In your opinion, what separates this science content review from the material that other test preparation companies publish?
- Structure and style. In terms of structure, the science content is unique because every single chapter starts with listing What you need to Memorize, What you need to Understand, What you don't need to know and then a basic introduction. In terms of style, we believe in the quality of our explanations and illustrations.
How exactly is the prep material organized? I know it says that all science sections are covered, but is it broken down by course, i.e. Bio 1, Bio 1, organic, etc?
I have heard that the science is much more difficult than the real test - is this true?
- We don't mind being known as having practice material slightly more difficult than the real exam. It is more important to excel on the real MCAT than on practice tests.
Does it provide resources and strategies for minority/underrepresented students also?
- This textbook is focused on the MCAT as opposed to medical school admissions in general. The following is a helpful resource: http://www.snma.org/
What do the teaching videos cover?
The online videos cover the same topics as the DVDs which are listed below.
BIOLOGY - Disc 1: Introduction, The Eukaryotic Cell, Plasma Membrane, The Cell's Interior, DNA, The Cell Cycle, Protein Synthesis; Disc 2: Viruses, Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes, Bioenergetics, The Neuron, The Nervous System, The Endocrine System I, The Endocrine System II; Disc 3: The Menstrual Cycle, The Circulatory System, Blood Composition, Lymphatic and Immune Systems, The Digestive System I, The Digestive System II; Disc 4: The Excretory System I, The Excretory System II, Gametogenesis (Meiosis), Genetics I, Genetics II, Genetics III, Genetics IV, Genetics V
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - DISC 5: Stereochemistry I, Stereochemistry II, Stereochemistry III, Reaction Mechanisms I, Reaction Mechanisms II, Reaction Mechanisms III, The Carbonyl Group I, The Carbonyl Group II; DISC 6: The Carbonyl Group III, Acetals/Ketals I, Acetals/Ketals II, Substitution I, Substitution II, Substitution III, Carboxylic Acids I, Carboxylic Acids II; DISC 7: The Tetrahedryl Intermediate, Amides, Amino Acids, Protein Structure, Elimination I, Elimination II, Alkenes I, Free Radicals, Redox Reactions; DISC 8: Redox Reactions II, Redox Reactions III, Aromatic Rings I, Aromatic Rings II, Spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Elimination vs. Substitution
GENERAL CHEMISTRY - DISC 9: The Atom, The Periodic Table, Chemical Bonds, Hydrogen Bonds, Ionic and Covalent Bonds, Lewis Dot Structures; DISC 10: Multiple Bonds, Resonance, Molecular Polarity, Hybridization, Hybrid Orbitals, Gases, Avogadro's Law, Equation of State, Graham's Law, Liquids, Maxwell's Distribution Plot; DISC 11: Boiling, Melting Points, Le Chatelier's Principle, Solutions, Phase Diagrams, Raoult's Law, Boiling, Freezing Point Changes, Acids and Bases, Acids and Bases: Strong, Acids and Bases: Weak, Titrations; DISC 12: Oxidation Numbers, Solubility Product, Thermochemistry, Calorimetry, Thermodynamics, Hess's Law, Rate Law, Energy Diagrams, Electrolysis, Electrochemical Cell
PHYSICS - DISC 13: The Atom, Nuclear Reactions, Radioactive Decay and Half-Life, Electricity vs. Gravity, Electric Circuits I, Electric Circuits II, Electric Circuits III, Kirchoff's Laws DISC 14: Kirchoff's Second Law; Characteristics of Waves; Interference Of Waves; Diffraction; Optics; Sound; Doppler Effect; Electromagnetism; Electromagnetic Spectrum; Reflection; Refraction, Thin Lens; Snell's Law; DISC 15: The Critical Angle, Force and Motion, Weight and Units, Friction, Applying Newton's Laws, Trigonometry, Projectile Motion, Work, Circular Motion; DISC 16: Circular Motion Problem, Work-Energy Theorem, Energy and Entropy, Momentum, Law of Torques, Fluids, Fluids in Motion, Archimedes' Principle