What Classes To Take?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>I'm a rising high school senior and I really want to perform well on the MCAT. I've heard that the MCAT is changing, and I've taken a look at the new content that will be tested from the AAMC.</p>

<p>I'm wondering what exactly I should do to cover all the content. By no means am I going to open up a practice test book and even start practicing, but I would love to get a head start on the content so once I'm in college I can focus on stacking extracurriculars and research.</p>

<p>For the chemistry, I've taken AP chemistry, and I've reviewed all the inorganic content that will be tested according to the AAMC. I feel confident in this subject.</p>

<p>As for physics, I'm planning to study A TON of physics during my senior year (I'll also be taking AP Physics), and I'll make sure I cover everything that the AAMC specifies. I'm familiar with the topics, but I'd love to ingrain everything into my head, including basically every formula.</p>

<p>I've heard that there's basic statistics tested on the exam, and I've taken stats courses online (Coursera), and I'm taking AP Statistics in school. I feel pretty confident that I know my stats, and I've heard that a rudimentary understanding of statistics is all that is necessary for the exam.</p>

<p>As for biochemistry, I never truly took a formal course. However, I have read tons of books, and I conducted research at Yale's School of Medicine anyway. I know like most of the lab protocol, and I've essentially learned most of biochem through experience, as well. </p>

<p>I've been self-studying organic chemistry using the organic chemistry video sets on Khan Academy and that blog "Master Organic Chemistry". I'm thinking about purchasing a book to study organic chemistry, so are there any good recommendations? Especially self-studying books?</p>

<p>Lastly, this whole Psychology and Sociology thing is totes brand new to the exam, so I'm wondering what type of courses I should take to prepare early for it. I'm taking two courses next semester at Yale, and I'm wondering if it will be of good use to get a head start on these two subjects by taking introductory courses in them. Also, what are good self-studying books for them?</p>

<p>I've been reviewing a lot of the major concepts by working my way through the Khan Academy MCAT Prep video set. Is this any good, and will it do me any good? It says that the content is arranged for the new MCAT and I don't mind that it covers waaay more than what will actually be on the MCAT (seeing that I'm not going to be taking it anytime soon), but is it actually useful and thorough in its coverage?</p>

<p>Lastly, I know people always say that a kid like me should be focusing on other things rather than this. However, I've had friends that have been studying their SATs since 6th grade and have all managed 2400s. Moreover, they've not had to do last minute cramming or studying for that matter in high school. Hence, they stacked tons of extracurriculars in high school and had amazing resumes. I want to do the same for the MCAT.</p>

<p>Thanks for the help.</p>

2

<p>As you are probably four years away from taking MCAT, take a deep breath, relax. When “people always say that a kid like me should be focusing on other things rather than this…,” you are getting some incredibly excellent advice.</p>

3

<p>@deweystront
OP, you are doing all the right things and setting yourself up to do exceptionally well on the MCAT. Are you taking any other AP classes? (e.g. AP Psych, AP Calc BC, etc.) I took 10 AP classes my last two years in HS and was well prepared for the MCAT right then but as I’m sure you know, it has a time limit so you have to wait (usually until junior year in college). But your prep time, when you do take it, will be much shorter. :-bd </p>

<p>It appears you have set some high goals for yourself. Go for it!! Best of luck.</p>

4

<p>As a high school student, it’s one thing to be challenging oneself via difficult courses as a building block for more challenging courses in future or say develop time management skills, etc. It’s another thing to be targeting a standardized test 4 years in the future. By that logic when should a college student begin Step 1 prep, second, third year of college at latest?? </p>

5

<p>I think you should start to think about the topics of your phd dissertations at the same time. :-B </p>

<p>As a hs student, you should take the hardest course in the school and get in a good college right now and worry about med school when you have the gpa for med schools. </p>

6

<p>What you are doing is really amazing, because it shows you have the right motivation to achieve your goals no matter what happens, which is really good. </p>

<p>However, remember that the MCAT is very different, and much more difficult than the SAT. The MCAT is focused on your knowledge of the lower division coursework required for medical school, while the SAT only focuses on your test taking skills and not the depth of your knowledge. It’s perfectly fine to be excited for the future, but you should by no means be attempting to study AND do less later, because that simply won’t work. While hundreds of kids get a 2400 on there SAT every year, there is only a perfect score on the MCAT every couple of years, and a 38/45 is in the top 1% of scores. Don’t underestimate it.</p>

<p>Also, if you want to study on your own, you should definitely not use MCAT study preps until you have actually taken the course in college. This is because the MCAT books are designed for people to master the concepts they already learned in college, and does not provide the specific details you really need to digest the subject for the first time. This is especially true for organic chemistry, which is heavily based on concepts of quantum mechanics, electron density, etc., and NOT memorizing reactions and mechanisms. </p>

7

<p><a href=“https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/mcat2015/admins/faqs-admins/”>https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/mcat2015/admins/faqs-admins/&lt;/a&gt; </p>

<p>“Examinees prepare for the MCAT using many different strategies, and no one way is best for everyone. One common way to prepare is through coursework. Our research shows that the concepts that will be tested on the MCAT2015 exam are taught at most undergraduate institutions in introductory biology, chemistry, and physics and in first-semester biochemistry, psychology, and sociology. These courses are among many universities’ general education or major requirements, and some medical schools currently require them for admission. Many future examinees will need to plan their coursework with these or similar courses in mind.</p>

<p>While the new exam places increased emphasis on scientific inquiry and reasoning skills, we do not anticipate the need for students to take specific courses in research methods or statistics. Our surveys of undergraduate faculty suggest that the level of statistics and data analysis skills that will be tested by the exam is similar to what students typically use in introductory biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, and sociology courses."</p>

<p>To summarize: One year of intro bio/lab, one year of gen chem /lab, one year of organic chem/lab, one year of physics/lab, one semester each of psych/sociology/biochem is a strategy that AAMC indicates offers prep for MCAT. (I’m not sure about alternate strategies??). However, as the above courses are typical med school reqs, by completing these courses, you are killing two birds with one stone (MCAT prep/med school admission reqs). Note that AAMC states that “we do not anticipate the need for students to take specific courses in research methods or statistics.” Although your college may offer credit for AP courses, as I understand it, some med schools may accept AP Bio credit as long as further upper division bio courses are completed, but most, if not all, will not accept AP credit in Chem/physics. Check with advisor/MSAR.</p>

<p>Deweystront: Good luck to you. Be careful not to burn out. A 4.0 GPA and a 45+ MCAT (528 under new scoring system??) does not guarantee med school admission. You’ll still need EC’s, LORs, etc. And a high MCAT score will not save you if you bomb interview.</p>

8

<p>@deweystront to be on topic, take Biochem in college. It’s essentially a requirement anyway. But being in a Biochem lab is not going to cut it for the MCAT…</p>

9

<p>Take whatever the hell you feel like.</p>

10

<p>“I’m wondering what exactly I should do to cover all the content”
-Med. Schools pre-reqs will be sufficient. Chill, you will take MCAT at the end of your junior year (that is if you are still a pre-med as most who start as pre-meds will fall out of their initial track). So, cool down and enjoy your HS for now, this will never repeat, you need great memory of it that you will go back to for the rest of your life, it is very very important, the most important in your life right now, do not miss out!!!
In that contest "I’ve been self-studying organic chemistry " - really huge WASTE of precious time, do not do it to yourself!!!
Just keep one thing in mind. when start college, aim at all As and you will be all set. Then in junior year when time to prepare for the MCAT, develop a plan and go with it, your personal plan, depending on your personal schedule and NOBODY else.</p>