<p>I just finished my freshman year, and I don't plan on taking the mcat until the summer after my sophomore year. However, I have still started lightly studying for the MCATs (going over the examcracker Bio and Inorganic Chem books, to review material I learned my freshman year). Looking through the ExamCracker Bio book I realized that a lot of the chapters cover the human body (nervous system, endocrine system, digestive system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, excretory system). Unfortuanly the intro bio class at my school placed NO EMPHASIS on these human body systems. </p>
<p>Instead my intro bio class placed A LOT (like an entire semester's amount) of emphasis on Genetics. My INTRO Bio class covered genetics material such as: (straight from our syllabus) </p>
<ol>
<li>Probability and Pedigrees
Case Study that lasted for a week on PKU</li>
<li>2 point mapping</li>
<li>3 point mapping</li>
<li>sex linkage and linkage mapping</li>
<li>Bacterial Genetics</li>
<li>Recombinant DNA Technology
Made recombinant Bacteria in Labs </li>
<li>Genomics</li>
<li>Evolution and Population Genetics</li>
<li>Replication</li>
<li>Eukaryotic Gene Regulation</li>
<li>Prokaryotic Gene Regulation</li>
<li>Mutation and DNA repair</li>
<li>Cancer Genetics</li>
<li>Modern Genetics and Development</li>
<li>Cloning Stem Cells and Transgenics</li>
</ol>
<p>OTHER NON-GENETICS TOPICS COVERED Include Basic MCAT stuff such as: (straight from syllabus) </p>
<ol>
<li>Cell Communication</li>
<li>Mitosis and Meiosis</li>
<li>Cell Cycle</li>
<li>Photosynthesis</li>
<li>Cell Regulation and Anaerobic Metabolism </li>
<li>Cytoskeleton and Cell Connections</li>
<li>Endomembrane System</li>
<li>Carbohydrates and Lipids</li>
<li>Cells Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes</li>
<li>Proteins </li>
<li>Central Dogma
Case study on HIV that lasted for a week (focused on reverse trancriptase)---don't understand why we did a case study on this for a week.....</li>
<li>Nucleic Acids</li>
</ol>
<p>Am I *<strong><em>ed for the MCAT BIO section, because my INTRO bio class focused more on genetics than the human body? Will any of the genetics *</em></strong> my bio class focused on even help me for the MCAT bio section? I don't understand why my INTRO bio class focused so much on genetics.....</p>
<p>You are a freshman and you are practicing MCAT. Good thing.
I am sure intro bio isn’t meant to cover everything, although I am shocked with that fact. </p>
<p>If one can do very well in MCAT with only intro-bio 1 knowledge, then why bother to take a 4-years program?</p>
<p>I know that even my sister didn’t get 100 on everything in MCAT exam :)</p>
<p>Most are taking MCAT in spring-summer after junior year. They study for 5 (longest) or mostly 3 last months right before MCAT. The earlier prep is complete waste of time. Focus on GPA, get it perfect or as close as possible to perfect. This is your priority now, forget MCAT.</p>
<p>^^^ Meds schools have rolling admissions, as a result, I want my applications out as soon as my Junior Year is done (June 1st, after junior year, is the date most med schools start accepting apps). As a result, the only time I can spend 4-5 months studying for the MCATs is during the summer between my Sophomore and Junior year. This way if I do bad my first time, I can still take the MCAT during the spring of my Junior Year. </p>
<p>
Like I said, I am only lightly reviewing the material I learned freshman year, just reading over the material. I want to become familiar with the format of the test. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I just finished taking summer classes, so for the next 2 months I am not taking any classes; I can’t focus on gpa if I am not taking any classes. </p>
<p>"Meds schools have rolling admissions, as a result, I want my applications out as soon as my Junior Year is done (June 1st, after junior year, is the date most med schools start accepting apps). As a result, the only time I can spend 4-5 months studying for the MCATs is during the summer between my Sophomore and Junior year. This way if I do bad my first time, I can still take the MCAT during the spring of my Junior Year. "</p>
<p>It is better take MCAT once. Most people are preparing while taking classes, they just take lighter schedule. By the way D. has applied July 1, only one months later than your plan. Her situation is unique though, because list of her schools largely depended on her MCAT score. There are lots of people who apply before even taking MCAT. Her close friend has applied, he is planning to take MCAT in August. </p>
<p>Of course, you can do whatever you wish. Do not forget to relax though, very important part of life and very helpful in any pursuit</p>
<p>Wait so if you apply in June and plan on taking the MCAT in August, won’t med schools hold off on reviewing your application, until the MCAT scores are in? If so, why apply early, why just wait until you have your MCAT scores to apply?—In other words, you won’t benefit from applying early, because your file will be on hold until your scores are verified by the med school. </p>
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</p>
<p>^^^ Lol, I know it is, but I hope for the best and plan for the worst. </p>
<p>@Chem Freak- I know MCAT is supposed to test just the intro classes, but since my intro Bio class was weird, so would I have to take a physiology class to do well on the test?</p>
<p>I honestly don’t know how much emphasis is placed on the human body on the MCAT’s biological sciences section, if it is a lot, then I may consider taking a physiology class, if not, then I may just self study the physiology part of the MCAT bio section that my intro bio class did not cover.</p>
<p>Can anyone who has taken the MCATs or is in the process of studying for the MCATs please comment?</p>
<p>^ I do not know the details, but I heard that it takes time for AMCAS (not medical schools) to process and verify your applications (e.g., verify your transcripts). Medical schools reviewing your application (including LORs) comes later. Somebody who has been in the trench first-hand can explain this better than I do.</p>
<p>DS did not take physiology. His timing to take MCAT may not be a good one though. But I suspect that as long as you have taken enough biology classes so that you are capable of self-studying whatever is not covered by your classes but is potentially needed by MCAT, the review course ware provided by most prep companies may include enough materials for you to absorb this in a short time. I vaguely remember BDM said something like this. But at one time, he suggested that an “animal physiology” class at his school might be quite beneficial. A potential problem is that there may be two different types of physiology class. A highly mathematical/system-oriented/BME one may be over-kill. (Many super hardcore premeds seem to take it anyway.)</p>
<p>Please read what I wrote with a grain of salt, as I have second-hand knowledge which was picked up here and there (mostly on CC.)</p>
<p>I’m currently studying for the MCAT, and I also go to your school. Emory’s emphasis on genetics in Bio142 is actually a good thing, since a lot of schools don’t cover that stuff until upper-level genetics courses. I strongly suggest taking human physiology during your sophomore year. There are very few biology topics on the MCAT that I haven’t already covered in Bio142 or Bio336 at Emory.</p>
<p>For me (at WashU) our intro bio classes weren’t enough, at least not according to the EK books. A lot of whats in the EK books was covered in our physio class which is strongly recommended by our premed advisors. But on the other hand the physio in the mcat isn’t so bad that you couldn’t self study it. Its just easier studying for the MCAT now cause I have a lot of the hormones, pathways etc… already memorized/</p>
<p>Guess what, I’m definitely “in the trenches” right now–finished the MCAT in May and just submitted AMCAS today. For your reference, I have a 3.83 GPA at a big state public school (taking the most challenging classes offered) and ended up with a 30-S on the MCAT. </p>
<p>Do you need advanced bio for the MCAT? Strictly speaking, no. Will it be highly to your advantage to have upper level bio before the MCAT? Definitely yes. I would not even THINK of taking the MCAT with only intro bio knowledge. Not because of the content, but because of the thought process. Once you begin preparing, you will find that the MCAT is much less about content and much more about critical thinking and problem solving–things you only learn in upper level classes. I spent mid-January through April preparing and I felt very well prepared. I can’t imagine taking it with no advanced bio knowledge though.</p>
<p>Do you need to apply by June 1? No way! I just applied today and am one of the first ones from my school to turn in the application. Once you submit your AMCAS app, it will be verified once your transcripts are in and then it will be transmitted to your schools along with your rec letters. It takes about 4 weeks for AMCAS to verify, and then you’ll get your secondaries from the schools. Then you’ll have to fill out and return secondaries before you can be offered and interview (and hopefully an acceptance!). Since most people wait until the end of the summer/beginning of the fall semester to apply (usually waiting on late MCAT scores), you will not be at any disadvantage by waiting until July to apply. The deadlines for schools (ranging from November-January) are the deadlines for submitting the AMCAS (not having it verified) and the deadlines for transcripts and rec letters are typically a few weeks later. Taking the MCAT at the end of May, waiting for results, and putting together the entire application can easily be done by mid-June/early July–it only took me longer because I went on vacation, have a job, work in a lab, and had other things to do. If you’re really concerned with applying early, you could take MCAT in April.</p>
<p>Absolutely no reason to stress about it right now! Focus on things besides the MCAT–building relationships, doing meaningful service activities, getting to know physicians, etc–and work on the MCAT when the time comes. With all your prep, you probably won’t even have to take it again. </p>
<p>You do not “need” to know anything beyond what your introductory level bio classes taught you. That is, as long as you learned it well and are not a ■■■■■■, you potentially should be able to score a 15. Most of the non-passage problems are straightforward and the answers can almost always be found using 1st year bio knowledge, and the passages should contain the answers for the passage problems. Of course, physiology will <em>help</em> because then you’ll be more familiar with the material.</p>
<p>Take a look at AAMC #3 test on their website. If you can do that, you can do the MCAT. If you can’t do that, then wait a year and see if you can do it. If you still can’t, study on the areas that you’re weak in and you should see a huge improvement. Give up if you don’t.</p>
<p>BTW: You REALLY should not be worrying about the MCAT right now as a freshman going on to sophomore. And do NOT even plan on “oh maybe ill just take this **** twice.” Take it once, and get above a 35.</p>
<p>Get your application DONE by June 10th on your cycle year and it should be verified by June 25th. Your secondaries will come in flocks (i got 5 this morning), and do them ASAP. You should have your LoR’s in ASAP too, and keep bothering your lazy writers if they are being lazy.</p>
<p>rainbowbrite, looks like we’re in similar boats right now–ah, the waiting game for secondaries. I completely agree with everything you wrote regarding necessary bio for the MCAT. </p>
<p>My other thought with upper level bio classes (which I consider to be anything above intro bio) is that many schools require upper level classes anyway (going off their entries in the MSAR) and, after looking at tons of first-year preclinical curricula, all schools seem very biology/physiology/biochemistry focused. To me it seems like there’s a huge benefit of taking biology beyond intro biology: to reinforce that one is interested in the science of medicine, to be prepared for the content of medical school, and (almost as an after thought) to be better prepared for the MCAT. </p>
<p>What have you seen?</p>
<p>(apologies if this is considered hijacking!)</p>
<p>I’m ■■■■■■■■ as hell when it came to schools to apply to - i applied to a crapload that I wont get in as an OOS (from cali). </p>
<p>Obviously you should take upper div bio classes if you can, but I dont think it’s necessary at all or even near as helpful as intro classes. Think about it, have you ever seen a question on ANY of the aamc practice tests asking you to recite the Gs, Gi, and Gq pathways, followed by a mechanism problem that requires exact knowledge of how aldol synthesis works?</p>
<p>Don’t worry about secondaries, you’ll hate getting them once they come in flocks. In 3 days, i got 15 secondaries and now im stressed out as hell. Oh well, at least i didnt get any today!</p>
<p>I took my MCAT long ago, but I don’t think you need more than the intro bio course to do well. I would take a review course or find a review book with MCAT bio practice tests to help prepare which I did in my day and did very well. I was a Chemistry major but did very well on the bio portion with just one entry level bio course. I remember genetics as being a big part of the test, not so much systems (musculoskeletal, cardiac, gi etc.) which is what they plan to teach you in medical school. They don’t expect you to already know it.</p>
<p>:) bummer for you, rainbow. 15 secondaries in three days! Sounds oh so stressful. I’m applying to <10…after all, you can only go to one in the end! Good luck with them; if you’ve already started working on them, you’re ahead of the game as far as I know! I bet it will be nice to have them over with before school starts up again. Way to go on getting your stuff together ASAP.</p>