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Old 07-07-2011 at 03:03 AM   #31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jitnikovi View Post
you really like your biology eh?
That's only part of the reason I'm in my program, the other reason is that I'm not a big fan of anything else... although moral ethics was very interesting (Philosophy 2D03), took it last year.
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Old 07-07-2011 at 10:24 AM   #32
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Did anyone take any MCAT prep courses?
Old 07-07-2011 at 10:25 AM   #33
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Would you guys recommend any over another?
Old 07-07-2011 at 10:34 AM   #34
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Would you guys recommend any over another?
It depends on what you are looking for. If you are a science major and have taken the chem, physics, bio, organic chem then perhaps go with Kaplan where the strategy is more focus on technique rather than learning the material (because you already know it). Also the mcat is largely passages extracted from academic sources, though knowing the basic science is important you could do equally well not knowing any science and just knowing how to read an understand what the passage is trying to tell you. Sometimes I found my own knowledge was detrimental in helping me answer the questions objectively.

That said, I would say if you are motivated save yourself $1000 and just buy the prep materials off someone and study yourself. The best resource I would say is the aamc practice tests. If I had to do it all over again I'd scrap the prep books and use those exams alone.

If you need a review of the material go with princeton, but I found it useless.
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Old 07-19-2011 at 05:59 PM   #35
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Originally Posted by jhan523 View Post
There is no such degree as a 3-year biology degree. The closest thing you can get is a 3-year life science degree and would therefore need to take some specific Life Science courses (ex: 2A03). So you would probably end up with a generic B.Sc degree.

If you are able to manage time you won't have any problems. I was easily able to manage my 2nd year course load and had plenty of time to relax and party a ton (I don't think I ever declined a party in my second year, unlike my third year.... that was an intense year). In case you wanted to know, my second year course load was:

Term 1:
Biochem 2B03
Biology 2D02
Biology 2EE3
Chem 2OA3
Econ 1B03

Term 2:
Biochem 2EE3
Biology 2A03
Biology 2B03
Biology 2C03
Chem 2OB3
Wow, that schedule looks kind of intense. It's pretty similar to mine, except I didn't have bio2d02 and bio2a03. I thought biology2ee3 was reading after reading after reading. How did you manage to stay on top of everything that term whatwith Orgo and biochem2b03 (assuming it's the same as bio2b03). To pharmacy applicants, I remember someone on the forum saying that we didn't necessarily need bio2ee3 (microbio) for Waterloo pharm? Can anyone confirm this?
Old 07-19-2011 at 06:04 PM   #36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Angoose View Post
Wow, that schedule looks kind of intense. It's pretty similar to mine, except I didn't have bio2d02 and bio2a03. I thought biology2ee3 was reading after reading after reading. How did you manage to stay on top of everything that term whatwith Orgo and biochem2b03 (assuming it's the same as bio2b03). To pharmacy applicants, I remember someone on the forum saying that we didn't necessarily need bio2ee3 (microbio) for Waterloo pharm? Can anyone confirm this?
You need a microbio course if you want to apply to Waterloo.

Interestingly, you need some microbio knowledge for the PCAT but UofT doesn't need you to have a credit in it.
Old 07-19-2011 at 06:22 PM   #37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Angoose View Post
Wow, that schedule looks kind of intense. It's pretty similar to mine, except I didn't have bio2d02 and bio2a03. I thought biology2ee3 was reading after reading after reading. How did you manage to stay on top of everything that term whatwith Orgo and biochem2b03 (assuming it's the same as bio2b03). To pharmacy applicants, I remember someone on the forum saying that we didn't necessarily need bio2ee3 (microbio) for Waterloo pharm? Can anyone confirm this?
Biochem 2B03 is very different from bio 2B03. There is no comparing the two.

Quote:
Originally Posted by particle View Post
You need a microbio course if you want to apply to Waterloo.

Interestingly, you need some microbio knowledge for the PCAT but UofT doesn't need you to have a credit in it.
No, I know people who have applied to Waterloo without microbio, you just need to give them a good reason why you haven't taken it yet (ex, it's only offered first term at Mac but your program doesn't allow you to take any electives in first term). I think you'd need to take a replacement course if you get into Waterloo pharm, I'm not sure of the specifics, but you can apply if there is a good reason why you haven't taken it.
Old 07-19-2011 at 06:24 PM   #38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Angoose View Post
Wow, that schedule looks kind of intense. It's pretty similar to mine, except I didn't have bio2d02 and bio2a03. I thought biology2ee3 was reading after reading after reading. How did you manage to stay on top of everything that term whatwith Orgo and biochem2b03 (assuming it's the same as bio2b03). To pharmacy applicants, I remember someone on the forum saying that we didn't necessarily need bio2ee3 (microbio) for Waterloo pharm? Can anyone confirm this?
Biochem 2B03 is nothing like Bio 2B03.

The first term was easy, Bio 2D03 was easy but really boring. Just had to pay attention during the labs for the lab test. Bio 2EE3 was just reading and recall. Econ 1B03 was just going over slides and some practice. Biochem 2B03 was lectures in order to understand the concept and some reading. Orgo was just ridiculous in terms of time commitment; lectures, reading, practice, labs. Best part of term 1, almost no research needed so I had A LOT of time on my hands.

Second term took more time. Biochem 2EE3 was just practice from old tests. Bio 2B03 was just reading, the assignments I did the night before in like an hour, multiple choice tests and exams made it easy. Bio 2C03 was just reading, assignments and practice. Bio 2A03 was lectures, reading, labs were marks pretty strict for a second year course in my opinion (The jump from level 1 labs and this lab was ridiculous in my opinion). Orgo was just like term 1. Again, very little research needed so I had lots of time on my hands.

When I say reading I mean slides and book most of the time. I think I spend less than 45 minutes each week reading for each class. That's why I had so much time on my hands.

So it's not actually an intense schedule. To put it into perspective I think I spent as much time and effort as my second year (minus the orgo courses) as I did in my 1 Lab Course in 3rd year. The amount of research, talking to my lab partners about ideas on how things work, preparing the labs reports, appendixes, tables, diagrams, studying for the lab tests and lab exam. That was just a ridiculous amount of work in order to get a mark I needed. The plus was that the course exam was easy XD
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Old 07-19-2011 at 10:49 PM   #39
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jhan523 View Post
Biochem 2B03 is nothing like Bio 2B03.

The first term was easy, Bio 2D03 was easy but really boring. Just had to pay attention during the labs for the lab test. Bio 2EE3 was just reading and recall. Econ 1B03 was just going over slides and some practice. Biochem 2B03 was lectures in order to understand the concept and some reading. Orgo was just ridiculous in terms of time commitment; lectures, reading, practice, labs. Best part of term 1, almost no research needed so I had A LOT of time on my hands.

Second term took more time. Biochem 2EE3 was just practice from old tests. Bio 2B03 was just reading, the assignments I did the night before in like an hour, multiple choice tests and exams made it easy. Bio 2C03 was just reading, assignments and practice. Bio 2A03 was lectures, reading, labs were marks pretty strict for a second year course in my opinion (The jump from level 1 labs and this lab was ridiculous in my opinion). Orgo was just like term 1. Again, very little research needed so I had lots of time on my hands.

When I say reading I mean slides and book most of the time. I think I spend less than 45 minutes each week reading for each class. That's why I had so much time on my hands.

So it's not actually an intense schedule. To put it into perspective I think I spent as much time and effort as my second year (minus the orgo courses) as I did in my 1 Lab Course in 3rd year. The amount of research, talking to my lab partners about ideas on how things work, preparing the labs reports, appendixes, tables, diagrams, studying for the lab tests and lab exam. That was just a ridiculous amount of work in order to get a mark I needed. The plus was that the course exam was easy XD

Oh wow, are third year courses really that time-consuming?! I was just about to take out bio2ee3 and put it in third year, along with bio2a03 perhaps. I'm just worried orgo1 will overwhelm me, since I have bio2b03 in the same term and if I also have bio2ee3 I'm just afraid I won't be able to handle all the required readings. Halp! Advice! *panic attack*
Old 07-19-2011 at 11:51 PM   #40
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Angoose View Post
Oh wow, are third year courses really that time-consuming?! I was just about to take out bio2ee3 and put it in third year, along with bio2a03 perhaps. I'm just worried orgo1 will overwhelm me, since I have bio2b03 in the same term and if I also have bio2ee3 I'm just afraid I won't be able to handle all the required readings. Halp! Advice! *panic attack*
More reading/studying than 2nd year for sure. Other than the lab course I didn't have any problems with time, although I did have to stay in a couple times instead of partying unlike 2nd year.

Time management is all you need. Anyone can handle the readings if they manage their time properly. Don't leave things until the last minute.
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Old 07-20-2011 at 12:29 AM   #41
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Originally Posted by jhan523 View Post
More reading/studying than 2nd year for sure. Other than the lab course I didn't have any problems with time, although I did have to stay in a couple times instead of partying unlike 2nd year.

Time management is all you need. Anyone can handle the readings if they manage their time properly. Don't leave things until the last minute.
What was the most difficult part about Orgo? The theories? Or just memorizing all of the reactions. The main thing that's annoying me about bio2ee3 is that the textbook is 1200 pages and I hear we're going to be covering almost all of it. If the chem theory is really difficult for orgo, it may be hard to take care of Bio2b03, Orgo, and that 1200-page monster AND retain all of the info hahaha. But I'll never know until I try I guess. If I don't take bio2ee3 this year, I'll just be taking econ1b03 or psych2ap3...which will hopefully lighten my courseload (no idea though).
Old 07-20-2011 at 01:27 AM   #42
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What was the most difficult part about Orgo? The theories? Or just memorizing all of the reactions. The main thing that's annoying me about bio2ee3 is that the textbook is 1200 pages and I hear we're going to be covering almost all of it. If the chem theory is really difficult for orgo, it may be hard to take care of Bio2b03, Orgo, and that 1200-page monster AND retain all of the info hahaha. But I'll never know until I try I guess. If I don't take bio2ee3 this year, I'll just be taking econ1b03 or psych2ap3...which will hopefully lighten my courseload (no idea though).
Everything, it's just really time consuming to study, practice, memorize, etc... The exams in my year were ridiculous, 2OB3 had an exam average of like 55 or something. There were a couple think-outside-the-box questions which were pretty much impossible.

1200 pages at 2-3 minutes a page is only 30-45 minutes of reading per day... If you attend lectures you can easily speed read and even skip some parts so it's even less reading time.
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Old 07-20-2011 at 06:27 AM   #43
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why not just do organic I and II in the summer? if you are applying in 3rd year anyway you can just take biochem 2ee3 in 3rd year.

also about the microbio, yes it is okay if you don't have it BUT people who do have it will have a competitive advantage in the application process, and they state this on their site. If you can provide a good reason for why you dont have it and provide them with an action plan as to when you will get it then it is probably ok.
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Old 07-20-2011 at 09:23 AM   #44
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why not just do organic I and II in the summer? if you are applying in 3rd year anyway you can just take biochem 2ee3 in 3rd year.

also about the microbio, yes it is okay if you don't have it BUT people who do have it will have a competitive advantage in the application process, and they state this on their site. If you can provide a good reason for why you dont have it and provide them with an action plan as to when you will get it then it is probably ok.

I was considering taking it in 3rd year, but after hearing what Jhan said about the crazy workload in 3rd I'm kind of rethinking it. If I leave it until 3rd year I'll be taking bio2ee3 and bio2a03 in the same year, which have a lab each...and if any of my other courses have labs I'm not sure if it'll be too much. Has anyone taken psych2ap3/2b03. I'm wondering if the required reading/memorization is as intense as bio2ee3.
Old 07-20-2011 at 10:07 AM   #45
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I was considering taking it in 3rd year, but after hearing what Jhan said about the crazy workload in 3rd I'm kind of rethinking it. If I leave it until 3rd year I'll be taking bio2ee3 and bio2a03 in the same year, which have a lab each...and if any of my other courses have labs I'm not sure if it'll be too much. Has anyone taken psych2ap3/2b03. I'm wondering if the required reading/memorization is as intense as bio2ee3.
I meant take biochem 2ee3 in third and then take either bio 2ee3 in 2nd and 2a03 in third or vice versa. Biochem 2ee3 is easy enough for third year. Also if you're in lifesci your courseload really doesn't have to be that difficult, I actually didn't find third year courses that bad because I had a nice mix of hard sci courses with easy electives.
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