Physics requirement

[itsallgood19]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am confused when the year of physics should be completed. Basically I'm wondering should physics 2 be completed before spring semester if you wanna take the MCAT during that spring of your junior year, or can you take physics 2 and take the MCAT while not entirely finishing the physics 2 course.

I have been getting mixed reviews about this discussion because I heard physics only accounts for 10% of the mcat, so it's not entirely imperative to get physics 2 done before the mcat...is this accurate.

Any info. would be greatly appreciated.

 

[TexasPhysician]

I would complete physics 2 first.

 

[vnicolas]

Complete Physics 2 before....you could take the mcat in june.

 

[Juicec]

Physics II is a strong science course that will increase your Physics knowledge but also greatly enhance your problem solving ability which is essential for the MCAT.

People have gone before you and done well on the MCAT without physics II completed, however if you have the choice I would complete it first -- it is a benefit no question. How much of a benefit is dependent upon you.

 

[Victory4Zim]

I am confused when the year of physics should be completed. Basically I'm wondering should physics 2 be completed before spring semester if you wanna take the MCAT during that spring of your junior year, or can you take physics 2 and take the MCAT while not entirely finishing the physics 2 course.

I have been getting mixed reviews about this discussion because I heard physics only accounts for 10% of the mcat, so it's not entirely imperative to get physics 2 done before the mcat...is this accurate.

Any info. would be greatly appreciated.

Don't worry about what percentage of physics people say the exam will cover, every exam covers different topics and amounts of physics so it's best to not risk it 🙂 if doing it the traditional way will greatly inconvenience you, do what you must and hope for the best I took physics my sophomore year. You know yourself obviously much better than we do so in short: if you can handle the load of physics II course work along with studying for the MCAT and risk maybe not knowing the entire subject by then, then go for it. If by any chance you can wait till late spring/early summer to take the MCAT (and remember you can apply without a score) that'll work too. Good luck

 

[sunflower18]

I'm going to resurrect this thread and ask a clarifying question. Would it be too much if I took physics junior year and then the MCAT the month that classes end (May)? The physics material would definitely be fresh in my head, but I don't want to do poorly on the other sections because I didn't have time to study for them. I would definitely arrange it so that physics II was my only majorly time consuming class that semester...

I just realized that physics II isn't offered in the fall at my school, which changes everything, so I have to figure out if I should just take the whole sequence junior year or if I should take it sophomore year. It's calc-based and I have not yet taken calc, so my schedule next year first semester would be Spanish, OChem, Calc, and Physics I. That sounds TERRIBLE and I would like to avoid it at all costs (plus it'd put me behind in my major). Nonetheless, I'd like to do well on the MCAT. Thoughts? Thank you!

 

[Hemorrage]

I'm going to resurrect this thread and ask a clarifying question. Would it be too much if I took physics junior year and then the MCAT the month that classes end (May)? The physics material would definitely be fresh in my head, but I don't want to do poorly on the other sections because I didn't have time to study for them. I would definitely arrange it so that physics II was my only majorly time consuming class that semester...

I just realized that physics II isn't offered in the fall at my school, which changes everything, so I have to figure out if I should just take the whole sequence junior year or if I should take it sophomore year. It's calc-based and I have not yet taken calc, so my schedule next year first semester would be Spanish, OChem, Calc, and Physics I. That sounds TERRIBLE and I would like to avoid it at all costs (plus it'd put me behind in my major). Nonetheless, I'd like to do well on the MCAT. Thoughts? Thank you!

i'm in the same boat as you. I decided to take the whole sequence during my junior year while studying for the mcat in spring semester. The only thing im contemplating is whether or not to take calculus based physics, algebra based doesn't allow the use of a calculator and thats always a pain in the ass.

 

[phltz]

i'm in the same boat as you. I decided to take the whole sequence during my junior year while studying for the mcat in spring semester. The only thing im contemplating is whether or not to take calculus based physics, algebra based doesn't allow the use of a calculator and thats always a pain in the ass.

The MCAT doesn't allow a calculator either. You'll need to be prepared to do basic calculations with pencil and paper by the time you take the exam. That said, I think calculus based physics can give you a much better feel for what's really going on, if you're willing to put in the effort to wrap your head around it.

 

[Rainstorm4]

i'm in the same boat as you. I decided to take the whole sequence during my junior year while studying for the mcat in spring semester. The only thing im contemplating is whether or not to take calculus based physics, algebra based doesn't allow the use of a calculator and thats always a pain in the ass.

I have been trying to decide if i want to take calc based physics or algebra based too... Lately i have been leaning more toward algebra based because the calc based is killer at my university, but i have been wondering if it would make the mcat easier if i took the calc based physics sequence??

 

[TexasPhysician]

I did algebra based physics and performed better than my calc based physics friends on the MCAT. Granted this is based off only a few people, but my calc physics friends scored better than I in medical school. There is no doubt that they are better test takers than I on average, but I can still say I bested them on the MCAT. 🙂

 

[sunflower18]

i'm in the same boat as you. I decided to take the whole sequence during my junior year while studying for the mcat in spring semester. The only thing im contemplating is whether or not to take calculus based physics, algebra based doesn't allow the use of a calculator and thats always a pain in the ass.

I think that's what I'm leaning towards as well. Hopefully we do well the first time and don't have to retake the MCAT, then!

Awww, I wish I had the option. The only one offered for me is calc-based physics.

 

[Hemorrage]

I think that's what I'm leaning towards as well. Hopefully we do well the first time and don't have to retake the MCAT, then!

Awww, I wish I had the option. The only one offered for me is calc-based physics.

why don't you check other schools near you?

additionally i have the other dilemma which is that all the physics teachers both for calculus and algebra based suck at my school and the surrounding schools. Why do all physics teachers suck? lol they all have like a 1.2 on RMP

 

[sunflower18]

why don't you check other schools near you?

additionally i have the other dilemma which is that all the physics teachers both for calculus and algebra based suck at my school and the surrounding schools. Why do all physics teachers suck? lol they all have like a 1.2 on RMP

There aren't any schools around that are easy to take classes at, and my summers are booked :/ It's all good, though!!

Oh no! That's the worst! Mine are thankfully >4.0 on RMP.

 

[CursedtoFirst45]

Most of my pre-med friends have done the following route:
-General Chemistry 1 & 2: freshman year
-Organic Chemistry 1 & 2: sophomore year
-Physics 1 & 2: junior year
-MCAT: April/May/June after Junior year

I don't see why this is problematic. If anything, I think having physics 2 so close to the MCAT is an advantage.

 

[xxhopefulxx]

I am also in this same boat. I was going to take Physics this semester (in my sophomore yr) but I thought that with orgo II and Bio 4 I would not have enough time to dedicate to it. I am considering taking Physics 1 this summer and then physics 2 in the fall that way I will complete it before mcats (I want to take them in April/May of my Jr. year). The only problem is that the only professor that teaches physics 1 in the summer is awful. I am considering taking it at a CC, but I heard that it looks really bad on your application to have any pre reqs done at a CC...i don't know what to do!

 

[sunflower18]

I am also in this same boat. I was going to take Physics this semester (in my sophomore yr) but I thought that with orgo II and Bio 4 I would not have enough time to dedicate to it. I am considering taking Physics 1 this summer and then physics 2 in the fall that way I will complete it before mcats (I want to take them in April/May of my Jr. year). The only problem is that the only professor that teaches physics 1 in the summer is awful. I am considering taking it at a CC, but I heard that it looks really bad on your application to have any pre reqs done at a CC...i don't know what to do!

Everyone on this thread seems to think that it's okay to take the mcat right after taking physics II, as long as you can study that semester. I think that's what I am going to end up doing. It's a tough one :/

 

[CopaceticOne]

I did algebra based physics and performed better than my calc based physics friends on the MCAT. Granted this is based off only a few people, but my calc physics friends scored better than I in medical school. There is no doubt that they are better test takers than I on average, but I can still say I bested them on the MCAT. 🙂

People can get an A in calc based physics just by being good at math and knowing how to set up the problems. You actually don't have to conceptually understand most of it (just follow the units as we say). In contrast, algebra-based physics is all about understanding the concepts and principles physics (because you can't derive any of the equations).

As a person who has taken both versions (calc for my engineering degree and algebra retake 10+ years later for GPA repair and as a refresher), hands down the algebra based is the way to go for the MCAT.

Everyone on this thread seems to think that it's okay to take the mcat right after taking physics II, as long as you can study that semester. I think that's what I am going to end up doing. It's a tough one :/

That's what I did and as a result I spent almost zero time of my MCAT prep focusing on Physics.

 

[sunflower18]

People can get an A in calc based physics just by being good at math and knowing how to set up the problems. You actually don't have to conceptually understand most of it (just follow the units as we say). In contrast, algebra-based physics is all about understanding the concepts and principles physics (because you can't derive any of the equations).

As a person who has taken both versions (calc for my engineering degree and algebra retake 10+ years later for GPA repair and as a refresher), hands down the algebra based is the way to go for the MCAT.

Oh no ): That is not good to hear. Should I look for somewhere else to take physics, if all that I can take is calc-based? I'm also not good at math.... ARGH.

That's what I did and as a result I spent almost zero time of my MCAT prep focusing on Physics.

Did that work out well for you? Did you end up getting a good score and everything?

 

[CopaceticOne]

Oh no ): That is not good to hear. Should I look for somewhere else to take physics, if all that I can take is calc-based? I'm also not good at math.... ARGH.

Put in the time and I'm sure you'll do fine!

Did that work out well for you? Did you end up getting a good score and everything?

PM sent.

 

[sunflower18]

Put in the time and I'm sure you'll do fine!


PM sent.

Okay, I will 🙂 Challenge accepted!

Thank you x2!!! 🙂

 

[Hemorrage]

glad this thread is still alive!

goodluck to everyone taking physics along with the mcat next spring.. i'll be with you guys. Apparently this is VERY common in undergraduate. My advisor even recommended taking physics along with MCAT prep because she says its easier to remember physics concepts when your being forced to study it for a class. I believe her

 

[sunflower18]

glad this thread is still alive!

goodluck to everyone taking physics along with the mcat next spring.. i'll be with you guys. Apparently this is VERY common in undergraduate. My advisor even recommended taking physics along with MCAT prep because she says its easier to remember physics concepts when your being forced to study it for a class. I believe her

Encouragement! I like it 🙂 I'm still two years out, but I hope that the good luck will extend to me as well, haha. I'm worried about calc-based still, but what can ya do.

 

[Newguy92]

So, I'm reviving this thread because I have similar the same concerns and one other: How do you study for the MCAT while taking physics?

Physics will be my only pre req left, and as many others posted I'm doing Phys I in the fall, Phys 2 in the spring. I'm not sure if I'm doing May or June MCAT, but I have plenty of time to figure that out. But how to study? I don't know if it will be a good idea to bust out a TBR Physics book while I'm taking physics because I don't know how it will align with my physics class and I don't know if I'll be able to learn certain topics in physics a month early while studying for an exam. But, without TBR how will I know if I'm adequately prepared?

Anyone have any insight?

 

[average app]

So, I'm reviving this thread because I have similar the same concerns and one other: How do you study for the MCAT while taking physics?

Physics will be my only pre req left, and as many others posted I'm doing Phys I in the fall, Phys 2 in the spring. I'm not sure if I'm doing May or June MCAT, but I have plenty of time to figure that out. But how to study? I don't know if it will be a good idea to bust out a TBR Physics book while I'm taking physics because I don't know how it will align with my physics class and I don't know if I'll be able to learn certain topics in physics a month early while studying for an exam. But, without TBR how will I know if I'm adequately prepared?

Anyone have any insight?

The only physics II stuff in TBR is in the last 3 chapters (out of 10). That will let you get nearly everything else done and just save the E&M material for last. I did this same thing and turned out just fine.