tell me I'm not crazy! PLEASE!

[Anonymous]

I'm taking the MCAT in August without taking O-Chem in College. I'm currently entering my 4th year in College and plan to take O-Chem during this time.
Is it do-able to study O-Chem for the August MCAT? Also, does anyone have any recommendations as per what books are best for O-chem review for MCAT?
Please I'd really appreciate some advice at this point. Thanks.

[Nimitt]

Thats a tough one. My O-chem in undergrad was so hard that it prepared me well for the MCAT. I honestly dont think I could have learnt O-chem on my own. But thats me...I guess worst thing is that you take the August MCAT and if you dont do well then you retake it next year after you have taken O-chem. If you take a Kaplan course it may be sufficient for you so it cant hurt just give it a shot.
Good luck...

Nimitt
4th year
SGU SOM

[ResearchingGuy]

I don't mean to discourage you, but I would definitely take Organic in school before taking the MCAT. You only have once chance to do well the first time on the MCAT and you should give yourself every possible advantage.

On the other hand, if you are dead set on doing it, I would take a review course or at least concentrate heavily on Organic then take a practice test to see how well you do. If you score OVER 30, I wouldn' sweat it. If you find yourself ion the low 20's or so, wait to take the test. Waitng an extra year before enetering the med school of your choice is a lot better than not getting in at all.

Best of Luck!

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys for your input. I never wanted to wait a year before getting into Med. School. but I guess at this point I have to decide on what's best as opposed to what I "want."
I'll take the MCAT in August, and if I do poorly, re-take it next year.

[skull]

The best thing to do, is to study off a book which offers a condensed format. I recommend Kaplan's MCAT book. Then you can consult an OChem text for concepts you do not understand well. If you understand the basics of Gen Chem. very well, then, much of O chem will be stuff which build on those foundations. Make sure to memorize as many rxns as you can, and finally, PRACTICE.

Concentrate also on Biology, this way your overall score on the Biological Sciences section will not be affected much. I think with some hard work and determination, you can do it!

Good luck!

[euromd]

I had a friend who had an engineering degree who took his MCATs without having taken org chem OR BIO. his score was 31.

Study hard, like 10-12 hours a day, and you'll do fine. I actually bought the Kaplan Orgo book for my orgo class b/c i found it less cluttered than the teacher. but remember that it is a review book.

-S

[Anonymous]

euromd and skull, thanks a lot for your input...I'm defintely trying to study really hard, it's just that sometimes the material gets so..ooo dense it's discouraging. Thanks though...