Studying for MCAT from freshman year on

[Luke]

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Sorry if this is a FAQ, but I searched and didn't find anything (probably b/c my search terms were so disparate).

At the first pre-med club meeting of the year at my University, the pre-med club president suggested that the first year students might want to purchase an MCAT book (Kaplan or EK) their freshman year and use it to do targeted studying while they're taking their bio, gchem, ochem, and physics classes.

Did any of you do that? I'm still trying to figure out what, exactly, she was suggesting we do - look at the MCAT books while we're studying just to note what stuff is going to be important later and make sure we've learned it/have it in our notes for when we really start prepping for the MCAT?

Hopes this all makes sense - I'm unsure of what she meant and it probably comes across in what I just wrote.

 

[txguy]

Sorry if this is a FAQ, but I searched and didn't find anything (probably b/c my search terms were so disparate).

At the first pre-med club meeting of the year at my University, the pre-med club president suggested that the first year students might want to purchase an MCAT book (Kaplan or EK) their freshman year and use it to do targeted studying while they're taking their bio, gchem, ochem, and physics classes.

Did any of you do that? I'm still trying to figure out what, exactly, she was suggesting we do - look at the MCAT books while we're studying just to note what stuff is going to be important later and make sure we've learned it/have it in our notes for when we really start prepping for the MCAT?

Hopes this all makes sense - I'm unsure of what she meant and it probably comes across in what I just wrote.

If I were you, I would certainly not purchase an MCAT book so early. Just concentrate in your classes and do well, while participating in extra-curricular acitivies--this should be plenty to fill up your time!

However, while I was taking the pre-medical requirements (bio, chem, etc), I did attempt to learn everything, even when the professor would take shortcuts, generalize, or skip entire sections of material, because I knew in the back of my mind I would have to revisit this material later when studying for the MCAT.

Good luck to you! 👍

-tx

 

[tank you]

you definately should NOT start studying during freshman year, just find a hospital/clinic to volunteer at, maybe look into research, and have fun 🙂

 

[ethanolabsolute]

I definitely agree that it is not at all necessary to start studying for the MCAT during your freshmen year. Your gonna forget stuff and have to relearn it for the MCAT anyway, thats the way it is, if you dont use it, you lose it. If u wanna get a jump start on the process, I suggest taking all of your premed sciences (all of gen chem, intro to bio, organic chem, and physics) during your freshmen and sophomore years, and then take the mcat august before your junior year starts. This is what I did, and it is so nice, because the other premeds that I know are starting to worry about the fact that they will need to be studying and preparing for mcat next semester, while I am just sitting back, and keeping up my gpa and ecs. I think it is quite favorable in that u have the summer to study as well, because u wont have any other classes.

 

[Medikit]

I think I'd pass, just focus on getting good grades.

 

[IndyZX]

dont prep for the mcat itself, just rock your premed classes and aim for understanding

 

[MeowMix]

At the first pre-med club meeting of the year at my University, the pre-med club president suggested that the first year students might want to purchase an MCAT book (Kaplan or EK) their freshman year and use it to do targeted studying while they're taking their bio, gchem, ochem, and physics classes.

this is just one example of the abundant BOGUS free advice that people will give you regarding the MCAT. Stick around on SDN and we'll provide a lot more.

I agree with the others - forget the targeted studying, just do your best to learn the material, get decent grades and have fun. That way, when you decide during your junior year that you would rather be a lawyer, you will not have wasted the $$ and time that you spent prepping for the MCAT.

 

[Luke]

Thanks for the replies.

If u wanna get a jump start on the process, I suggest taking all of your premed sciences (all of gen chem, intro to bio, organic chem, and physics) during your freshmen and sophomore years, and then take the mcat august before your junior year starts.

This is what I've been planning to do, but I've been a bit worried about it b/c (at the same meeting) its been recommended to me to have taken genetics and cell biology before taking the MCAT, which I don't know if I'll be able to fit in. Did you take genetics and cell bio before the MCAT?

dont prep for the mcat itself, just rock your premed classes and aim for understanding

Understanding? Aw man, I just wanted to learn the tricks and fake it 😉

 

[gujuDoc]

Luke,

In regards to genetics and cell bio. Those topics are very very important to the MCAT. However, do remember your bio one and two book has those very topics covered in your textbook, because it gives a broad overview of all the bio sub fields in it.

So you may be able to just use your bio one and two book to prepare for the genetics and cell bio related stuff for the MCAT.

the reason a lot of people say to take actual genetics or cell bio or what not, is because you learn it in bio one and two, the teachers skip around with the intention that they will teach it to you when you take the specific class related to that specific topic.

Technically you should also be able to learn physiology well from your bio one and two book without having to take physiology.

My personal advice, take bio one and lab and gchm one and lab and math and english.

Then take your other math req, gchm 2 and lab bio2 and lab and english 2

Then take other gen ed classes and orgo and physics and labs in your sophomore year.

You may even take physics one in the summer between freshman and sophomore year, and that will give you room for genetics or cell bio.

Then study in August for the MCAT after sophomore year.

A friend did that and got 5 interviews already.

 

[Luke]

Thanks guju, your advice is much appreciated. I'll definately check out what they offer this summer.

 

[polargirl]

Don't worry about not having taken genetics/cell bio. All of the genetics I saw on the MCAT were things I learned in AP Bio. I hadn't taken genetics or cell bio before the MCAT and I was able to do well in the biology section. If you get a review book (not freshman year, but a couple months before you plan to take the MCAT) and pay a little extra focus to the genetics concepts you'll be fine.

 

[txguy]

Immunology seems to be a hot topic as well!

The trend seems to be a reduction in organic chemistry and a slightly greater emphasis on genetics, molecular bio, and immunology than before.

Good luck to you! 👍

Those of us who have already taken the MCAT still lurk around here so always feel free to ask questions. 😎

-tx

 

[gujuDoc]

Immunology seems to be a hot topic as well!

The trend seems to be a reduction in organic chemistry and a slightly greater emphasis on genetics, molecular bio, and immunology than before.

Good luck to you! 👍

Those of us who have already taken the MCAT still lurk around here so always feel free to ask questions. 😎

-tx

I agree totally. I think its because today's day and age of research is focussing more on the role of genetics and immunology in disease and illness.

 

[browniegirl86]

dont prep for the mcat itself, just rock your premed classes and aim for understanding

I agree . . . if you study specifically for the MCAT that long, you'll get burned out.

(hook'em)

 

[45408]

Werd.

 

[Csv321]

I bought an MCAT prep book the second semester of my freshman year. After taking the MCAT for the second time in August, I can tell you that I glanced through that book once, MAYBE twice...

Save your time and money and focus on extracurriculars instead. I wish I had done that.