I’d like to take a few classes beyond my post-bac’s regular offerings. I really want to take biochem, but it’s not going to work if I need organic chem first (that’s not until next year for me and I’d take these extra classes next semester and in the summer.)
MCAT takers, do you think anatomy/physiology, microbiology, genetics or some other class would be most helpful? I want something that could help on the MCAT, but also would just like to add more classes to my portfolio.
I’ll only have bio I and II and gen chem I and II done by the time I take the class, so having a lot of prereqs isn’t really an option.
Thoughts?
I have not yet taken the MCAT. I have registered to take it next May. Hopefully the information below is helpful in your decision. This the link to the contents that are tested on the MCAT exam.
https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mca t/prepar…
I plan to study thoroughly every single topic mentioned in each of the sections.
It may be helpful to read the course descriptions for the courses you are considering at your school and compare it to the AAMC content outline for each section. Or you can inquire further from any of the professors teaching the class about the course contents and compare it to the AAMC guide.
Due to some changes in my schedule and i have to leave the U.S for a while. I won’t be able to complete my pre-requisites by the time I take the MCAT. So i plan to study for the missing classes by taking advantage of the free online courses offered by some of the universities nationwide, especially MIT. I plan to add these videos to my MCAT study plan in addition to taking a Kaplan Review Course. Some the of the classes like Biology, i already completed in undergrad. I included it on my list for a quick review. You can also check if the course you are interested in is offered online through opencourseware. All the courses should include a syllabus. You can compare the course contents to the AAMC guide.
Fundamentals of Biology
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/biology/7-01s c-fundamen…
Intro to Biology
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/biology/7-013 -introduct…
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/biology/7-014 -introduct…
General Bio I
https://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/general-b iolo…
General Bio 2
https://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/general-b iolo…
General Bio I lecture
http://webcast.berkeley.edu/playlist#c,d,Biology, -…
General Bio I lab
http://webcast.berkeley.edu/playlist#c,d,Biology, -…
Cell Biology
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/biology/7-06- cell-biolo…
Organic Chem I
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/chemistry/5-1 2-organic-…
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3F629 F73640…
https://itunes.apple.com/us/course/organic-che mist…
https://www.coursera.org/course/orgchem1a
Organic Chem II
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/chemistry/5-1 3-organic-…
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB572B A3ED0F…
Organic Chem Lab
https://itunes.apple.com/itunes-u/chemistry-3a l-00…
Advanced Organic Chem
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/chemistry/5-4 3-advanced…
Biological Chemistry II
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/chemistry/5-0 8j-biologi…
BioChem I
https://itunes.apple.com/us/course/biochemistr y-fo…
http://oli.cmu.edu/courses/free-open/bio chemistry-…
Physics II
http://webcast.berkeley.edu/playlist#c,d,Physics, -…
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD07B2 225BB4…
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=C2CE ECFD93…
I hope that helps 
Physiology is a must for the current MCAT.
I also had biochem and was very glad that I had been able to take it before the MCAT.
I didn’t take microbiology and I wish I had taken that one before my MCAT.
Genetics would have been nice but not as big a priority.
If you haven’t taken them already, you will need both Physics I and II.
I used Examkrackers for my study prep. If I had to do it again, I would have gotten the MCAT prep books and used them as a study guide as I took the prerequisite classes in order to have a better idea as to what topics were going to be emphasized on the MCAT.
Just a big thank you for taking the time to post all of that information-- it is a nice ‘to the point’ way of finding those lectures!
I am in the waaaayyy beginning of this prereq journey, but I am glad to see Maria suggested the MCAT prep books during prereqs. This is what I am doing. Sometimes the MCAT prep is way more detailed than what is presented or read in the class textbooks, but it has helped me with the class by adding more dimension to the subjects. This helps me to remember the material better; just looking in the MCAT books gives me motivation, which is also helpful and fun!
Thanks all! Very helpful, as always.