April 2008 MCAT Central

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30 on yesterday's practice test... 10/11/9. The BS in that one was KILLER, but I haven't completed my organic chem DVDs and have barely begun the BS ones. I just need some refreshing on that, and I've got to learn some orgo to begin with... lol.. my organic class isn't the best.
 
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NAVYLABTECH08 said:
I don't believe half of the scores on here. According to this website, everyone here is >30. I am around18-24. Still mproving and I hope to be around 30 by April 5th. Good luck to you!
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I'm on the same boat as you! I've been stuck at around a 22, bio seems to hate me.. 😡 anyone have any good recommendations on how to improve in bio?
 
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New member here. I'm registered for the April 5th exam. I've been doing the Kaplan online course and at this point I'm just trying not to forget the stuff I've been studying. As for practice tests, I got a 31 on FL1 about a month ago and have since gotten a 38(fl2), 37(fl3), and 37(fl4). I'm a little discouraged because many people on this site say that kaplan's tests are inflated/skewed to make it seem like their students are improving. Nonetheless, I found it very helpful to expand my resources outside of kaplan. For instance I was having trouble with the bicarbonate buffer system in biology, so I looked at various sources on the internet. This made things crystal clear.

Anyways, I just wanted to check in and join the april group! 😉 I hope everyone is on track and still motivated. How do you guys organize your studying? I try to stick with one subject a day (chem, phys, vr, biol, orgo), a day of rest, and then a practice test.
 
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aqua11230 said:
I'm on the same boat as you! I've been stuck at around a 22, bio seems to hate me.. 😡 anyone have any good recommendations on how to improve in bio?
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First, figure out what it is about bio that is hindering you... which subject? The physiology? The genetics/molecular bio? The organic chem part of BS? Work on learning the things that you are struggling with the most FIRST.

Also, keep in my that the BS section has become more and more like VR lately. That means you most definitely need to read the passages and get as much information as possible from them.

And don't worry about everyone saying they are scoring 30+. The only reason I'm near that is because this is my third shot, i've had the prereqs very recently or am in them right now, and i'm studying 4-5 hours a day.

FYI - my first and second scores were 21 and 22 (before the prereqs).

So from someone who's been there, keep plugging along!! You CAN do it!
 
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Man anyone taken a peak at the January score threads? Looks like we have a lot of work to do aprilers!
 
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AAHHH!

Mkay just had to get that scream out. Organic II about did me in today. Lecture was frustrating, the quiz he gave us is insane, and nothing went right in lab. In fact, two mercury thermometers were broken (not by our group thank goodness) and the products AND reactants stunk to high heaven along with the bromine we used as an indicator. I'm having a no good, very bad day, and I attribute 95% of it to Organic II.

(The other 5% miscellaneous is the weather, not sleeping well last night, and being female).
 
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gradu8in2003 said:
AAHHH!

Mkay just had to get that scream out. Organic II about did me in today. Lecture was frustrating, the quiz he gave us is insane, and nothing went right in lab. In fact, two mercury thermometers were broken (not by our group thank goodness) and the products AND reactants stunk to high heaven along with the bromine we used as an indicator. I'm having a no good, very bad day, and I attribute 95% of it to Organic II.

(The other 5% miscellaneous is the weather, not sleeping well last night, and being female).
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:laugh::laugh::laugh:

ochem can never be the reason for a bad day!!! not sleeping well...that can cause problems. 🙄
 
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I'll be taking mine in April 19 or maybe May 10 if i am not prepared by April. I've been reviewing for about a month now but still have trouble getting some concepts down. That is why I haven't done any any passage-based questions. I'm afraid of starting practice tests because I feel like I am not ready. I am panicking and want to be able to send my apps early. What should you suggest? I have less than 8 weeks left. I have all of AAMC practice test and Kaplan as well as Gold Standard. Spent a lot of money! Should I take all of them or focus on some? Also, how do I review after I take a practice test? Thank you.
 
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watsupdoc said:
I'll be taking mine in April 19 or maybe May 10 if i am not prepared by April. I've been reviewing for about a month now but still have trouble getting some concepts down. That is why I haven't done any any passage-based questions. I'm afraid of starting practice tests because I feel like I am not ready. I am panicking and want to be able to send my apps early. What should you suggest? I have less than 8 weeks left. I have all of AAMC practice test and Kaplan as well as Gold Standard. Spent a lot of money! Should I take all of them or focus on some? Also, how do I review after I take a practice test? Thank you.
Click to expand...

see the thread you made...🙄
 
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my goal is to take all of the kaplan practice exams (i think there's like 10 or so) and all of the AAMC practice exams, for a total of 19 exams. i'm taking 2 every w/e, which will finish me off the w/e before the April 19th exam.

i started with a diagnostic of 20, and i've taken about 4 more practice exams, ranging from 21, 23, 24 and 27. ugh, it's been so painful and i'm starting to get really scared! i hope that i keep progressing forward.
 
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1) how early do you recommend I get there? depends on the testing center. i would say about a half hour.

2) do you just wait around until they tell you what room to go to or is there only one room for everyone? everyone takes the test in the same room. they bring you in one by one. this can take a long time depending how big the facility is and how many people are taking it.

3) how many test takers/room? i think this varies. about 24 people could fit in my room.

4) what kind of computers do you use? PC or MAC? my facility had old PC computers with huge monitors.

5) are shortcuts turned on? i.e. can you use control+f to search through the passages? haha good question...do not know- never tried it

6) do you TYPE or hand write the essay portion? the main advantage i saw to changing from a paper-based test to CBT was you could maybe type up the essays, which is a lot easier on my hands and I'm a faster typer than writer.
type
7) how long of breaks do you have in between sections? i believe it is 10 minutes between each section, but this does not account for the time it takes to fingerprint/ sign in and out.

8) is everyone's order of the test the same? i.e. is it physical, verbal, biological for everyone? or do some people have verbal first, then biological, and finally physical and so on? i think knowing what my first section i'll be taking going into the test will help me have an easier state of mind. yes-everyone's is in the same order. (Physics, verbal, writing and then bio)

9) can you snack on break? can you bring your own snacks? yes, you can bring your own snacks. they will give you a locker.
 
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so you get there on the test date...
i'm taking it april 5th at 8am.

1) how early do you recommend I get there?

2) do you just wait around until they tell you what room to go to or is there only one room for everyone?

3) how many test takers/room?

4) what kind of computers do you use? PC or MAC?

5) are shortcuts turned on? i.e. can you use control+f to search through the passages? haha

6) do you TYPE or hand write the essay portion? the main advantage i saw to changing from a paper-based test to CBT was you could maybe type up the essays, which is a lot easier on my hands and I'm a faster typer than writer.

7) how long of breaks do you have in between sections?

8) is everyone's order of the test the same? i.e. is it physical, verbal, biological for everyone? or do some people have verbal first, then biological, and finally physical and so on? i think knowing what my first section i'll be taking going into the test will help me have an easier state of mind.

9) can you snack on break? can you bring your own snacks?

I think that's it, any other test day tips would be helpful! thanks!
 
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queenbee said:
my goal is to take all of the kaplan practice exams (i think there's like 10 or so) and all of the AAMC practice exams, for a total of 19 exams. i'm taking 2 every w/e, which will finish me off the w/e before the April 19th exam.

i started with a diagnostic of 20, and i've taken about 4 more practice exams, ranging from 21, 23, 24 and 27. ugh, it's been so painful and i'm starting to get really scared! i hope that i keep progressing forward.
Click to expand...

have you finished with your content review?
 
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1) I would say get there really early...i got there about 1 hour early and they let me in ~30 min till start (at 11:30). People were let in one by one and the people who signed in later started the exam with a 30min-1hour delay.
2) Waited in seating area and everyone takes it in one room.
3) ~20-25
4) new-looking PCs with tinted screens
5) No, shortcuts are definitely not turned on. -otherwise the verbal would be much easier 😉
6) type
7) breaks are ten mins but you could theoretically take longer because the next section doesn't start until you click the ok...even when the timer says 0 min remaining.
8) yes, everyone's order is the same.
9) yes, I got assigned a locker but had to leave even the waiting area and eat in the hallway. It depends on the center.

Hope this helps.
 
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get there early. you can often start early.

turned in that orgo quiz.. and worked on pedigrees last night for genetics and mcat study.

I'm going to watch the fourth bio dvd today and another organic one...

tomorrow, I take my second aamc practice of the season 🙂
 
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my aamc was a 29. not too bad. still working my tail off for every point... I really want a 30 this time.

is anyone else begining to feel overwhelmed? its like I wish I could take a hiatus from school and just study for the next 45 days.
 
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gradu8in2003 said:
my aamc was a 29. not too bad. still working my tail off for every point... I really want a 30 this time.

is anyone else begining to feel overwhelmed? its like I wish I could take a hiatus from school and just study for the next 45 days.
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hah hit the nail on the head. I've got spring break next week and the thing I'm most excited about is finishing up my content review. I'm getting a bit worried because I have a month after spring break before I take the test and I know I'm going to have a lot of tests during that time. I'll probably feel a lot better once I take another diagnostic though so we'll see. Getting a bit overwhelmed though because I feel like I don't remember things as well as I should, but I'm hoping spring break will give me time to finish studying and organize the subjects I don't know as well (mainly bio).
 
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am just more than ready to take this thing. I have invested way too much time into it. common April 19 why are you taking so long to arrive? I can't wait until the 20th.
 
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gradu8in2003 said:
is anyone else begining to feel overwhelmed?
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I continuously go back and forth between feeling very behind because I cannot put in more then about 8 hours a week, and doing very very well on the practice tests and feeling like I am ready. I pretty much just want to get it over with so I can get on with my life.

I just got over the last high from AAMC CBT 8, and now I feel like I suck at physics. (especially circuits, magnetism, lenses and optics)
 
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anybody seen a drop in scores going from kaplan to aamc??
22 diag.
28 kap1
34 kap2
30 aamc CBT7...?
34 kap3
 
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Vihsadas said:
7 is hard. I think I didn't do relatively well on it. I wouldn't worry about that one AAMC test you've taken. Until you've taken 3-4 AAMCs you can't really discern a trend.
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Vihsadas, how did you approach studying from the Kaplan PP book and PR Cracking CBT book. I believe you said you used those two as main ones for reviewing. Did you read each other simulatenously or one byh one cover to cover?
 
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Mandek said:
Vihsadas, how did you approach studying from the Kaplan PP book and PR Cracking CBT book. I believe you said you used those two as main ones for reviewing. Did you read each other simulatenously or one byh one cover to cover?
Click to expand...

I used the Kaplan as a primary guide and then always did the relevant sections from the TPR while moving linearly through the kaplan. So I read them kinda simultaneously, although in some sections they don't read well side by side. The orgo section is especially different in both and the bio can be different in some subjects. I found the TPR orgo was better to learn from for the first time, but the kaplan's had some interesting facts in it too. I do encourage using them both. I think it's worth it.
 
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gradu8in2003 said:
vihsadas, how did your score on the GS compare to your real test? my gold standard scores are much lower than my berkeley review and aamcs...

taking another fl today!
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what do you think of the berkeley tests? are they worth the buy.. i currently have 12 tests scheduled to take.. but since im retaking the test.. a lot of them i have taken before in the past.. except the 3 GS tests that i won. Not sure if i should buy Berkeley CBTs
 
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dcohen said:
Man anyone taken a peak at the January score threads? Looks like we have a lot of work to do aprilers!
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No kidding! I didn't take the MCAT in Jan., I just browsed their thread, and I couldn't believe how many 36, 38 etc. there were. I expect the same from you guys!!
 
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tourniquet1963 said:
what do you think of the berkeley tests? are they worth the buy.. i currently have 12 tests scheduled to take.. but since im retaking the test.. a lot of them i have taken before in the past.. except the 3 GS tests that i won. Not sure if i should buy Berkeley CBTs
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TBR is a good middle ground.. I had taken several of the AAMC's too and didn't trust my repeat scores. Since I had only a few of those, I got the GS and TBR. The GS ones seem to have extremely harsh curves, but the TBR seem on par with what I'm expecting.

Six weeks to go!
 
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Hey all. Sooo who is staying in to study hardcore this weekend instead of going out? I'm hitting the library right when I get off work to avoid all temptation.
 
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gradu8in2003 said:
pretty much. spring break here so i'll be studying a LOT.
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likewise. I have 3 chapters left in ek (electrochemistry, evolution, and labtechniques/biochemistry) and then its review time. I'm incredibly surprised with how I've pretty much stuck to my schedule! Nervous for the next diagnostic i'm gonna take. Which AAMC do u guys think i should take? I plan to take all of them and have already taken 3, so what should be my next diagnostic? =)
 
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gradu8in2003 said:
vihsadas, how did your score on the GS compare to your real test? my gold standard scores are much lower than my berkeley review and aamcs...

taking another fl today!
Click to expand...

Much lower I think. At the time I took the GS, my normal AAMC practice score was probably about a 36. I think I got a 33 on the free GS CBT. I'd say it was a good exam though (except that the passages are short sometimes).
 
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quote=dcohen;6337169]likewise. I have 3 chapters left in ek (electrochemistry, evolution, and labtechniques/biochemistry) and then its review time. I'm incredibly surprised with how I've pretty much stuck to my schedule! Nervous for the next diagnostic i'm gonna take. Which AAMC do u guys think i should take? I plan to take all of them and have already taken 3, so what should be my next diagnostic? =)[/quote]

wow, i feel behind compared to you all. I still have about 10 chapters to go and I haven't taken any diags yet. I'm hoping to do that soon 🙁
 
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wannabedocta said:
quote=dcohen;6337169]likewise. I have 3 chapters left in ek (electrochemistry, evolution, and labtechniques/biochemistry) and then its review time. I'm incredibly surprised with how I've pretty much stuck to my schedule! Nervous for the next diagnostic i'm gonna take. Which AAMC do u guys think i should take? I plan to take all of them and have already taken 3, so what should be my next diagnostic? =)
Click to expand...

wow, i feel behind compared to you all. I still have about 10 chapters to go and I haven't taken any diags yet. I'm hoping to do that soon 🙁[/quote]

anyone of the from 4-6 would be good, I wouldn't suggest taking 7-10 until you have finished reviewing.
 
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i just took the free TPR test from their website.. results: horrible

Bio 9, Verbal 6!, Phys 8... for a total of 23!.. its so bad its not even funny.. a free Kaplan test i took a few months ago i did better.. lets just hope this was just a hard test.. if anyone can concur ill be really happy.. I'll go over the test tomorrow..

Well good luck
 
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The time is 8:30 pm on the dot, and my phone rings. I know exactly who it is. It's my study buddy, calling me to work on some MCAT Thermo; the next section on our schedule. I am not picking up, f**ck that. I have been going at it for months, every saturday, 8 hours of straight MCAT nightmare, dissecting and analyzing even the most trivial problems from every imaginable angle, f**ck that, not again, not tonight. I am getting wasted instead, yes very wasted, very wasted, wasted, wasted, wasted 😛.
 
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hang in there, tourniquet! my scores haven't been improving as much as i'd like, but I'm hanging tough.. I want this to be my last time!

anyone else on spring break? studying my rear off and shadowing abt 30 hrs... (to keep me motivated to study lol)
 
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i'm on my spring break right now. Hoping to finish up those last 3 lectures early this week, but I decided I think I'm gonna take the next couple days off. I don't like to tell myself I deserve a break, but I'm gonna take a small one anyways.
 
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same here, which is why I'm redirecting and shadowing. I feel like it'll keep my mind off mcat during the day, but encouraged and ready to kick butt again when its over. honestly, there's not much i'd rather do during spring break... which must mean I'm going into the right profession 🙂
 
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Hey guys,

Random question for you all. Do you know if the MCAT still has the feature of starting the section (ps, vr, ws, or bs) only once you click the "next" button? Does the break end and then go directly to the questions of the section, or does it still wait for you to click "next"? I know it was like this last year.

Thanks!
 
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Just took the PS of AAMC 3R.. Accidentally took the long version, so it was waay different... and my score reflected (8).

I feel like I'll NEVER conquer PS! GRRR!!

Oh well, time for a shower and shadowing.
 
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Wooo! just did AAMC6 and got a 37 (13/10/14).

I was getting worried that I was getting rusty but I'd be perfectly happy with anything above a 33 on the real thing.
 
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