Hey everyone, I'm taking the MCAT for the first time on the 16th (yes, I know this isn't the right thread for me then, but it's close enough) and I have been pretty calm about the whole thing, but seeing the 2 month mark come closer and closer has really started to kick up some anxiety. Fortunately, I'm a pre- and post-test anxiety person and I usually feel calm during tests... but this is a different beast so who knows.
I just wanted to throw out what I've been doing. I know it's not the norm as far as most SDN posters, but I figure that hard work and studying pays off regardless of how it's done (i hope).
So before I began any studying, I took the AAMC #3 FL to see what this whole MCAT thing was all about -- and what a surprise that was. I made 9/9/9, which I was not ecstatic about, but I think it is a good starting point. I know it's not much since the test is outdated and I wasn't super strict about timing, but it was more for my confidence booster and to tell myself I have work to do.
Anyways, I have spent the whole month doing content review. I have tried to consistently study around 4 hours a day, everyday. I have EK for Bio and Orgo and Verbal, and TPR for Chem and Physics. I have enjoyed them all and feel like I understood the concepts (except the Electricity and Magnetism in Physics, but oh well, there's time to nail those down.) I have done most all of the end-of-chapter review questions and passages, but not all of the EK 30 minute exams. I also take 2 or 3 verbal passages in a row every day to work on timing (Once I get comfortable with my timing I will take the tests as a whole, but for now I'm fine).
Now that I am done with that, I am going to take the TPR Diagnostic Review from their site tomorrow and friday. From what I gather it is free, and very long -- it covers lots of topics for each subject. I feel like this will give me a good idea of my weak areas. I want to focus the next 3 - 4 weeks nailing down the areas I have trouble with, and hopefully be done with that before the last month.
Then, hopefully, I'll spend the last month doing FLs (AAMC and some TBR ones) and working on weak areas, memorizing formulas, looking over last second notes, etc. I'm shooting for a 33+ but I know I have a ways to go.
I know this was probably a boring post to most of you, but I wanted to throw it out there and see if anyone else was straying from TBR and doing their own thing? (And yes, I realize that TBR is probably the ideal way to be most prepared for the MCAT, but again, I feel like hard work and dedicated studying will pay off regardless.
It's freaking me out that I have no idea what you just said. Lol thank god I'm not done with content review. Haha I'll just blame it on that..
