1 month plan to study for mcat

[sibitrum]

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Hello, I would like some advice on how I should setup my study plan. I am doing a postbac program and will be finishing my courses this spring. I will have about a month between my finals and when I take the MCAT. What kind of plan would you suggest for this month? And I can do some minor studying during the semester. What should I study then?

Thanks for your input.

 

[apumic]

^One that includes delaying your MCAT 2 months.

 

[zqed]

It is going to be very difficult to finish your studying in just one month. Why are you in such a rush to finish the MCAT? The best idea is to take it slow and make it count. You don't want to have to take the MCAT again..

Look at the S2Ned's sticky-ed thread for a good 3 month plan.

Good luck!

 

[Mdr1985]

So I realize this is an old thread. . . but I thought I'd bring it back up with a little twist on my situation ( I think this reply will bring the thread to the top? ). I really truly do understand the importance of not rushing the MCAT, but of course, also don't want to wait an entire year to apply if that is not needed. . . The situation I'm looking at is my final (spring) semester taking only my second semester physics (I'm nontrad, and that will be the last class I need) - studying for the MCAT during that final (yes I realize prereq) class, then having 4-6 weeks of doing nothing at all but studying for the MCAT. This would actually give me a whole semester PLUS 4-6 weeks to study, but the studying during the semester will be while taking my final physics class (all other prereqs will already be completed). . . So that is option 1. . . option 2 is taking the MCAT fairly late in July or August (August being the only one that gives me a full 3 months of nothing but studying AFTER my final semester) and applying quite late. . . and option 3 is waiting an entire year to apply. While I certainly could use this year to beef up my application more, and as I said before very much respect not rushing the MCAT, I would of course like to apply as soon as possible if reasonable. . . being nontrad, I'm a bit older so the time factor plays in a bit more. Thank you in advance for any insight into my situation. I hope I'm not beating a dead horse here with my question. 😛

 

[ridethecliche]

So I realize this is an old thread. . . but I thought I'd bring it back up with a little twist on my situation ( I think this reply will bring the thread to the top? ). I really truly do understand the importance of not rushing the MCAT, but of course, also don't want to wait an entire year to apply if that is not needed. . . The situation I'm looking at is my final (spring) semester taking only my second semester physics (I'm nontrad, and that will be the last class I need) - studying for the MCAT during that final (yes I realize prereq) class, then having 4-6 weeks of doing nothing at all but studying for the MCAT. This would actually give me a whole semester PLUS 4-6 weeks to study, but the studying during the semester will be while taking my final physics class (all other prereqs will already be completed). . . So that is option 1. . . option 2 is taking the MCAT fairly late in July or August (August being the only one that gives me a full 3 months of nothing but studying AFTER my final semester) and applying quite late. . . and option 3 is waiting an entire year to apply. While I certainly could use this year to beef up my application more, and as I said before very much respect not rushing the MCAT, I would of course like to apply as soon as possible if reasonable. . . being nontrad, I'm a bit older so the time factor plays in a bit more. Thank you in advance for any insight into my situation. I hope I'm not beating a dead horse here with my question. 😛

I don't think that's too bad if you can get done most of your review, other than physics II, during the semester. How many hours a week can you dedicate to studying while you're taking the class?

A whole semester plus 4-6 weeks is plenty, but it depends on how you work and how much you can get done during the semester.

 

[Mdr1985]

I'd say I could devote 20-30 hours a week for MCAT study considering I'll only be taking physics and working minimally. . . does that sound sufficient? What would you say a sufficient amount of study per week in my situation would be (during that final semester, obviously I'll be hitting it as hard as I can for the last 4-6 weeks)? I could potentially pick up an upper level bio course that last semester in addition to physics II to beef up my application a little, but I don't want to stretch myself too thin. Again though, those are the only two classes I'd be taking other than minimal working. Thoughts?
Also (in addition to everything above). . . I haven't seen much mention of this here on SDN, but I have been planning on studying for MCAT along the way/while taking the classes. To clarify, I have certainly seen the importance of really learning the material while taking the prereqs here on SDN, but never seen mention of actually taking practice tests etc. along the way. . . To me it sounds like a good idea, but am I looking at it the wrong way? I thought, for example, during o-chem I'll study not only the class but also o-chem MCAT review, and then when the classes are over I'll take an o-chem MCAT review test or two. . . and so on. Thoughts?
Thanks again for anyone insight 🙂

 

[ridethecliche]

If you have 2 months of 15ish hours and then 4-6 weeks dedicated to MCAT studying, you should be fine if you have a good schedule set up.

Refer to SN2ED's schedule. That might work well for you.

You'll have to be very organized and on task.

 

[tttgo]

It should be doable if you're only taking 1 physics class. However, you should condense your mcat studying to 3-4 months. 20-30 hours a week should be ok if you plan it out very well with a schedule like sn2ed's. The problem with taking test along the way is that there's only so much quality material available. You should save like 7 out of the 8 aamcs for that last month. Taking an ochem test or two to corresponds with ochem class sounds like a good idea, but I don't think it'll work too well. That's like people saying that they'll start mcat prepping freshman year. The lack of focus (not doing it in the condensed 3-4 months) with probably hurt you.Also, the mcat doesn't just test content, so you really should have content down first. For you though, I would suggest doing all of your mcat prep at once (not focusing on just physics), since all of your other prereqs are done. Perhaps wait a month after the start of the semester to do this, so you won't be clueless in electromagnetism. During your 20 hours of mcat studying, direct that towards the mcat and try not to match it with your class since the class goes more in depth. If you look at the schedule, you're doing physics only like once a week, so the topics won't match up with the class.

Basically, I would use the class as an aid to understand the material conceptually, and the prep books for content and to learnt he material/formulas., if you can't wait a year. I wouldn't suggest adding bio.

During your studying, you'll be reviewing content and doing lots of passages, so you'll get lots of practice.

 

[Mdr1985]

Thank you so much for everyone insight! This has helped my future planning tremendously. One more question about the upper level bio I mentioned and ttgo advised against. . . I certainly understand not stretching myself too thin by taking the bio class, but is there anything on the MCAT that I might better understand by taking an upper level bio? I've heard that things like genetics show up on the MCAT, so would taking a genetics class for example help? Same goes for biochemistry, cancer cell bio, any of those upper level classes. Thanks again, this forum is so incredibly helpful.

 

[jjax107]

If you can pull off decent score in under one month preparation you're beyond a genius. I guess you have no choice in your situation, so good luck.