Breaking Down the MCAT: A 3 Month MCAT Study Schedule

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SN2ed

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Written by SN2ed.

Downloadable MCAT Calendar iCAL and XML versions: http://www.studentdoctor.net/3-month-mcat-study-schedule/
(Click the events for more details)

Everyone please keep the questions to this strategy AND READ ALL OF THE FIRST FOUR POSTS.

Do NOT start this schedule late. You will burnout. There have already been numerous posts & threads on people starting late, trying to rush through the material, and burning out quickly.
Check the Update log in the last post for any changes.

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 and should only be 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. The contents of this thread (and any other on SDN) cannot be replicated and re-hosted on any other forum, blog, or website without prior consent of both the author and SDN.
Make sure you read ALL of the opening posts, including the FAQ, before posting questions.

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?

Very unlikely. 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.

Furthermore, I've yet to see a valid reason for students (ie. not non-trads) to not take the MCAT in the summer.

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.

Any tips for retakers?

Check out the thread I made on the subject: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=754682

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.
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
- 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)
- BR Bio
- BR Physics
- EK 1001 series, excluding EK 1001 Bio (i.e. do NOT buy EK 1001 Bio)
- EK Verbal 101
- TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook or Berkeley Review Verbal
- AAMC Full Length (FL) #3-5 and 7-11 (AAMC #6 is not available at the moment)

You're using EK Bio for content review and BR Bio for passages. If you need more detail during in your content review, refer to BR Bio.

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/)

$240 for BR Physics, O-chem, Gen Chem, Biology (http://www.berkeley-review.com/TBR/home-study.html)

$26 for EK Verbal 101 (http://www.amazon.com/Examkrackers-MCAT101-Passages-Verbal-Reasoning/dp/1893858553)

$30 EK Bio (Amazon product)


Prices vary on TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook, search the For Sale forum on here for copies. They regularly show up. You should be able to get one for under $50.

Total = $541 + TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook

Set-up with EK 1001:

$18 EK Physics 1001 (http://www.amazon.com/Examkrackers-1001-Questions-MCAT-Physics/dp/1893858189)

$20 EK O-Chem 1001 (http://www.amazon.com/Examkrackers-1001-Questions-Organic-Chemistry/dp/1893858197)

$19 EK Chem 1001 (http://www.amazon.com/Examkrackers-1001-Questions-MCAT-Chemistry/dp/1893858227)

Total = $598 + TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook

Possible Book Replacements:

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. Again, I HIGHLY recommend you hunt down the TPRH Verbal Workbook.

TPRH is a great choice for content review in all subjects, however, you still need the BR books and EK 101 Verbal for their practice passages. TPRH does not have enough practice passages, though the Workbooks are still great resources.

A Little Bit more about TPRH books:

If you're looking for the Science or Verbal Workbooks, your best bet is through the For Sale forum on here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=230

You can also find the full TPRH set in the For Sale. People usually sell the whole set together.

If you want the content books, they're available on Amazon.

Yes, these books are the same as the TPRH content review books. The only difference is that these books, unlike the class content review books, contain some practice passages. I believe it's 3-4 passages per chapter. It's not enough to just stick with these books and some FLs, but it's nice to have a few passages thrown in.

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 materials 1-2 months in advance! It takes awhile to get your BR books! 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 Verbal 101/TPR Verbal: 6-7 minutes per passage, work towards 6 minutes
- AAMC FLs: Use their timing


Notes:

- Do NOT retake old practice material
- Thoroughly review ALL of your practice problems. Review your problems the day AFTER you take them. Don't even look at the answers until then. 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 70 (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. Again, I recommend you get the EK 1001 books that are listed.
- If your practice test score is not within your target range after 2-3 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.

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.
- You might want to consider making a log for all of your post test results where you work through the questions below. Doing so, you'll be able to easily notice trends.

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 and passage 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. Why are the wrong answers wrong and the right answer right?
11. 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: https://www.aamc.org/students/download/85562/data/ps_topics.pdf
BS Topic List: https://www.aamc.org/students/download/85566/data/bstopics.pdf
Page to get topic lists if you don't want to directly download the pdf: https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/preparing

Here's a rough example using Distillation, Mendelian Genetics, and Lipids:

You are studying a Mendelian inherited recessive genetic defect of a lipid receptor. A defect in this receptor prevents the uptake lipids in the body and can cause several negative effects, such as, atherosclerosis due to fat build-up in arterial walls.

To test for the concentration of lipids in a patient's blood, you design a distillation experiment.

1. Given a couple where the male is Ll and the female is ll, what is the chance the child will have the defect?

2. What kind of solvent should you use to test the concentration of lipids?

3. What type patient would have the highest boiling point elevation?

4. If the trait exhibited incomplete dominance, which patient is likely to be Ll? Boiling point information here.

5. Which cell component requires lipids?

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/showpost.php?p=6022602&postcount=96
MCAT Guide Sticky: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=602154

Arithmetic Tricks:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=528674&highlight=Arithmetic Tips Tricks

Members don't see this ad.
 
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Hmm I find this quite depressing. I've been studying with Chad's videos and EK, and I took the AAMC test and did alright. But these BR passages seem to be much more specific to what is being taught in their book and contains a lot more detail than from what I'm learning. Are these passages even realistic of what's on the actual MCAT? I know the format is practically identical, but the detail and specifics of these passages seems a bit too much imo.
 
Hmm I find this quite depressing. I've been studying with Chad's videos and EK, and I took the AAMC test and did alright. But these BR passages seem to be much more specific to what is being taught in their book and contains a lot more detail than from what I'm learning. Are these passages even realistic of what's on the actual MCAT? I know the format is practically identical, but the detail and specifics of these passages seems a bit too much imo.

From what I've read from others, TBR is becoming more and more similar to the actual MCAT compared to the AAMC FLs especially with BS. If you think they're too detailed/specific you can skip it, but doing them can only help.
 
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Just a quick question. Did you follow the 3 month or the 4 month plan? If so, on average how many hours a day do you spend per day with the plan? I am thinking about starting the 4 month plan, and devote 3-4 hrs each day. Any suggestions?

I was using the 3-month plan. I had to develop a shortened version because I only had about 88 days rather than the 96 or so I believe it allotted in the 3-month plan.
I averaged around 5.5-6 hours a day. Some days were shorter, typically BR physics because the chapters are so short. The review days would often be 8+ hours long.
 
Is it necessary to read through the BR chapters in order to do the BR passages?

It helps, but it's not necessary if you already have a good understanding of the material. A lot of the stuff you can learn while you do.
 
SDN user MT Headed made this cool Daily MCAT Hat Trick Generator which picks three random topics from PS and three random topics from BS (from the official AAMC content lists) for you to use. It picks new topics daily so you don't have to!

If you don't like today's topics, you can use your own date to generate a random topic list like so
Code:
[URL="http://www.faberdesigns.com/mcathattrick/?date=4/7/1776"]http://www.faberdesigns.com/mcathattrick/?date=[B][U][COLOR="Lime"]4/7/1776[/COLOR][/U][/B][/URL]
(just change the date in green to any date your heart desires)

Hope it helps. :luck:
 
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It helps, but it's not necessary if you already have a good understanding of the material. A lot of the stuff you can learn while you do.

So would you say it's quite normal to be getting a lot of these questions wrong?
 
So would you say it's quite normal to be getting a lot of these questions wrong?

I myself scored pretty low when I started, but it started to pick up. I still need to finish up some TBR. You'll probably develop an intuition for the types of questions after awhile. :thumbup:
 
Is the EK Verbal and math techniques worth reading?

Definitely, since its really short.

The math stuff I already knew and pretty much just glossed over that in ~1-2 minutes. If you did/do Berkeley Review, they teach a lot of the same math tricks in their physics/chem books.

Verbal is good because I think they have the best "strategy" compared to other companies. They also somewhat breakdown how you should be going over verbal tests you've done and stuff like that. But if you don't like what they offer, you don't have to use it.

The best part about that book is that it includes several verbal passages that were offered as past AAMC tests. They are from AAMC 1 and 2 I believe, and are pretty close to the difficulty of the AAMC tests, since they are written by the same people.
 
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Has anyone here ordered from Berkeley Review lately? If so, how long does it usually take until you get a reply from them regarding your order? I mailed in my order form over a week ago, but I have yet to receive any type of confirmation.
 
SDN user MT Headed made this cool Daily MCAT Hat Trick Generator which picks three random topics from PS and three random topics from BS (from the official AAMC content lists) for you to use. It picks new topics daily so you don't have to!

If you don't like today's topics, you can use your own date to generate a random topic list like so
Code:
[URL="http://www.faberdesigns.com/mcathattrick/?date=4/7/1776"]http://www.faberdesigns.com/mcathattrick/?date=[B][U][COLOR=Lime]4/7/1776[/COLOR][/U][/B][/URL]
(just change the date in green to any date your heart desires)

Hope it helps. :luck:
Thanks a lot lol, starting the Hat Trick today.

I understand that the point of this is to further develop my understanding for each topic. So do I just try and write a paragraph connecting each of the three topics together? And then go over each of the 6 topic materials?
 
Thanks a lot lol, starting the Hat Trick today.

I understand that the point of this is to further develop my understanding for each topic. So do I just try and write a paragraph connecting each of the three topics together? And then go over each of the 6 topic materials?

I'm actually not sure but here's the instructions from the first post in this thread:

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: https://www.aamc.org/students/downlo.../ps_topics.pdf
BS Topic List: https://www.aamc.org/students/downlo...a/bstopics.pdf
Page to get topic lists if you don’t want to directly download the pdf: https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/preparing

Here's a rough example using Distillation, Mendelian Genetics, and Lipids:

You are studying a Mendelian inherited recessive genetic defect of a lipid receptor. A defect in this receptor prevents the uptake lipids in the body and can cause several negative effects, such as, atherosclerosis due to fat build-up in arterial walls.

To test for the concentration of lipids in a patient's blood, you design a distillation experiment.

1. Given a couple where the male is Ll and the female is ll, what is the chance the child will have the defect?

2. What kind of solvent should you use to test the concentration of lipids?

3. What type patient would have the highest boiling point elevation?

4. If the trait exhibited incomplete dominance, which patient is likely to be Ll? Boiling point information here.

5. Which cell component requires lipids?
 
Has anyone here ordered from Berkeley Review lately? If so, how long does it usually take until you get a reply from them regarding your order? I mailed in my order form over a week ago, but I have yet to receive any type of confirmation.

I never got any type of confirmation when I ordered. It took about 3 weeks, but they received my form and sent the books.
 
Definitely, since its really short.

The math stuff I already knew and pretty much just glossed over that in ~1-2 minutes. If you did/do Berkeley Review, they teach a lot of the same math tricks in their physics/chem books.

Verbal is good because I think they have the best "strategy" compared to other companies. They also somewhat breakdown how you should be going over verbal tests you've done and stuff like that. But if you don't like what they offer, you don't have to use it.

The best part about that book is that it includes several verbal passages that were offered as past AAMC tests. They are from AAMC 1 and 2 I believe, and are pretty close to the difficulty of the AAMC tests, since they are written by the same people.

Thanks for that!
 
Hi guys, does it matter whether the BR books are the latest editions? Or will any edition do? Thanks!

Any edition will do for all subject besides physics. They revamped physics this year so I think it's best to have the latest edition.
 
My foundation in Physics is pretty weak. What book(s) would you guys recommend? TBR is mostly passage based from what I hear, should I try ExamKrackers to get a hold of the conceptual material/problems?
 
My foundation in Physics is pretty weak. What book(s) would you guys recommend? TBR is mostly passage based from what I hear, should I try ExamKrackers to get a hold of the conceptual material/problems?

TBR covers in depth review of the concepts and gives you lots of practice of it's the best choice. EK1001 books are good for practice, too.
 
hi,

for people who have already followed this plan and done with their books, willing to sell their set?

Thanks.
 
Ok I was planning on taking the MCAT in January right after I finish orgo 2 and physics 2. Would doing so relieve me of studying those sections as intensely?
 
Ok I was planning on taking the MCAT in January right after I finish orgo 2 and physics 2. Would doing so relieve me of studying those sections as intensely?

Yes, but it depends on whether you actually thoroughly learn the material or just go for an A.
 
Hmm it seems that I'm getting things wrong mostly because I'm misreading the questions/answers. But if I read too slowly I end up going over 6 minutes. Any tips on how to read accurately and quickly?
 
Hmm it seems that I'm getting things wrong mostly because I'm misreading the questions/answers. But if I read too slowly I end up going over 6 minutes. Any tips on how to read accurately and quickly?

That happened to me too. I can't say anything helped me besides continuous practice =/
 
:sleep:
Hmm it seems that I'm getting things wrong mostly because I'm misreading the questions/answers. But if I read too slowly I end up going over 6 minutes. Any tips on how to read accurately and quickly?

First of all, almost everyone will be going over 6 minutes per passage on average. The 6 minutes is a goal that you should shoot for, but not the real timing that you should be concerned with. On the MCATS you will have more time per passage so don't worry too much. Just continue to try to reduce your time per passage to 6 minutes as a goal so that you don't feel rushed during the real thing.
 
I noticed that Kaplan VR has gotten a bad rap, I was wondering what other people thought about it.
The main post says it focuses on detail questions, but I honestly haven't seen that many. Though I haven't really gone through much.
Just wondering if I should find another way to prep for VR.
 
Im going to start the 4 month schedule starting in Sept. I tried studying for my Sept 2nd MCAT date but my scores werent getting to where I wanted them, I didnt know how to keep studying and what to go over, wo with only a couple weeks I decided to change my date to January. In the fall Ill have 12 credits and be working, volunteering and doing research. Do you think its doable? I know a lot of people say dont do anything else while studying but I tried to do that this summer and it didnt work out. Do you think if I really try to cut down on working and research id be alright?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated :)
 
I noticed that Kaplan VR has gotten a bad rap, I was wondering what other people thought about it.
The main post says it focuses on detail questions, but I honestly haven't seen that many. Though I haven't really gone through much.
Just wondering if I should find another way to prep for VR.

I've done some of the kaplan FLs and VR section tests and most of them have about 18-20 detail questions. That's what it tells me when check the breakdown, anyway.
 
So I have a problem...

My aamc scores are nowhere where I want them to be for my 8/12/11 date
Took the FLs in this order:

BS/VR/PS
3-10/10/7-27- 7/13/11
7-10/8/7-25 - 7/16/11
4-9/9/10-28 - 7/31/11
5-12/9/8-29 -8/6/11
8-9/9/8 -26 - Today (just when I thought I was going up :( )

Sigh...should I just push back my date and apply next year? I'm aiming for a 30+
 
So I have a problem...

My aamc scores are nowhere where I want them to be for my 8/12/11 date
Took the FLs in this order:

BS/VR/PS
3-10/10/7-27- 7/13/11
7-10/8/7-25 - 7/16/11
4-9/9/10-28 - 7/31/11
5-12/9/8-29 -8/6/11
8-9/9/8 -26 - Today (just when I thought I was going up :( )

Sigh...should I just push back my date and apply next year? I'm aiming for a 30+

It would probably be best to push your test date back. I don't think you'll see a 4-5 point jump by the 12th. It's better if you take your time and see what you're doing wrong and get the score you want.
 
So I have a problem...

My aamc scores are nowhere where I want them to be for my 8/12/11 date
Took the FLs in this order:

BS/VR/PS
3-10/10/7-27- 7/13/11
7-10/8/7-25 - 7/16/11
4-9/9/10-28 - 7/31/11
5-12/9/8-29 -8/6/11
8-9/9/8 -26 - Today (just when I thought I was going up :( )

Sigh...should I just push back my date and apply next year? I'm aiming for a 30+

If you're aiming for a 30+, definitely push your test date back and apply next year. You could also use the time to strengthen the other parts of your application.
 
So I have a problem...

My aamc scores are nowhere where I want them to be for my 8/12/11 date
Took the FLs in this order:

BS/VR/PS
3-10/10/7-27- 7/13/11
7-10/8/7-25 - 7/16/11
4-9/9/10-28 - 7/31/11
5-12/9/8-29 -8/6/11
8-9/9/8 -26 - Today (just when I thought I was going up :( )

Sigh...should I just push back my date and apply next year? I'm aiming for a 30+

Not necessarily. You were up in the 28-29 range. I mean...to be honest, when I took my MCAT the first time, my average in practice was 3 points lower than my actual score. I understand that some people perform better under pressure and others perform worse, and maybe that's it, but try not to get so down on yourself. Study your exams thoroughly, figure out where your thinking is going wrong. Really analyze your results. If you don't do as well the first time, take it again in January. You find out your August results in early September --you could always wait to apply until then.
 
maybe this was mentioned somewhere in thread but I dont feel like digging through 30 pages of posts...

but how do we practice the writing sample? ><
 
Are BR books similar to TPR subject review books? I don't have BR books, and I was wondering if I could sub those instead. I don't mind buying BR books, but if I don't have to that'd be nice.
 
I am about to start the school year and would like to take the mcat early next year (Jan/early Feb). I am taking 1 bio class and 1 phil class this semester and doing research for credit. My question is, is this study schedule feasible for my situation? how many hours/day/week should I expect to study? Thanks in advance
 
I am about to start the school year and would like to take the mcat early next year (Jan/early Feb). I am taking 1 bio class and 1 phil class this semester and doing research for credit. My question is, is this study schedule feasible for my situation? how many hours/day/week should I expect to study? Thanks in advance

It's recommended that you do the study plan when you aren't taking any classes to make sure you're devoting maximum time to the MCAT, but it really comes down to how efficiently you work and what circumstances are best for you. You should expect to study from 3-8hrs daily depending on how well you know the material.
 
I'd also like to know if you guys recommend substituting the TBR books for TPR books??
 
This looks like a great framework for studying, but I have a question: since the most common time to take the MCAT is at the end of junior year, how can we find 3 free months before the test?? I really want to use this plan, but I don't know how it will be possible since I will be taking a heavy course load. Would the 4 month plan be light enough to work in with a full schedule of classes?

Good question, as I'm also in a similar situation. I'm entering this semester as a junior, and people have told me to aim to take the MCAT in March/April so I can apply early. But I don't want to spend time studying for the MCAT with my school workload.

So basically my question is that is it fine to start studying for the MCAT as my classes end (May) and then by following the 3-month schedule I will hopefully finish studying in August and take the MCAT then. How will that affect my application process if I don't want to take a gap year?
 
Good question, as I'm also in a similar situation. I'm entering this semester as a junior, and people have told me to aim to take the MCAT in March/April so I can apply early. But I don't want to spend time studying for the MCAT with my school workload.

So basically my question is that is it fine to start studying for the MCAT as my classes end (May) and then by following the 3-month schedule I will hopefully finish studying in August and take the MCAT then. How will that affect my application process if I don't want to take a gap year?

You would be at a disadvantage. There are plenty examples of people who had solid applications except for that they applied late in the cycle.
My test is in 7 days now so I've been through the meat of SN2ed's schedule. I'd say that if you really want to get the most out of your MCAT prep, it needs to be done separate from coursework. If you think you can pull it off go for it but for maximum results you should devote yourself entirely to MCAT prep.
 
So, I just wanted some of you guys' opinions. I sent in an order to Berkeley Review a little more than two weeks ago. I live an hour away from Berkeley, so the mail should have gotten there in a day or two after I mailed it. They have yet to deduct money from my credit card, which means they probably have not yet processed the order. I don't know if they received my order either. Should I give them a call? Anyone with similar experiences in the past?
 
So, I just wanted some of you guys' opinions. I sent in an order to Berkeley Review a little more than two weeks ago. I live an hour away from Berkeley, so the mail should have gotten there in a day or two after I mailed it. They have yet to deduct money from my credit card, which means they probably have not yet processed the order. I don't know if they received my order either. Should I give them a call? Anyone with similar experiences in the past?

Give them a call! It usually speeds things up...if you can get them on the phone :p
 
Does anyone know if the 2011 edition of TPR hyperlearning verbal workbook is still okay to use compared to the older editions?
 
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