sociology or anthropology for mcat?

[pioneer22]

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May seem counter-intuitive, but:
Which would likely be more interesting / applicable for mcat psych/soc section—sociology or anthropology?

I know the section tests psychology and sociology, but I know many people self study it anyway.

If I am going to take the course which do you recommend? Ive heard from numerous people that sociology is very boring and you don't learn much, while anthropology can be more medicine-based and interesting (IE. Evolution)...

So if you had to take one, which would you take?

Thanks

 

[pseud0]

I'd take anthro but neither will actually help you for the mcat pretty much.

You have to memorize a bunch of dumb socio terms for the mcat, thats it. maybe 1/2 or less questions will basically be straight up pick the correct memorized term (discrete or pseudo-discrete), the other half are deduction based on the passage.

What will help you here is memorizing the terms on a list for a few months before the mcat, and practicing passages over and over. Classes wont help you on this section

 

[aalamruad]

I learned basically nothing in anthro. Definitely nothing relevant for the MCAT, at least. I'd definitely recommend sociology instead

 

[Lucca]

Sociology you need for the MCAT is so surface level that it doesnt really matter whether you take a class on it or not. You basically just memorize terms and interpret some basic graphs. It's not like anything (I hope) one would see in an upper-level college sociology course.

Take whatever you think would be more interesting and fun.

 

[freak7]

Sociology you need for the MCAT is so surface level that it doesnt really matter whether you take a class on it or not. You basically just memorize terms and interpret some basic graphs. It's not like anything (I hope) one would see in an upper-level college sociology course.

Take whatever you think would be more interesting and fun.

I always tell my friends that P/S is just a vocab test.

 

[Lucca]

I always tell my friends that P/S is just a vocab test.

that's how it felt for me. Vocab test + look at some graphs.

 

[purplegold201635]

I took sociology and found it valuable for the MCAT and useful life info.

 

[aldol16]

You should know the major sociological theories and frameworks for the MCAT and while you can self-teach that, it might be more rewarding and you might got more out of it if you learned it in a classroom setting. I can't see any scenario in which anthropology would be more important for the MCAT.

 

[Welshman]

A quick google search shows that Pysch is 60% of the PS section, Soc is 30% and 10% Bio (mine was more like 15% Soc I think). I would highly recommend taking pysch if you can only take one, my soc class barely helped and it was definitely something I could have learned on my own.

The take away? There is absolutely no reason to take anthro

 

[CoachBoat]

Intro to psych course or social psych would probably be the MOST helpful for that section on the test. I scored in the 97th percentile without ever taking a sociology or anthropology course. You'll be able to teach yourself enough of those vocab words and concepts, but A LOT of questions on the test were reviewed in my intro to psych course or social psych.

 

[aprilfools]

Sociology no question.

 

[jayhiller21]

If you need one or the other for major, take soc. I took a 5 unit soc class to prepare for mcat. Your time is much better spent doing practice tests and reviewing biochem/random psych terms.

 

[pioneer22]

Ok.
New comparison: social psychology / physiological psychology / different advanced psych course, OR sociology course for MCAT?

I am taking Intro Psych right now, and find it decently interesting (enough to take another class).

 

[sunshinefl]

Ok.
New comparison: social psychology / different psych course, OR sociology course?

I am taking Intro Psych right now.

100% social psychology. I was actually about to reply to your original post with "SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY!!!!!" without even seeing this post. I'm a psych major so I've taken a ton of related courses... definitely had the most content from social psychology on my MCAT. Second highest would probably be behavioral analysis. But by far and away social psychology.