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I know there is going to be a selection bias - but I'd still be interested in those who self-studied for the MCAT. Did you do well? What was your overall experience like?
520, for 10 weeks I self studied the Kaplan 7 book set, supplemented with EK for gen chem (my weakness) and Khan Academy for bio/psych/soc. I enjoyed self studying and think I studied harder and more efficiently than if I had taken a course.
That's a great score, congratulations! I'm definitely more comfortable self-studying so I'm just glad to hear some anecdotes about others who have done it successfully!
Just curious.
For people who self-studied and scored high, are you from a high-power college or normal state university?
Your high score is from self-study or more from a high power college prep?
Just curious.
For people who self-studied and scored high, are you from a high-power college or normal state university?
Your high score is from self-study or more from a high power college prep?
Either you are lying or very gifted intellectually. You story doesn't really add up. It took most people 3 months to study for the old exam. I would stay for the new exam, it will take people 4 months of prep time without any other commitments. But you claim to have been working also. Again, your story does not add up.522: 132/130/132/128. I self-studied with EK. Supplemented Psych/Soc with Khan (not enough unfortunately). Total studying time was about 2.5 months which was while I was working.
Just curious.
For people who self-studied and scored high, are you from a high-power college or normal state university?
Your high score is from self-study or more from a high power college prep?
Either you are lying or very gifted intellectually. You story doesn't really add up. It took most people 3 months to study for the old exam. I would stay for the new exam, it will take people 4 months of prep time without any other commitments. But you claim to have been working also. Again, your story does not add up.
Either you are lying or very gifted intellectually. You story doesn't really add up. It took most people 3 months to study for the old exam. I would stay for the new exam, it will take people 4 months of prep time without any other commitments. But you claim to have been working also. Again, your story does not add up.
Either you are lying or very gifted intellectually. You story doesn't really add up. It took most people 3 months to study for the old exam. I would stay for the new exam, it will take people 4 months of prep time without any other commitments. But you claim to have been working also. Again, your story does not add up.
Has nothing to do with what school you went to. Everything to do with your abilities and mostly your determination.
Either you are lying or very gifted intellectually. You story doesn't really add up. It took most people 3 months to study for the old exam. I would stay for the new exam, it will take people 4 months of prep time without any other commitments. But you claim to have been working also. Again, your story does not add up.
Really?
If it wasn't for the fact that I don't care to have people know my real identity, I'd point you to my linkedin page. I'm a postdoctoral fellow.. I can't afford to just take months off to study for it. And although I'm not stupid, I would not call myself "gifted intellectually".
The fact of the matter is that the subject matter on the exam is *not* that difficult..but there is a huge amount of it. I think this is one of the key differences between the old and new MCAT. The old MCAT asked more obtuse questions and rewarded you for memorizing a ton of information, whereas the new one seems more conceptual and applying your ability to analyze and synthesize. This is probably partly why I think I did better than the last time I wrote the exam (33 in 2011).
EDIT: Just to add: I struggled immensely with organic chemistry..both in university and for the old MCAT. The new MCAT got rid of all of the irrelevant things that you don't need to know and that made it easier *for me* at least. This is why I really enjoyed the EK materials -- they were straightforward and to the point and didn't focus on minutiae that is, at most, going to score you one or two points. The only major downside is their horrible Psych/Soc section that is basically only about half the topics covered.
EDIT2: BTW. I applied to a single (Canadian) school last cycle. I had an II but not accepted. So, by the time I found out it was already late April. Up until that point I had no intention of rewriting, but now I have to if I wanted to apply this cycle. I didn't have more time to prepare for it given the situation unless I was willing to wait another year, which I'm not.
I studied for three months while working full time and overtime through most of the process (40-70 hours of work/week), still got a score in the 97th percentile. It just takes hard work. I used zero videos, zero audio sources, just TBR physics, TBR chem, EK orgo, EK bio, and reading a whole lot of the WSJ, Atlantic, Slate, and the New Yorker. Went through the books cover to cover twice a piece, did an official AAMC test every seven to ten days.I am happy that you were able to score well on the exam with other commitments. Just based on your score from 2011, you have a knack for the test. A 33 puts you in like the 95th ish percentile. So your method of studying won't work for your average premed such as myself. The notion that a person can study for a month or two and expect to do well, will not be a reality for most people. For most people, in order to get a score greater than the 90th percentile, it will take monthS of dedicated effort. I would know, when I take my exam in September, I would have clocked in 4 months of prep time. 3 months to learn everything (making notes + watching videos + doing pratice passages from BR) + 1 month for practice test. No way, I would ever be able to shorten it down to 2 or 3 months.
520, for 10 weeks I self studied the Kaplan 7 book set, supplemented with EK for gen chem (my weakness) and Khan Academy for bio/psych/soc. I enjoyed self studying and think I studied harder and more efficiently than if I had taken a course.[/QUOT
I am happy that you were able to score well on the exam with other commitments. Just based on your score from 2011, you have a knack for the test. A 33 puts you in like the 95th ish percentile. So your method of studying won't work for your average premed such as myself. The notion that a person can study for a month or two and expect to do well, will not be a reality for most people. For most people, in order to get a score greater than the 90th percentile, it will take monthS of dedicated effort. I would know, when I take my exam in September, I would have clocked in 4 months of prep time. 3 months to learn everything (making notes + watching videos + doing pratice passages from BR) + 1 month for practice test. No way, I would ever be able to shorten it down to 2 or 3 months.