<p>Seeing as the MCATs is a science test, would a premed majoring in lets say polisci, have a large disadvantage seeing as the only science classes I would have taken are the basic ones required by most medical schools.</p>
<p>Is the MCAT all very basic science or would you need upper level sciences to do well on it?</p>
<p>My other question would be, do would medical schools view political science as an "easier" major than lets say bio or chem and put less weight on my application, personally I think it is easier but thats because im more interested in it, but would medical schools also see this and have it come back to bite me?</p>
<p>No, Political Science would not be consider as an "easy" major. It does not matter what you major as long you love it and you will succeed in your major.</p>
<p>Notice that humanities majors have the highest scores, beating biological science majors on every single section, for a total difference of two MCAT points.</p>
<p>My D took an AAMC practice MCAT after her first year bio and chem classes, under timed test conditions. She scored a bit higher than the average accepted medical student. I don't say this to brag about her but to lower the stress level for those who are already good standardized test takers. No upper level science is required to make a "good" score. If you are someone who scores in the upper couple of percentile points on every standardized test you've ever taken, then chill out. You are going to be o.k..</p>
<p>As norcalguy says the test is more science reasoning than science. For example my D got half the orgo questions correct and hasn't had orgo. Think about it. You read the passage and you answer some questions. The more context you have the better you are going to do. D likened it to the ACT Science section. </p>
<p>*If * you are a good bubbler with a good basic science background you will do fine after your prerequiste courses are taken.</p>
<p>Part of the problem may be similar to those math kids on the SAT I. Science majors may know too much; they may not be able to recall the basics as well as a student who han't gone much further in the sciences. This specifically happened to a kid I know. He read the question that asked "What does this experiment prove?" with 4 possible answer. He had real trouble with it - "That experiment doesn't prove anything! You still have to know this, this and that, and do further experimentation! None of these answers are right!"</p>
<p>Chedva , My D and I agree wholeheartedly. That's why D will taking the MCAT this summer after Orgo and Physics (and Topics in Bio and also Histology, just how it worked out schedule-wise - she'd have still planned on taking it w/o those two ) and a summer of Kaplan and Exam Krackers (if she feels comfortable) . Hopefully all in and all done.</p>
<p>Many people take the MCAT during their senior year, and one can only wonder which one has more time to prepare for the test, an art student or a biology student........</p>
<p>In particular, I think the problem is often that the question specifically asks, "What does this experiment suggest?" with the correct answer being scientificially incorrect. That's not to say it's a poorly written question. Many early scientific experiments suggested findings which were later shown to be poor understandings of the actual process involved.</p>
<p>Physical and biological science majors should be distinguished from each other: Physical science majors outscore biological science majors on all MCAT subsections; Physical science majors outscore humanities majors on biolgical and physical sciences; The sum of mean subscores (not necessarily the mean total score) of physical science majors equals that of humanities majors.</p>
<p>The MCAT is in a bit of a changing situation right now, according to many comments by those who have taken it this year. The test went to computer-based and multiple test dates rather than twice a year, and the nature of the test has changed somewhat. It is now much more passage-based than before, thus verbal comprehension, logic, and reasoning are more important than ever. One third of the score is the Verbal Reasoning section, which is passages that are NOT science based, and there are two essays, also not usually science based. Some test-takers feel the entire test is now a test of verbal reasoning. Humanities majors who have also done well in science classes may now be at an advantage. Be aware that all those scores referenced in above posts are from 2005 and 2006, before this change in the focus of the test.</p>
<p>The science class requirements are not just "very basic science." You have to take two full years of chemistry, one of physics, and one of biology, all with labs. This is not Rocks for Jocks. Organic chemistry is beyond difficult for many and it is an upper-level science. Lots of premeds feel it is helpful to also have genetics, anatomy, and physiology before taking the MCAT (but not required for med school application). </p>
<p>You will NOT be at a disadvantage having a nonscience major. Med schools are striving for an interesting mix of students in their class make-up, and interesting, well-rounded future doctors. Newsweek has an article in the 9-10-07 issue, "Well-Rounded Docs." "That's the goal as medical schools seek out and admit more nonscience students. English majors welcome." Poli sci too.</p>
<p>Well, don't the med schools think like humanities major students (or any other non-science related majors) "might" face some difficulties at a med school when they only have to deal w/ science courses and which wouldn't be testing MCAT level sciences anymore?</p>
<p>asifkhan, according to the medical school admissions statistics, the answer is "no". Medical schools are not training scientists to work in labs. They are training doctors who must know how to work with people. They can teach humanities majors the science part; they are not as good at teaching scientists the human part.</p>
<p>Thanks chedva for ur reply. But, what I was trying to say was that, humanities major students can very likely be unable to handle the 4 year intensive med-topics....not saying that humanities major students wouldn't be able to handle the work though! What might motivate a humanities major student to become a doctor which will hardly deal with what he majored in as an undergrad? I don't wanna be harsh or something but am I looking at it in a different perspective?</p>
<p>You are looking at it from the wrong perspective if you believe that medicine is all science all the time. It's not. It's science, intuition, art; communication, comfort, hand-holding. There is so much more to the practice of medicine than strict science. (And only 2 years of medical school is straight science; the second 2 years are clinical work.) If a humanities major can handle the science involved in completing the prereqs for medical school, he or she can handle medical school.</p>
<p>And people want to go into medicine for quite varied reasons. They may have wanted to study something else as undergrads for their own interests, knowing that this may be their last chance before they started a medical career. Or they believe that humanities may help them deal with patients. Or they're not interested in straight scientific research, which undergraduate science majors often have to do.</p>
<p>I would never think that medicine is all science all the time. Certainly though, the period when you are at medical school (or at least the straight first two years) are thoroughly science concentrated AND that's where exactly I was trying to relate Humanities or any non-science major students to! after two years, definitely communication skills, patience, work ethics, etc. comes into a greater play.
[quote]
If a humanities major can handle the science involved in completing the prereqs for medical school, he or she can handle medical school.
[/quote]
Exactly! That's what I really wanted to know, if he can handle the straight science courses.....blah, anyway, I realized how I was looking at it. :D
Thanks a lot Chedva!</p>