Sociology MCAT Prep
Recently the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) added a section of Sociology and Psychology questions to the exam. Responding to our need to orient pre-med students to sociological approaches to health and medicine, I continue to develop this webpage and a googlegroup.
Each semester, I post tips and articles to help members of the SociologyMCATprep googlegroup prepare for the Sociology/Psychology section of the MCAT. If you have particular concerns about the Sociology section of the MCAT, you may email me with your questions at hxm56@case.edu. From my perspective as a sociologist, I will do my best to address your concerns.
Please join the googlegroup here: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!aboutgroup/sociologymcatprep
Study Guides for Sociology section of the MCAT:
A decent study guide and orientation to the Sociology section of the MCAT: https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/society-and-culture
Includes a good list of key terms from which to create a study guide http://mcat-review.org/psychology-sociology.php
Another good list of key terms from which to create a study guide: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9df4/d3da05e5b39533b7f4452a26e13d6a72b05e.pdf
Workshop: Psychology and Sociology on the MCAT (may be more geared for professors): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY2a7R7oUUo&nohtml5=False
2015 AAMC Practice MCAT Review: MCAT Psychology and Sociology https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oVrAr6rhMc&nohtml5=False
RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS PREPARING FOR THE SOCIOLOGY SECTION OF THE MCAT:
Watch the film Unnatural Causes and explore their supplementary website with wonderful resources about health equity:
https://www.unnaturalcauses.org/about_the_series.php
https://www.unnaturalcauses.org/resources.php
Five Must See Healthcare Documentaries:
https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/5-must-see-healthcare-documentaries/280998/
Sociology Through Documentary Film: See especially the section on "Health, Illness, Medicalization & the Business of Health Care"
http://sociologythroughdocumentaryfilm.pbworks.com/w/page/17194965/FrontPage
Medical Anthropology Films:
http://somatosphere.net/2010/09/medical-anthropology-films.html
Your ZIP Code Might Be As Important To Health As Your Genetic Code:
http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/08/04/539757759/your-zip-code-can-be-as-important-to-health-as-your-genetic-code
How do social structures impact on health?
https://thisisnotasociology.blog/2015/02/09/how-do-social-structures-impact-on-health/
A Focus on Health to Resolve Urban Ills
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/19/opinion/a-focus-on-health-to-resolve-urban-ills.html
An Alternative Form of Mental Health Gains a Foothold
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/09/health/psychiatrist-holistic-mental-health.html
Social Interaction is Critical for Mental and Physical Health
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/12/well/live/having-friends-is-good-for-you.html
Op-Ed: Those on the pre-med track in college face a competitive, discouraging environment that needs to be changed
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/it-s-time-to-retire-premed/
There is lack of evidence that being a science major improves performance on the MCAT
http://www.premedlife.com/feature-articles/your-major-and-the-mcat-4798/
MCAT section on Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior-- What concepts you need to know
https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/mcat-2015-psbb-overview/
What's tested on the MCAT for Psychology and Sociology
http://www.kaptest.com/study/mcat/whats-tested-on-the-mcat-psychology-and-sociology/
Maria Merian: Pioneer Woman Scientist, First to bring together insects and their habitats into a single ecological composition
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/23/science/maria-sibylla-merian-metamorphosis-insectorum-surinamensium.html?_r=1
Girls believe brilliance is a male trait, research into gender stereotypes shows
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/jan/26/girls-believe-brilliance-is-a-male-trait-research-into-gender-stereotypes-shows?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Toys aimed at girls 'steering women away from science careers'
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/sep/04/toys-aimed-at-girls-steering-women-away-from-science-careers?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
"It's on the MCAT for a reason": Premedical Students and the Perceived Utility of Sociology
http://www.asanet.org/sites/default/files/attach/journals/apr16tsfeature.pdf
On an interdisciplinary approach to your pre-med preparations: http://www.thedp.com/article/2016/09/students-with-humanities-majors-and-pre-med
Determine if you should take extra social science classes to be well prepared for the MCAT: http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/medical-school-admissions-doctor/2014/12/23/determine-if-you-need-psychology-sociology-classes-for-mcat-prep
On the significance of Black Lives Matter for current and future doctors: http://in-training.org/black-lives-matters-matter-medical-students-familiar-message-revisited-11747
This may be of interest to you: Science policy articles from the latest American Sociological Association newsletter: http://www.asanet.org/news-events/footnotes/may-jun-2016/columns/science-policy
“It’s on the MCAT for a Reason”: Premedical Students and the Perceived Utility of Sociology: http://www.asanet.org/journals/TS/Apr16TSFeature.pdf
More on the MCAT and Sociology:
The MCAT2015 and Sociology: http://www.asanet.org/teaching/mcat_and_sociology.cfm
OPTIONAL RESOURCES TO EXTEND AND DEEPEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH AND MEDICINE
Optional, but offers an accessible analysis of how social inequality influences health: The Spirit Level book by Wilkinson and Pickett: http://emilkirkegaard.dk/en/wp-content/uploads/The-Spirit-Level-Why-Greater-Equality-Makes-Societies-Stronger-Kate-Pickett-400p_1608193411.pdf
Optional, interesting case: https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2012/01/03/talking-sex-relationships-and-teen-health-with-amy-schalet/
Optional, overview of intersectionality: https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2012/07/05/the-importance-of-intersectionality-multiple-forms-of-discrimination-and-health/
Optional, a model sociological analysis of postpartum depression: Verta Taylor's book Rock-a-Bye Baby https://books.google.com/books?id=f0x3LZNdmQUC&printsec=frontcover&dq=taylor+rock+a+bye+baby+pdf&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiMtam_nYjMAhWD7B4KHbNfBEYQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
TIPS
Take a Sociology and/or Psychology class.
Get to know a Sociologist – reach out to professors in your Sociology Department.
Recently the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) added a section of Sociology and Psychology questions to the exam. Responding to our need to orient pre-med students to sociological approaches to health and medicine, I continue to develop this webpage and a googlegroup.
Each semester, I post tips and articles to help members of the SociologyMCATprep googlegroup prepare for the Sociology/Psychology section of the MCAT. If you have particular concerns about the Sociology section of the MCAT, you may email me with your questions at hxm56@case.edu. From my perspective as a sociologist, I will do my best to address your concerns.
Please join the googlegroup here: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!aboutgroup/sociologymcatprep
Study Guides for Sociology section of the MCAT:
A decent study guide and orientation to the Sociology section of the MCAT: https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/society-and-culture
Includes a good list of key terms from which to create a study guide http://mcat-review.org/psychology-sociology.php
Another good list of key terms from which to create a study guide: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9df4/d3da05e5b39533b7f4452a26e13d6a72b05e.pdf
Workshop: Psychology and Sociology on the MCAT (may be more geared for professors): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY2a7R7oUUo&nohtml5=False
2015 AAMC Practice MCAT Review: MCAT Psychology and Sociology https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oVrAr6rhMc&nohtml5=False
RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS PREPARING FOR THE SOCIOLOGY SECTION OF THE MCAT:
Watch the film Unnatural Causes and explore their supplementary website with wonderful resources about health equity:
https://www.unnaturalcauses.org/about_the_series.php
https://www.unnaturalcauses.org/resources.php
Five Must See Healthcare Documentaries:
https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/5-must-see-healthcare-documentaries/280998/
Sociology Through Documentary Film: See especially the section on "Health, Illness, Medicalization & the Business of Health Care"
http://sociologythroughdocumentaryfilm.pbworks.com/w/page/17194965/FrontPage
Medical Anthropology Films:
http://somatosphere.net/2010/09/medical-anthropology-films.html
Your ZIP Code Might Be As Important To Health As Your Genetic Code:
http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/08/04/539757759/your-zip-code-can-be-as-important-to-health-as-your-genetic-code
How do social structures impact on health?
https://thisisnotasociology.blog/2015/02/09/how-do-social-structures-impact-on-health/
A Focus on Health to Resolve Urban Ills
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/19/opinion/a-focus-on-health-to-resolve-urban-ills.html
An Alternative Form of Mental Health Gains a Foothold
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/09/health/psychiatrist-holistic-mental-health.html
Social Interaction is Critical for Mental and Physical Health
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/12/well/live/having-friends-is-good-for-you.html
Op-Ed: Those on the pre-med track in college face a competitive, discouraging environment that needs to be changed
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/it-s-time-to-retire-premed/
There is lack of evidence that being a science major improves performance on the MCAT
http://www.premedlife.com/feature-articles/your-major-and-the-mcat-4798/
MCAT section on Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior-- What concepts you need to know
https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/mcat-2015-psbb-overview/
What's tested on the MCAT for Psychology and Sociology
http://www.kaptest.com/study/mcat/whats-tested-on-the-mcat-psychology-and-sociology/
Maria Merian: Pioneer Woman Scientist, First to bring together insects and their habitats into a single ecological composition
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/23/science/maria-sibylla-merian-metamorphosis-insectorum-surinamensium.html?_r=1
Girls believe brilliance is a male trait, research into gender stereotypes shows
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/jan/26/girls-believe-brilliance-is-a-male-trait-research-into-gender-stereotypes-shows?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Toys aimed at girls 'steering women away from science careers'
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/sep/04/toys-aimed-at-girls-steering-women-away-from-science-careers?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
"It's on the MCAT for a reason": Premedical Students and the Perceived Utility of Sociology
http://www.asanet.org/sites/default/files/attach/journals/apr16tsfeature.pdf
On an interdisciplinary approach to your pre-med preparations: http://www.thedp.com/article/2016/09/students-with-humanities-majors-and-pre-med
Determine if you should take extra social science classes to be well prepared for the MCAT: http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/medical-school-admissions-doctor/2014/12/23/determine-if-you-need-psychology-sociology-classes-for-mcat-prep
On the significance of Black Lives Matter for current and future doctors: http://in-training.org/black-lives-matters-matter-medical-students-familiar-message-revisited-11747
This may be of interest to you: Science policy articles from the latest American Sociological Association newsletter: http://www.asanet.org/news-events/footnotes/may-jun-2016/columns/science-policy
“It’s on the MCAT for a Reason”: Premedical Students and the Perceived Utility of Sociology: http://www.asanet.org/journals/TS/Apr16TSFeature.pdf
More on the MCAT and Sociology:
The MCAT2015 and Sociology: http://www.asanet.org/teaching/mcat_and_sociology.cfm
OPTIONAL RESOURCES TO EXTEND AND DEEPEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH AND MEDICINE
Optional, but offers an accessible analysis of how social inequality influences health: The Spirit Level book by Wilkinson and Pickett: http://emilkirkegaard.dk/en/wp-content/uploads/The-Spirit-Level-Why-Greater-Equality-Makes-Societies-Stronger-Kate-Pickett-400p_1608193411.pdf
Optional, interesting case: https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2012/01/03/talking-sex-relationships-and-teen-health-with-amy-schalet/
Optional, overview of intersectionality: https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2012/07/05/the-importance-of-intersectionality-multiple-forms-of-discrimination-and-health/
Optional, a model sociological analysis of postpartum depression: Verta Taylor's book Rock-a-Bye Baby https://books.google.com/books?id=f0x3LZNdmQUC&printsec=frontcover&dq=taylor+rock+a+bye+baby+pdf&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiMtam_nYjMAhWD7B4KHbNfBEYQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
TIPS
Take a Sociology and/or Psychology class.
Get to know a Sociologist – reach out to professors in your Sociology Department.