Ranking of Least to Most Useful Coures for MCAT

[chicago5950]

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If you HAD to rank/take them, please rank from least to most useful courses to take before the MCAT.

Human Physiology
Cell Biology
Microbiology
Biochemistry
Analytical Chemistry
Genetics

Thanks!

 

[BlueElmo]

Only one you truly need might be Physiology. Genetics and biochem would be helpful too. Others, you don't really need them.

 

[JonathanMD]

Agreed.

The only extra courses you should be taking are (in order):

Genetics
Physiology
Biochemistry

I switched up the order because I found much more Genetics on my MCAT. But I've heard others that had barely any. This was just my experience.

Lots of sources go out of their way to tell you NOT to take advanced courses in Immunology, Microbiology, and other classes because some advanced information may contradict the basic science that the MCAT is testing. At the very least, it will get you to over-think the questions. (If you have taken those classes, just be aware of this fact.)

 

[RoadRunner17]

1. Physics
2. Chemistry
3. Biology
4. Organic Chemistry

 

[Food]

You're asking the wrong question. No course is particularly "useful" for the MCAT, because the MCAT was never a content based test. You could learn the entire MCAT content in about 2 weeks if you spent eight hours a day. The real tough part is the critical thinking / problem-solving / speed and accuracy part. To train that, I think the best courses are some upper level math or physics/chem courses where you have to do complicated problems given a certain amount of information.

The reason I say this is because as long as you know the basic stuff for MCAT, you don't need much more. I didn't take Genetics or Microbio before taking my MCAT. There were 2 passages on Genetics (1 on histone subunits - I knew what histones were from bio 2, but had no idea that they were octamers), another on some ridiculous microbio stuff (trust me, i had never seen that before), and I still managed to pull out a 13 on that section. So, really what it comes down to is your ability to reason with limited information. Any course that trains your ability to do that, will be a useful course.

So that should be your #1 priority if you want to do well on MCAT. Recognize that knowledge will never separate a 30 from a 40, because they both know the same material, really. The guy with a 40 is just way faster. Now I do believe that courses like Microbio or Genetics would be marginally "helpful", I mean it couldn't have hurt if I knew about histone sub-units, but only you can decide what is a better use of your time: Learning about obscure stuff that is beyond MCAT scope, but may show up in a passage (not in the questions - the questions never ask you anything that is beyond MCAT scope)

OR

practicing and taking tests until your ass falls off.

disclaimer: You have to be conceptually VERY strong for MCAT. Every concept MCAT lists as within scope, you have to know like your own ass. I'm just arguing you get conceptually strong by doing questions - not reading the concept in a book.

 

[Food]

In fact, out of all those courses you listed (sorry, I only just looked at them), I'd say Analytical chem is the most useful. Not because of the content, but because of the thought process involved. See the word "Analytical"? That's very important for MCAT. The test-makers want you to be "Analytical" so they make the test conducive to that. Analytical Chem will especially help you for the physical sciences because it will teach you how to set up long, complicated calculation questions.

 

[Revilla]

In order of importance, based solely on my experience with the MCAT:

Genetics
Physiology
Biochemistry
Cell Biology
Microbiology
A. Chem (not useful at all, in my opinion)

There was a lot of molecular genetics on my MCAT. You also should have a great understanding of physiology, so if your General Biology classes didn't cover much of that, you should take a physiology course. I think Genetics is more prominent than Biochem on the MCAT, but a few years ago, it was the opposite and there's still some Biochem heavy tests that pop up now and then, if the MCAT forum is to be believed. Plus, some schools recommend/require Biochem.

 

[ThaliaNox]

I may be biased because I was a science major who origionally wanted to go to graduate school before I decided on medicine, and I really enjoy the sciences, but in spite of what many people here have said I found my upper levels extremely useful for the MCAT. I found that the questions on the MCAT tend to reflect famous experiments and analytical experimental techniques which are covered in upper levels like biology of cancer, endocrinology and molecular biology. This is not to say that these classes are neccessary to do well on the MCAT, but I found it satisfying to zip through a question because I was familiar with the classical experiment they were discribing.

 

[RapplixGmed]

I may be biased because I was a science major who origionally wanted to go to graduate school before I decided on medicine, and I really enjoy the sciences, but in spite of what many people here have said I found my upper levels extremely useful for the MCAT. I found that the questions on the MCAT tend to reflect famous experiments and analytical experimental techniques which are covered in upper levels like biology of cancer, endocrinology and molecular biology. This is not to say that these classes are neccessary to do well on the MCAT, but I found it satisfying to zip through a question because I was familiar with the classical experiment they were discribing.

Completely agree with this. Nearly single physics and bio passage on my exam was something I had seen in advanced classes. I was actually chuckling during the exam as question after question were things I had memorized from past mistakes in those classes (and some questions were actually damn tricky). You certainly do not need to take advanced classes to do well but it does make life much easier.

Practice does make perfect. I know of only one person who got a 15 on the VR section, guess what his major was? History. He has read more books and written more papers in undergrad alone than I probably ever will.

 

[Dantheman52188]

Human Physiology was money for the MCAT - covered pretty much all the bio on the exam. I laugh at all of the teachers that told me I would be an idiot for taking the MCAT without biochem - I did excellent without it

 

[mmmcdowe]

If you HAD to rank/take them, please rank from least to most useful courses to take before the MCAT.

Human Physiology 5
Cell Biology 2
Microbiology 4
Biochemistry 3
Analytical Chemistry 6
Genetics 1

Thanks!

Finished

 

[funkydrmonkey]

Human Physiology was money for the MCAT - covered pretty much all the bio on the exam. I laugh at all of the teachers that told me I would be an idiot for taking the MCAT without biochem - I did excellent without it

Actually, I had 4 discrete questions that were about Anatomy and Physiology and that was it. My MCAT was all virology, genetics, and molecular biology... Needless to say I lucked out...

This just proves that it is very random. THerefore try to study everything...

 

[19nbj58]

You're asking the wrong question. No course is particularly "useful" for the MCAT, because the MCAT was never a content based test. You could learn the entire MCAT content in about 2 weeks if you spent eight hours a day. The real tough part is the critical thinking / problem-solving / speed and accuracy part. To train that, I think the best courses are some upper level math or physics/chem courses where you have to do complicated problems given a certain amount of information.

The reason I say this is because as long as you know the basic stuff for MCAT, you don't need much more. I didn't take Genetics or Microbio before taking my MCAT. There were 2 passages on Genetics (1 on histone subunits - I knew what histones were from bio 2, but had no idea that they were octamers), another on some ridiculous microbio stuff (trust me, i had never seen that before), and I still managed to pull out a 13 on that section. So, really what it comes down to is your ability to reason with limited information. Any course that trains your ability to do that, will be a useful course.

So that should be your #1 priority if you want to do well on MCAT. Recognize that knowledge will never separate a 30 from a 40, because they both know the same material, really. The guy with a 40 is just way faster. Now I do believe that courses like Microbio or Genetics would be marginally "helpful", I mean it couldn't have hurt if I knew about histone sub-units, but only you can decide what is a better use of your time: Learning about obscure stuff that is beyond MCAT scope, but may show up in a passage (not in the questions - the questions never ask you anything that is beyond MCAT scope)

OR

practicing and taking tests until your ass falls off.

disclaimer: You have to be conceptually VERY strong for MCAT. Every concept MCAT lists as within scope, you have to know like your own ass. I'm just arguing you get conceptually strong by doing questions - not reading the concept in a book.

👍

 

[BeardedRunner]

I'll rank them from most to least useful, most useful at the top.

1. Human Physiology
2. Biochemistry

The ones below are not really helpful
Genetics
Cell Biology
Microbiology
Analytical Chemistry

 

[AtheGre]

the MCAT was never a content based test.

What? You sure you're not talking about the LSAT?

disclaimer: You have to be conceptually VERY strong for MCAT. Every concept MCAT lists as within scope, you have to know like your own ass. I'm just arguing you get conceptually strong by doing questions - not reading the concept in a book.

Oh, okay. Thanks for...ummm...clearing that up.

 

[AtheGre]

Oh, and if you want my opinion on ranking the most helpful courses, I would say:

1. Physiology, Biochemistry, Analytical Chem
2. Genetics
3. Cell Bio
4. Microbiology


I think that physio, biochem, and analytical chem, just based purely on the 'content', lend themselves to being tested in a manner that is similar to the way you will be tested on the MCAT.

 

[IDoIt4Love]

physiology and biochem, hands down. that's like most of the BS section for ya🙂

 

[Brent8927]

I agree with a few others that none of those classes are necessary--I think they may have value in teaching analytical problem solving skills and instilling confidence, but I took the MCAT without any science classes beyond the pre-reqs and I did very well.

The MCAT website has a list of all the subjects that are valid material for the test--if you review this material (almost all of which should be covered in your pre-reqs) and take practice tests like crazy, I think you'll do great. This is what I did--I reviewed that list like a study sheet, writing in notes and formulas, and took every practice test, going over every problem, and then read the Examkrackers section in the appropriate book whenever I got a problem wrong or didn't fully understand it.

But with that said... If so many people say taking upper-div classes helps, some of them must be right. I think a lot of it depends on how you learn as a person, and what your major is. I took a lot of engineering courses and art history courses as an undergrad, so I had a pretty good analytical problem solving background and was pretty good at reading comprehension, writing, etc. So that may be why I did well without those upper-division science courses.

Honestly, I think some literature, upper-div art history, or other reading-intensive courses are possibly more useful than all of the science courses others listed. The MCAT is very heavily verbally-based (because of all the passages), and people seem to underestimate how useful/important verbal and reading skills are for the MCAT.

 

[majahops]

Taking introductory biology 4 times would be more useful than taking intro bio, biochem, genetics and physio once. It's all about mastering the very basics and intro bio covers the basics.

 

[whimsical]

Taking introductory biology 4 times would be more useful than taking intro bio, biochem, genetics and physio once. It's all about mastering the very basics and intro bio covers the basics.

I feel like it depends on the class, though. My intro bio class covered pretty much none of the physiology that's in the prep books, so if I hadn't taken human phys, I'd be learning it all as I reviewed. That's not necessarily bad, but I do think what classes end up being useful for you depends largely on the content of your introductory biology classes.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

If you HAD to rank/take them, please rank from least to most useful courses to take before the MCAT.

Human Physiology
Cell Biology
Microbiology
Biochemistry
Analytical Chemistry
Genetics

Thanks!

Human phys>genetics>biochem>cell>analytical>micro

IMO

 

[witness23]

do independent research (w/ mad responsibilities) in a field like pathology/immunology. it will take care of everything except verbal.

 

[prudvi]

I'll rank them from most to least useful, most useful at the top.

1. Human Physiology
2. Biochemistry

The ones below are not really helpful
Genetics
Cell Biology
Microbiology
Analytical Chemistry

Although I agree that biochem and physiology are useful, I don't agree that genetics is not useful. When I took my MCAT, I have a passage full of genetics and all of people I have talked to said that genetics was on the MCAT

I recommend taking genetics if you have a chance or concentrate on it when you study biology concepts

 

[redlight]

i was under the impression that you could glean all the necessary bio/chem/physics/etc from prep books if you've taken the core pre reqs?

 

[ArkansasRanger]

i was under the impression that you could glean all the necessary bio/chem/physics/etc from prep books if you've taken the core pre reqs?

Do you think if you took your basic classes and read something like Biochemistry for Dummies that you'd be prepared enough? I have some other neat little genetics book that I've never read but picked up on the school's dime when I was a h.s. teacher.

http://www.overstock.com/Books-Movies-Music-Games/Biochemistry-for-Dummies/2909408/product.html

Excluding the ecological and geological coursework I already have taken or will have taken all the below listed courses by the time MCAT comes around.

Vert. Zoo.
Gen. Bio.
Micro.
Human A&P I/II
Gen. Chem. I/II
Org. Chem. I/II
Gen. Phys. I/II

Hopefully that'll be enough since I don't have the desire nor time to take more stuff.

 

[Revilla]

Although I agree that biochem and physiology are useful, I don't agree that genetics is not useful. When I took my MCAT, I have a passage full of genetics and all of people I have talked to said that genetics was on the MCAT

I recommend taking genetics if you have a chance or concentrate on it when you study biology concepts

Ditto. I had a lot of molecular genetics on my January MCAT. If you check the MCAT forum, it seems that last summer is when Genetics became a notable part of the BS section.

 

[Forbes]

Taking the prerequisite courses completely prepared me for the MCAT. I am studying for it right now and I haven't encountered a topic that I have never seen. Granted seeing it isn't remembering it 😳.

Take all of the prereqs, and learn how to problem solve while taking them. Taking upper level courses will help with problem solving, but it will do nothing to fix the cracks in your foundation knowledge - the knowledge you will be tested on.

My strategy is to do all AAMC and Kaplan practice tests and in between study and answer practice questions that are similar to MCAT questions whether it be Kaplan stuff, PR, EK, whatever. I can't see this strategy failing me.

 

[searun]

As a college senior I took a class entitled "Coaching high school soccer." Alas, it was not helpful for the MCAT although I did enjoy the class.

 

[Siverhideo1985]

Human Physio and Biochem for sure...genetics maybe...the others might be helpful for knowledge but you'll have all the concepts in your prereqs.

 

[loveoforganic]

In fact, out of all those courses you listed (sorry, I only just looked at them), I'd say Analytical chem is the most useful. Not because of the content, but because of the thought process involved. See the word "Analytical"? That's very important for MCAT. The test-makers want you to be "Analytical" so they make the test conducive to that. Analytical Chem will especially help you for the physical sciences because it will teach you how to set up long, complicated calculation questions.

It also helps knowing exactly how all the different instruments work 👍