Breaking Down the MCAT: A 3 Month MCAT Study Schedule

[SN2ed]

I noticed that some people are claiming they wrote this guide to scam people out of money. Let me make this clear, I have not and will not be selling anything related to this guide. If you see a poster trying to sell books saying they wrote this schedule, do NOT buy from them. They are attempting to take your money away on false pretenses. Additionally, this guide has only been posted on SDN. I have not posted this guide anywhere else. Furthermore, SDN is the sole MCAT/medical forum I visit and the only forum where I use the screen name SN2ed. I never imagined this thread would be popular enough to warrant this kind of attention.

To begin with, check out these two threads:

Why Diagnostics are Worthless: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=557231

MCAT and a Heavy School Workload Don’t Mix: Stop rushing to take the MCAT:http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=602186


Can I accomplish this schedule with a part-time job or school?

Probably not. I highly recommend you devote 3 months to the MCAT. There may be a few that could follow this schedule and work part-time, but chances are it would not end well. You are FAR more likely to burn out if you try to study for the MCAT using this schedule and go to school or take a part/full-time job. That said, it's not entirely impossible. Think of it like an unfavorable reaction. Whether one can force the reaction to proceed depends on the person.


Will following this guide guarantee me a +30?

Sadly, there are no guarantees on the MCAT. I certainly hope it helps you, but I can’t say whether or not you’ll hit your target score.


Should I take the MCAT before finishing my pre-reqs?

There’s no point in doing so. You have to take them anyway. Hence, you might as well go into the test with your pre-reqs completed. Yes, this includes the English pre-req.

Remember to check out the third and fourth post FAQ.

Anything else before I start?

CONFIDENCE. Through all of the troubles and hardships you'll face, approach everything with confidence. You must constantly attack this test. The MCAT is merely a stepping stone on your journey.


Also, this is just a guide I made up. It is my opinion on what a study schedule should resemble. I’m sure there will be people that disagree with parts of this schedule or the whole thing. This schedule can easily be adjusted for 4 months instead of 3. I don’t suggest starting heavy studying 5 months+ from your test date. Keep it to 3-4 months. If you start too soon, it will be a waste of time and resources.

Remember to use the search function on these forums. Tons of questions have already been asked and answered.

Please keep the questions to this strategy.

Lastly, please give credit to me, SN2ed, if you post this elsewhere. I put a ton of work into it.



Materials:

- Berkeley Review (BR) General Chemistry
- BR Organic Chemistry
- BR Physics
- Examkrackers (EK) Biology for non-detailed approach OR The Princeton Review Hyperlearning (TPR) Biology/BR Biology for a detailed approach (In the schedule, I will use EK Bio because most prefer a non-detailed approach)
- EK 1001 series
- EK Verbal 101
- TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook or Berkeley Review Verbal
- AAMC Full Length (FL) #3-10

You can pick up the BR books from their website: http://www.berkeley-review.com/TBR/home-study.html
Also, check out the For Sale section on here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=230 All of the above, except for the AAMC FLs show up from time to time. I’ve regularly seen a complete BR set go for under $100 on there. Whenever you buy used, MAKE SURE THE PASSAGES ARE UNMARKED.

To buy the AAMC FLs: http://www.e-mcat.com/

Bare Minimum Set-up:

$245 for AAMC FLs (http://www.e-mcat.com/)

$150 for BR Physics, O-chem, Gen Chem (http://www.berkeley-review.com/TBR/home-study.html)

$26 for EK Verbal 101 (http://www.amazon.com/Examkrackers-M...3226173&sr=8-2)

$26 EK Bio 1001 (http://www.amazon.com/Examkrackers-1...3226173&sr=8-5)

$30 EK Bio (http://www.amazon.com/Examkrackers-M...3226173&sr=8-9)

Prices vary on TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook

Total = $477 + TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook


Set-up with EK 1001:

$18 EK Physics 1001 (http://www.amazon.com/Examkrackers-1...3483527&sr=1-4)

$20 EK O-Chem 1001 (http://www.amazon.com/Examkrackers-1...3483527&sr=1-2)

$19 EK Chem (http://www.amazon.com/Examkrackers-1...3483527&sr=1-3)

Total = $534 + TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook

Possible Book Replacements:

EK Bio + EK Bio 1001 may be swapped for BR Bio. The reason behind is that recent MCAT test takers have noted that BR's bio passages are closer to the real thing than EK Bio 1001. In fact, if more and more people post similar responses, I may end up switching the two anyway. It would also save $6.

If you're having a hard time finding the TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook, BR is an okay replacement. Well, there's not much of a choice left.

About the EK 1001 series:

It is a good idea to get the complete EK 1001 series. I thought they really helped me nail down my understanding of the various topics. Through using the physics especially, I found that I didn't understand some things as well as I would like. Furthermore, for whatever reason, they helped me visualize the problem in my head and made the equations intuitive to use. Too many people neglect their basic understanding which could be bolstered by EK 1001. They think they have a strong grasp, yet when those fundumentals are tested, one's weaknesses become more apparent. Plus, doing more timed practice problems is always a good thing.

The only negative for the non-bio and VR practice books is that they aren't in the right format (unless you think of them as tons of discretes). However, it is significantly easier to spot your content weaknesses with EK 1001 because they aren't passages. You don't have to worry about if you messed up due to a failure to synthesize multiple ideas or the passage was worded strangely. When you mess up on EK 1001, you know it's due to a content weakness. Lastly, this problem would be alleviated by the BR books and EK content books containing practice passages. There are also the practice tests that you will be taking.

I suggest you get the above material 1-2 months in advance. You don’t want to be missing your materials when you’re about to start this schedule. Also, older content review books are usually okay, just don’t go too far back (past 5 years old).

Lastly, sign up for your MCAT as soon as possible. Seats fill up months in advance.

Timing:

- ALWAYS complete your practice problems under TIMED conditions
- For BR passages: 6-7 minutes per passage, work towards 6 minutes
- For the EK 30-minute exams….well 30 minutes
- EK 1001, except Bio series: 30 seconds to 1 minute per question
- EK 1001 Bio: 6 minutes per passage + 30 seconds to 1 minute per discrete, work towards less time
- EK Verbal 101/TPR Verbal: 6-7 minutes per passage, work towards 6 minutes
- AAMC FLs: Use their timing


Notes:

- Thoroughly review ALL of your practice problems. Review your problems the day AFTER you took them. If there’s a break day, review your problems on the day after your break.
- Remember to round like crazy for any math problem
- Always use process of elimination with your answer choices
- Before you begin this schedule, count the number of verbal practice passages (101 from EK + however many in the TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook). Divide the number of passages by 67 (total days - the number of break days AND FL days). That number is the number of verbal passages you should be taking per day. I’m hoping that number breaks down to at least 3 passages per day. Ideally, you should take 4-5 verbal passages per assigned day. You do NOT take verbal passages on break days OR FL days.
- If you don’t want to get the EK 1001 series, spread out the second 1/3 of BR practice passages over 2 days. However, EK 1001 Bio is a must buy and you should do those problems. Again, I recommend you get all of the EK 1001 series.
- If your practice test score is not within your target range after 4 tests, you should consider delaying. If you delay, go over your weaknesses again and complete an in-depth analysis of what went wrong.
- If you have enough money, you could adjust the schedule to fit in more practice tests. I didn’t include that many to keep the cost down.
- If your test is in the morning and you're not a morning person, start getting used to waking up early when you start taking practice tests.
- Try to practice under as realistic as possible conditions when you take your practice tests. In other words: wake up early enough to be able to drive to your center; eat a meal you would eat before a test; follow the proper timing; and if you're really into it, you could even drive around for about the same time it would take you to get to your test center.
- Thanks to BlitzSleep for reminding me about the importance of confidence
- Written by SN2ed

General Guidelines for Reviewing:

- Go over EVERY question. Both the ones you got right and the ones you got wrong.
- Reviewing should take 2-3 times longer than taking the timed practice problems.
- If your tests are fluctuating, it is due to the different topics on the various tests. In other words, you have some glaring weaknesses that when targeted, nail you, badly. You have to find out what those weaknesses are because they are evident by your scores. Do NOT dismiss any wrong answer as a "stupid mistake." You made that error for a reason. Go over your tests again.

Some things to go over when reviewing:

1. Why did you get the question wrong? Why did you get the question right?
2. What question types get you?
3. How is your mindset when facing a particular passage?
4. Are you stressed for time?
5. Where are your mistakes happening the most? Are they front loaded? Are they at the end? All over?
6. What was your thought process for both the questions you got right and the ones you got wrong?
7. For verbal, what was the author's mindset and main idea?
8. Did you eliminate all of the answer choices you could from first glance?
ex. You know an answer should be a positive number so you cross out all of the negative number answer choices.
9. What content areas are you weak in?
10. How can you improve so you don't make the same mistake again?

Hat Trick:

Get a hat and write every single MCAT PS and BS topic onto a piece of paper. Then, when you're ready to practice PS, put all the PS topics into the hat. Draw two or three pieces of paper and connect the topics together. In addition to connecting them, come up with what a passage might look like and what kind of questions you might get. If you can't do this, go back and review each of the three sections. Rinse and repeat.

The hat trick days are important because they aid you in synthesizing the various topics together. On the MCAT, you utilize this skill for every passage because MCAT passages combine topics. Furthermore, you may also discover content weaknesses that you will need to go over.

PS Topic List: http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/pr...g/pstopics.pdf
BS Topic List: http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/pr...g/bstopics.pdf
Page to get topic lists if you don’t want to directly download the pdf: http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/pr...gstudyplan.htm


Verbal Help:

Check out Vihsadas’s verbal guide and the other guides found in the MCAT Guide sticky
Vihsadas’s Guide: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/show...2&postcount=96
MCAT Guide Sticky: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=602154

Arithmetic Tricks:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/show...ic+Tips+Tricks

[SN2ed]

The Day by Day

- Give yourself 4 buffer days before beginning this schedule just in case you need them.
- Another reminder: You are supposed to take some verbal passages every day except break days and FL days.

Day 1: BR Physics Chapter #1 + 1/3 of the corresponding passages (1/3 of corresponding passages = 1/3 from now on)
Day 2: BR Gen Chem Chapter #1 + 1/3
Day 3: BR O-Chem Chapter #1 + 1/3
Day 4: EK Biology Chapter #1 + the corresponding problems in chapter and chapter exam (both of these will be abbreviated by putting 30 Min)
Day 5: BR Physics Chapter #2 + 1/3
Day 6: Re-read chapters and work through corresponding EK 1001 sections for the chapters you worked through. For instance, BR O-Chem chapter #1 goes over Organic Structure & Bonding; hence, complete the Molecular Structure in the EK 1001 O-Chem. The topics probably won’t match all the time, but go with the best fit. Also, only do every third problem/passage in the EK 1001s. From now on, this day’s work will be abbreviated: “Re-read chapters + EK 1001”
Day 7: Break
Day 8: Complete second 1/3 of BR passages for the previous 4 chapters. I’m going to shorten this to: “Complete second 1/3 of BR passages”
Day 9: BR Gen Chem Chapter #2 + 1/3
Day 10: BR O-Chem Chapter #2 + 1/3
Day 11: EK Bio Chapter #2 + 30 Min
Day 12: BR Physics Chapter #3 + 1/3
Day 13: BR Gen Chem Chapter #3 + 1/3
Day 14: Break
Day 15: Re-read chapters + EK 1001
Day 16: Complete second 1/3 of BR passages
Day 17: BR O-Chem Chapter #3 + 1/3
Day 18: EK Bio Chapter #3 + 30 Min
Day 19: BR Physics Chapter #4 + 1/3
Day 20: BR Gen Chem Chapter #4 + 1/3
Day 21: Break
Day 22: BR O-Chem Chapter #4 + 1/3
Day 23: Re-read chapters + EK 1001
Day 24: Complete second 1/3 of BR passages
Day 25: EK Bio Chapter #4 + 30 Min
Day 26: BR Physics Chapter #5 + 1/3
Day 27: BR Gen Chem Chapter #5 + 1/3
Day 28: Break
Day 29: BR O-Chem Chapter #5 + 1/3
Day 30: EK Bio Chapter #5 + 30 Min
Day 31: Re-read chapters + EK 1001
Day 32: Complete second 1/3 of BR passages
Day 33: BR Physics Chapter #6 + 1/3
Day 34: BR Gen Chem Chapter #6 + 1/3
Day 35: Break
Day 36: BR O-Chem Chapter #6 + 1/3
Day 37: EK Bio Chapter #6 + 30 Min
Day 38: BR Physics Chapter #7 + 1/3
Day 39: Re-read chapters + EK 1001
Day 40: Complete second 1/3 of BR passages
Day 41: BR Gen Chem Chapter #7 + 1/3
Day 42: Break
Day 43: BR O-Chem Chapter #7 + 1/3
Day 44: EK Bio Chapter #7 + 30 Min
Day 45: BR Physics Chapter #8 + 1/3
Day 46: BR Gen Chem Chapter #8 + 1/3
Day 47: Re-read chapters + EK 1001
Day 48: Complete second 1/3 of BR passages
Day 49: Break
Day 50: EK Bio Chapter #8 + 30 Min
Day 51: BR Physics Chapter #9 + 1/3
Day 52: BR Gen Chem Chapter #9 + 1/3
Day 53: EK Bio Chapter #9 + 30 Min
Day 54: BR Physics Chapter #10 + 1/3
Day 55: Break
Day 56: BR Gen Chem Chapter #10 + 1/3
Day 57: BR O-Chem Chapter #8 + 1/3
Day 58: Re-read chapters + EK 1001
Day 59: Complete second 1/3 of BR passages
Day 60: Break
Day 61: Hat Trick for 2-3 hours. For all of the following days, excluding break days, spend about 30 minutes on the Hat Trick. If it really helps you, spend more time on it. It might be slow at first, but you’ll get the hang of it.
Day 62: Last 1/3 of BR passages for Chapter 1 + Second 1/3 of EK 1001 Bio Chapter 1
Day 63: Last 1/3 of BR passages for Chapter 1 + Second 1/3 of EK 1001 Bio Chapter 1
- From now on, I will abbreviate the last 1/3 of BR and second 1/3 of EK 1001 Bio as 1/3. I will include the chapters to cover.
Day 64: AAMC FL #3
Day 65: Review FL per guidelines + 1/3 Chapter 2
Day 66: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 2
Day 67: Break
Day 68: 1/3 Chapter 3
Day 69: 1/3 Chapter 3
Day 70: Break
Day 71: AAMC #4
Day 72: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 4
Day 73: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 4
Day 74: AAMC #5
Day 75: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 5
Day 76: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 5
Day 77: Break
Day 78: AAMC FL #6
Day 79: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 6
Day 80: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 6
Day 81: AAMC #7
Day 82: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 7
Day 83: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 7
Day 84: Break
Day 85: Break
Day 86: AAMC #8
Day 87: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 8
Day 88: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 8
Day 89: AAMC #9
Day 90: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 9
Day 91: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 9
Day 92: Break
Day 93: AAMC #10
Day 94: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 10
Day 95: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 10
Day 96: Break
MCAT




4 Month Variation

The first 61 days are the same. This schedule is less intense than the 3 month variation because it spreads out the practice problems in the third month rather than the FL month. If you choose this route, make sure you recalculate the number of verbal passages per day. Also, it might be a good idea to get additional verbal material (ie get both TPR Hyperlearning verbal and BR verbal on top of EK 101). Note, this might not be necessary if you're still able to complete 3 verbal passages per day with TPR Hyperlearning verbal and EK 101. I don't know how many verbal passages are in TPR's book.

Day 62: Last 1/3 of BR passages for Chapters 1 + Second 1/3 of EK 1001 Bio Chapters 1
Day 63: Last 1/3 of BR passages for Chapters 1 + Second 1/3 of EK 1001 Bio Chapters 1
- From now on, I will abbreviate the last 1/3 of BR and second 1/3 of EK 1001 Bio as 1/3. I will include the chapters to cover.
- If you don’t have enough time to finish this week’s amount, finish it up with the next review section under AAMC FL #4. This first couple review sections are intense, but the next ones aren’t as bad and they get even better once you finish BR O-Chem. The main goal is to finish it up before your test date.
Day 64: 1/3 Chapter 2
Day 65: 1/3 Chapter 2
Day 66: 1/3 Chapter 3
Day 67: 1/3 Chapter 3
Day 68: Hat Trick all day long
Day 69: Break
Day 70: 1/3 Chapter 4
Day 71: 1/3 Chapter 4
Day 72: 1/3 Chapter 5
Day 73: 1/3 Chapter 5
Day 74: 1/3 Chapter 6
Day 75: 1/3 Chapter 6
Day 76: Hat Trick all day long
Day 77: Break
Day 78: 1/3 Chapter 7
Day 79: 1/3 Chapter 7
Day 80: 1/3 Chapter 8
Day 81: 1/3 Chapter 8
Day 82: 1/3 Chapter 9
Day 83: 1/3 Chapter 9
Day 84: Hat Trick all day long
Day 85: Break
Day 86: 1/3 Chapter 10
Day 87: 1/3 Chapter 10
Day 88: Hat Trick all day long
Day 89: Break
Day 90: Break
Day 91: AAMC FL #3
Day 92: Review FL per guidelines
Day 93: Review FL
Day 94: AAMC FL #4
Day 95: Review FL
Day 96: Review FL
Day 97: Break
Day 98: AAMC FL #5
Day 99: Review FL
Day 100: Review FL
Day 101: AAMC FL #6
Day 102: Review FL
Day 103: Review FL
Day 104: Break
Day 105: Break
Day 106: AAMC FL #7
Day 107: Review FL
Day 108: Review FL
Day 109: AAMC #8
Day 110: Review FL
Day 111: Review FL
Day 112: Break
Day 113: AAMC #9
Day 114: Review FL
Day 115: Review FL
Day 116: AAMC #10
Day 117: Review FL
Day 118: Review FL
Day 119: Break
MCAT

Written by SN2ed

[SN2ed]

Random Questions

When should I start studying/When should I take the MCAT?

You can choose your 3-4 month window to study after you've completed your pre-reqs. Most people take the MCAT in either the summer of their junior year in college or the summer after they graduate. I don't suggest you take the MCAT earlier then your junior year because you run the risk of having your MCAT expire. Furthermore, the additional classes you have in the meantime may aid you on the MCAT. That said, the bottom line is to take the MCAT when you're ready.

Are there any classes that will help me for the MCAT?

Outside of your pre-reqs, you don't really need anything else. That said, some classes may give you a slight edge or help you. The classes typically considered the most helpful are:

1. Genetics
2. Anatomy and Physiology
3. Biochemistry

Should I buy the Official Guide to the MCAT Exam published by the AAMC?

I don't suggest you buy it separately. However, since you will be buying AAMC practice tests and/or the MSAR, you might as well get the bundle where you can get the Guide + Practice test or Guide + MSAR at a reduced price. If you get the guide, I suggest you save the problems in it for last. For now, the practice problems in the guide offer the most accurate representation of the current MCAT.

Should I retake FL X?

I don't suggest it for a few reasons. First, your score will be inflated. This alone negates the predictive power of the test. If you don't need it to gauge where you are, fine, retake them. For instance, you could simply be going over the problems again to, as others have mentioned, understand the thinking behind it. However, if you are using it as a practice FL, don't.

One of the most important aspects of a FL is that it's material you've never seen before. It forces you to quickly analyze an unknown passage, tap into your knowledge, and answer questions you've never seen. If you knew exactly what was going to be on the test, it would take away from the somewhat frantic experience of getting that weird passage. It also makes you more relaxed overall because you know what's coming. Unfortunately, you will not have the luxury of either on the test. You will have to deal with weird passages. You will have to get out of your comfort zone of knowing what's ahead.

Then, you get into the timing issues which you MUST get down before the test. When you have prior knowledge of the material, you miss the chance at gaining more experience with the clock. Too many people underestimate the effect of the timer. Again, you have to get used to it and retaking problems won't help.

Think of the whole thing like sports practice. Sure, you go over some standard plays again and again to get a feel for them. However, to practice for a real game, you have a scrimmage match or an exhibition game. The other team doesn't tell you what plays they're going to run. If they did, it would eliminate the usefulness of the scrimmage or exhibition game.

I've already taken the AAMC FLs, are there other practice tests you recommend?

Both Gold Standard and Berkeley Review offer solid practice tests. If I had to choose, I'd go with Gold Standard because it is a better deal. You can typically get all 10 GS FLs for around $100. The caveat for Gold Standard is that you should expect your score to be roughly 2 points lower than normal. Berkeley Review is good, but the archaic ordering system means you run the risk of not having your practice tests when you need them due to the 45 day access limit.

Why do you review previous days passages instead of reviewing the same day?

There are a couple reasons why I advise reviewing passages the day after. First, it helps to go over the material again, especially in regards to the sciences. Secondly, directly after you take a set of practice problems, you aren't in the best mind frame to then analyze said problems. Your mind is too focused on what you completed and is unable to grasp the big picture. You need that day for your thoughts to settle in order to approach the analysis with the right mindset. It's similar to how you may make a decision one day. Then the next day, you realize that it wasn't the best choice. Yet, on the day you made your choice, you would have probably found justification for it rather than actually analyzing its pros and cons.

Another example would be with proof-reading your own papers. Right after you write your paper, when you proof-read it, you'll probably miss plenty of mistakes. However, checking it the next day allows you to approach the paper with a clear mind and find more mistakes.


Why rotate subjects?

I think rotating subjects is better for a couple reasons. First, it keeps material from the different areas fresh. Often times, concepts in one chapter build upon another. It also lessens the chance of forgetting what you've already studied. By studying all of one area and then moving on, you lack exposure to that topic for the remainder of your content review which leads to forgetting that area. Lastly, rotating subjects fosters connections between the different topics. One of the biggest aspects of the MCAT is connecting various topics together in any given passage. By rotating, you can easily begin to see connections as you complete content review from different areas. If you were only studying one subject, such connections would not be as evident.

I have more than 4 months until my test, is there anything you suggest?

There are two things you might want to consider. First, aim for mastery of the material in all of your pre-reqs. Don't go simply for the A. Know the material cold. Next, is reading various materials. Here's my suggested reading list:

Wall Street Journal
New Yorker
Economist
Random science journals

Good source for philosophy/humanities work which people tend to struggle with:

Moral Issues in Global Perspectives: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...condition=used

Buy the book used; it's much cheaper.

Remember to read the boring articles as well as the interesting ones. Chances are your MCAT verbal passages won't be the most exciting read.

Why is Kaplan's verbal bad?

Kaplan is bad in verbal because it doesn't stress the same things as the actual MCAT. For the MCAT, the main idea and author's point of view/opinion are the keys to success. Conversely, Kaplan focuses more on the detail oriented questions which are easy to teach; the kind of questions which make you go back over the passage to find the minute detail being tested. On the MCAT, going back to the passages will kill your timing. Furthermore, you rarely receive such questions and when you do get them, they can typically be answered with the main idea or author's opinion.

Why are so many of your recommended books from BR?

For now, they stand as the best combination of content review and practice material. What makes BR stand out over the easily available Kaplan, TPR (ie not TPR Hyperlearning), and EK books is the depth of their explanations and TONS of practice passages. There are literally around 100 passages in each of their practice books which is far and away more than their competitors. The key to the MCAT is taking tons of timed practice passages. Furthermore, they are actually trying to update their books beyond random errata. On the negative side, BR's website and ordering system are horrible. We're talking about early internet, looks like a fake website, bad. Still, the quality of their books makes the painful ordering worth it. Just remember to order your books well in advance and you shouldn't have any problems.

[SN2ed]

Why study linearly? Why not focus on your weak areas before your strengths?

First off, I think this question underscores the importance of doing well in one’s pre-reqs to reduce the number of weakness to as few as possible. Remember, do not merely go for the A; aim for mastery of the material. Working hard in your pre-reqs will boost your GPA and pay off when you study for the MCAT.

One of the reasons test prep companies, and most schedules, go in chapter order is due to companies developing schedules for a group of people and not the individual. Rather than create a schedule per student, which would take up quite a bit of time, they make a generic schedule. Sure, they could make a diagnostic to try and pin-point weaknesses, gather the data, and make a schedule per student, yet I doubt they would want to invest their resources like that. Even creating a program to accomplish that task would cost money they probably aren’t willing to spend. Furthermore, well, you probably know how I feel about diagnostics judging by my sig.

Money is a factor in a test prep company avoiding personalized schedules; however, it is not the only reason to take chapters in order. Additionally, money would not explain why other schedules recommend going linearly. When looking at all of the various content review books, you might notice something. Translational motion is almost always the first topic in Physics. You might be thinking, “Why is that?” There are few reasons which come to mind. First, as opposed to electricity or fluids, translational motion is a relatively easy topic for most students. Secondly, it isn’t hard to create complex problems/passages based on this simple area. Lastly, translational motion serves as a great time to introduce the basic math skills and tricks needed for the MCAT. What I’m getting at here is that there are good reasons why subjects are ordered in content review books.

The content of one chapter will frequently build from the preceding chapter. Let’s take another look at Physics for an example. One starts with translational motion. The next subject is typically forces which is a form of translational motion. Then, there’s work which advances the topic of forces and applies force by distance. As you can see, each chapter uses the basis of another to present the material in a logical order. Think of it like pyramid. You start with translational motion and then add the bricks of force and work.

Another rationale for a linear schedule is that it must instill the skills necessary to apply knowledge early on. In order to do this, a schedule must start in areas that are strong for the vast majority of students. Beginning with a tough subject does not lay the foundation for application of knowledge because the student is struggling with the content itself. In fact, application of knowledge is the most important factor in MCAT success. Merely knowing the content inside-and-out does not cut it which is why you may see students that ace their classes, but do badly on the MCAT.

Next, there is the topic of confidence. I cannot stress enough the how vital confidence is for this test. Without it, you might as well not take the MCAT. Jumping straight into weak areas destroys one’s confidence. They start questioning whether they actually have the brains to take on the MCAT. Thus, you don’t want to start a schedule by slamming the individual right away. You want to guide the student and help them gain some momentum before tackling their trouble spots.

Also, by placing all of your weaknesses up front, you naturally start studying those topics first. You might be thinking, “Yeah that’s the point.” The problem here is that you may forget those topics by the time your test rolls around. You may even try to subconsciously erase your memory since focusing on all of your weaknesses at once was probably not an enjoyable experience. That’s not to say studying for the MCAT is fun, but you get the picture. Additionally, you might spend too much time on your weaknesses and neglect areas that should be your strengths and end up with more weaknesses.

Finally, there seems to be a misconception that studying linearly means you don’t focus on your weak areas. If you are properly reviewing, you shouldn’t be breezing by your weaknesses. You should read and re-read the chapter as you pound the practice problems. When you thoroughly review your practice problems, if you find you missed a problem purely based on content, you have to go over the topic again. Considering that this might mean you review the chapter several times, you can see how one might spend quite a bit of time on their weaknesses. You would also hit your weaknesses again whenever the topic comes up on a practice FL.

In closing, the above are my reasons for opting for a linear study schedule and why test prep companies may favor them as well.

[capn jazz]

You are an incredible person.

[Protactinium]

Excellent post! This should go into the official guide.

[EkramVahsedi86]

Wow, what a gem!

[capn jazz]

I'm doing a slight variation on this. I really don't like jumping between subjects, so I decided to it in blocks - I've done Bio (EK + 1001), OChem (EK + TPR sci wkbk), and I'm about halfway through Gen Chem (TBR) and I'll be starting Physics (TBR) when I'm done.

I've also been doing:
day 1: read a chapter
day 2: answer Qs (for TBR - phase I,II; for 1001/TPR: about 2 hours worth and REVIEW solutions)
day 3: read another chapter
day 4: repeat day 2 on the new topic

I do an EK verbal full-length every Sunday.

I'm trying to get the TPR verbal wkbk to do 1-2 passages a day but I'm having trouble.

I think both SN2ed's method and mine are fairly equal in effectiveness. Are any of the difference between mine and the one in this thread going to hurt me?

Also, I don't think I have timing issues with verbal - I've never gone over the time limit. Should I keep doing FLs or switch to doing 1-3 passages a day?

[ACE28]

Phenomenal! On behalf of all current and future MCAT takers, THANK YOU!

[SN2ed]

I'm glad everyone thinks this is useful.

Also, I'm not quite done. I was going to add an explanation on "how to change this into a four month plan/the last month is too intense." I'll also throw in an explanation on why I rotate the various subjects since the subject was raised.

[loveoforganic]

Attached is my MCAT syllabus for this coming summer, if anyone is interested in that as well. It's more specifically geared to certain topics at certain times, rather than a certain chapter of a certain book. Has scheduled break days and a few leeway days. At any rate, even if no one is interested, I'd appreciate it if you take a look SN2ed to see if you think it's workable, or if I should switch to your schedule

Thanks for posting this, I'm sure many will appreciate it!

[gumbyj]

I don't have the luxury of taking time off to study for the MCAT and will be taking classes (Aprx 16 credits). Does anyone have any ideas how to modify this type of schedule for say a longer time period and less studying/day or any other suggestions? Thanks!

[SN2ed]

Originally Posted by gumbyj

I don't have the luxury of taking time off to study for the MCAT and will be taking classes (Aprx 16 credits). Does anyone have any ideas how to modify this type of schedule for say a longer time period and less studying/day or any other suggestions? Thanks!

Edit: Is this due to the BS/MD program? Will you not have a summer vacation? You should try for the 4 month modification of this schedule which I will post later on. Stretching this schedule longer then that significantly reduces its effectiveness. At that point, you need a completely different type of schedule, one more suited for 5-6 months. Any studying done prior to 6 months before your test date is pointless (except for reading). Lastly, it's still a horrible idea to study for the MCAT while taking a heavy courseload.

Originally Posted by loveoforganic

Attached is my MCAT syllabus for this coming summer, if anyone is interested in that as well. It's more specifically geared to certain topics at certain times, rather than a certain chapter of a certain book. Has scheduled break days and a few leeway days. At any rate, even if no one is interested, I'd appreciate it if you take a look SN2ed to see if you think it's workable, or if I should switch to your schedule

Thanks for posting this, I'm sure many will appreciate it!

Some quick things I noticed.
- I don't see nearly enough practice problems scheduled in. All you have are the practice tests which won't cut it. For the MCAT, taking tons of practice problems and thoroughly reviewing them, trumps content review. That's not to say content review isn't important, it's just that practice problems are even more so.
- The amount of verbal practice is also far too low. The key to doing well on verbal is taking 3-5 timed practice passages per day (except on FL days when you take a whole verbal section).

I'm also not sure about how you distributed the content, but it's probably okay. Lastly, I wouldn't have so many break days before your test. I think you should at least do some light studying on August 11th and 12th.

[gumbyj]

Originally Posted by SN2ed

Edit: Is this due to the BS/MD program? Will you not have a summer vacation? You should try for the 4 month modification of this schedule which I will post later on. Stretching this schedule longer then that significantly reduces its effectiveness. At that point, you need a completely different type of schedule, one more suited for 5-6 months. Any studying done prior to 6 months before your test date is pointless (except for reading). Lastly, it's still a horrible idea to study for the MCAT while taking a heavy courseload.

I be finishing up my last semester in undergrad at this point (Spring 2010) and was planning on taking the MCAT Jan/March of 2010. I will have a full courseload in both Fall and Spring. Do you have any specific suggestions for what type of schedule I should use? (Considering the fact that I have to be taken classes).

[SN2ed]

How come you can't take it this summer?

[loveoforganic]

Thanks a bunch for the advice. Based on what you said, I plan on doing the 3-5 verbal passages everyday, rather than having entire days dedicated to verbal. To replace these days, I made them 'problem days' in which I'd do nothing but work problems related to the content review I did that week. I would still probably work some problems on the day of the content review. To avoid so much break time before the actual test, 3 days before the test and 2 days before the test I was thinking I'd do both your 'hat trick' and formula review.

Does this sound like a better set up to you?

Thanks again

[SN2ed]

Originally Posted by loveoforganic

Thanks a bunch for the advice. Based on what you said, I plan on doing the 3-5 verbal passages everyday, rather than having entire days dedicated to verbal. To replace these days, I made them 'problem days' in which I'd do nothing but work problems related to the content review I did that week. I would still probably work some problems on the day of the content review. To avoid so much break time before the actual test, 3 days before the test and 2 days before the test I was thinking I'd do both your 'hat trick' and formula review.

Does this sound like a better set up to you?

Thanks again

Yeah, that's similar to what I was thinking as well for those last few days.

Day 1: Hat Trick + Form Review + Verb Passages
Day 2: Same as above
Day 3: Break
MCAT

You shouldn't need formula review at that point. By that time, you should have the formulas down through doing tons of practice problems. The formulas need to get to the point where you intuitively know them. What books are you using? I say this because I think you need more than one day of practice problems related to content review. They should be continuous. It's fine to have one big day, but you should always be taking some.

[loveoforganic]

I have the exact book list you frequently copy+paste. Yes, I'm planning on doing some problems everyday, but dedicating whole days to it on my problem days. I haven't had a chance to look at them yet, as I'm away at college and had them shipped to my home address. Do you think that the syllabus based on the AAMC outlines is going to be followable with that book list? i.e. could I look in the table of contents in EK Bio, find genetics, read everything they have on it, look up genetics in EK Bio 1001, then do some problems related to what I was reviewing?

If that isn't feasible, it seems to me like following your outline that's based on chapters, rather than topics, would probably be better.

[capn jazz]

Any input on this, SN2ed?

Originally Posted by capn jazz

I'm doing a slight variation on this. I really don't like jumping between subjects, so I decided to it in blocks - I've done Bio (EK + 1001), OChem (EK + TPR sci wkbk), and I'm about halfway through Gen Chem (TBR) and I'll be starting Physics (TBR) when I'm done.

I've also been doing:
day 1: read a chapter
day 2: answer Qs (for TBR - phase I,II; for 1001/TPR: about 2 hours worth and REVIEW solutions)
day 3: read another chapter
day 4: repeat day 2 on the new topic

I do an EK verbal full-length every Sunday.

I'm trying to get the TPR verbal wkbk to do 1-2 passages a day but I'm having trouble.

I think both SN2ed's method and mine are fairly equal in effectiveness. Are any of the difference between mine and the one in this thread going to hurt me?

Also, I don't think I have timing issues with verbal - I've never gone over the time limit. Should I keep doing FLs or switch to doing 1-3 passages a day?

It looks like I WILL have the TPR verbal workbook, so I'll be able to incorporate a few passages per day.

[garyinthehouse]

SN2ed, this is an excellent post!

If you were standing in front of me, I'd hug you

[jktdutch]

Great stuff. I'd love to hear your 4 month plan. I am writing my MCAT on Sept 3.

[jasonbourne]

This is the best post i have ever come across on SDN. This post is awesome. Keep it up. If you know about the Pcat, I think you would be of great help to pre pharm students

[SN2ed]

I'm making room right now for the 4 month plan and for some of the questions I said I'd answer earlier.

loveoforganic & capn jazz: I'll answer you two around the time I put in the new content for the guide. I'm trying to get that done first.

[kwokkit]

Fantastic post SN2ed. I have a question about VR material. I will get my hands on BR verbal but I may not be able to get my hands on TPR verbal workbook. As a retaker, I have also done 90% of the EK101 book. Where do you suggest that I get enough VR material to do the 'few passages a day' that you and V are proponents of? Also, what are your thoughts on doing a little verbal very often (a few passages at a time) vs. doing one mcat-length VR section say, once a week?
Thanks, and thank you again! I am looking forward to the 4 month study plan.

[Bond03]

Thank you so much SN2ed for this post, I am going to re-do my schedule to follow this one. However even after I read the BR section, I still do poorly on their passages (i.e average 3-4 wrong PER PASSAGE). Any suggestions on what I can do to improve? I was thinking of reading the content in the BR books, doing the 1001EK problems and then going to the BR passages. Or should I read the material in different books and then go do the passages in BR? OR should I suck it up, learn from my mistakes and keep going straight into the BR passages?

THANKS

[capn jazz]

Originally Posted by Bond03

Thank you so much SN2ed for this post, I am going to re-do my schedule to follow this one. However even after I read the BR section, I still do poorly on their passages (i.e average 3-4 wrong PER PASSAGE). Any suggestions on what I can do to improve? I was thinking of reading the content in the BR books, doing the 1001EK problems and then going to the BR passages. Or should I read the material in different books and then go do the passages in BR? OR should I suck it up, learn from my mistakes and keep going straight into the BR passages?

THANKS

Or you getting things wrong because you misunderstand the questions or make mistakes, or is it because you blank on how to approach a question (like calculating something)? If it's the latter, I'd recommend doing some EK problems to solidify your knowledge of the approach to the solution. Make sure you're doing the in-passage Qs for TBR, they're very helpful. Also, if I'm doing a passage and I get to a question I literally don't even know how to answer, after I've finished that passage, I look at the solutions to that question and make note of how to approach the problem. Some questions are meant for you to get them wrong so you are forced to review the solutions and see how to do it next time.

[Chowdder]

Originally Posted by kwokkit

Fantastic post SN2ed. I have a question about VR material. I will get my hands on BR verbal but I may not be able to get my hands on TPR verbal workbook. As a retaker, I have also done 90% of the EK101 book. Where do you suggest that I get enough VR material to do the 'few passages a day' that you and V are proponents of? Also, what are your thoughts on doing a little verbal very often (a few passages at a time) vs. doing one mcat-length VR section say, once a week?
Thanks, and thank you again! I am looking forward to the 4 month study plan.

I'd recommend doing the full length test. Doing a few passages at a time is only good for when you are practicing to get down the technique. For example, if you want to test out whether it is better to read the questions first and then read the passage or passage first then questions. Then do a couple of passages to familiarize yourself with the technique. Most of your verbal should always follow the format of the test. You want to have as similar of a test condition as possible. Remember, doing full test not only test your understanding on the verbal technique, but also test your timing, judgement, composure, and focuse.

[Lola84]

SN2ed, you're awesome.

I am looking for books with a lot of practice passage problems for Bio, Phys & Verbal (i.e. passages on info presentation, problem solving, research study, persuasive argument). Does anyone know any? (I am not looking for a review book.. I am only looking for passages for practice.. like the EK 101)

[MusicIsLife]

Hi SN2ed,

Pardon my stupidity (or fried-brain state), but can you clarify what you mean by "do 1/3 of the corresponding passages"? Granted, I have not seen the BR books yet, but I'm planning on buying them, & I can't seem to grasp what you mean by that. Is it one out of every 3 passages? And if so, when do you suggest completing the remaining ones?

I don't know...it's late & I'm confused...

[SN2ed]

- Added 4 month variation.
- Added a couple sentences on the importance of the hat trick/why I suggest it.

It will take me awhile to get to the questions and add to the guide. Also, please keep the questions to the strategy.

[Fudge]

Hi SN2ed,

that's a very helpful 3 month plan! Unfortunately, I can't afford to quit my part-time job. How many hours a day on average does one have to put in to follow your schedule? Do you think I could cut it with 5 hours a day?

[UGAmkw]

anyone got a study schedule from May to the July 17th exam?

[MissIntrigued]

This is a good thread for some people who have alot of free time and money on their hands....but to be honest it is not for everyone.

Me, for instance. I have to work 40 hours a week (that's right- 40 hours. Not part time. In a hospital. With my own caseload of patients that I manage, so its not a fluff job where i sit at a receptionist desk and can read study books all day. Today I spent three hours dealing with a suicidal patient....fun fun! .)

I can't not work, or reduce my work hours. I have rent to pay. And bills. And all that other annoying adult stuff.

Not to put down the original poster, but there are alot of "non trads" out there (and im not an old fart or anything....only 26....) that can't commit 24/7 to studying and HAVE to work around a real life schedule, and to THOSE people I just wanted to let them know that it IS possible to do well on MCAT even if you can't afford to take the two-thousand dollar class (like me), or have to work and etc. It just takes being committed.

Admittadly, it took me a few months to get my head in the right place to study properly around my schedule, but that was more due to personal events that were happening that distracted me. I wake up at 5 in the morning to go to work at the hospital every day at 6 am, so my schedule can get a little mad.

I bought audio osmosis, and listen to it in my car every day on my way to work, and while im stuck in traffic on my way home, and while i fall asleep, and pretty much any other time i am too tired to read, but i can fathom just laying there and listening. Its helpful in that if you repeat it over and over and it can be a good review of basic stuff you need to know. Sort of like listening to the same song over and over again and eventually you remember all the words.

I bought the full examcrackers set and i am pretty confidant they have everything i need, along with all the AMCAS full length tests online. I spend 2-3 hours working on physics, then when im sick of physics i go to Bio for 2-3 hours. Then the next day switch up to chem and o-chem if that works for you.

There is no one here that can tell you a specific study schedule or a specific time frame or way to apply to med school. I think alot of people come to boards like this and become very disheartened when they read things that tell them the only way they will do well is if they can cough up loads of cash and magically not have to work a job. That is not a reality for many people.

Anyway, just my two cents. Good orignal post, just is not realistic for me. I'll do fine anyway, now that my head is in the right place. I think this test is, really, all about being confident. If you are confident in your ability to retain information in three months studying then you will be fine. Stress is the easiest way to forget everything you have just read. Meditate, do yoga, and for the love of god, go out once in awhile. Im not saying go out and get wasted the week before the MCAT, but its really quite acceptable to take a break on a sunday, go out for dinner on saturday night after studying all day, or having one beer with a friend on a thursday night after you've worked for 8 hours and studied for 5 hours. Youre brain and body need to relax in order to really absorb and justify everything it has learned!

Good luck everyone :-)

[SN2ed]

MissIntrigued:
I agree, this schedule isn't for everyone, especially non-trads. However, I do think this schedule would work well for people taking a summer break from college or shortly after they graduate (I think that makes up the bulk of MCAT test takers Even though the average age is 24, that doesn't mean they took the MCAT when they were 24. It was probably earlier considering the application process takes a year.). I didn't want to make a schedule for non-trads because it's practically impossible to account for the variety of jobs. In those cases, it comes down to an individual making a study schedule around their job. That's not something I can do.

About the price, it's not that expensive if you're willing to buy used. Even if you bought (what you could) new, the price shouldn't go into the $1000s. By far the most expensive materials on my list are the AAMC FLs. There's nothing I can do about that. The other FLs available for purchase aren't much cheaper either.

I definitely agree with you that confidence is a vital component of success and not just MCAT success.

capn jazz:
I don't know if doing two phases of BR is a good idea. I think it would be better to save some up and work through them over the course of your study schedule. The main reason why I prefer waiting a week before phase two is because you'll be taking these problems AFTER reviewing your mistakes from phase one. Plus, I like going over material multiple times to have it stick.

Also, I prefer rotating the various topics, I'll get into that later when I update my guide. Though if it's working for you, keep it up. Definitely take some verbal passages everyday if you can.

loveoforgnaic:
It's entirely possible to go with the outline you previously posted. As you said, you would have to look up the various chapter that fit your needs. Still, I think going by chapters is easier overall and, hopefully, you'll have more balanced days since the chapter lengths are typically about the same.

kwokkit:
If you can't get the TPR Hyperlearning workbook, then just make do with the BR verbal book. Sure, it's not preferable, but sometimes you have to go with what you got. Unfortunately, there aren't that many good verbal books. Since you won't have that much verbal material, you might need to spread it out to make it last. Should this happen, try alternating verbal every other day or every three days. Also, space out your verbal material from BR so that you'll run out by the time your month of FLs begin. When you being taking FLs, you'll be taking full length verbal tests every three days.

Yes, doing a few passages everyday is better than one big verbal day. Think of it like running. It's better to run a few miles everyday than trying to run 10 on one day.

Bond03:
First off, you should ALWAYS learn from your mistakes. Taking practice problems is important not only for the practice itself, but also the post-test analysis. Actually, the post-test analysis is more valuable. You may want to try your idea of going through EK 1001 first, then the BR passages. Perhaps the EK 1001 will let you catch your weaknesses earlier, allow you to fix them, and then attack the BR passages with more confidence.

MusicIsLife:
For each BR chapter, there are problems assigned to that chapter. For instance, there's chapter 1 and afterwards, chapter 1's set of practice passages. Yes, 1/3 of the corresponding passages means you take every third passage. The other 1/3s are completed per the guide's timeline.

Fudge:
Whether you can complete this strategy with 5 hours per day largely depends on how fast you can read the BR/EK chapter. Some people do well by reading it in 1-2, while some may take much longer. Whatever you end up doing, don't rush through a chapter. Take your time and make sure you know the material. If you simply rush, you'll end up missing everything and need to re-read it. Also, you should stick with the 4 month variation. Give the strategy a try for a little while to get a feel for how long it will take you to complete the day's work. If you can't keep up, adjust the schedule accordingly.

[loveoforganic]

Thanks for the reply. After much deliberation and regret over the time I put into my own prep schedule, I've decided to follow your outline. So thanks even more than I thought! Gonna have to try to work it around a full time job, but I think it'll be manageable.

[freditoj]

Great schedule, well planned out! I was wondering how much you got on your MCAT by following this method?

[Vihsadas]

Very nice.

[BlitzSleep]

Amazing work!

Sticky this asap

[Runnergirl08]

Hey I think this three month schedule looks fantastic but I am in quandary about materials. I just found this suggestion and fortunately I have already ordered my EK books and have the Kaplan content materials (which are of questionable quality...). BR books seem like they are going to take a long time to arrive and TPR hyperlearning books seem totally inaccessible right now. I did however find TPR "Cracking the MCAT" and the supplemental workout book at the bookstore. Any suggestions on how I should proceed with this? I really need to knock this exam out this summer and want to get on my game ASAP.

[dr seuss]

TBR books don't really take that long to arrive if you use a money order. I got mine in about a week and others have said a week and a half.

[SN2ed]

Originally Posted by Runnergirl08

Hey I think this three month schedule looks fantastic but I am in quandary about materials. I just found this suggestion and fortunately I have already ordered my EK books and have the Kaplan content materials (which are of questionable quality...). BR books seem like they are going to take a long time to arrive and TPR hyperlearning books seem totally inaccessible right now. I did however find TPR "Cracking the MCAT" and the supplemental workout book at the bookstore. Any suggestions on how I should proceed with this? I really need to knock this exam out this summer and want to get on my game ASAP.

Don't waste your money on those TPR books. They aren't even close to as good as TPR's Hyperlearning series. Try the money order thing for BR.

[Runnergirl08]

Originally Posted by SN2ed

Don't waste your money on those TPR books. They aren't even close to as good as TPR's Hyperlearning series. Try the money order thing for BR.

You don't work for BR....right? You never know on SDN.

[SN2ed]

Originally Posted by Runnergirl08

You don't work for BR....right? You never know on SDN.

No, I don't work for them. For now, BR are just the best in Physics, O-chem, and Gen Chem. They're also good in Bio if you want a detailed approach which many do not. Also, if you search around this forum, there are many people recommending BR besides me. Still, if you don't like/want to get BR, TPR Hyperlearning are also very good across all subjects. Like I said before, just avoid the TPR books found in bookstores. They aren't even close to as good as their Hyperlearning series.

[bkz]

sn2ed this thread is fantastic, thank you.
Is there any way to get the hyperlearning science workbook new? Or do you just have to borrow it from a friend/buy it used on amazon? TPR doesn't seem to mention this anywhere, I'm guessing bc they want you to pay for the full course..

[texahn]

I think I agree. Always do your sht timed.

However, I feel like the schedule uses too many breaks.
Cite all the Science Mag articles you want, but I think people should be able to take breaks when they need it and not have it scheduled.

Also, don't do drugs!

[SN2ed]

Originally Posted by batteries

sn2ed this thread is fantastic, thank you.
Is there any way to get the hyperlearning science workbook new? Or do you just have to borrow it from a friend/buy it used on amazon? TPR doesn't seem to mention this anywhere, I'm guessing bc they want you to pay for the full course..

Yeah, you have to buy it used/get it from a friend since TPR's Hyperlearning books are for their course. If they released their Hyperlearning in bookstores, they'd probably trample their competitors. Although BR is better in some areas, TPR actually has the means to mass produce their books. Plus, BR's ordering system is among the worst I've encountered on the web. Their website also looks unprofessional. If one didn't know better, they would easily mistake it for a fake website.

Also, check out the For Sale forum on here. I think I saw a few people selling their TPR Hyperlearning Science Workbook.

[bkz]

thanks!

[JamaicanHerb]

Nice job stealing EK 10-week home study method and replacing it with BR material and adding practice tests.

[phEight]

Originally Posted by JamaicanHerb

Nice job stealing EK 10-week home study method and replacing it with BR material and adding practice tests.

Yea I don't think so. Even if it were the case, he went out of his way to write up something to help those of us studying or are about to start studying for the MCAT, and that act in itself doesn't deserve what you said. I suggest you hit some of that Jamaicanherb so you can maybe say something nice lol

[SN2ed]

Originally Posted by texahn

I think I agree. Always do your sht timed.

However, I feel like the schedule uses too many breaks.
Cite all the Science Mag articles you want, but I think people should be able to take breaks when they need it and not have it scheduled.

Also, don't do drugs!

Well see if you read through this Nature article on MCAT studying...


Nah. The reason why I schedule breaks in is that often times people wait too long before they take a break. By the time they realize they need a break, it's only because their test scores have fallen off due to burn out. I want to avoid burn out as much as possible. Once you're burned out, it's tough to get back into it.

Then there are other people that get lazy during studying and start to take too many breaks. They think, "well I have 3 months, another break day won't hurt."

Overall, while studying for this length of time, people lose track of when they need breaks.