REQUIRED COURSESBiological Sciences 11 credits
BIOSC 0150, Foundations of Biology 1 3 credits BIOSC 0050, Foundations of Biology 1 Lab 1 credit BIOSC 0160, Foundations of Biology 2 3 credits BIOSC 0060, Foundations of Biology 2 Lab 1 credit BIOSC 1000, Biochemistry 3 credits Chemistry 16 credits CHEM 0110, General Chemistry 1 4 credits CHEM 0120, General Chemistry 2 4 credits CHEM 0310, Organic Chemistry 1 3 credits CHEM 0330, Organic Chemistry 1 Lab 1 credit CHEM 0320, Organic Chemistry 2 3 credits CHEM 0340, Organic Chemistry 2 Lab 1 credit Physics* 8 credits PHYS 0110, Introduction to Physics 1 3 credits PHYS 0111, Introduction to Physics 2 3 credits PHYS 0212, Introduction to Laboratory Physics 2 credits Mathematics 8 credits MATH 0220, Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 4 credits One of the following: MATH 0230, Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 4 credits STAT 1000, Applied Statistical Methods 4 credits *The courses listed for the physics requirement are algebra-based physics. Calculus-based physics is also acceptable. Help Links for Pre-Med CourseworkKhan Academy
-Step by step instrcutional videos on a wide array of subject Free Peer Tutoring at the ARC for all Pre-Med Course Work -(Biology 015-0160 , Chemistry 0110-0120 , Physics 0110-0111, Stats 1000, and Organic Chemistry 0310-0320) Chevron Science Center: -Tutoring on the Balcony, go to 107 Chevon for the Schedule Free Video Lectures: -A great site with video lecutres on many subjects suchs as biology, chemistry, physics and more -all by professors from MIT, Yale, Stanford, and UC Berkeley. http://www.freevideolectures.com |
For Your ConsiderationBesides taking the required courses, you'll also need to take some upper-level science courses. If you're majoring in one of the hard sciences this won't be a problem seeing as your curriculum requires many science courses. If you're a humanities or social sciences major, however, you'll need to work closely with your academic advisor to fit additional science courses into your plan of study. Biochemistry, human physiology, genetics, and neuroscience are highly recommended before taking the MCAT.
In addition to taking courses in math and science, most medical schools also require at least 6 credits in English. If you are enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences, this requirement is easy to fulfill with classes such as General Writing (ENGCMP 0200) and a literature course to complete your general education requirements. Just make sure that the course you choose for your literature requirement is a class offered by the English Department. If you are not enrolled in the CAS, work with your academic advisor to ensure that 6 credits in English will fit into your curriculum. If you can't make space for English during the fall or spring semesters, you may want to take a few courses over the summer to fulfill these requirements. |
THE MCAT
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a very important and, often, very difficult part of the application process for medical school. The MCAT will be changing format after January of 2015 to also include a Psychology and Sociology section. By adding this section, there will be 4 sections on the MCAT: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior, and Critical Analysis and Reasoning. If you are unsure of whether to take the current MCAT or the new MCAT, talk to your pre-medical advisor about your options. Here is a diagram of how the content of the exam is changing:
The current MCAT consists of 144 questions. These are broken into 52 questions in each the Physical and Biological Science sections, which you are allotted 70 minutes of time for. The Verbal Reasoning section is currently 40 questions and you have 60 minutes to complete it. The current MCAT takes approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes, whereas the new one appearing after January of 2015 will take about double that time. The new MCAT will consist of 230 questions. The 3 science sections will consist of 59 questions each, and there will 95 minutes to complete them. The Verbal Reasoning section will contain 53 questions, and you will be allotted 90 minutes to finish.
The scoring of the new MCAT will also differ from the current MCAT. The current MCAT is scored on a scale of 3-45, where in each section you can receive a score from 1-15. 1 would be the lowest score you can receive and 15 is the highest score. The current average score for those who matriculate into medical school is 32. The new MCAT will be scored on a scale of 472-528. Each section will be scored from a low of 118 to a high of 132. It is expected that an average score for the new MCAT will be approximately 500, which would be scoring a 125 in each section.
The MCAT is offered at various times throughout the year, and it is best to take it before you apply to medical schools. For most people, this would be during the early summer (May and June) after their junior year. The new MCAT is not going to be offered as often as the current MCAT, so it is very important to take into careful consideration when you want to take it so you can achieve the highest score possible. You can visit www.aamc.org/mcat2015 for all the information you need on the new 2015 MCAT.
Although it’s not required, many students choose to take a prep course for the MCAT. Both Kaplan and The Princeton Review offer courses in the Oakland area; both courses offer a structured review and will allow you to take several practice tests. Unfortunately, these courses are pretty expensive (typically $1500 - $2000), so be prepared for the cost. Please keep in mind that many students successfully complete the MCAT without taking a course – if you are disciplined, you can save yourself a significant amount of money by reviewing and practicing for the test yourself.
Regardless of how you structure your review, please take this test VERY SERIOUSLY. Aside from your grades, your MCAT score is probably the most important factor in determining whether you are invited to interview, as well as whether you are admitted to medical school. Be sure to invest the proper amount of time and energy into your preparation for the MCAT, and don’t take it until you’re really ready. You should have completed all of your required science courses before taking the MCAT, and it’s strongly recommended that you have finished a course in biochemistry, as well.
The scoring of the new MCAT will also differ from the current MCAT. The current MCAT is scored on a scale of 3-45, where in each section you can receive a score from 1-15. 1 would be the lowest score you can receive and 15 is the highest score. The current average score for those who matriculate into medical school is 32. The new MCAT will be scored on a scale of 472-528. Each section will be scored from a low of 118 to a high of 132. It is expected that an average score for the new MCAT will be approximately 500, which would be scoring a 125 in each section.
The MCAT is offered at various times throughout the year, and it is best to take it before you apply to medical schools. For most people, this would be during the early summer (May and June) after their junior year. The new MCAT is not going to be offered as often as the current MCAT, so it is very important to take into careful consideration when you want to take it so you can achieve the highest score possible. You can visit www.aamc.org/mcat2015 for all the information you need on the new 2015 MCAT.
Although it’s not required, many students choose to take a prep course for the MCAT. Both Kaplan and The Princeton Review offer courses in the Oakland area; both courses offer a structured review and will allow you to take several practice tests. Unfortunately, these courses are pretty expensive (typically $1500 - $2000), so be prepared for the cost. Please keep in mind that many students successfully complete the MCAT without taking a course – if you are disciplined, you can save yourself a significant amount of money by reviewing and practicing for the test yourself.
Regardless of how you structure your review, please take this test VERY SERIOUSLY. Aside from your grades, your MCAT score is probably the most important factor in determining whether you are invited to interview, as well as whether you are admitted to medical school. Be sure to invest the proper amount of time and energy into your preparation for the MCAT, and don’t take it until you’re really ready. You should have completed all of your required science courses before taking the MCAT, and it’s strongly recommended that you have finished a course in biochemistry, as well.
