Looking for Some Study Advice

[aztekxero]

I just finished first year engineering at U of T and was wondering when I should make my first attempt at the MCAT. I feel pretty comfortable with the PS section. As for the VR, I plan on practicing tons of passages. I feel a little weak on the BS and WS sections though. As far as BS goes, I pretty much only have grade 12 biology and chemistry under my belt. The only university course I took that would apply would be a quarter course of physical chemistry which was mostly thermo. For the WS section, I would say that my essay writing skills are a little below average, just because I haven't written one in years. I kind of want to avoid taking a university English class as I don't think I would like it at all. Any alternatives here?

 

The next opportunity I would have to take a university bio/chem course would be summer 2009. This summer, I was planning on trying to self study with examkrackers, but I'm wondering if it would be wise to take an actual university course before attempting the MCAT for the first time.

 

Any advice? Thanks!

[AndyDude]

For the VR, there really is no strict regiment, read stuff that interests you and do lots of practice passages.

 

Regarding you background, BS may require some effort. I am a Biochem major and have taken many biology courses. I can tell you that taking a university course might help you in concepts such as genetics, and cell metabolism (most of which is HS) but won't help in understanding other concepts (nervous system, digestion, respiration etc.) At least, my first year biology course did not assist much, same with a second year cellular bio course. It is another story if your school offers specific physiology courses for first/second years. But what you need to know is available in the prep books. Arguably, one thing that would require university courses background is organic chemistry. It is more like engineering courses that you would be familiar with: mechanisms, parts and bolts, reactions, products, etc etc. But everything that is on the MCAT is on the prep books. What I mean to say that having some background gives a tad bit confidence by reassuring that the stuff has been memorized/practiced before but is nothing full-proof for success on the MCAT. It is half as much as knowing the concepts and rest is critical thinking.

 

I'd say do not hold back writing it just because you don't have university background in the topics required for the MCAT. That is what the prep books are for; even those who might have taken theses courses won't remember much due to significant time lapse and rely on MCAT prep books. Read the prep book inside out but don't stop what's on it. Ask questions, reason through it for concepts that seem obscure, difficult. Practice lots and lots of questions+mock MCATs. I wouldn't recommend doing courses just so you could perform well on MCAT (some might disagree). It's all parts and parcel, you will be forced to memorize/learn stuff that has no relevance to the material on the MCAT if you do decide to take them.

 

Good luck!

[aztekxero]

Awesome Andy, thanks very much, that was extremely helpful. Just one more question though: how strictly are the WS essays marked? I think if I can learn the format, I would be able to write decent, but not exactly thought provoking essays. I've seen some of the topics, and my essays would likely be pretty vanilla.

[AndyDude]

I think in order to do well on WS, you don't have to use fancy words or do some thought provoking (although it is always a bonus to do so). I have been recommended from numerous individuals who did well on WS to be as clear as possible; organize thoughts in your head that are simple and organized. Do not try to impress with big words whose meaning/spelling you might be unsure of. It might just be rumours but I have been told they might take as little as 60 seconds to skim through your essay. So one that is easier to follow, the better.

[Tan008]

Awesome Andy, thanks very much, that was extremely helpful. Just one more question though: how strictly are the WS essays marked? I think if I can learn the format, I would be able to write decent, but not exactly thought provoking essays. I've seen some of the topics, and my essays would likely be pretty vanilla.

 

Hey, best of luck studying for the evil that is the MCAT. If you want some WS help feel free to PM me. I've gotten an S on the WS twice and wouldn't mind reading what you have.

[aztekxero]

Awesome, thanks tan.

 

Do you guys think writing the MCAT the summer between first and second years is too early? Should I wait until after second year? I'm planning to apply to med school after third year.

[Craig-oy]

Awesome, thanks tan.

 

Do you guys think writing the MCAT the summer between first and second years is too early? Should I wait until after second year? I'm planning to apply to med school after third year.

 

Im writing it this year too, after freshman,

only thing i need to actually study lots is Organic cuz ive never taken it haha

but its do-able

go for it man

[aztekxero]

Thanks for the advice everyone. The reason I am a little leery is because I have never taken a university course in biology/orgo. While I did take a phys chem course, it was only a quarter credit that dealt with thermo and a little bit of phase equilibria. I took bio and chem 12 in high school but that was a couple of years ago. I started studying from the examkrackers biology book today. The first read-through, I felt like I was trying to read in Chinese, but after a better look, it's starting to come back to me.

 

I think I might wait until after my second year to write the MCAT however, because of the 3 year "expiry". I'm just going to use this summer as an opportunity to learn some of the stuff I'm weak on and next summer I'll do a refresher.