Using Kaplan book to learn biochemistry for MCAT

[mspremed2017]

Hello everyone. I have not taken Biochem 1 or 2 and I will not be able to take it. The Fall semester is slowly approaching and I would like to take the MCAT in February or March of 2019.

To make a long story short, I would like advice on whether or not I am setting myself up for failure. I plan to use the Kaplan MCAT books to study Biochemistry. I am also going to use Khan Academy and I have the syllabus of the Biochem course at my college. I also have the text book that they will be using. However, it seems as though the professor at my college goes into waaaaay more detail than the actual Kaplan books. I am thinking about using the Kaplan MCAT book as a guide and other resources for clarity. Does the actual MCAT even go into that much detail in the biochemistry section?

Thanks everyone!

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[mspremed2017]

I thought Khan Academy, a youtube video to memorize amino acids, and the Kaplan biochem book did a solid job in my prep. I also used a bunch of articles from Khan academy and websites that explained things when I had trouble. I thought the last 4 chapters of Kaplan were a bit too detailed and Kaplan was low on the practice questions to reinforce knowledge - but other then that it was fine. I was able to manage a 129 without amazing test taking skills in this section with using these resources.

Thank you for the motivation!

 

[aldol16]

Really wouldn't recommend taking the MCAT without having taken biochem but if you must, use Khan Academy and watch all their biochem videos. Make sure you master the material because biochem is heavy on the new MCAT. Then use Kaplan to review. Kaplan is a review resource, not a primary text.

 

[deleted931910]

I would also advise against taking the MCAT before you've taken biochem, but ironically that's exactly what I did lol. I used the kaplan book primarily with some khan academy videos as a supplement. It takes a LOT of diligence to learn a subject like this on your own. I would only suggest taking the MCAT before biochem if you have a really strong background in your other sciences. If your science GPA is low, I'd suggest holding off. Best of luck!

 

[adrenocorticotropicana]

Did you do very well in organic chemistry? Did you like it? If yes to both, then this is a realistic study plan, because organic chemistry informs biochemistry. If not — more risky. MCAT question sets sometimes test your knowledge of multiple forms of chemistry at once.

 

[adrenocorticotropicana]

I thought Khan Academy, a youtube video to memorize amino acids, and the Kaplan biochem book did a solid job in my prep. I also used a bunch of articles from Khan academy and websites that explained things when I had trouble. I thought the last 4 chapters of Kaplan were a bit too detailed and Kaplan was low on the practice questions to reinforce knowledge - but other then that it was fine. I was able to manage a 129 without amazing test taking skills in this section with using these resources.

Memorizing all 20 amino acids -- aka knowing your elementary ACDs -- is a little late for biochem, I think? It should be done in organic chem and genetics before you take biochem. In organic chemistry class we had to draw out the hydrogen bonds of the pyrimidine - purine canonical base pairing on our exam, and use the hydrogen bonding pattern to explain how enol-tautomer shift could lead to mutations.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Memorizing all 20 amino acids -- aka knowing your elementary ACDs -- is a little late for biochem, I think? It should be done in organic chem and genetics before you take biochem. In organic chemistry class we had to draw out the hydrogen bonds of the pyrimidine - purine canonical base pairing on our exam, and use the hydrogen bonding pattern to explain how enol-tautomer shift could lead to mutations.

I definitely did not need to know my AAs for ochem or genetics.

I also took the MCAT without taking biochem. I would recommend taking it if you can, but if you can’t it is certainly possible to do well. You need to find the resources that work for you and give you the appropriate info. I used the Kaplan book, Khan Academy, and a couple YouTube channels (AK lectures and MedSimplified).

 

[DrDumbDrum]

Kaplan and Khan Academy should give you enough information to do well. Memorizing the amino acids is useful for answering a couple of quickly questions here and there. The MCAT usually provides whatever other specifics you need.