4me]

The way my schedule is going to work out will put me in org chem I in fall 07. I will probably sign up to take the pcat that october. Is this a good idea, to take the pcat before you have even finished org chem I? I will be finished with all of the other prereqs by then, but I am worried about the chemistry. Should I wait until the next october, after I've finished org chem II to attempt the pcat, or take my chances with it only having part of org chem I? I just don't want to have to wait another whole year to take the pcat and apply to pharm school.

Any advice?

Dont take the PCAt before orgo. I did and my chem score isnt that great. In essence a waste of money...as Ill have to take it again... You dont have to wait another year tho. Take it in Jan 08 . Most schools accept the Jan score just get all your apps in early like Nov and then theyll all be waiting for your score in MARCH 😀 when they get it🙂

 

[Brock1385]

The way my schedule is going to work out will put me in org chem I in fall 07. I will probably sign up to take the pcat that october. Is this a good idea, to take the pcat before you have even finished org chem I? I will be finished with all of the other prereqs by then, but I am worried about the chemistry. Should I wait until the next october, after I've finished org chem II to attempt the pcat, or take my chances with it only having part of org chem I? I just don't want to have to wait another whole year to take the pcat and apply to pharm school.

Any advice?

i do terrible on standardized tests. Some schools may hold it against you for taking the pcat numerous times, but the school I applied to doesn't. Since I am a bad test taker, part of my problem with the PCAT was that the test tricked me. The third time, my score jumped incredibly and I got a decent score (76-- still not the greatest but much better than the other times). If you don't know organic, you will bomb the chem section. At least, I bombed the chem section because I took it without organic.

To sum up what I am saying... If you want the testing experience and the schools wont hold it against you and take only the highest score, and the money is not a serious issue, I think it helps to take the PCAT as many times as possible. If there is an objection to one of those rules, then I would advise you not to take it before organic.

Without organic your chem score will be bad. But I am glad I took it for the test experience. Hope that made at least a little bit of sense.

 

[rajan324]

I think most of the Organic Chemistry on the PCAT is basic besides a few questions. It went a little more then what Kaplan covered in the 2006-7 review. If you're good at studying something new on your own and your pretty confident about your general chemistry abilities, then I would say that you should take the PCAT. If you do not do that well, then at least you'll know what parts of orgo are covered so you know what to study for next time and when you could take the exam again. But try to get your score where you want by your second. I think schools only look at your best score, but even if they look at both of them, then they'll see an improvement, which I don't think will hurt.