<p>What courses are most recommended for students to take before the MCAT other than the general 2-semester introductory sequences and organic chemistry? There are a lot of topics on this online but there are too many suggestions to make sense of. Are there any courses in particular that are most helpful for the current MCAT tests?</p>
<p>I think the trick is taking upper level classes–classes that are more about critical thinking and applying knowledge than just regurgitating facts. To that end, I particularly liked physiology and biochemistry, which were two classes that both required a lot of thought and happened to be pertinent to the subject matter of the MCAT (sort of). </p>
<p>I’d personally go with whatever classes/professors are known to be the most rigorous and expect the most out of students. The harder the course, the better the prep–both for MCAT and med school.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>D. took cell, physiology and genetics before MCAT and she felt that they has helped her for Bio section.
She also took Anatomy and Biochem after MCAT, which was somewhat helpful for Med. School. But nothing in UG will prepare you for Med. School anyway (according to my D., the level of material complexity/amount is not comparable).<br>
She never took any upper Physics or Chem. as this section was her easiest.
She also felt that absolutely nothing was resulting in improving Verbal score, might as well just take the procatice test and get familiar with format.</p>
<p>^I disagree with the notion that complexity is not comparable. I’d say it’s quite comparable, actually. The problem is the amount, for the most part. It’s amazing to me that med school can put semester long courses of biochemistry, cell bio, and genetics into PART of an 8-week block. The sheer volume of material is just incredible. </p>
<p>As far as complexity goes, there’s always 8 steps in the TCA cycle. There’s always the same dirty mnemonics for the cranial nerves, which always function in the same way. Nearly all aspects of nephrology operate off the same simple principles of facilitated diffusion or active transport. I’m sure you get the drift. (This isn’t to say all the pertinent topics of med school are covered during various upper level classes in undergrad, but I do believe there’s enough overlap to say that the level of complexity is, at the very least, comparable.)</p>
<p>Kristin,
Can you believe, you guys are MS2s, the time flies…
Well, everybody is different, I suppose. D. said that material is not comparable and amount is not comparable at all. She mentioned that nobody ever feels that they done enough studying for exams, everybody is pretty much in panicky mode after taking them. Well, consider exams alone, 4 hrs on Tuesday, 6 hours on Thursday and 4 hours on Friday (that one does not count though as it is practice Step 1). When I mentioned about taking tiny break, D. said that nobody takes them for a fear of not finishing if they do. D. has only 2 blocks left though, neuro might be the hardest one (the last), then it is MS3. She still does not know about her specialty, but NO list is growing fast…but she absolutely loves clinical exposure experiences in any specialty, she loves being with patients, talking to them, she is talking about biopsys as the greatest adventure, this is her clear preference over research, hopefully she will start her YES list soon.</p>