<p>Hi I'm new to the Pre-Med section of CC.</p>
<p>I'm a freshman at ND and I've taken inorganic chem last sem.
and now taking organic chem this sem. </p>
<p>Studying orgo (NMR and IR spectroscopy more specifically), I was like, 'why are we studying this stuff? will I really need to know this later on?'</p>
<p>Man was I wrong!
I've talked to upperclassmen pre-meds in my dorm and they all told me that I will indeed need to know those kinds of things for the MCAT.</p>
<p>Anyway, I've gained a new perspective on the whole pre-med core requirement courses and now am REALLY trying to learn the material instead of just learning and doing whatever I can to just pass by and get good exam scores. (I just thought these core courses were weed out courses I just have to survive through)</p>
<p>So when IS the optimal time to start studying for the MCAT?
I was thinking of buying a prep book and going over the MCAT problems that my orgo class is covering simultaneously... Is that a good idea?</p>
<p>Which prep book is the best? It's like prepping for the SATs all over again... looking for good prep books and whatnot. </p>
<p>Thanks so much for clarifying things for a confused pre-med!</p>
<p>Start studying approx. 8 weeks before you plan to take the test.</p>
<p>Focus on learning the material now and doing well in your classes. Start really studying for the MCAT a couple of months to a semester before the test. If you're actually learning it now, then studying for the MCAT will primarily be learning how to apply the material in the way that the test writers want you to.</p>
<p>And I could be completely wrong (because, honestly, the period that I spent studying for the MCAT has more or less been blocked from my memory), but I don't remember a whole lot of spectroscopy on the MCAT. At least not more than the very basics.</p>
<p>I second the question about review books. I have been searching through the MCAT sticky, but it is such a long thread and throught the 13 pages that I did manage to read, I found absolutely NO suggestions on the best book to use!!!! So don't tell me to go look at those darn stickies!</p>
<p>I'm sorry, I'm a bit cranky.</p>
<p>So, I have quite a bit of time to study for the MCAT, but I want to start this summer, and thus I would like to ask what prep book is best. I was going to buy the examkrackers package, but the newest review on amazons are mostly bad.</p>
<p>I was just going to make a new thread on this - but I am also wondering about which review books are the best.</p>
<p>I like Examkrackers for stand alone books. Some express reservations about their chemistry and physics but most agree that biology and organic chemistry are good and to the point.</p>
<p>Would you say examkrackers is sufficiently thorough? Because my understanding is that some books are not so in depth but are good for the last few weeks of review, whilst other books are much more thorough and are for long-term studying. I personally am looking for a more thorough book. But according to Amazon, kaplan is more in-depth than examkrackers, and princeton review is more in-depth than kaplan.</p>
<p>Then use all of them.</p>
<p>^Oh of course, I was planning on it.</p>
<p>However, I do want to start with the one that is most in depth, since I haven't taken the college courses yet. Thus I don't know which one to start off with: Gold Standard, Examkrackers, Princeton Review, Kaplan, etc. I need something more like an MCAT textbook and less like an MCAT review book. Any suggestions? I've looked through all reviews on amazon, and I haven't read anything sufficiently positive.</p>
<p>though i haven't actually taken the test yet, i have to say i'd chill out if i were you. if your school teaches the class well, and you do well, you shouldnt need to be using the test prep books until the year you're going to be taking it (at the very earliest)...if you've paid attention and actually want to learn the stuff in those classes, you should be totally fine when you start studying. I dunno, i personally don't see a need to use those test preps until the test is eminent....</p>
<p>and to the OP, i go to ND and will be taking the test this year...from what ive seen and heard from my friends who have taken it, your grades in the classes will generally give you a good indicator -- despite how it may seem, they do teach the classes well (even scheidt and mobashery must do a good job, considering the avg for the physical sciences section at our school)</p>
<p>^Yeah, i understand what you mean, but this will be my only summer before the exam since I have my next few summers booked at a research institution where I have been doing research for the past 2 years. I decided to take a break this summer (though I did finish a project during the spring that will be published soon), so since I'm not doing much these days, and thus I rather spend my time somewhat productively. Thanks for your concern though. Anyhow, my question about which book I should start with has been pretty much resolved (I got some help from another forum), so I withdraw my question. Thank you all for the quick help again.</p>
<p>Brainmetrix: There is a lot of reasoning on the MCAT in all the sections, and of course in the Verbal Reasoning section. Instead of studying physics, chemistry, biology now, you could use your time this summer to work on your reading comprehension and speed. This would help you with all the sections of the MCAT. Read the NY Times, the Economist, Time, Newsweek, academic journals. Read in areas you know nothing about, and in areas that don't interest you. You could also write summaries of the more difficult articles. You have to read FAST on the MCAT, so that activity would help you.</p>
<p>You could also buy the ExamKrackers 101 Verbal Reasoning Tests and do those over the summer. Studying too far ahead in the subject areas is putting the cart before the horse, but you can always work on your reading speed and comprehension.</p>
<p>Kaplan's books definitely are thicker. I think Examkrackers books cover enough by themselves. With that said, you most likely find items on the MCAT that were not explicitly covered in the EK books. These questions are intended to be solved through extrapolating what you know. Perhaps Kaplan, TPR etc. books will cover more but that will also require more study time dedicated to topics that are less frequently covered (especially with organic chemistry). If you have lots of time you could try to review every possible item but with limited time it is better to focus on common topics and overall concepts.</p>
<p>Do not overlook the verbal section. It counts as much as the science sections and can sink or make your score. I would also recommend EK 101 verbal passages.</p>
<p>Also AAMC practice tests 8-10 are great practice. AAMC 3-7 are all right. Other practice tests should be used after these are exhausted.</p>