Physical Chem helpful for MCAT?

[Lindyhopper]

Hi I'm wondering if anyone has taken physical chem. How helpful was this for the mcat?

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[hnbui]

i asked a pretty similiar question awhile back. the anser is no. 🙂

 

[ad_sharp]

IMHO, you shouldn't take Physical Chem just for the MCAT. I took instramental and analytical both of which helped with electrochem and equilibira, but you should learn almost all that you need to know in Chem I and II. The time that you will spend studying for PChem would probably be better spent studying other, more applicable, MCAT material.

 

[daisygirl]

Hi I'm wondering if anyone has taken physical chem. How helpful was this for the mcat?

I took pchem since I was a chem major when I was in undergrad. I don't know if pchem 'helps' with regard to the mcat though- it was too long ago for me to remember. However, I would not advise someone to take this class unless (a) you have to for your major, or, (b) you have some sort of lust for really hard chem classes.

Pchem is HARD- I'll say it again- it is BRUTALLY HARD. It is definitely not worth taking unless you really need/want to. You could do poorly in a class like this and it isn't worth the risk to your gpa (IMHO of course).

 

[thackl]

I took pchem since I was a chem major when I was in undergrad. I don't know if pchem 'helps' with regard to the mcat though- it was too long ago for me to remember. However, I would not advise someone to take this class unless (a) you have to for your major, or, (b) you have some sort of lust for really hard chem classes.

Pchem is HARD- I'll say it again- it is BRUTALLY HARD. It is definitely not worth taking unless you really need/want to. You could do poorly in a class like this and it isn't worth the risk to your gpa (IMHO of course).

I worked with a lot of chemists while working at 3M as an engineer. Almost all them dreaded P-chem. Overkill for the mcat too.

 

[PostalWookie]

pchem is probably the most usefull course you could take in college, since everything else you learn in chem, orgo, and bio is based on it. it is helpfull for the mcats, but if you only take the coruse for that, prepare to be miserable. it is really hard. like imagine all your premed courses put together, but harder. so don't take it unless you want to learn.

 

[Fumoffu]

Nope it won't help you.

Hamiltonians are evil. Fear them.

 

[tgerwuds]

I took pchem since I was a chem major when I was in undergrad. I don't know if pchem 'helps' with regard to the mcat though- it was too long ago for me to remember. However, I would not advise someone to take this class unless (a) you have to for your major, or, (b) you have some sort of lust for really hard chem classes.

Pchem is HARD- I'll say it again- it is BRUTALLY HARD. It is definitely not worth taking unless you really need/want to. You could do poorly in a class like this and it isn't worth the risk to your gpa (IMHO of course).

Okay, so here is the deal. I am an MCAT instructor and I get asked this question very often.

Basically, Gen Chem is enough for the MCAT. However, P Chem (I have taken both P chem and quantum chemistry) is a very good class and it demands a greater understanding of PV = nRT etc, etc, and electron orbitals and whatnot. They are both very fascinating classes and can be enjoyable if you like mathematical applications.

Summing up, stick to your lower division chems for the MCAT. They will be fine. It is a waste of a year to wait for p chem and analytical.