Your "study" time in learning/re-learning material is the gathering of the "vocabulary" needed to take the test. So when you read TBR or if you go through the EK 1001's, these are (in the figurative sense) ways to build your vocabulary. That is to say that anyone that takes the MCAT without being able to speak the "language" is not going to have a good time. Be sure that you are approaching your content with this in mind – this study time will never grant you a great MCAT score.
You gather the language and then you apply it to a testing mechanism. How do you learn about this testing style? By using resources that emulate this style. Again, reading through the TBR or TPR or EK or Kaplan books does not simulate this whatsoever. Watching 123 hours of GS videos doesn't do it either. You just have to sit down with passages. Are the passages, say, in the back of Kaplan a good simulation? Absolutely not. While they appear to be, they are still driving home the language required to understand the test – don't be fooled just because the passages are in a similar layout to the MCAT.
Learn the language. Realize you're learning the language. Then figure out how to use the language and apply it in an intellectual way. I feel like I've studied a million hours and through these million hours I've fallen on the belief that almost anyone that can get through the pre-requisite sciences courses could study and grind their way to at least a 30 on this test. So do I believe you can make a 30? Yes. But this doesn't mean you can do it in 3 months or even after a year. But eventually you can.
You seem adamant about applying this cycle, but I really encourage you to reconsider. If you're wanting to be successful in this game, you need to make absolutely certain of two things: 1) Take the MCAT only when you're ready; 2) Apply to medical schools only when you're ready. You're going to cause far more damage than could ever be justified if you go through both of those without being ready. Also, I didn't pay too much attention to the specifics of this thread but be aware that you can only do 3 tests in a year (this includes no-shows and voids as well).
You mentioned that your GPA was not great. If this is really the case, you may want to consider retaking some courses. Again, it's all a language and if you can't speak the language, how can you expect to do well on the test?
When you're going through problems, no matter what the sources is, make sure that you doing them under strictly timed conditions. Always review everything you do, and with your scores you need to review every single question (including the ones you got correct). Understand why you did or did not get a question right. In my own analysis of practice tests, most of the questions that I am missing are do due either a content knowledge gap/deficiency OR a timing problem. I get very few problems incorrect when time does not get in the way and when I don't have a knowledge gap. I feel this must be true for most people as well. So make sure you're really letting material seep into your mind and that you're really understanding the material. The MCAT covers a ton of material, but fortunately it doesn't really get deep into any of it.
If you're determined to become a physician, then I really think you gotta wise up about some things. Do not take the test until you are ready; do not apply until you are worthy of applying. This may be hard for you to accept, but there are many things about medicine that aren't easy to swallow. For example, it's a harsh reality that there are far more people applying to medical schools than there are seats available. Thousands of dreams are crushed every single year, plenty of them probably dedicated easily twice as much time as you. And then there are those than make a 38 and barely studied... If you are serious about becoming a physician, then realize when things are and when things aren't appropriate (like testing and applying). If you truly want to be a physician with all of your heart, then be content with the thought that it may take you 1 year to adequately prepare for testing/application or even three years. Otherwise you have some heartache in store for you very soon...
Bottom line: Don't test until you're ready. Don't apply until you're ready. Don't be afraid to dedicate much, much, much more of your life to this if it's truly what you want. And do not ever let someone tell you that you can't do it. Do I think you can? Sure. Do I think you will? I have no idea...
Lol I just thought it was funny cuz it's pretty true. yea it's tough.
