So I've noticed that there is a TON of work you could potentially be doing given the massive amount of resources that come with Kaplan. So, naturally, I'm a bit confused as to what I should be doing, and a little guilty for not doing other tests that are offered. So, here's what I'm going through in the program:

What I am doing:
-Doing all the preview work (quizzes, workshops, reading the assigned chapters), and going to every class
-Doing the Topical Tests and Section Tests on the Review Section
-Reading the online Foundation Review pdf. files
-I haven't gotten to this yet, but I will definitely take all the Kaplan Full-Length MCAT exams along with the AAMC Tests

What I am NOT doing:
-Review Problems at the end of the chapters I read (mostly to save time so I can do all the preview material by the next class. I find the actual MCAT doesn't test so heavily on pure-root problem solving)
-The Subject Tests on the Review Sections (these seem to be pure Discreet Questions only, and it's labeled Optional)
-Watching the Lessons on the Demand (because I go to the live class instead)
-QBank: I heard it's insanely hard... and I guess the way it works is I MAKE the quizzes or something? Kinda' confused at this.

But anyway, that's basically what I've been putting my time into. Is this smart? That I am ignoring certain resources (subject tests and review problems)? And what should I change about my plan to study using Kaplan? I'm taking the actual MCAT Jan. 31st. I looked at the syllabus and it seems I'll have a got 18 days off from the class, during which I plan to take as many of those practice exams as I can (I'll be off from research, undergrad. classes, etc.) And a few days after the Kaplan course ends as well.

It'd be great to hear what you guys are utilizing and what you're not, thanks for all the input! :)

Hey, I'll be taking the mcat in january also. i started the kaplan course around the beginning of september. i am only doing the online course. in the beginning, i was only doing the assigned readings and the required review tests afterwards. i read the pdf foundation reviews when i wanted to look more into some problems that i missed. i did the review problems in the back of the chapters for physics and chem but then got lazy with bio and did not do them for bio. then i had a bit of a lapse for two weeks because of school tests. in that time, i tried to do some additional subject tests. this weekend, i had time off so i did 200 qbank questions (they ARE insanely hard and discouraging but reviewing them does help). then i finsihed up all the subject tests and section tests for organic and bio. today i am trying to finish up the subject tests for gen chem and physics so that I can take my first full length and start on part three of the kaplan program.

i hope to begin practice exams in december. then maybe do some gold standard exams (hopefully) and then do aamc exams.

whats your study plan like?

Pretty similar to yours. I think what I'll do is go back and re-read the chapters and do the Subject Tests (which are pure content/discreet questions). Yeah, I'll be taking practice tests all december and january. Probably alternate between taking 1 kaplan, and 1 aamc, just to see if there's a drastic fluctuation in my scores. And of course, continue doing the preview/class/review work through all of this.

I do the assigned reading in the Kaplan book and do the review problems. I usually re-read the topics I need more understanding on in my Princeton Review book (got it from a friend) since it usually has more details. The Kaplan review book is good though for the most part.

I do the required stuff and the optional topical tests and then the next day or so I go over my answers on them (both right and wrong) to make sure I understand the material.

I have not been doing the subject tests.

OP, so far, I'm doing everything that you're doing. I'm also doing the optional subject tests, though I've skipped a few.

How do I get to the qbank? I'm confused.

For the Qbank, go to "My Tests" tab in the online syllabus. You can then create your own exams depending on the topics of your choice using the Qbank.

Thanks!

I did Online Kaplan only and did all the "required" activities.
What helped me the most were the subject tests and especially the passage based exams that were timed. I found that for me, the discretes were easy--I usually got 80%+ on those but the passage based were a different story--add timing the the mix and I had a lot of work to do!
Depending on which areas were hardest for you, I'd suggest timing yourself and doing every passage based exam (and full length Kaplan AAMCs) that you can. Don't cheat yourself! Kaplan course was expensive. Get the most out of it.

As I'm winding down with the actual content, I decided I'll do all the subject tests just to test my understanding of the content. Man, I'm on the very first one (physics subject test 1), it's an endurance test! man, 40 questions, back to back. Thank god there isn't a time limit, but it's wearing me out!! I wanna do these as a final CONTENT review, and then begin to tackle the full lengths. I have 75 days till exam day!