As the semester starts and new classes begin, one of the most common concerns that students have is how to strategically manage their time. Pre-med students, in particular, tend to struggle with balancing a heavy load of classes, MCAT studying, and many extracurriculars—all while trying to sleep enough and maintain their sanity.
One major piece of advice is to set clear priorities early on in the semester. This means understanding which classes will be important to focus most of your energy on – i.e. committing the material to long-term memory and reviewing this material even after the class ends – and which classes you can save yourself some stress on. With the forthcoming Medical College Admission Test looming over you, it should bring you some relief to know there absolutely are college classes that can help you with some of the subjects on the exam.
Of course, you should always aim to do well in all your classes, whether they are high-yield subjects or not! Your GPA is just as important as the classes you took. But if you find yourself struggling to balance studying for the MCAT with keeping up your grades, it may be worth considering which classes can give you a bit of an edge when it comes to preparing for the exam.
College Classes to Help You on the MCAT
What’s on the MCAT?
First and foremost, you should develop a good understanding of what’s tested on the MCAT. The MCAT includes 1 critical reading section, called “Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS),” and 3 science sections:
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
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MCAT Sections Broken Down By College Classes
Let’s break down these science sections with their complex names into subjects that you would study in college:
- General Inorganic Chemistry (eg. Chem 101); most students take 2 semesters
- Intro to Organic Chemistry; most students take 2 semesters
- Intro to Physics; you should take a semester focused on mechanics and another semester focused on electricity and magnetism
- Intro to Biology (Bio 1 and 2)
- Intro to Biochemistry; 1 semester may be enough
While most of the classes above are classic pre-med courses, the MCAT also tests topics often not covered in basic science courses. Therefore, we also recommend you take and master the following courses:
- Intro to Psychology or Neuroscience
- Intro to Sociology
- Gen Chem Analytical
- Genetics or Molecular Biology
Identifying the MCAT-related classes early on–both in the semester and in your college career–will contribute to your vital science GPA. Thus, you can strengthen two major components of your medical school application by prioritizing these classes and giving them your best effort.
Don’t Choose Your College Classes Solely on the MCAT
That being said, classes outside the obvious STEM subjects should still be taken to foster your individual interests and become a well-rounded medical school applicant. Many medical schools value applicants who come from non-science majors because medicine is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary.
If you see yourself staying engaged in an interdisciplinary field as a physician, such as narrative medicine or bioethics, it is certainly worthwhile to put in effort in the humanities classes. In addition to demonstrating a great grade in Ethics 101 on your transcript, for example, you may also develop a strong relationship with a professor through the class or even pursue undergraduate research within that field. And don’t forget about the CARS section–taking a reading/writing-intensive class could significantly help your performance in this section, as well as give you a competitive edge when you start writing your med school application essays.
That said, your college classes might not cover all the MCAT content you need to master. That’s why it’s worth looking into MCAT prep courses! Schedule a free MCAT consultation with an MCAT Advisor to explore your options! Or get started with a free account to access a study planner, flashcards, a free practice test, and more!
