the ultimate MCAT prep plan (TM)

[Zephyrus]

Hi guys,
I'd like to share with you my personal strategy for preparing for the MCAT. I'm using dates for the upcoming April administration as a point of reference. It combines what I consider to be the most "high-yield" in terms of personal experience and SDN feedback: ExamKrackers and Kaplan. I have chosen Kaplan Online because it saves money, avoids a commute, and eliminates the potential for sub-par instructors, and allows one to work at one's own pace. It comes first because it is a more encyclopedic, thorough approach to MCAT subject material. As the test approaches, the EK "10-week home study schedule" is utilized, a link to which can be found by searching SDN.

REQUIRED MATERIALS:
-Kaplan Online Course
-EK Home Study Package w) practice exam
-Access to AAMC Practice Exams (3R-8R)
-EK 101 Passages in MCAT Verbal (optional)
-EK 1001 Questions in MCAT Chem, Bio, Orgo, Physics (optional)
-EK Mini-MCATs (optional)
-EK Audio Osmosis (optional)

I'd recommend buying toward one's weaknesses-- that is, if you're an english major and consistently scoring 13-15 in VR, load up on physical sciences practice questions in the EK 1001 series and Kaplan QBank. It's important to take all practice exams included in this schedule (5 Kaplan, 6 AAMC, 1 EK, Kaplan Diagnostic, and mini-MCATs) to achieve testing "zen."

Let me know what you think. It's bottom-heavy toward the early winter when many of us are on break, and it attempts to prevent "burnout" as the test approaches by allowing more Sundays off and transitioning into the less hectically paced EK Home Study Schedule. The schedule below goes by Sundays.

Z (37T)

*Begin Kaplan Online Dec. 18*
Dec. 18 Take Kaplan Diagnostic / listen to MCAT Strategy I
M/W/F: Physics I / General Chemistry I / Verbal I

Dec. 25 RELAX -- DO NOTHING MCAT-RELATED
M/W/F: Organic I / Biology I / Physics II

Jan. 1 Take Kaplan Practice Exam I
M/W/F: General Chemistry II / Verbal II / Organic II

Jan. 8 Take Kaplan Practice Exam II
M/W/F: Biology II / MCAT Strategy II / Physics III

Jan. 15 Take Kaplan Practice Exam III
Tu/Th: General Chemistry III / Verbal III

Jan. 22 Take Kaplan Practice Exam IV
Tu/Th: Organic III / Biology III

Jan. 29 Take Kaplan Practice Exam V
Tu/Th: General Chemistry III / Verbal III

Feb. 5 Take AAMC Practice Exam 3R
ExamKrackers Week 1

Feb. 12 Relax – DO NOTHING MCAT-related.
ExamKrackers Week 2

Feb. 19 Take AAMC Practice Exam 4R
ExamKrackers Week 3

Feb. 26 Take AAMC Practice Exam 5R
ExamKrackers Week 4

Mar. 5 Relax – DO NOTHING MCAT-related.
ExamKrackers Week 5

Mar. 12 Take AAMC Practice Exam 6R
ExamKrackers Week 6

Mar. 19 Take AAMC Practice Exam 8R
ExamKrackers Week 7

Mar. 26 Relax – DO NOTHING MCAT-related.
ExamKrackers Week 8

April 2 Take ExamKrackers Practice Exam (1g or 3g)
ExamKrackers Week 9

April 9 Take AAMC Practice Exam 7R
ExamKrackers Week 10

Saturday, April 15, 2006 MCAT

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[jeepgirl]

Thanks! I was wondering how to integrate all my study materials. This is perfect.