Quick MCAT question...
- Thread starter boko
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Physiology could help you some, but it's not as valuable as orgo, genetics, microbio etc. for the bio section. Insomuch as it gets you familiar with kidney function, liver function, blood stuff, it could help a little (I'd guess those topics could make up 5-15% of the bio).
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Three things.
1. Clearly, physio is not as valuable as orgo, as Orgo is flat out required for medical school.
2. I found the physio course I took extremely valuable for the MCAT, especially since it had been so long since I took General bio, and IIRC my school did not go very in-depth into systems. There are only a few things you need to know about genetics that may not have been presented in general biology, like the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium equation. Same goes for microbio, IMO. Also, there was genetics and microbiology reviewed IN my physio course (moreso genetics, but some microbio in things like cell structure or the immune system).
3. Personally, the BS section on my MCAT was physio heavy and I've seen other people say the same thing about their MCAT dates. At least 2 of my passages were absolutely physiology topics, and I would have felt at a significant disadvantage if I hadn't taken it. Many of the questions for a few others, while the passages weren't overtly about physio, I know I got correct because of the topics I'd learned in physio. Same goes for a number of the discreets.
OP, I'd look over the study guide the AAMC releases for the different sections of the MCAT and decide for yourself what additional class you should take, if any. https://www.aamc.org/students/download/85566/data/bstopics.pdf
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I took a physiology course the semester before I studied for and took the MCAT. I thought it was somewhat useful because we covered stuff like the circulatory, respiratory, excretory, endocrine, etc. systems which do show up on the MCAT. But honestly, my course was much more in-depth than what you need to know for the MCAT. The MCAT barely scratches the surface on these topics, and you can easily teach it to yourself with some study materials. My class was helpful inasmuch as I didn't have to spend time reviewing these topics, but I don't think you'd be at a disadvantage if you didn't take it.
