American Medical Student Association

Study Aids Available for PittAMSA Members

We are currently in the process of making a library of MCAT books for students to use. You can borrow these books by emailing our Academic Affairs Chair, Zarna Shah, at zas9@pitt.edu . We are also collecting MCAT books that people don't need anymore. Below is a list of books avaiable for students to use. Later in the semester, we'll also be holding MCAT review sessions.

  • Kaplan Biological Sciences FlashcardsKaplan’s “Get Into Medical School” book (recommended for freshman or anyone else who wants to read it)
  • Exam Krackers MCAT Physics 6th edition
  • Exam Krackers 1001 Questions in MCAT Physics
  • Exam Krackers MCAT Biology 6th edition
  • A Binder of Kaplan materials given by Andrea
  • Kaplan MCAT Premier Program 2006 edition
  • Pfizer Medical School Manual

The Pre-Med Guide to Pitt

This guide was devised by people who know their stuff when it comes to med school preparation! Complete with relevant contact info at Pitt, advice on scheduling classes, MCAT preparation, interviewing, finances, and even book recommendations, this guide's truly one of the best! Just click the following link to take a look: PreMedGuideToPitt05.pdf

"Discover Medicine: Strategies and Resources for Undergraduate Pre-Med Students, Vol. 1, No. 1"

This publication is put out by Career Services and reviews recent preparatory events for pre-meds as well as the current resources available to them. Left-click the following link to view it or right-click to download. Discover Medicine Vol 1 No1.doc

 
To find out when the next publication is, please contact Career Services. 

Learn Your Vitamins with Kompressor!

 
The following fairly hilarious song is called Vitamins are Good by Kompressor, a satirist of German industrial music. And while the lyrics are mostly accurate, two errors should come to your attention as you listen (asterisked in the lyrics, below).
 
1) Vitamin K is a coagulant
2) It's vitamin C that's implicated in kidney stones, not Vitamin D.
 
 

 
 
Vitamin A activity
Makes it easy for you to see.
Make sure you eat frequently
To prevent deficiency.
Vitamin B is thiamin,
Folic acid and niacin,
Pantothenic acid and riboflavin
Pyridoxine; cyanocabalamin,
Especially important for older women.
Under supervision of your physician.

Mmm... Vitamins are good.
Vitamins are good

Vitamin C antioxidant
Useful if you want to prevent
Anemia and birth defects
And cancer to a small extent.
Vitamin D is strong hormone
Promoting the healthy formation of bone
Effectiveness is still unknown
Possibly the cause of kidney stone*
Vitamin K is found in plants
It's anticoagulant.*

Vitamins are good
Mmm... Vitamins are good.

Vitamin E is best of all.
Also known as tocopherol
Helps to prevent heart disease
Improves the health of elderly
You can get from vegetable seed
Corn on cob or frozen peas.
Pay attention to RDA
Amount that you should eat each day.
Take your vitamins prescribed
And you will lead a healthy life.

Vitamins are good.
Vitamins are good.

VITAMINS ARE GOOD.

Helpful Links

AAMC: Pre-med Application & Timeline
Advice to Med School Applicants
http://www.pitt.edu/~hpsdept/undergrad/cfm.html

Test Preparation

List of Medical Root Words
Medical Mnemonics
Free MCAT Course Online
Kaplan Medical
Medical School on the Princeton Review