Should I take this sociology class for the MCAT?

[Lea102]

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Okay, so I have a sociology class this semester which I thought would help me prepare for the MCAT, but the professor said this will be like a seminar in which we read various passages and discuss it.

I wanted a regular lecture in which the professor himself simply teaches the concrete material, and I don't know if this seminar type class will be useful for the MCAT. I had one class so far and it was all just student discussion. I'm seriously considering dropping this course to take an English course (which is actually required and I need to take), whereas sociology is not required since I took an another class last year which satisfied the sociology prereq in my school.

I guess what I'm trying to ask is would it be possible for someone (who is used to selfteaching) to actually learn a semester worth of intro to sociology on their own to prepare for the MCAT? I feel like I'm in a quite a dilemma. Are there any other people not taking sociology and just studying on their own? Do you think it's possible?

I'm taking the test in a little more than a year.

 

[EParker37]

Sociology is not at all difficult, you could certainly teach yourself the necessary material. I took intro to soc and quite a few upper div soc classes, I loved them and would take them again in a heartbeat, that said, they weren't the most academically challenging, but the intellectual side was deep and intriguing.

 

[Lea102]

Thanks for your response 🙂 That's good to hear!

And also, if sociology isn't too hard, would that mean the MCAT sociology questions won't be too hard as well? Unless they somehow create difficult questions from an easy course..

 

[EParker37]

Thanks for your response 🙂 That's good to hear!

And also, if sociology isn't too hard, would that mean the MCAT sociology questions won't be too hard as well? Unless they somehow create difficult questions from an easy course..

The difficulty is going to be taking the concepts and applying them forward. It would actually be similar to how my classes went, which was we would read a book or view a case study and have to utilize our understanding of sociological theory to write a paper and defend one stance vs another. You need be able to identify key theories and how they would apply to the passage.

 

[Lea102]

Oh I see, I haven't started looking at any MCAT tests so I don't really know question formats, but I understand what you're saying about applying the knowledge. Thank you for your help!

 

[NonTradJp]

I have not taken the new MCAT so I can only speak my personal thoughts. MCAT material is self teachable before so should be the same. Given that, the answer depends on you. I find I am much more comfortable with material after taking a class then reading an MCAT book on that material which is what I would imagine many would do with material they do not know. I'm the type to want to do my best and so would benefit from a class or to read the full textbook completely. Would you learn well that way?

Next the class does not sound like a content dense class so that may not help you directly either way. However, discussing topics are also a good way to get your mind thinking. Lastly, are you going to be taking classes anyways? Having sociology classes would fulfill behavior science requirements or recommendations that some schools have.

 

[Lea102]

I have not taken the new MCAT so I can only speak my personal thoughts. MCAT material is self teachable before so should be the same. Given that, the answer depends on you. I find I am much more comfortable with material after taking a class then reading an MCAT book on that material which is what I would imagine many would do with material they do not know. I'm the type to want to do my best and so would benefit from a class or to read the full textbook completely. Would you learn well that way?

Next the class does not sound like a content dense class so that may not help you directly either way. However, discussing topics are also a good way to get your mind thinking. Lastly, are you going to be taking classes anyways? Having sociology classes would fulfill behavior science requirements or recommendations that some schools have.

Same, I learn from reading more than I do from in class. And yeah, I suppose the class is good in the sense to think.
If I switch out, I'm not sure if I'll take another course next semester, it depends on how my self studying goes. Also nope, I don't need this class and isn't required for the medical schools I'd like to apply for anyways.

 

[NonTradJp]

Several schools I looked at this cycle did not require behavior science outright but did recommended taking some. So the psych class I took ages ago was helpful to show I'm a well rounded person.

 

[Lea102]

I'm planning on minoring in psych and had taken an anthropology class so hopefully that'll make up for it if I choose to not take it. I actually think I'm going to transfer out sociology and self study!

 

[moop]

No. 10/10 self teach from prep books, unless you actually have an interest in socio. I encourage the latter, but if you don't, no.