MCAT HYC Study Groups

Registration for our Spring 2023 MCAT study groups is currently closed. Please sign up in Tutoring Services’ WCOnline system to receive email notifications about Fall 2023 MCAT group study opportunities.

Gearing up for the MCAT?

Consider joining us at Tutoring Services for our MCAT support program, MCAT High-Yield Concepts. This semester, we are offering two MCAT HYC: Biochemistry groups and two MCAT HYC: Chemistry/Physics groups. Students may register for one Biochemistry and/or one Chemistry/Physics group. The format for each group’s meetings is listed for each group individually (whether in person or over Zoom).

About MCAT High-Yield Concepts: Biochemistry and MCAT High-Yield Concepts: Chemistry/Physics (MCAT HYC)

MCAT High-Yield Concepts (MCAT HYC) is a weekly opportunity for you to gather with a small group of your peers to collaboratively review high-yield biochemistry and/or chemistry/physics concepts according to a schedule created by Tutoring Services tutors.

MCAT HYC this semester will offer two Biochemistry groups and two Chemistry/Physics weekly groups, with each group capped at 10 participants. Each group will be facilitated by a biochemistry or chemistry/physics tutor eager to support others in their review and to use their own experience as tutors and learners to keep discussion and activities productive and focused.

As a Tutoring Services program, MCAT HYC is free and open to all currently enrolled Vanderbilt undergraduates as long as space remains. Students interested in participating in an MCAT HYC: Biochemistry group should have taken or should be currently enrolled in biochemistry. Students interested in participating in an MCAT HYC: Chemistry/Physics group should have taken or should be currently enrolled in general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics. Students interested in participating in either group should be planning to take the MCAT within the next 9 months.

No purchased materials are needed–participants will make use of the Association of American Medical Colleges’ Road Map (available for Biochemistry), relevant Vanderbilt-assigned course textbooks, and open-access web resources along with participants’ own notes from relevant Vanderbilt courses.

Space is limited to the first 10 participants to register for each of the groups. Participants will be notified of their group assignment by Wednesday, March 15. If you register but do not receive a group assignment by Wednesday, March 15, you were not among the first 10 registrants for your preferred group, and we unfortunately cannot accommodate your request to join a group at this time.

Group Meetings

Group meetings are weekly: they begin Monday, March 20 and run for 7 weeks (through Tuesday, May 2). Run dates for each group are specified below. Attendance at all meetings is expected.

MCAT HYC: Biochemistry

Mondays from 7-8 PM (3/20-5/1)

In Person at Central Library

Facilitated by Kenny Ta

Tuesdays from 8-9 PM (3/21-5/2)

In Person at 1801 Edgehill

Facilitated by Cassandra Atzrodt

Spring 2023 Topic Schedule (subject to change)

Please note that due to this semester’s program start date, all 8 listed topics may not be covered.

Week 1: Amino Acids, Proteins
Week 2: Enzyme Kinetics, Protein Separation
Week 3: Metabolism 1
Week 4: Metabolism 2
Week 5: Metabolism in the Big Picture
Week 6: Recombinant DNA Technologies
Week 7: Organ System Review 1
Week 8: Organ System Review 2

MCAT HYC: Chemistry/Physics

Mondays from 6-7 PM (3/20-5/1)

In Person at 1801 Edgehill

Facilitated by Nikhil Kamdar

Tuesdays from 6-7 PM (3/21-5/2)

In Person at 1801 Edgehill

Facilitated by Sarah Reilly

Spring 2023 Topic Schedule (subject to change

Please note that due to this semester’s program start date, all 8 listed topics may not be covered.

Week 1: Math Essentials and Techniques + Intro to Physics
Week 2: Physics: Forces and Fluids
Week 3: Physics: Waves: Light & Sound
Week 4: Physics: Circuits + Relevant Chemistry Topics
Week 5: General Chemistry Essentials 1
Week 6: General Chemistry Essentials 2
Week 7: Organic Chemistry Essentials
Week 8: Lab Techniques + Extra Practice

Guidelines and Expectations for Participants in the MCAT High-Yield Concepts: Biochemistry and MCAT High-Yield Concepts: Chemistry/Physics (MCAT HYC) Program

Keep in mind that MCAT HYC groups are opportunities for students preparing for the MCAT to review high-yield biochemistry and chemistry/physics concepts in a collaborative group setting.
Students interested in participating in an MCAT HYC: Biochemistry group should have taken or should be currently enrolled in biochemistry. Students interested in participating in an MCAT HYC: Chemistry/Physics group should have taken or should be currently enrolled in general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics. Students interested in participating in either group should be planning to take the MCAT within the next 9 months.
Keep in mind that MCAT HYC tutors are peer undergraduate tutors drawing on their own studies and coursework within a peer learning support model. As such, your group’s tutor is there as a facilitator to help as you review and to help the group focus on concepts your tutor has identified as high-yield in preparing for the MCAT.
MCAT HYC uses only the Association of American Medical Colleges’ Road Map (available for Biochemistry), relevant Vanderbilt-assigned course textbooks, and open-access web resources. Participants may also use their notes from relevant Vanderbilt courses.
Prior to each group meeting, participants are expected to preview/review the week’s topics independently so as to be prepared to talk through problems and questions about that material, and participants may have the opportunity to prepare to lead certain portions of the review to solidify their grasp of the material.
At the beginning of each group meeting, participants are expected to fill out an intake form to identify study priorities.
Participants are expected to attend all weekly MCAT HYC meetings.
Like all Tutoring Services programs and offerings, MCAT HYC is available at no cost to currently enrolled students.
Participants will be asked to provide feedback on their experience with their MCAT HYC group at the end of the semester.

Participants should be aware of the intentionally limited scope of MCAT High-Yield Concepts: Biochemistry and MCAT High-Yield Concepts: Chemistry/Physics (MCAT HYC) as detailed below.

MCAT HYC is a group learning support opportunity offered by Tutoring Services. It is neither a class nor a credit-bearing Vanderbilt course.
Facilitated by peer undergraduate biochemistry, chemistry, and/or physics tutors, MCAT HYC does not attempt to recreate the services of commercial, for-profit test prep companies and is in no way affiliated with commercial, for-profit test prep companies.
To maintain this distinction, neither participants nor facilitating tutors may bring materials produced by commercial, for-profit test prep companies to MCAT HYC group meetings.
With its explicit focus on a selection of “high-yield concepts,” MCAT HYC does not aim to provide comprehensive subject review of all possible MCAT subjects or topics within a subject.
Likewise, MCAT HYC is not designed to guide students through MCAT-specific test-taking strategies.
MCAT HYC tutors will be prepared to support review of each meeting’s designated subject matter, but they will not lecture.
MCAT HYC seeks to support each participant in meeting their study and review goals; however, MCAT HYC does not guarantee a minimum score on the MCAT.

Registration

Questions? Contact Dr. Megan Minarich, Associate Director of the Writing Studio & Tutoring Services, at megan.l.minarich@vanderbilt.edu.