Which course helped the best for the MCAT outside of the basic courses

[postbacpremed87]

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I am a post bac pre-med student taking the basic admission requirements. I was wondering what classes outside of the basic ones helped you the most on the MCAT. I am thinking about taking P Chem (Physical Chemistry).

 

[iniquus]

I am a post bac pre-med student taking the basic admission requirements. I was wondering what classes outside of the basic ones helped you the most on the MCAT. I am thinking about taking P Chem (Physical Chemistry).

P Chem will not be tested on the MCAT. If you know anything about the MCAT, the sciences will test General Biology, General Physics, General Chemistry, and some Organic Chemistry. I believe there's going to be some changes in the MCAT in the next couple years, incorporating statistics and other fields of study, and shifting the focus of the test slightly.

To be honest, all of the courses helped me in small ways by building a foundation. However, only independent review of the test prep books and practice tests will yield a high score. Upper level sciences give you the confidence to tackle any science passage.

 

[werd]

the non-required courses that helped me the most were biochem, molecular bio, and instrumental analysis. the last course gave me a leg up for those passages where they describe some fancy instrument and then have you reason about how it works or interpreting results (since i was already familiar with said instrument).

 

[qwer123456]

Anatomy helped me the most by far. I tried learning the anatomy stuff on my own, but ultimately, I learn a lot better in a classroom setting, and my score in the BS section more than doubled.

 

[postbacpremed87]

Would you say it was the physiology part of anatomy that helped with the most with the BS section?

Anatomy helped me the most by far. I tried learning the anatomy stuff on my own, but ultimately, I learn a lot better in a classroom setting, and my score in the BS section more than doubled.

 

[PreMedder]

this seems relevant to your interests:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=773406

 

[ATPase8]

Biochem, Molecular Bio. , Physiology

 

[StephenMaturin]

I am a post bac pre-med student taking the basic admission requirements. I was wondering what classes outside of the basic ones helped you the most on the MCAT. I am thinking about taking P Chem (Physical Chemistry).

Physiology by far.

 

[Flamen04]

-Physiology
-Genetics
-Microbiology
-Biochemistry

These all helped, but I didn't take them solely because of the MCAT.

 

[Whatyousay]

Philosophy.or Ethics

Reading / comprehending dense texts --> Destroy VR ---> Go to med school

 

[NickNaylor]

I agree with biochem for the BS section. For PS any advanced chemistry courses were helpful since they generally relied on the concepts of gen chem.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

I hear there's a good amount of Microbio and Biochem.

 

[FutureMD23]

Physiology and Cell Biology

 

[bassvp]

I would just be careful when taking upper division chemistry beyond Ochem. I've heard to many horror stories of professors that didn't believe in giving A's in chemical analysis and P-Chem. Ask around and make sure the prof isn't somehow going to destroy your grade while you are trying to improve your application.

 

[NKChemEng]

I'm going to go ahead and disagree with bassvp. I took chemical instrumental analysis, and I saw a HUGE difference between that course and the normal pre-med courses. It was a LOT better. Mostly junior/senior chem majors will be taking such courses, and there is no more weeding out, because almost no one is actually pre-med. My professor was very relaxed, always gave the benefit of the doubt, and didn't believe in +s and -s. Just gave people the better grade. The curves were nice too.

The course material itself was very helpful as well. I learned a lot of valuable statistics, and now I know my way around Excel better than around my house 😉

You also learn all types of chromatography and organic analysis, which is actually pretty good to know in general for orgo I believe.

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

Physiology should help a lot. I would consider taking neuroscience as well if it's an option. While I had no neuro on my real exam, I never missed a neuro question on the AAMCs. You are likely to get some on the real thing. An intro neuro class will have you laugh at any neuro question they ask. Plus, neuro is more interesting than any of the other undergrad courses IMO.

 

[dancerdoc89]

For me, physiology, anatomy/histology, biochemistry, and molec bio/genetics helped with the sciences. And (oddly) a couple of my philosophy courses helped me understand and better comprehend some VR passages...I know, weird...

 

[Doubtnichts]

I agree with the physiology helping a lot. I'd also recommend genetics.

 

[Atherosclerosis]

Animal Physiology and Biochemistry.

 

[bassvp]

I'm going to go ahead and disagree with bassvp. I took chemical instrumental analysis, and I saw a HUGE difference between that course and the normal pre-med courses. It was a LOT better. Mostly junior/senior chem majors will be taking such courses, and there is no more weeding out, because almost no one is actually pre-med. My professor was very relaxed, always gave the benefit of the doubt, and didn't believe in +s and -s. Just gave people the better grade. The curves were nice too.

The course material itself was very helpful as well. I learned a lot of valuable statistics, and now I know my way around Excel better than around my house 😉

You also learn all types of chromatography and organic analysis, which is actually pretty good to know in general for orgo I believe.

Just speaking from personal experience that some individual professors can make life miserable in these classes. Chemical Analysis was a ChE/chemistry weed out where I went to school...and it was quite effective.

I'm not sure you can accurately disagree with one person's personal observation by stating your own separate observation at a different place.

Anyways...point is, if trying to help MCAT, make sure you help GPA as well.