Quantitative Analysis for the MCAT?

[JESSFALLING]

Just curious if anyone can comment about whether "Quantitative Analysis" would be helpful for the PS section of the MCAT. For anyone who has taken it, how is it...difficulty wise?...usefulness? Taking the course would also give me a Chemistry minor...which I know doesn't mean too much, but I'm not a science major, so maybe it might help my app?

Here's the description: "Precision and accuracy in measurements, interpretation of data by statistical analysis, and development of good quantitative techniques. Analysis by gravimetry, titrimetry, potentiometry, chromatography, and spectrometry."

Thanks!

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[centrigeugle]

I took both the class and the lab.

The class itself, for me, could best be described as genchem on steroids. Be prepared to delve into galvanic cells and aqueous reactions like never before. I found it quite interesting, despite the insane amount of traintracking/dimensional analysis, and my professor went into fairly deep detail into the inner workings of instrumentation as well - pH meters and the like.

It will not help you whatsoever for the MCAT, other than expanding your knowledge base in general. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. But nothing you learn will pertain directly to anything on the test, barring some strange passage.

The lab was fun for me, because it was the first lab where being right actually counts. Unlike genchem lab (lololol) and Ochem lab (which is graded by purity, so your 0.1% yield tiny little flake of white will be fine if the IR spec is clean), you need to be extremely careful. It puts the anal in analytical. If you're very careful, diligent, and maintain strict attention to detail, it's pretty fun.

But once more, not helpful at all for the MCAT.

 

[JSU]

I took both the class and the lab.

The class itself, for me, could best be described as genchem on steroids. Be prepared to delve into galvanic cells and aqueous reactions like never before. I found it quite interesting, despite the insane amount of traintracking/dimensional analysis, and my professor went into fairly deep detail into the inner workings of instrumentation as well - pH meters and the like.

It will not help you whatsoever for the MCAT, other than expanding your knowledge base in general. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. But nothing you learn will pertain directly to anything on the test, barring some strange passage.

The lab was fun for me, because it was the first lab where being right actually counts. Unlike genchem lab (lololol) and Ochem lab (which is graded by purity, so your 0.1% yield tiny little flake of white will be fine if the IR spec is clean), you need to be extremely careful. It puts the anal in analytical. If you're very careful, diligent, and maintain strict attention to detail, it's pretty fun.

But once more, not helpful at all for the MCAT.

I agree with this. The class with broaden the scope of your chemistry knowledge but will make calculations that used to be simple a lot more complex (which isn't good for the MCAT).

I would say that it depends on the person. If you have a good knowledge of GChem and how everything works, then you won't gain much and may lose speed if you don't dumb things down every once in a while. Though, if you need clarification of the concepts in GChem, then Quant will force you to learn them better and may help a bit.

 

[CodeBlu]

I took both the class and the lab.

The class itself, for me, could best be described as genchem on steroids. Be prepared to delve into galvanic cells and aqueous reactions like never before. I found it quite interesting, despite the insane amount of traintracking/dimensional analysis, and my professor went into fairly deep detail into the inner workings of instrumentation as well - pH meters and the like.

It will not help you whatsoever for the MCAT, other than expanding your knowledge base in general. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. But nothing you learn will pertain directly to anything on the test, barring some strange passage.

The lab was fun for me, because it was the first lab where being right actually counts. Unlike genchem lab (lololol) and Ochem lab (which is graded by purity, so your 0.1% yield tiny little flake of white will be fine if the IR spec is clean), you need to be extremely careful. It puts the anal in analytical. If you're very careful, diligent, and maintain strict attention to detail, it's pretty fun.

But once more, not helpful at all for the MCAT.

I fully 100% agree that it is gen.chem on steroids.

But I do not agree that it is not helpful, for the MCAT PS section especially.

The MCAT is becoming a lot more conceptual, but this class gives you a foundation in the calculations and understanding exactly why you're using the numbers you're using.

Chemistry majors tend to have an easier time with the MCAT sciences overall, purely based on how they think.

I think you should take the course if you're interested in it. It won't be geared to the MCAT, but it will certainly help you think things through better.

 

[kpcrew]

I agree with codeblu, it does give you a more solid understanding of chemistry for both the concepts and the manipulation of the numbers. You might want to skip on the lab, it just teaches you to wash glassware really well and be precise in your measurements.

 

[CodeBlu]

I agree with codeblu, it does give you a more solid understanding of chemistry for both the concepts and the manipulation of the numbers. You might want to skip on the lab, it just teaches you to wash glassware really well and be precise in your measurements.

Most of my chem major friends didn't need pencil and paper to do Gchem problems on the MCAT. Which is nice.

 

[eDITN]

I think the class is much more involved than anything you would ever encounter on the MCAT, but it certainly couldn't hurt. I mean, if you got a passage on galvanic cells or titrations you would absolutely nail it!

That said, I took a lot of Chemistry classes in undergrad and this was one of the most difficult for me. Right up there with PChem. But, I think that had more to do with the professor teaching the class than anything else.

In my opinion, there are more important classes to take for the MCAT if you are trying to find something to take to help you out (like Physiology). Quant may give you an advantage on a particular passage but it isn't anything you are guaranteed to encounter. Getting in the thought process of trying to solve difficult problems though is a useful skill for the MCAT and beyond.

 

[Robanada]

I'd take it. Analytical at my uni was pretty easy. It was second semester genchem with some statistics. It'll strengthen your understanding of acid/base equilibria, electrochem, solubility, etc. I feel like it really helped me rock the PS section.

 

[blkshrtdynasty]

Just curious if anyone can comment about whether "Quantitative Analysis" would be helpful for the PS section of the MCAT. For anyone who has taken it, how is it...difficulty wise?...usefulness? Taking the course would also give me a Chemistry minor...which I know doesn't mean too much, but I'm not a science major, so maybe it might help my app?

Here’s the description: "Precision and accuracy in measurements, interpretation of data by statistical analysis, and development of good quantitative techniques. Analysis by gravimetry, titrimetry, potentiometry, chromatography, and spectrometry."

Thanks!

Take QA- dominate acid/base questions. Take it.

 

[JESSFALLING]

Thanks everyone for your input here. This sounds like a great class for me based upon what everyone wrote.

 

[thyKnight]

Two (or three) words: Anal-ytical Chemistry

 

[ToldYouSo]

Quant analysis should make you generically fearless as far as solving any acid/base or titration curve questions, but I wouldn't take the class for the slight benefit you may have on the MCAT. That being said you do learn a lot (especially electrochem, solubility, equilibrium) and I think it's a worthwhile class to take if you really want to learn something.

 

[thyKnight]

The second semester (Instrumental Analysis) is even more ANAL-ytical.🙄