Best Strategy for My Scenario

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Hey guys,

I wanted to get some advice on how I should prepare for my MCAT re-take. I did pretty poorly on the first exam, more specifically Bio. I had a lot of trouble on the passages that had to do with experiments that I was not familiar with. even though I am working on getting better in that section.

The first time I studied, I did TPR/EK, I read the books, took notes, and re-wrote the notes trying to memorize as much as I can (how I studied during undergrad). When I was a few weeks out, I started doing practice passages and online questions. I felt the preparation wasnt the best and the strategy that I used wasnt very affective.

This time around, I am not trying to memorize much of the material, besides facts like enzymes, hormones, ext. I started doing practice passages/questions, and after doing them I would go back, review the questions I got right/wrong and write them down, taking notes on them. Do you think that is the most efficient way?

I would really appreciate a strategy because my exam is mid-August, and everything is riding on this re-take. Please help!

Thanks!

what practice exams are you using?

If I were in your shoes I would get all of the tbr/ek and follow the SNed schedule and make adjustments as you go to fit your learning style as you tried tpr and it didn't work out. There is a huge difference between rote memorization and true understanding of the material. Since the mcat tests integration of various topics and the relationship between many concepts, it is extremely important to have a deep understanding of the material in order to manipulate it in a short time crunch while under intense pressure. You need to obtain a solid foundation through a combination of content review and practice passages and then start intensely doing FLs with extreme postgame analysis/review and fix your weaknesses. Seeing how this is a retake I would do everything possible to ensure that you are ready. You can always try your best to be ready for August 17th, but if your practice scores aren't where you want them to be, don't be afraid to reschedule. Take the exam when you feel extremely comfortable with all of the material.

Sasha, just curious, but have you done/are you doing research right now?

Originally Posted by Alejandro

Sasha, just curious, but have you done/are you doing research right now?

What type of research? I was involved in research during undergrad, still am. Why?

Originally Posted by leaveit2rani

what practice exams are you using?

AAMC FL and Passages provided by TPR online.

Well, I'd look into doing some molec bio-I read up a lot on cell, science, and other cell bio magazines, and tried to understand some research papers, just to see how the science is done in different disciplines.