Preparing for college classes and MCAT at the same time

[ATLHawks]

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I just completed high school and it seems I will have a lot of time this summer to myself. I wanted to take some time to get ready for my University classes, however I think it would be great to prepare for the MCAT as well (I want to do very well).

Here is some of my backround:
- I have not taken a Biology class since freshman year of high school.
- I took a regular chemistry class sophomore year, and I took an AP Chem course senior year, however the teacher was a first year teacher and I did not really give a full effort.
- I am going to attend a large University this fall with a Biology major. I am assuming that I will take Biology and Gen chem.

I have an Examcrackers set that is about 2 years old. What I had in mind was to just go over the Biology, Chemistry, and verbal reasoning sections (when the time comes to actually prepare for the MCAT, I will of course get updated books).

What my goal is through this is to get a refresher on some Biology and Chemistry concepts so I can be ready for this fall. Also, the fact that it is preparing me for the MCAT is a plus.

Do I have a good strategy set up? Or should I consider other books, subjects, etc. ?

Also before anyone says anything about just enjoying my summer, I have great things in store for this summer. I plan on having a lot of fun, but I just wanted to use my extra free time to something useful. Thanks in advance.

 

[Hemorrage]

I just completed high school and it seems I will have a lot of time this summer to myself. I wanted to take some time to get ready for my University classes, however I think it would be great to prepare for the MCAT as well (I want to do very well).

Here is some of my backround:
- I have not taken a Biology class since freshman year of high school.
- I took a regular chemistry class sophomore year, and I took an AP Chem course senior year, however the teacher was a first year teacher and I did not really give a full effort.
- I am going to attend a large University this fall with a Biology major. I am assuming that I will take Biology and Gen chem.

I have an Examcrackers set that is about 2 years old. What I had in mind was to just go over the Biology, Chemistry, and verbal reasoning sections (when the time comes to actually prepare for the MCAT, I will of course get updated books).

What my goal is through this is to get a refresher on some Biology and Chemistry concepts so I can be ready for this fall. Also, the fact that it is preparing me for the MCAT is a plus.

Do I have a good strategy set up? Or should I consider other books, subjects, etc. ?

Also before anyone says anything about just enjoying my summer, I have great things in store for this summer. I plan on having a lot of fun, but I just wanted to use my extra free time to something useful. Thanks in advance.

are you a troll? Take a chill pill kid. Go find a girlfriend, get laid and enjoy your summer. You have a good 2 years till you have to worry about the MCAT. Theres really no point studying for the MCAT until 3-5 months before your exam, 99.9% of humans don't have strong long term retention of random information. (That is if you find the krebs cycle extremely fascinating, then you will)

 

[mirimonster]

I just completed high school and it seems I will have a lot of time this summer to myself. I wanted to take some time to get ready for my University classes, however I think it would be great to prepare for the MCAT as well (I want to do very well).

Here is some of my backround:
- I have not taken a Biology class since freshman year of high school.
- I took a regular chemistry class sophomore year, and I took an AP Chem course senior year, however the teacher was a first year teacher and I did not really give a full effort.
- I am going to attend a large University this fall with a Biology major. I am assuming that I will take Biology and Gen chem.

I have an Examcrackers set that is about 2 years old. What I had in mind was to just go over the Biology, Chemistry, and verbal reasoning sections (when the time comes to actually prepare for the MCAT, I will of course get updated books).

What my goal is through this is to get a refresher on some Biology and Chemistry concepts so I can be ready for this fall. Also, the fact that it is preparing me for the MCAT is a plus.

Do I have a good strategy set up? Or should I consider other books, subjects, etc. ?

Also before anyone says anything about just enjoying my summer, I have great things in store for this summer. I plan on having a lot of fun, but I just wanted to use my extra free time to something useful. Thanks in advance.

MCAT is completely changing in 2015. Check it out at aamc.org. All the study guides will be out of date. Whatever studying you do now would be 100% useless anyways, but now it's extra super useless.

 

[ATLHawks]

Like I said, I am graduated now. Anyway, I still think I should prepare for the University classes. I understand not studying for the MCAT, that's fine.

Are there any suggested books that I could use to prepare for Gen Chem and Biology?

 

[ATLHawks]

Have you considered the same textbooks you'll be using in the Fall?

I'm not sure that I can get the books that early?

 

[kpcrew]

well if you want to study, try learning the major concepts since that's what you will retain the best. you can also get a head start on getting extracurriculars down. if you like music, join the orchestra. if you're interested in research, go google the department's website and email some professors. you can enjoy your summer while still setting up a decent foundation for the next four years of your life.

 

[kpcrew]

Half.com
Ebay.com
Amazon.com

Don't be dumb enough to buy the textbooks directly from your college bookstore.

my school started a program where you rent new books and return them to get 50% back off the sticker price. i think that it was the best program since you don't have to deal with shipping, although it didn't cover every book.

 

[ATLHawks]

well if you want to study, try learning the major concepts since that's what you will retain the best. you can also get a head start on getting extracurriculars down. if you like music, join the orchestra. if you're interested in research, go google the department's website and email some professors. you can enjoy your summer while still setting up a decent foundation for the next four years of your life.

Thank you, I already plan on doing that.

 

[lobo.solo]

Relax, get laid, have fun. You are ahead of the game since you took AP.

 

[orthomyxo]

bigwords.com

Don't be dumb enough to buy the textbooks directly from your college bookstore.

ftfy

 

[SnowyRox]

well if you want to study, try learning the major concepts since that's what you will retain the best. you can also get a head start on getting extracurriculars down. if you like music, join the orchestra. if you're interested in research, go google the department's website and email some professors. you can enjoy your summer while still setting up a decent foundation for the next four years of your life.

Useful, non-mocking advice? Are you sure you're a pre-med???

This is great advice, OP. There's no harm in watching some youtube videos or reading science articles online, but hardcore studying isn't worth it. A book on how to study will serve you well. Most people would laugh at this suggestion, but knowing how to efficiently read & retain the material is a great skill.

 

[Thego2guy]

Just as an example, the year before I took AP Bio in high school, I took out a Kaplan AP Bio review book, got a regular notebook, and started outlining every chapter. I got about 10 chapters into it, and it reallly realllly helped me do well in class. I was the only one who got a 5 on the exam that year in my class. This was my junior year of high school. Since then, I have always went over the material (and went much deeper with research, etc..), and all of it stayed in my head.

I can't say the same for physics though... since if you don't do constant repetition you're just going to lose it. So it all really depends on what you find interesting and how devoted you are. It certainly wouldn't hurt taking a few easy review books for the AP classes (more or less = to freshman intro classes), and acquainting yourself with the topics. If you are serious about this then at least understand how your bio classes will be structured, know and anticipate when you'll be doing biomolecules, when you'll be doing Mendelian genetics, when you'll be doing transcription and translation, etc... same for chem. You can do 1 hr of bio and 1 hr of chem, 2-3 days a week for 8 weeks, and then you will be set to earn those A's.

All of this familiarization with subject matter will help you for your classes and for the MCAT. Actual studying for the MCAT this early in the game is useless though.

 

[ATLHawks]

Just as an example, the year before I took AP Bio in high school, I took out a Kaplan AP Bio review book, got a regular notebook, and started outlining every chapter. I got about 10 chapters into it, and it reallly realllly helped me do well in class. I was the only one who got a 5 on the exam that year in my class. This was my junior year of high school. Since then, I have always went over the material (and went much deeper with research, etc..), and all of it stayed in my head.

I can't say the same for physics though... since if you don't do constant repetition you're just going to lose it. So it all really depends on what you find interesting and how devoted you are. It certainly wouldn't hurt taking a few easy review books for the AP classes (more or less = to freshman intro classes), and acquainting yourself with the topics. If you are serious about this then at least understand how your bio classes will be structured, know and anticipate when you'll be doing biomolecules, when you'll be doing Mendelian genetics, when you'll be doing transcription and translation, etc... same for chem. You can do 1 hr of bio and 1 hr of chem, 2-3 days a week for 8 weeks, and then you will be set to earn those A's.

All of this familiarization with subject matter will help you for your classes and for the MCAT. Actual studying for the MCAT this early in the game is useless though.

Thank you, this is great advice.

 

[tenndoc]

for the love of god, go get laid. i hear if you dont use it, you lose it

 

[ur2l8]

Just as an example, the year before I took AP Bio in high school, I took out a Kaplan AP Bio review book, got a regular notebook, and started outlining every chapter. I got about 10 chapters into it, and it reallly realllly helped me do well in class. I was the only one who got a 5 on the exam that year in my class. This was my junior year of high school. Since then, I have always went over the material (and went much deeper with research, etc..), and all of it stayed in my head.

I can't say the same for physics though... since if you don't do constant repetition you're just going to lose it. So it all really depends on what you find interesting and how devoted you are. It certainly wouldn't hurt taking a few easy review books for the AP classes (more or less = to freshman intro classes), and acquainting yourself with the topics. If you are serious about this then at least understand how your bio classes will be structured, know and anticipate when you'll be doing biomolecules, when you'll be doing Mendelian genetics, when you'll be doing transcription and translation, etc... same for chem. You can do 1 hr of bio and 1 hr of chem, 2-3 days a week for 8 weeks, and then you will be set to earn those A's.

All of this familiarization with subject matter will help you for your classes and for the MCAT. Actual studying for the MCAT this early in the game is useless though.

This. Also read. Read things other than science. Believe me, it will help.