This thread was extremely helpful to me when beginning my preparation for the MCAT, so I thought it was my duty to attempt to help others after I finished. Although my score is not as gilded as many others here, my story is somewhat unique – hopefully it resonates with someone.
A little about myself:
Non-trad (2003 grad)
Work full time, family, etc.
Took post-bacc classes in bio (I,II, anatomy and physio) and Orgo to finish prereqs. I have all other prereqs from my undergrad (I have a BS w/ engineering minor)
1) Your individual scores and composite score
PS = 11, BS =10, VR = 10, W=T; 31T
Practice Averages:
AAMC (3-10) PS = 10.1, BS = 10.33, VR =11.2; 31.63
Kaplan (4 tests) PS = 8.667, BS = 10.17, VR = 11; 29.8
2) The study method used for each section
I bought the Kaplan online class in late January, and I scheduled early for the 5/22 exam (later due to work and class requirements – I was finishing up pre-reqs during the semester). I began my preparation following the Kaplan syllabus and followed this through the third unit, and took my first practice test in early March. At this point, it was obvious that Kaplan was not effective (for me) in reviewing physics and gen chem, classes that I last took over 9 years ago. I then purchased the EK physics and chem review books, along with Verbal 101.
These books were key, and they have exactly the correct approach to the MCAT – ESPECIALLY for non trads. They do not focus on the memorization of equations, but rather the understanding of concepts – key for the MCAT.
Physics – finished the EK physics workbook and all of the problems.
Gen Chem- ditto
Verbal – EK 101, some Kaplan (I went from 8 to averaging about 13 on EK – I struggled a bit on test day with Verbal but it was usually my strongest section in practice. I believe 7 times out of 10 I would score over 12). See the writing section below – verbal and writing are inexorably linked.
Bio- Kaplan is good for Bio, great volume of problems and review material (notecards are great). Class and lab are key for this section! We used a program called AP Revealed for Physio lab and I cannot tell you how many times this helped – you can register for this program online.
Ochem- I was enrolled so my Ochem level of knowledge was strong (this helped on the actual test – where the AAMC brought a ton of what some would consider esoteric concepts to the table). Again, lab is key for this section, take lab seriously and know all of the basic Ochem techniques – separation, extraction, NMR, IR, GC, etc, etc. You can't learn these from a book.
Writing – I never wrote one practice essay and received the highest score possible. I don't know how important writing is, but they put it on the MCAT for a reason. I am a voracious reader – Harpers, New Yorker, NY Times. These publications have helped built my vocabulary over the years and my sense of proper structure and logical progression.
3) What materials you used for each section(Kaplan, TPR, Examkrackers, AAMC, etc)
As you can probably surmise, my study process was not traditional – I did not follow any one syllabus. My basic strategy was to attack anything that I saw as a weakness, using any means necessary. How did I know my weaknesses? Practice tests, of course.
I said before that I used Kaplan and EK, but I also used Wikipedia, textbooks (for genetics), and my Evernote notes (check out
www.evernote.com, it is an organization program) from my courses. Evernote allowed me to search through my school notes (that I had scanned into the program) and find info on various topics – very helpful. Oh yeah, I got a biochem book (I have never taken biochem) and just read the chapters and did questions in the back - this was big and I think test-prep companies need to focus more on biochem.
People debate Kaplan on this site. It is expensive and people have mixed results. I have a few buddies who only used Kaplan and were averaging 30+ on practice tests and did poorly on the actual MCAT. I kept this (admittedly small sample size) in the back of my mind throughout my preparation – I didn't want to be surprised on test day. My criticism of Kaplan is that their review books are full of formulae and example problems that do not relate to actual MCAT problems. Their verbal is, without a doubt, weak. You cannot prepare for MCAT verbal with Kaplan. I found their biology and ochem practice to be excellent, however. Their notecards are awesome – I used these extensively to practice the little facts that always trip you up.
Kaplan online provided an outstanding schedule that I supplanted with my own materials and EK. Is a good schedule worth the money? Probably not if you are organized, but don't lie to yourself here – many of us need structure to succeed.
I cannot say enough good things about EK. I used their Physics and Gen Chem review books and re-taught myself these subjects, their Verbal 101 book is perfect – but you have to do every test to get the full range. I didn't bother with Bio or Ochem because I thought my level of knowledge and the Kaplan materials were sufficient. EK is good because they teach you to REASON through things, instead of just relying on your depth of knowledge and petty memorization. For the MCAT you must apply knowledge to things you might not have seen before. The MCAT trips people up because they are used to just regurgitating facts or problems for tests in school and doing well – this is a bad habit.
4) Which practice tests did you use?
I started with the Kaplan tests. Their PS and BS sections are tough and I believe they prepare you well. When I took my first AAMC test I was surprised how easy those sections seemed in comparison. In April (2 months to test) I started taking one AAMC test a week, on Saturday mornings to prepare myself for waking up early. DO THIS. Take your practice tests when you will take your actual MCAT. Do not take long breaks or do one section at a time. I did not do the writing portion.
The most important thing when taking these tests is to spend time reviewing. I would get a legal pad and go through the test, question by question, and write down why I got questions right or wrong. I found out early that I had the tendency to go back and change correct answers – I eliminated this habit through practice. I found out that I was getting questions wrong in BS because I was getting confused in experimental passages – I started diagramming experiments and eliminated the weakness. I taught myself to do all math in scientific notation (huge for calculations).
If you aren't taking practice tests you might as well not prepare for the MCAT at all. Your content review has to be in relation to solving MCAT passages. You could know every piddily fact about biology in the world, but if you don't know how to apply that knowledge you will not do well. At the same time, you can't take 3 practice tests and say you have a 32 AAMC average – you should do most or all of them – they truly are the best predictor of your score.
5) What was your undergraduate major?
BS Economics (Game Theory field of study), minor Engineering.
6) Any other tips you may have for those of us who still have this test lurking over us?
REASONING. You must know how to reason, (if this is true, then… kind of framework) I don't believe in diagramming each passage in the Kaplan method. This might work for some people but unless you master the method, it will take too much time. Read the passage, read the question, think, draw, whatever, then answer the question. I did a lot of drawing. If you aren't sure, mark it, work on the rest of the questions in the stem and then go back. I don't think it is worthwhile to wait and review marked questions (unless discretes) at the end because you forget the passage information.
READING. Read read read! This has been said over and over again, actively read the NY Times, New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, Harpers (this is the best IMO) about stuff that you wouldn't normally be interested in. It will help your verbal and your writing immensely and also with your PS and BS passages. You need to work on your useful memory – do you remember what the author was saying the page before and how it relates to what you are reading now?
TIME. Everything you do should be under time constraints. I did every EK verbal timed, I never took a test that wasn't timed, and with one exception (my dog started puking) I didn't stop a practice test. You have to know (especially in verbal) where you stand in relation to time. 8 min a passage max in verbal, 10 min max in PS and BS with time for discretes.
LAB. I honestly think that the application of science in the lab is a key to this test. You are going to see at least one or two general chem lab type problems in PS and four or five lab type orgo and bio problems in BS. Remember that synthesis experiment and the identification experiment everyone does in Ochem – key to the MCAT. Things like this came up over and over again on practice tests and I could usually relate back to some experiment that I did - my school has a good lab program (6 hours per week with gucci equipment) so I think it really helped.
7) How long did you study for the MCAT?
Started in February with Kaplan, maybe 2 nights a week. Ramped it up in April to 5 nights a week, practice test every week. I took the week before the MCAT off – studied and relaxed, took 2 practice tests.
