April 2006 Non Trad MCAT Prep Thread

[Twitch]

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Mods: if possible, please let this thread live here.

For those taking the MCAT in April 2006 I guess we're up next. I wanted to create this thread here rather than the general MCAT forum because of the unique nature of non-trads who typically are married/have a SO/kids, work, etc.

Strategically, here is how I'd order the sections:

VR - this will probably require the most work/time from me.
BS - I'd rate this the second most time consuming section that I'll be preparing for.
PS - Probably mostly review for this and practice.

Based on the above ordering, my tactical plan of attack is as follows:

Do a VR test every week in addition to catching up on my periodicals. I've subscribed to a bunch of good magazines (Harpers, Atlantic Monthly, Sci Am, Economist) though I'm slacking off on reading them. You should see the pile up of unread magazines.

Oddly enough there are some rather interesting articles in them. Some are just plain boring and I can't get myself to read over them. Some are just brilliant however. Others are rather amusing and I find myself laughing out loud at starbucks and people turn to stare at the lunatic sitting and laughing by himself 🙂

I rated the BS second since I'll be taking Organic I/II + labs, Genetics and Physiology in the next two semesters so plenty of work there.

Folks it probably seems like we've got plenty of time, but from what everyone is saying VR takes the longest to improve if you have a long way to go as I do. After doing some of the EK passages I have this feeling that I must be illiterate 😡 Must lrrrnnn 2 rheeaad N wriihhhte !!

So let's pwn this beast!

 

[QofQuimica]

Y Marker, I thought you were taking the MCAT today!

 

[Twitch]

Y Marker, I thought you were taking the MCAT today!

I have several core science classes yet to take - Physics II, Organic I/II, and some non-core ones I listed above. I'll actually be taking Organic II and Physiology next spring as I take the MCAT in April; though hopefully we'll be pretty deep into both the classes before test day.

Before organic I class starts next week, I made my first pair of molecules (using the model kit) that were enantiomers and verified that they were not superposeable. What can I say - I got tired of playing video games all day and figured I'd try to do something useful 🙂

Alright back to counter strike now.

 

[QofQuimica]

I have several core science classes yet to take - Physics II, Organic I/II, and some non-core ones I listed above. I'll actually be taking Organic II and Physiology next spring as I take the MCAT in April; though hopefully we'll be pretty deep into both the classes before test day.

Before organic I class starts next week, I made my first pair of molecules (using the model kit) that were enantiomers and verified that they were not superposeable. What can I say - I got tired of playing video games all day and figured I'd try to do something useful 🙂

Alright back to counter strike now.

lol, ok, now that you mention it, I do remember you posting that you were acing your Gen Chem exams. Are you doing a post-bac? Anyway, there are some VR, organic and physics MCAT and study tips in the subforum, and we'll be adding more posts, so you (and anyone else who's still studying pre-med sciences) should feel free to drop in.

 

[Twitch]

lol, ok, now that you mention it, I do remember you posting that you were acing your Gen Chem exams. Are you doing a post-bac? Anyway, there are some VR, organic and physics MCAT and study tips in the subforum, and we'll be adding more posts, so you (and anyone else who's still studying pre-med sciences) should feel free to drop in.

No not really a post bacc - my first time around taking those intro science classes. It's odd sitting in freshman classes with fishes and I have bachelors in Engineering from Texas A&M and a graduate degree from a top 20 b-school - crazy huh?

See I never had to take the basic sciences (long story - PM me if you're bored and want something mildly entertaining to read). At the time I thought of it as a lucky break but now it bites. You really need those introductory classes since most of the MCAT topics come out of that.

Speaking of Chem II - Q - you'd be proud of me. Thanks to your help my prof emailed me back at the end of the semester telling me I had the highest average overall in the class and made an A. It was a lot of work though. I did every problem at the end of the chapter. There were days that I hadn't stepped outside the house or spoken to another human being. At the end, it paid off handsomely.

 

[Ebete]

I took the test last Sat (Aug 20th)...and really don't think I did well. Either way I'm already setting my mind to take it again in April, so I am very glad you posted this here. You are right, we non-trad. w/ (myself a 4y/o and a 2 y/o...and a 30y/o 😱 hubby) or w/out families have to deal with the beast in a different manner.
I for instance took most of my sciences over 8 years ago (Phys and Chem), took organic 2 years ago and some bio recently. This has been very difficult for me. I sould have taken some chem amd phys courses to refresh, but didn't, now I really can't afford the $$$ or the time, so I will need to work on a new master plan for April, unless by some magical/miracle way I actually get a decent score 🙄 .

I'll return sometime in mid Oct. w/ the results and the plan; hopefully I will have buddies 😉

Thanks for the thread Y Marker!!!

 

[Twitch]

I took the test last Sat (Aug 20th)...and really don't think I did well. Either way I'm already setting my mind to take it again in April, so I am very glad you posted this here. You are right, we non-trad. w/ (myself a 4y/o and a 2 y/o...and a 30y/o 😱 hubby) or w/out families have to deal with the beast in a different manner.
I for instance took most of my sciences over 8 years ago (Phys and Chem), took organic 2 years ago and some bio recently. This has been very difficult for me. I sould have taken some chem amd phys courses to refresh, but didn't, now I really can't afford the $$$ or the time, so I will need to work on a new master plan for April, unless by some magical/miracle way I actually get a decent score 🙄 .

I'll return sometime in mid Oct. w/ the results and the plan; hopefully I will have buddies 😉

Thanks for the thread Y Marker!!!

If you need any feedback with your plan feel free to discuss and we'd be glad to help anyway we can. My wife works most of the time which is good and bad. It's good in the sense I get time to study - bad because I rarely get to see her.

For the most part I can't believe we're up next. I've criticized my friends who would procrastinate and well....here I am doing it myself. I'm a little behind on my verbal practice but gosh it's hard.

Good Luck Ebete!

 

[QofQuimica]

Y Marker, it's only August! You are not "behind" with your MCAT prep! 🙄

 

[Twitch]

Y Marker, it's only August! You are not "behind" with your MCAT prep! 🙄

The sciences, surely not. The verbal...ahhh now that yes, sure I'm behind in my plan to do a verbal test each week. Just slightly though. As we all know this is the hardest to get up (too bad there isn't a verbal viagra)

I could so relate to what some guy posted about how when they were a kid and their parents would read them a bedtime story but *not* ask at the end .... so what was the "tone" of the author or according to the author....

 

[QofQuimica]

The sciences, surely not. The verbal...ahhh now that yes, sure I'm behind in my plan to do a verbal test each week. Just slightly though. As we all know this is the hardest to get up (too bad there isn't a verbal viagra)

lmao, I should add that tip to the VR/WS Explanations Thread. "If you try these previous tips and they do not improve your score on VR, the moderators strongly recommend that you procure some Verbal Viagra." 😉

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

I am taking the MCAT in April too.

For me, Verbal is my strong suit (used to do History). Physical Science is my toughest section, but I am taking Physics I and II this upcoming year and I'm hoping that helps. I took most of my bio and chem 6 years ago, so I spent this summer reviewing those three sections of the MCAT. Now my plan is to do practice questions all year and study MCAT physics while taking it. In the spring i am going to take a hiatus from my saturday volunteering and take several full length practice exams at the library on Saturdays (thinking of leaving the babies with my parents as my husband has never had to watch them for more than a couple hours at a time).

My main concern: I'm due to have baby #2 in November! Newborn+Toddler+MCAT Prep+PhysicsII= ???

I'm confused as to which practice problems to use other than the old MCATs for sale. Are any of the books actually accurate? I've researched it on the MCAT forum and no one seems to agree.

Glad this thread started! I'm so nervous already... 😱

 

[Ebete]

And here I am...as I thought I would be I got a terrible score 🙁 ok where is the crying smilie? Anyway I am ready, I just don't know where to begin. My strategy for the Aug MCAT didn't work, so anyone have advise?

I am a double full time mommy (work during the day and night 😱 kids don't sleep very well) My hubby brings home the $$$$ and can only help me during the weekends as far as straight study hours; otherwhise I usually settle for the 1 hour nap time 😀 😀 😀 and the study till 4AM when I'm not half 😴 . I am now taking Mammalian Physiology and doing great (1 day a week).
So anyone else want to share and advise?

Thanks E

 

[Ebete]

What are you doing Y? Did you start your crusade yet?

 

[Ebete]

How about a sticky??? Pretty Please 🙂

 

[medhacker]

Hi Guys


I am considering April MCAT as a contingency plan, let's see how things turn out. Best wishes.

 

[medworm]

I completely agree with feeling illiterate with verbal. I was scoring 12s with practice tests, then ended up with an (VR) 8 and (WS) R. Go figure. I really think that VR measures your tolerance for putting up with BS, and WS measures your ability to put out BS. Shoot, let me be an adcom and I'd take any VR score over 8. Afterall, physicians speakth neither polemics nor riddles.

I'm confused as to which practice problems to use other than the old MCATs for sale. Are any of the books actually accurate? I've researched it on the MCAT forum and no one seems to agree.

I don't think you'll ever find agreement on the best books. SDNers seem to like EK despite all its shortcomings with lack of thorough explanations. If you don't know your material very well, IMO EK is NOT a good source to learn from your mistakes. I hated the black EK review books, but the 1001 passages for Gen Chem, Biology, and O Chem seem alright. Stay away from Physics! I find Audio Osmosis obnoxious, but still it can be a good way to maximize your commute. Berkeley Review (Physics, Gen Chem, and OChem) books are good, IMO, b/c you CAN learn new materials from doing the questions and reading the answer explanations. Their Biology books are a bit lengthy. Hyperlearning is written by Berkeley Review folks, so that may be a more compacted way to go. Friends of mine have taken Kaplan and TPR, and those materials seem thorough.

Your best bet to to mix things up a bit, books and exams. As long as you plan on spending $300-$500 on materials, you really can't go wrong. Good luck!

 

[Twitch]

What are you doing Y? Did you start your crusade yet?

I'm doing good. How is everyone else?

As it relates to verbal - just trying to read as much as possible and stay away from tv/counter strike (very hard to do - especially if you're addicted to gaming 🙂

 

[EternalStudent]

Hello all! I, too, will be taking the beast that is the MCAT in April '06. I am just now starting to review - taking a Kaplan class for the structure (and the fact that I took Gen Chem 10 years ago, Organic and Bio 5 years ago!). SOOOOO happy to have found this site and this thread. Good luck to all of you! (And me too... 😉 )

 

[Senor Fish]

Hi everyone:

I'm a non-trad relatively new to the forums. I took the August MCAT and did well. You can do it despite job/spouse, etc.!!!

I agree that verbal is the hardest to improve upon. The main thing is to find a strategy that works for you. If you are trying something, and bombing on the practice tests, switch it up. I initially started with Princeton Review's strategy and it did not work for me at all. I later switched to EK and it all clicked in. Don't be afraid to try different things and let the exams tell you what is working and what isn't.

As far as BS and PS, I think you just have to put in your time. I also recommend timing yourself through practice sessions when you can stomach it. The time pressure it what is hard for those sections.

Best of luck!

Senor Fish

 

[EternalStudent]

😳 So, I am having a little trouble buckling down to study on a regular basis. Anyone else??? I usually work particularly well under a deadline, and I am having a hard time convincing myself that 5.5 months until test day really DOES mean it is time to take things very seriously! 😱

Any tricks that you can offer for staying motivated would be appreciated!!!!!!

 

[scmartin]

Hello friends,

I am a 27 y/o attorney and have a very supportive/wonderful wife with me on this journey. Long story short...I have found my calling in medicine within last 2 years...unfortunately, that calling didn't come with finished pre-reqs!! (I took Bio I and Chem I in undergrad...will take Chm I again)
So I'm leaving my practice in January to take classes...I want to gear down for the MCAT in August (in order to obviate a 2 1/2+ year waiting time to matriculate...assuming some school would even take me!!).

Here is my proposal:
Spring I: Physiology, Physics I, Chm I and Chm II
Summer I and II: Organic I and II and maybe Physics II. TAKE AUGUST 2006 MCAT.

First: Do I need Physics II? Can I pick up the concepts via Kaplan?
Second: Is this too much too fast? Is this feasible? I don't want to have 2+ years of part/time work...

I'm strongly considering D.O., as well. Save for the fact that DO schools are more expensive, they would be my first choice.

I'd appreciate your thoughts...thanks.
-steve

 

[Twitch]

Hello friends,

I am a 27 y/o attorney and have a very supportive/wonderful wife with me on this journey. Long story short...I have found my calling in medicine within last 2 years...unfortunately, that calling didn't come with finished pre-reqs!! (I took Bio I and Chem I in undergrad...will take Chm I again)
So I'm leaving my practice in January to take classes...I want to gear down for the MCAT in August (in order to obviate a 2 1/2+ year waiting time to matriculate...assuming some school would even take me!!).

Here is my proposal:
Spring I: Physiology, Physics I, Chm I and Chm II
Summer I and II: Organic I and II and maybe Physics II. TAKE AUGUST 2006 MCAT.

First: Do I need Physics II? Can I pick up the concepts via Kaplan?
Second: Is this too much too fast? Is this feasible? I don't want to have 2+ years of part/time work...

I'm strongly considering D.O., as well. Save for the fact that DO schools are more expensive, they would be my first choice.

I'd appreciate your thoughts...thanks.
-steve

Here is my suggestion:
Spring: Physiology, Physics I & II , Chm II, Orgo I
Summer: Take a prep class preferably one with plenty of classroom instruction like TPR.

The schedule seems slightly rushed to take the test in August (and clearly incomplete). Your law background will help you on the passage based questions. The discretes you'll pick up in the review class easily. The test is basically a critical thinking and reasoning test. You *do* need to know the science, but that isn't necessarily the difficult part.

 

[medicalbound]

I can empathize entirely. I too was called to medicine out of my current career albeit as a senior software engineer. I too have a wonderful supportive wife and 3 kiddos to boot (2 after we started this endeavor). I originally set off to get my prereqs done in one year while studying for the MCAT (my first degree didn't cover the science requirements). That start date was over 3 years ago. After setting off at breakneck speed, I realized that I had to maintain my current responsibilities as a husband and father while I pursued this dream, as there are no guarantees for any of us - no matter how competitive we think we are / will become. The extended timeline has allowed me to continue to support my family while gaining extensive clinical experience, teaching experience, etc. while excelling in my post-baccalaureate classes and slaying the MCAT beast. This enabled me to attain excellent LORs from professors and physicians. I'm not stating these things to say that your plan is not feasible, just to provide evidence that you don't have to rush through this (as much as we want to). It works for some; taking a slower approach works better for others (as it did for me). I'm strongly considering D.O. as well and have my first interview in 2 days. My wife and I are very excited! Best of luck to you and take care!

 

[Caboose]

Nice thread.

I find myself looking at the April Beast thread on the MCAT forum and... is it just me or does a chapter take like 6 hours? Seriously, I think I forgot everything and am having to relearn it. Textbooks are too thorough and time consuming, (though I'm definitely going there for electomagnetic business), and EK review books require a lot of staring.

So, previously mentioned was the review from other companies to solidify science lost to the abyss of years past college, (though I think my knowledge was lost in the first year anyway). If you are at about the scratch level, whatcha using?

It's marathon study day. How's your gaming abstinence going, Y_Marker? I think my fragging days are over... maybe.

Caboose.

 

[magdalynaa]

Uuugghh, I haven't started yet. I've made more progress with my AMCAS application than with studying, lolol.

I'm taking Kaplan next year. My husband even bought me an old Saxon physics book. I am a physics *****. I can't get past the concepts in the first chapter of any physics textbooks! My husband is a physics genius, so I'm hoping with his help and the old textbook (high school Saxon textbooks are just awesome, IMO), I'll make some improvements. I did really well in my bio, chem, and orgo classes, but I flaked out on the MCAT.

Aggghh, I have got to start studying...

 

[Anastasis]

No not really a post bacc - my first time around taking those intro science classes. It's odd sitting in freshman classes with fishes and I have bachelors in Engineering from Texas A&M and a graduate degree from a top 20 b-school - crazy huh?

See I never had to take the basic sciences (long story - PM me if you're bored and want something mildly entertaining to read). At the time I thought of it as a lucky break but now it bites. You really need those introductory classes since most of the MCAT topics come out of that.

Whoop - what class are you?

I wasn't an engr but I was just curious - did they at least let chem 107 count for chem 101 or did you have to start all over again? I always thought it was stupid Engr majors had to take a different chem. I remember tutoring my roomie in 107 just because it went too fast and her life revolved around engr 111.

 

[Twitch]

Whoop - what class are you?

I wasn't an engr but I was just curious - did they at least let chem 107 count for chem 101 or did you have to start all over again? I always thought it was stupid Engr majors had to take a different chem. I remember tutoring my roomie in 107 just because it went too fast and her life revolved around engr 111.

Class of '97. I took mostly upper division classes at A&M.

For so long I couldn't wait for my TPR classes to start. Now that they have started I wish they hadn't. I got enough homework/tests to worry about with school as it is.

So much for taking the early start TPR class!

 

[1Path]

Your best bet to to mix things up a bit, books and exams. As long as you plan on spending $300-$500 on materials, you really can't go wrong. Good luck!

Too bad I had to learn this the hard way!!! 😡

For April 2006, I'm doing the following as of last week:
1) EK all the 1001 series + Verbal 101
2) EK Mini MCAT
3) Berkeley Review - Practice tests
4) ALL my textbooks - OChem, Chem, AND Physics
5) Kaplan - Topicals in Chem, Bio, and Physics
6) Kaplan QBank
7) AMCAS exams 1-9

Can you say O-V-E-R-K-I-L-L ??????

 

[kasha]

hi all,
i'm a non-trad applicant like you (27, served in the army). i found that the best way to do well on the test was take a ton of practice ones. i have a ton of them in pdf format and would be happy to let them go via a link for a VERY low price.

PM me with specific questions