MCATs - Page 34

phillySASer08 · 06-22-2008, 06:07 PM

I would lean towards going with cell bio, simply because I have no idea what a molecular bio course would entail if it's separate from cell bio and genetics. I thought genetics and cell bio were both useful to have, though each of those to classes also had a lot of molecular bio and biochem, respectively, which was useful. I feel like the amount of genetics on the MCAT has increased with the redesigning of the test (Kaplan could verify this), but as BDM said, none are terribly important to take before the MCAT.

Bigredmed · 06-22-2008, 07:13 PM

I agree, I'm having some difficulty with what a singular molecular bio course would cover separate from genetics or biochem...so commonly it's with one or the other.

It is true, there are increasing amounts of molecular bio and genetics as the MCAT evolves to cover topics that are more relevant to medicine...The test is not a static entity and has changed quite a bit over the years - even before going to CBT (This evolution is one of the reasons people shouldn't put too much stock in the scores they get from the low numbered AAMC practice tests).

entomom · 06-23-2008, 12:12 PM

Thanks BRM & philly!

There's not a problem with delaying taking the MCAT, she will be starting her sop year in the fall and is in the process of working through a couple of premed courses per semester (as she's a non-science major) and will test next summer.

She's completed her math and will be taking second semester of OChem this fall. Since (for better or worse) she took AP credits for Chem and Bio, she still has one year of each to take. So, she's trying to figure out which other 3 courses would be most helpful to take pre-MCATs. Looks like phys for sure; but since she would only need one other bio course, either cell bio or genetics. Plus biochem which I'm assuming will count as a chem course.

phillySASer08 · 06-23-2008, 08:27 PM

also bear in mind that she needs to take bio classes with labs to meet the laboratory requirement of most med schools; this is not satisfied by th AP.

entomom · 06-23-2008, 09:17 PM

Right, she's planning to do that...but that brings up a related question. Since physio and cell bio don't have labs with them at her school, she'll take other stand alone bio labs to meet the requirement, is there any problem with that?

brainmetrix · 07-05-2008, 04:34 PM

Does anyone have the errata lists for the Examkrackers books that they can post? I know examkrackers have a forum where they post that stuff, but it is no longer free (UNFAIR seeing as that the mistakes are made by THEM and yet WE are paying the price) to see.

billybobbyk · 07-12-2008, 11:39 PM

Hey everyone! I haven't been on this board in awhile (I was on it a bit when applying to colleges) and I forgot how stressful reading all this advice could be, haha. Anyway...

I'm currently planning on taking the MCAT mid-June of my Sophomore year (next year) so that I can study abroad as a junior. By then I will have taken the following courses:
HS: AP Chem
Freshman Fall: Inorganic Chem (1 year of inorganic in 1 semester)
Freshman Spring: Intro Bio (Evolution, Cell Stuff, and lots of Physiology) and Organic Chem I
Freshman Summer: Physics I
Sophomore Fall: Organic Chem II, Physiology
Sophomore Spring: Cell and Molecular Bio, Physics II, Statistics

My two goals are 1) to be able to study abroad and relax a bit more after sophomore year and 2) be able to spend both my sophomore year and junior year summers doing fun internships.

I'm worried however because my school gets out May 15 and I'd only have 1 month to study for the mid-June MCAT (I want to take the mid-June one so I can do a time-intensive internship that summer). I would probably take the Kaplan prep course during the spring, but I don't know if that would be too much work on top of Physics II and Cell Bio. Physics is my weakness and if I will have just finished Physics a month before, I'm not sure that would be enough time to study. What do you all think?

Steeler · 07-13-2008, 12:58 AM

Define time-intensive. An internship + Kaplan courses + self-studying should be more than manageable, and would let you do an August test date.

billybobbyk · 07-13-2008, 11:43 AM

well, it really depends on whether I get the internship I want, but if I do I'll be working ~60+ hours/week for 8 weeks with a med school's surgery service, essentially being a med student on a surgery rotation, doing the whole get up at 6 am stay past 6 pm sort of thing.

And one of the other internships I might do would involve traveling internationally the whole summer; hardly the best environment for studying a couple hours every day.

If everything falls through I'll take the MCAT in August but right now I'm wondering whether all the gurus on this board that have gone thru the process think I can handle a full course load next spring that includes Physics II + Cell Bio + Kaplan Prep Course, and then only have a month of pure studying, and then take the MCAT.

Sleepwalker · 08-21-2008, 12:45 AM

I'm sorry if this was asked before, but can retaking the MCAT obsessively adversely affect a med school applicant? If so, what would be the reasonable limit?

bluedevilmike · 08-21-2008, 12:49 AM

Yes. One.

norcalguy · 08-21-2008, 01:33 AM

Reasonable: 1
Acceptable: 2
Uh oh: 3
What?!: 4

bluedevilmike · 08-21-2008, 01:39 AM

Yeah, I'm one step stricter than NCG.

Reasonable: 1 early
Acceptable: 1 late
Uh-oh: 2
What?!: 3

Sleepwalker · 08-21-2008, 02:02 AM

Damn. Thanks anyway!

norcalguy · 08-21-2008, 03:08 AM

I honestly don't understand the obsession with taking tests multiple times (must be a SAT thing). It's good practice for the USMLE, where you cannot retake if you get a passing score.