Post a Tip for Current MCAT Studiers

Don't spend a lot of your time trying to memorize the material; use it to take as many full-lengths under real testing conditions as possible.

starting reading high end literature (Washington Post, Scientific American) - like two or three articles every day if you're more than a year away from the test. A lot of the verbal passages are structured in a similarily fashion

Time yourself, right from the beginning. I started to time myself and shot up four points on my full lengths just because I had gotten used to pacing myself with my analog watch.

exam krackers exam krackers exam krackers. thats all i have to say

After you do practice questions, be they full-length, section tests, or whatever else, make sure to go back through every question -- even the ones you got right. You want to be sure you're getting the right answers for the right reasons.

If a question is giving you trouble, try and make some notes about your thought process so that you will be able to remember later what you were thinking and why.

STUDY!!!

No... but really... you need to study A LOT to be prepared. And everyone is different. Some people study by doing practice, others increase their score best from content review and others still are test taking strategy. Studying and doing practice will identify those weaknesses so you can elimate them by test day. Do not take this test lightly. It counts more than it really should.

Take as many AAMC practice tests as you can. They are different from Kaplan and TPR and the best way to get a feel for what to expect on the real thing.

Never lose confidence in yourself... No matter what test you do, it's not going to be easy, and the real test is going to be even harder.

1) Once you get a grasp of the magnitude of material covered, it will seem impossible to ever cover/remember it all. I didn't start to think it was possible until well after the 6th week in my 10 week prep. So stay positive and keep on your schedule.

2) Do not let people/family/friends consume your time with idle task. 2-3 months may seem like a long time, but every day you brush off is one day you can't get back. Preparing for the MCAT should be the most important thing you have to do, so make other understand that.... be selfish about it.

Review key facts. Some things you have to memorize for the MCAT so keep a small collection of index cards and look back at it every once in a while. If you are studying early on, try to review your MCAT books every once in a while. Just taking practice exams won't be good if you forget vital concepts. I think it helped that I read over my examkrackers stuff a few times, mainly so when I read an MCAT passage, I knew vaguely what concept/area they are trying test me on.

Quit while you're ahead...become a toll-booth collector

1)after a few practice full lengths you should have identified your weaknesses. Spend increasingly more time on your weaknesses as the test date approaches. In my final 2 weeks I basically only worked on my weak subjects.

2)For those with a family try waking up early and studying while everyone is sleeping. This is when you will usually have the most control in your daily activities.

3)Read the 30+MCAT thread. ALL of it. cut and paste anything that is interesting into a word document to review later. Take note of people who express similar study styles or similar weaknesses as yourself.

HunterGatherer took my biggest tip, which is to start taking full-lengths relatively early and pay attention to what topics you're missing points on. Focus your studying on those, not the stuff you already know.

If there are facts or equations you have a tough time memorizing, write them down and post the sheet in the bathroom or above the kitchen sink. I did this and it helped me make good use of time when I wasn't doing anything else, and it didn't feel as much like studying as doing flashcards would.

1. the AAMC tests are on the easy side and can sometimes give you a false sense of security

2. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!

3. as Mollymalone mentioned earlier make sure you have time to go through all the questions after you take a practice test. that way you reinforce the correct answers and learn from your mistakes.

Stay positive & don't forget why you are doing this.

QofQuimica said:

Students who have already taken the MCAT, please post a study tip to help current studiers. Let's see how many tips we can accumulate. I'll start us off:

1) Set up a study schedule for yourself, and do a little bit every day. You're better off studying for 30 minutes per day over the course of a few months than you are by trying to cram for the MCAT during the last few days before the test.

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Remember where the ulna is.

1)Disable your internet connections or destroy your/roomate's computer(s).

2)Cancel your cable/satellite subscription; PBS will provide more than enough distraction, and if you are really lucky it will make you hate t.v.

3)gain weight and be mean so people will voluntarily avoid you; seriously, friends transform into annoying gadflies as soon as they find out that you are studying for mcat.

4)Bury any sort of mobile communication devices along with your porn collections(yes, your AF catalogue counts as pornography) in the ground.

Do not let your friends or family or anybody else make you feel bad for not spending time with them or being "fun" or not being "normal" because you are studying all the time. At times, you may feel like you are not being a good friend or family member, but remember that this is very important to you and the a couple of months in the big picture of things in nothing. If people make you feel bad for studying, tell them to GET OVER IT.

I'm currently studying for the MCAT, and I can say that some of these tips are truly helpful and I will consider them, but some are just nonsensical. If you are going to give tips, please, legitimate ones that will actually help; not ones that tell us to ignore everything else in our lives, because if you have to do that to study for this test, then I don't really know how I would expect a person to then handle the stresses of medicine. I am not underestimating the MCAT if you are wondering, I am quite aware of what it entails, I'd just appreciate more worthwhile and useful tips.

1. STAY AWAY FROM THIS MESSAGE BOARD
2. STAY AWAY FROM THIS MESSAGE BOARD
3. STAY AWAY FROM THIS MESSAGE BOARD
4. Only go to SDN if you have a specific question. Always do a search first and if nothing turns up, make a post but repeat steps 1-3 after you get your question answered.

SDN can eat away your whole day and even cause unnecessary stress. I avoided it by following those steps

1. study a little bit at a time and give yourself breaks. you will get very fatigued and retain less information if you try to do an 8 hour marathon study session with only 1/2 hour for lunch (unless you're doing a practice test, when you might do something like that). but seriously, don't understimate the power of a 10 minute refresher break.

2. EXERCISE! it releases endorphins, helps you to get rid of your studying stress and can help to balance out any weight you might gain otherwise due to uncontrolled snacking during studying.

QofQuimica said:

Students who have already taken the MCAT, please post a study tip to help current studiers. Let's see how many tips we can accumulate. I'll start us off:

1) Set up a study schedule for yourself, and do a little bit every day. You're better off studying for 30 minutes per day over the course of a few months than you are by trying to cram for the MCAT during the last few days before the test.

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I suggest studying at least a few good hours a day over several months is the way to go. For me, I dont think 30 mins a day will help me much because i'll prolly forget the material. Its all about being able to cover all the material and be comfortable with it. I would not suggest cramming days before the exam because anxiety runs high during those days and you would not be able to focus well.
I spent about a month of doing nothing but MCAT studying...8 hrs + a day. Did a whole lotta practice problems and exams. But as the exam nears...you need time to rest and do some light reviewing...its definitely no time for cramming.

akinf-

many people don't understand the sacrifices you must make during the mcat and that is why many people post tips about getting used to making sacrifices. I know of many people who didn't put other things aside for studying and failed miserably. So either you can ignore the useful advice in this thread from people who have actually taken the test or ignorantly believe that you won't have to put anything or anybody aside for this huge test.

DO NOT put off studying for the verbal section. Make that one a priority. How do you study for it? Do a lot of verbal practice. I would recommend EK's 101 verbal passages

scentimint said:

1. study a little bit at a time and give yourself breaks. you will get very fatigued and retain less information if you try to do an 8 hour marathon study session with only 1/2 hour for lunch (unless you're doing a practice test, when you might do something like that). but seriously, don't understimate the power of a 10 minute refresher break.

2. EXERCISE! it releases endorphins, helps you to get rid of your studying stress and can help to balance out any weight you might gain otherwise due to uncontrolled snacking during studying.

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Sorry I just had the ask how the release of endorphins is relevant to studying for the MCAT. I thought they were the body's natural painkillers?

exaaaaaaam krackers is the best!! finish all the 1001 books

Gavanshir said:

Sorry I just had the ask how the release of endorphins is relevant to studying for the MCAT. I thought they were the body's natural painkillers?

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Working out makes you more focused. I used to work out before class three days a week and it worked wonders for getting through the long days.

I agree with scentimint. Definitely work out. If you have already been on a workout schedule, don't slack off. I've also seen people recommend that you listen to Audio Osmosis during that time, but don't. Workout time is supposed to be stress relieving. If you add AO to it, you are going to be more likely to get off your schedule since you aren't completely destressing during that time.

Another big thing. Get into a sleep schedule before the MCAT. I needed to get up at 5:30 on the actual test day, so I began to gradually wake up earlier and go to bed earlier two weeks before the test. The week of the test I woke up at 5:30 every day. It helped a lot on test day.

Also, if you think you'll have problems with going to sleep on time, the sleep schedule will help because you'll be tired. I helped this by going out to an Italian resturant with my family the night before, loading up on pasta, and having a glass of wine. I was quite sleepy when I got back home.

shantster said:

Working out makes you more focused. I used to work out before class three days a week and it worked wonders for getting through the long days.

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So true, when I took study breaks during finals, I'd hit the elliptical for about 30mins and I could study for another couple hours more than if I hadn't.

passion4atcg said:

akinf-

many people don't understand the sacrifices you must make during the mcat and that is why many people post tips about getting used to making sacrifices. I know of many people who didn't put other things aside for studying and failed miserably. So either you can ignore the useful advice in this thread from people who have actually taken the test or ignorantly believe that you won't have to put anything or anybody aside for this huge test.

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I think you are right. Thanks for the tip. I am kind of experiencing this right now, people putting me down for trying to make some kind of sacrifice for the MCAT (in my lab). I'm glad to hear other people have experienced and understand this. Now, I have to learn not to let it get to me

Study everyday for however long you can. Make your own flashcards and review them often. Don't worry about how other people are scoring on their practice tests...Good Luck!

I don't know how I did on the April test, but if I have to do it all over again, here are my changes:

1.Complete all 1001 EK books
2.Take so many more tests (since I only took a few)
3.Wake up before the kids do and get a couple of hours of verbal in on a daily basis.
4.Use the eliptical as an exercise machine...not a coat hanger I had a ton of energy when I used it
5.Focus on reviewing the after test stuff; and not so much the material in the manual.

and finally, make some time to spend with your friends and family. Although this is a very tough test to study for you also need to relax and enjoy life, so take a break, otherwise you'll be super burned out by week 7 of a 10 week study schedule. Trust me, I did; this left me not only exhausted but also very discouraged.

Good luck to you all, and hopefully I won't be joining you in Aug!

-Sign off AIM or any other messengers you might use.
-Have a good grasp of the material before you start taking practice tests
-READ READ READ! Read articles to prepare for the verbal (I wish I had done more of this)
-I multi-tasked by bringing one of my Kaplan books to the elliptical machine
-Don't cram during the last week

ok, so i'm trying to decide whether to take the Kaplan review course at a small fee of $1650 . i've taken the MCAT before & did bad & i decided maybe i need some sort of formal structure. i have alot of study books already-EK, Kaplan. the class starts in a couple of weeks & just tryin to decide. thanks & good luck to everyone

Do problems, problems, and more problems. Even when you don't have the time or patience for a full-length test, do a section worth of problems, or even just a couple passages. Reading content review and feeling like you know it is one thing, being able to produce/find answers is another and it's the one that counts. Also, I found doing a section and then going back to study the specific topics I screwed up much less intimidating than sitting in front of a book (or two, or three...) and thinking, "I have to review everything in there."

dont break up with your fiance/girlfriend of 8 years 6 weeks before the test.....just not good for the concentration level.

bump

MAKE A CALENDAR!!! I can't tell you how useful this is. I made one for myself and marked what I studied and how much I studied each day for the 13 weeks leading up to the exam. I tallied the hours I studied for each week and each subject to see if I was slacking off. Post the calendar in a conspicuous place so you can be reminded of what needs to be done!

Study on the weekends. Reward yourself for doing well, but don't over do it. Take over a classroom at school (on weekends and on some weeknights), lock yourself away for hours at a time, fill the whiteboards/chalkboards with equations in physics if that helps you. You will need to study like you are fighting for your academic and professional future. Why? Because you are! Study, Practice, Exercise, Eat Right, Prepare in numerous, small steps. Sounds stupid, but it's all true. It will get you to your goals.

For those who are studying on their own (not taking a class): Find a quiet place and time to study, and go there every day. Treat it like an actual class. It's easier if you pick a time when most of your friends are in lecture, so you don't feel like an overachiever for not hanging out with them.

And going along with that, make sure you take one day off a week, where you don't study for the MCAT.

When you are studying, go to a place where you can be focused. The hardest thing in the world is to get back to studying if you were disturbed.

Go to a library and put on some white noise (sounds of nature are the best. They are not distracting with words or beats and they drown out everyday sounds).

Study for about 2 hours before taking a break. Let your mind rest and absorb all of the information you had just taken in.

Do not fret so much about practice tests, they are just that practice. If you get a 15 on your practice test figure out why. If you get a 41 on your practice test, you are not finished studying. You are only finished studying 2 days before the test.

Stay confident, the test will not ask you questions that you do not already know.

CuttinEmUp said:

dont break up with your fiance/girlfriend of 8 years 6 weeks before the test.....just not good for the concentration level.

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OUch, that sucks!!

This is a good thread so I'm bringing it back from the dead.

For motivation, ask your parents for some sort of reward for doing well on the test. For example...I get to go to NY with my gf if I score 35 or better.

It'll really get your butt in gear. I"ve been studying for about 6 months!

LifetimeDoc said:

Study on the weekends. Reward yourself for doing well, but don't over do it. Take over a classroom at school (on weekends and on some weeknights), lock yourself away for hours at a time, fill the whiteboards/chalkboards with equations in physics if that helps you. You will need to study like you are fighting for your academic and professional future. Why? Because you are! Study, Practice, Exercise, Eat Right, Prepare in numerous, small steps. Sounds stupid, but it's all true. It will get you to your goals.

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Oh i love it... I know what I'm doing this weekend!! (at least that music degree earned me 24hr access to the music building..) And on my "Breaks" I can practice next door for my recital in Feb. Classic!

1. Read to understand, not to memorize.

2. Take as many full-lengths exams as possible.

3. Take your flashcards with you wherever you go - they really help.

4. Do something fun every once in a while or else you'll go insane!

5. The sooner you start studying, the better off you'll be.

Find friends to study with and to stay motivated with.

FLMD2B said:

1. Read to understand, not to memorize.

2. Take as many full-lengths exams as possible.

3. Take your flashcards with you wherever you go - they really help.

4. Do something fun every once in a while or else you'll go insane!

5. The sooner you start studying, the better off you'll be.

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I'm confused though... how can you "understand" something like reproduction, respiration, or the musculoskeletal system? There's nothing to understand, you just have to memorize all those dam names, right?

I haven't taken any practice tests yet because I'm not close to finishing the material, but everyone is saying "understand"... I don't get this! HELP!