Weak General Chemistry Background, Need Advice

[ManlyMan246]

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Hey everybody! I'm planning on taking the MCAT this Fall and have signed up for a Kaplan course as preparation this summer. I feel comfortable with biology, physics, and orgo, but I'm really worried about Gen. Chem.

I took it a year ago and did quite poorly. Moreover, the professor did not cover most gen. chem information (very little on titration, the gas laws, molarity/molality, and other things). This means that my grade doesn't reflect my competancy in general chemistry, which would be reassuring except that it means I have to essentially learn it all in a few weeks this summer! As you can see, I'm quite concerned.

For those of you currently taking or that have taken the Kaplan course, do you find it to be sufficient on its own as preparation for the General Chemistry portion of the MCAT? I've seen TBR recommended on these boards as a great gen. chem prep book but I don't know if I would be able to afford that on top of my MCAT course this summer, and saving money has become pretty important for me lately, so I'm reluctant to spring on that purchase unless Kaplan is awful at teaching the material.

Please help, thanks!

 

[SN2ed]

I know BR's Gen Chem books cost $50 total, but you should really buy them. I don't think Kaplan did a good job on their Gen Chem book. Well, most of their books aren't that good (they're okay in Bio and O-chem). Check out the For Sale forum on here. You might be able to pick up the BR Gen Chem book from someone. In the end, the $50 you spend on BR Gen Chem could save you tons of money from avoiding a bad MCAT score.

 

[Protactinium]

I know BR's Gen Chem books cost $50 total, but you should really buy them. I don't think Kaplan did a good job on their Gen Chem book. Well, most of their books aren't that good (they're okay in Bio and O-chem). Check out the For Sale forum on here. You might be able to pick up the BR Gen Chem book from someone. In the end, the $50 you spend on BR Gen Chem could save you tons of money from avoiding a bad MCAT score.

Concur. BR is miles ahead of the rest. TPR is too brief, **** coverage of thermo and electrochem. Examkrackers was mediocre, but not as good as TPR. I can't speak for Kaplan. BR is the motherload for gen chem though. I wish I had your problem though OP...organic chem rips up my BS score. Hell I would just study PS from BR, Bio from EK with a detail supplement and ... I'm not sure who has a good book for orgo, apparently BR is king of that area as well but haven't seen it myself. Each book cost 100 canadian currency to get those things up here...You're lucky to be american, our country sucks for consumer products.

 

[Malayna]

Hey everybody! I'm planning on taking the MCAT this Fall and have signed up for a Kaplan course as preparation this summer. I feel comfortable with biology, physics, and orgo, but I'm really worried about Gen. Chem.

I took it a year ago and did quite poorly. Moreover, the professor did not cover most gen. chem information (very little on titration, the gas laws, molarity/molality, and other things). This means that my grade doesn't reflect my competancy in general chemistry, which would be reassuring except that it means I have to essentially learn it all in a few weeks this summer! As you can see, I'm quite concerned.

For those of you currently taking or that have taken the Kaplan course, do you find it to be sufficient on its own as preparation for the General Chemistry portion of the MCAT? I've seen TBR recommended on these boards as a great gen. chem prep book but I don't know if I would be able to afford that on top of my MCAT course this summer, and saving money has become pretty important for me lately, so I'm reluctant to spring on that purchase unless Kaplan is awful at teaching the material.

Please help, thanks!

After $1800 for a Kaplan class is $50 for BR general chemistry too much? I guess I feel your pain in not wanting to spend any more money after shelling that much out, but BR general chemistry is so great it's worth more than what they charge. There was nothing on my MCAT today in physical sciences that I didn't feel comfortable with and hadn't reviewed in my BR course.

 

[Protactinium]

50 is a drop in the ocean. If you're american it'll be 68 bucks with shipping. These Berkeley Review PS books are amazing, I studied with EK and TPR and found them lacking. The only caveat is that it is pretty thorough and will consume a lot of time (which will be good for you, minus the time thing). Another MCAT will cost 225 + opportunity cost of lost wages and being able to live your life. Might be a good idea to hedge given the crazy difficulty of the MCAT this year.