Can you "super study" your way to a very high MCAT score?

[SiriusA]

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Let's say you had a full year to take the MCAT and let's assume you had the ability to study every day for several hours for the whole year without getting burnt out (big assumption, but let's say you were internally motivated and all that).

You systematically study every single comprehensive resource on each of the subjects: you spend 4 months basically memorizing TBR Bio front-to-back, then you completely master physics content-wise, o-chem, gen chem, etc. You have the content memorized like the back of your hand with 100% accuracy. Then you spend a couple more months taking practice tests (maybe with a prep course), practicing test-taking strategies, reviewing mistakes made in practice tests, improving reading speed & efficiency, timing and pacing, etc.

Let's say you did all of that stuff over the course of an entire year. Will that basically guarantee at least a 12/12/12? I know this is theoretical, but basically my question is: If you work harder and smarter than everybody else by a significant margin, can you kill the MCAT regardless of your innate ability or talent?

 

[BABSstudent]

Let's say you had a full year to take the MCAT and let's assume you had the ability to study every day for several hours for the whole year without getting burnt out (big assumption, but let's say you were internally motivated and all that).

You systematically study every single comprehensive resource on each of the subjects: you spend 4 months basically memorizing TBR Bio front-to-back, then your completely master physics content-wise, o-chem, gen chem, etc. You have the content memorized like the back of your hand with 100% accuracy. Then you spend a couple more months taking practice tests (maybe with a prep course), practicing test-taking strategies, reviewing mistakes made in practice tests, improving reading speed & efficiency, timing and pacing, etc.

Let's say you did all of that stuff over the course of an entire year. Will that basically guarantee at least a 12/12/12? I know this is theoretical, but basically my question is: If you work harder and smarter than everybody else by a significant margin, can you kill the MCAT regardless of your innate ability or talent?

I say you can, but it would involve lots of practice tests. The MCAT is a standardized test and can be prepared for with practice and studying. Some people have to put in more effort to get the same results, but in your scenario they should get a decent score.

Is it practical? No. Most don't have the ability to study for that long or the determination to.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

I think you can seige your way to a high-30's score. Won't get above 40 without natural test taking/reading comprehension/logic skill.

 

[circulus vitios]

Let's say you had a full year to take the MCAT and let's assume you had the ability to study every day for several hours for the whole year without getting burnt out (big assumption, but let's say you were internally motivated and all that).

You systematically study every single comprehensive resource on each of the subjects: you spend 4 months basically memorizing TBR Bio front-to-back, then your completely master physics content-wise, o-chem, gen chem, etc. You have the content memorized like the back of your hand with 100% accuracy. Then you spend a couple more months taking practice tests (maybe with a prep course), practicing test-taking strategies, reviewing mistakes made in practice tests, improving reading speed & efficiency, timing and pacing, etc.

Let's say you did all of that stuff over the course of an entire year. Will that basically guarantee at least a 12/12/12? I know this is theoretical, but basically my question is: If you work harder and smarter than everybody else by a significant margin, can you kill the MCAT regardless of your innate ability or talent?

I'm burnt out after 3.5 months of 3-4 hours a day, 5 days a week.

There's no point in studying for several hours every day for a year because you'll forget the material after about 4 months.

 

[DAPI]

Let's say you had a full year to take the MCAT and let's assume you had the ability to study every day for several hours for the whole year without getting burnt out (big assumption, but let's say you were internally motivated and all that).

You systematically study every single comprehensive resource on each of the subjects: you spend 4 months basically memorizing TBR Bio front-to-back, then your completely master physics content-wise, o-chem, gen chem, etc. You have the content memorized like the back of your hand with 100% accuracy. Then you spend a couple more months taking practice tests (maybe with a prep course), practicing test-taking strategies, reviewing mistakes made in practice tests, improving reading speed & efficiency, timing and pacing, etc.

Let's say you did all of that stuff over the course of an entire year. Will that basically guarantee at least a 12/12/12? I know this is theoretical, but basically my question is: If you work harder and smarter than everybody else by a significant margin, can you kill the MCAT regardless of your innate ability or talent?

No, nothing guarantees you anything, especially in verbal.

Studying for a year is not working smarter than anyone. You've wasted an entire year studying for a 36 when you could have spent 2 months and gotten a 30 and got in. Maybe not to the same caliber of school, but still and acceptance.

 

[SiriusA]

I'm burnt out after 3.5 months of 3-4 hours a day, 5 days a week.

There's no point in studying for several hours every day for a year because you'll forget the material after about 4 months.

I see this repeated often and it doesn't make sense to me. It's not like it's physically impossible to go back and review old material, and since you've already put in the hard work you will remember it again quickly. Also, they designed Spaced Repetition Software (like Anki) for this very purpose, to help you commit large amounts of information to long-term memory. Med students use it all the time for boards and stuff like that, when they have to recall information they learned over the course of 2 years for the Step 1, etc.

 

[SiriusA]

No, nothing guarantees you anything, especially in verbal.

Studying for a year is not working smarter than anyone. You've wasted an entire year studying for a 36 when you could have spent 2 months and gotten a 30 and got in. Maybe not to the same caliber of school, but still and acceptance.

There's a huge difference between 36 and 30, especially if you're an ORM male. A 30 will not guarantee anything for me. How can you call it a "wasted year"? Makes no sense.

 

[DAPI]

There's a huge difference between 36 and 30, especially if you're an ORM male. A 30 will not guarantee anything for me. How can you call it a "wasted year"? Makes no sense.

Preaching to the choir 🙄

How can you consider a year of studying for the MCAT not a wasted year? There are so many better things you could do with your time. Study for the normal amount of time, get a 32, get accepted. If you were to study for a year, you would look back and regret everything you missed out on while you were studying.

 

[SiriusA]

Preaching to the choir 🙄

How can you consider a year of studying for the MCAT not a wasted year? There are so many better things you could do with your time. Study for the normal amount of time, get a 32, get accepted. If you were to study for a year, you would look back and regret everything you missed out on while you were studying.

A 32 doesn't guarantee anything for me, like I said I'm an ORM male with an average GPA

 

[circulus vitios]

I see this repeated often and it doesn't make sense to me. It's not like it's physically impossible to go back and review old material, and since you've already put in the hard work you will remember it again quickly. Also, they designed Spaced Repetition Software (like Anki) for this very purpose, to help you commit large amounts of information to long-term memory. Med students use it all the time for boards and stuff like that, when they have to recall information they learned over the course of 2 years for the Step 1, etc.

I think most medical students spend like 3 months at the very most studying for Step I.

 

[DAPI]

A 32 doesn't guarantee anything for me, like I said I'm an ORM male with an average GPA

A 4.0/45 doesn't guarantee you anything either

The difference between a 32 and a 36 are about a 15-20% increase in acceptance rate depending on if you are asian or white and what you GPA actually is. (source)

MCAT is not everything, espeically if you are just looking to get accepted and not go to a top 10.

Feel free to study for an entire year, but there is a reason all the major prep courses last about 3 months.

 

[red doctober]

I'm burnt out after 3.5 months of 3-4 hours a day, 5 days a week.

There's no point in studying for several hours every day for a year because you'll forget the material after about 4 months.

I agree with this. I spent about 3-4 months of hard studying, and at the end of it I was so ready for it to be over with. Sure there were some practice questions and tests that I had left undone, but I really don't think it would have made a difference to have done them all. As time goes on you're going to have diminishing returns for the amount of time put in, so it might look like this

Would it be worth it to you to get one or two extra points for many extra months of studying?

 

[SiriusA]

A 4.0/45 doesn't guarantee you anything either

The difference between a 32 and a 36 are about a 15-20% increase in acceptance rate depending on if you are asian or white and what you GPA actually is. (source)

MCAT is not everything, espeically if you are just looking to get accepted and not go to a top 10.

Feel free to study for an entire year, but there is a reason all the major prep courses last about 3 months.

Why do you guys think in black and white? It's ridiculous to say a 4.0/45 doesn't guarantee an acceptance somewhere. All other factors equal, a 4.0/45 is unequivocally better than a 3.7/32. I am looking to get accepted "somewhere," I don't even plan on applying to any of the top 20 schools, but to say the MCAT doesn't make a difference in scholarship money, acceptance rates, etc. outside of the top 20 is ridiculous.

 

[SiriusA]

I think most medical students spend like 3 months at the very most studying for Step I.

I have read personal accounts of med students on this forum studying 8 months or a year in advance with the purpose of scoring 260 or 270+ (and they achieve those kinds of scores).

 

[DAPI]

Why do you guys think in black and white? It's ridiculous to say a 4.0/45 doesn't guarantee an acceptance somewhere. All other factors equal, a 4.0/45 is unequivocally better than a 3.7/32. I am looking to get accepted "somewhere," I don't even plan on applying to any of the top 20 schools, but to say the MCAT doesn't make a difference in scholarship money, acceptance rates, etc. outside of the top 20 is ridiculous.

I don't think in black and white, I think in 'how much is my time worth?'

There is no way, to me, that spending an entire year studying for the MCAT is worth the potential for a 36. I would rather just spend 2-3 months, get the 30-32, get accepted somewhere, and start school. Putting that kind of pressure on myself is not what I want to do in my 20's.

And I never said it didn't make a difference in any of those areas. What I said is the difference is not worth a year of studying for something that may not even be obtainable.

 

[circulus vitios]

I have read personal accounts of med students on this forum studying 8 months or a year in advance with the purpose of scoring 260 or 270+ (and they achieve those kinds of scores).

If they do then it's on top of their regular coursework and it's definitely not 8-12 months of hardcore studying. I believe most US medical schools give students 4-6 weeks of dedicated study time. A few give like 3 months, and I think Caribbean schools regularly give 3 months.

 

[SiriusA]

I don't think in black and white, I think in 'how much is my time worth?'

There is no way, to me, that spending an entire year studying for the MCAT is worth the potential for a 36. I would rather just spend 2-3 months, get the 30-32, get accepted somewhere, and start school. Putting that kind of pressure on myself is not what I want to do in my 20's.

And I never said it didn't make a difference in any of those areas. What I said is the difference is not worth a year of studying for something that may not even be obtainable.

I understand that it's not worth the investment for you. Let's assume there was some person for whom the investment was worthwhile. They may even score a 39 instead of a 36. My question is about the MCAT: is the MCAT a test where more thorough preparation leads to a better outcome. By preparation I mean something more thorough than just "OK I went through 5 prep books once and I did the passages one time through and I did AAMC 3 - 11 and I'm scoring near where I want, now I'm ready".

 

[DAPI]

I understand that it's not worth the investment for you. Let's assume there was some person for whom the investment was worthwhile. They may even score a 39 instead of a 36. My question is about the MCAT: is the MCAT a test where more thorough preparation leads to a better outcome. By preparation I mean something more thorough than just "OK I went through 5 prep books once and I did the passages one time through and I did AAMC 3 - 11 and I'm scoring near where I want, now I'm ready".

I'm going to stick with my original answer.

No, nothing guarantees you anything, especially in verbal.

No matter how hard some people try, they will never break a certain score. What that score is for you is yet to be determined.

 

[TheShaker]

I think natural ability and luck affect your score more than preparation after you pass 36 or so.

 

[deleted303591]

The MCAT is a weed-out exam.

It sounds like you are way too focused on reviewing.

You better KNOW the material. Memorization is not going to help you much, when it comes to getting a competitive score. Those with competitive scores probably already have the concepts (and the details) down.

Old exams are the best way to "study" after you KNOW the material.

In engineering, it doesn't matter if I read the book cover-to-cover (and memorize the material), in order to get an "A". This will not help. In order to get an "A" in engineering, you better be able to work EVERY single problem out of the book.

I would imagine the same would basically apply for the MCAT. Most people are not used to that sort of studying.

I would also use Anki.

 

[Frazier]

There's def a point of diminishing returns.

Also, as others alluded to, natural ability (or at least ability developed over a lifetime) plays a big role too.

I have no doubts that even if I prepped for an entire year, my VR score would never get above 13. I just read too slow. If I try to speed read, I would miss details...ergo 12-13 would be my absolute max potential in VR assuming random passages on topics that were foreign to me.

I think BS and PS are much more "improvable" sections. But, with the pot luck nature of what actually shows up on the mcat...I would never consider spending a year prepping for it.

There are just too many variables of uncertainty.

Hell, even if it guaranteed me a 38 over a 35 I still prob wouldn't do it. 35 will hold no one back at any school. I could spend that time developing some real kick ass EC's if it was that important for me to "wow" them.

I'll take my 3 weeks of hell and subsequent ability to move on with my life any day. 😉

 

[SiriusA]

The MCAT is a weed-out exam.

It sounds like you are way too focused on reviewing.

You better KNOW the material. Memorization is not going to help you much, when it comes to getting a competitive score. Those with competitive scores probably already have the concepts (and the details) down.

Old exams are the best way to "study" after you KNOW the material.

In engineering, it doesn't matter if I read the book cover-to-cover (and memorize the material), in order to get an "A". This will not help. In order to get an "A" in engineering, you better be able to work EVERY single problem out of the book.

I would imagine the same would basically apply for the MCAT. Most people are not used to that sort of studying.

I'm not sure if that's a fair comparison. The MCAT is not based on being able to solve a number of different types of problems like an engineering exam is. Even if that were the case, all you would need to do for the engineering exam is know (i.e. memorize/remember) how to solve every single problem from the book. It's the same thing -- memorization and repetition, just with solving problems rather than recall.

 

[Dbate]

I'm not sure if that's a fair comparison. The MCAT is not based on being able to solve a number of different types of problems like an engineering exam is. Even if that were the case, all you would need to do for the engineering exam is know (i.e. memorize/remember) how to solve every single problem from the book. It's the same thing -- memorization and repetition, just with solving problems rather than recall.

This wouldn't work on the Verbal section. I don't know how you could "study" to get a high score in that section.


I thought it was the toughest section by far.

 

[deleted303591]

I'm not sure if that's a fair comparison. The MCAT is not based on being able to solve a number of different types of problems like an engineering exam is. Even if that were the case, all you would need to do for the engineering exam is know (i.e. memorize/remember) how to solve every single problem from the book. It's the same thing -- memorization and repetition, just with solving problems rather than recall.

No, you better be able to solve any sort of problem they throw at you. That is what you should be focusing on, not memorizing everything.

Engineering is not that way at all. There is nothing that you can memorize that will help you on an exam, not even a problem solving process. It is more about exposure to the type of stuff they will throw at you in an exam.

Besides not knowing what engineering classes are like, you have a really poor approach.

 

[SiriusA]

No, you better be able to solve any sort of problem they throw at you. That is what you should be focusing on, not memorizing everything.

Engineering is not that way at all. There is nothing that you can memorize that will help you on an exam, not even a problem solving process. It is more about exposure to the type of stuff they will throw at you in an exam.

Besides not knowing what engineering classes are like, you have a really poor approach.

Are engineering classes like physics classes? I got 100's on physics exams by familiarizing myself with how to solve a large number of different types of problems. Yes, sometimes totally unexpected things showed up on the exam, but if you knew the basics then you could put together components/techniques of different problems to solve a new one.

 

[D0CTORX]

Are engineering classes like physics classes? I got 100's on physics exams by familiarizing myself with how to solve a large number of different types of problems. Yes, sometimes totally unexpected things showed up on the exam, but if you knew the basics then you could put together components/techniques of different problems to solve a new one.

Physics was easy. Take a class like fluid mechanics and you'll learn that its very different from plugging stuff into kinematic equations.

 

[SiriusA]

Physics was easy. Take a class like fluid mechanics and you'll learn that its very different from plugging stuff into kinematic equations.

I know about problem solving. I took real analysis, abstract algebra and other upper-division math classes as a 10th grader in high school. I participated in math competitions. I'm more interested in my original question.

 

[Loveless]

I know about problem solving. I took real analysis, abstract algebra and other upper-division math classes as a 10th grader in high school. I participated in math competitions. I'm more interested in my original question.

Whoa buddy! Put the penis back in the pants. There's no measuring 'round here.

 

[SiriusA]

Woah buddy! Put the penis back in the pants. There's no measuring 'round here.

I wasn't the one who brought up "fluid mechanics" and the belittling phrase, "plugging stuff into kinematic equations." Why try to intimidate and/or impress me?

 

[Loveless]

I wasn't the one who brought up "fluid mechanics". Why try to intimidate and/or impress me?

That doesn't mean you should relegate yourself to the same tactic. You're an adult now. 😎

In any case, you shouldn't need more than 2 or 3 months of studying to get a decent score. You're better off doing something awesome that you're passionate about than trying to gun the MCAT.

 

[DrHart]

I think the harder you focus for days on end, the quicker you'll burn out. I think it's just better to focus hard in the pre req classes (bio, chem, ochem, physics) when you take them... and by the time you need to get ready for the mcat, it won't take you a year to study in order to get a good score

 

[deleted303591]

If you want to know the truth about the matter, you can browse old exams from University of Toronto (Closest thing to MIT in Canada).

http://courses.skule.ca/

(Just type in the names of the respective courses, i.e. Thermo, Circuits, Electromagnetics)

Anyways, the point is, Engineering courses are very unstructured. You basically are on your own (and among friends) to learn the material. The professors will basically TELL you how to solve problems, but they won't TEACH you how to solve problems.

Engineering is applied physics. It is not just about theory, such as when you "drop a moving object off of a building" in physics. It is much more complicated.

The only people who I have seen done really well (graduated within 4 years, >3.5 GPA) are the people whose parents were engineers and who have received direct exposure to the field early on.

And, btw, OP, nobody gives a **** what you did in high school. High school may prepare you for some degrees in college, but it certainly won't prepare you for a degree in engineering (even if you went to a "prominent" high school and took the most difficult courses in the school).

For the MCAT, you are spending way too much time studying, if that is your plan. You would be better off planning and accruing materials and various technologies to study more efficiently. Old exams are your friend. Also, to a certain degree, you will want to relearn the material in such a way that it is compatible with the MCAT (time constraints, extra material, etc).

 

[Pons Asinorum]

lol this thread. OP, yes, if you study in beast mode for 12 months and don't get a 12/12/12 you started this process functionally ******ed. The back and forth about which class/major is harder or more/less like the MCAT is tedious. Just go and duct tape Examkrackers to your forehead for the next 12 months and crush it. That is the answer to your question, your belligerent attitude not withstanding.

 

[NickNaylor]

ITT: OP asks a somewhat legitimate and mildly interesting question, then demonstrates his hilariously misplaced hubris about things which he knows nothing about. You asked a question and when people with more experience than you give you information and advice, you ignore it because you, of course, know better.

Don't ask people questions if you're just going to argue the answer.

Just another day I suppose.

Sent from my Nexus 7

 

[SiriusA]

If they do then it's on top of their regular coursework and it's definitely not 8-12 months of hardcore studying. I believe most US medical schools give students 4-6 weeks of dedicated study time. A few give like 3 months, and I think Caribbean schools regularly give 3 months.

If you look up Pholston on this forum, you'll see that he started studying Jan 2011 for a Dec 2012 test. He has a 26-page writeup of his experiences you can find. Granted, he was a FMG and I think his timeline for taking the test was slightly different than most US students.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Just another day I suppose.

Truth. It's that time of year when the hSDNers ride the escalator up here.

Good luck on Step 1 too, Nick. My date isn't until June 7, so I'm a little behind you. Been enjoying your posts in Step 1 Experiences though. Quite handy.

 

[NickNaylor]

If you look up Pholston on this forum, you'll see that he started studying Jan 2011 for a Dec 2012 test. He has a 26-page writeup of his experiences you can find. Granted, he was a FMG and I think his timeline for taking the test was slightly different than most US students.

"Slightly different?"

lol pls go

Sent from my Nexus 7

 

[Pons Asinorum]

If you look up Pholston on this forum, you'll see that he started studying Jan 2011 for a Dec 2012 test. He has a 26-page writeup of his experiences you can find. Granted, he was a FMG and I think his timeline for taking the test was slightly different than most US students.

His timeline is different because as a FMG he knew that unless he scored 260+, the difficulty of which you have no concept, his ERAS application would end up being useful only for printing and then wrapping around a hoagie to keep it from dripping into your lap. Don't use that as the example of what/how to study for MCAT. They aren't the same ballpark. They're not even the same sport. He studied that way because unlike the MCAT, there are ten gagillion practice questions that exist in various forms and qualities. He wanted to do them all to do everything his unique understanding of himself told him to do to absolutely maximize his score. You've gotten plenty of good answers here, but obviously you've got it all figured out. Just answer your own questions and retreat back to your study cave and get krackin'.

 

[Irish Football]

Super-studying is for Superheroes.

 

[KnuxNole]

If you look up Pholston on this forum, you'll see that he started studying Jan 2011 for a Dec 2012 test. He has a 26-page writeup of his experiences you can find. Granted, he was a FMG and I think his timeline for taking the test was slightly different than most US students.

He is definitely NOT the ideal example for anyone ever reading these forums. You won't be in that position to ever speak of it.

 

[SiriusA]

His timeline is different because as a FMG he knew that unless he scored 260+, the difficulty of which you have no concept, his ERAS application would end up being useful only for printing and then wrapping around a hoagie to keep it from dripping into your lap. Don't use that as the example of what/how to study for MCAT. They aren't the same ballpark. They're not even the same sport. He studied that way because unlike the MCAT, there are ten gagillion practice questions that exist in various forms and qualities. He wanted to do them all to do everything his unique understanding of himself told him to do to absolutely maximize his score. You've gotten plenty of good answers here, but obviously you've got it all figured out. Just answer your own questions and retreat back to your study cave and get krackin'.

I guess it's confusing to me because on the one hand people say more than 3 months means burn out, but on the other hand there are people who study for a long time and put in a lot of effort and do well. There are posters who did really well on the MCAT (one person I talked to with a 42) who say getting up to a 34 (12B/12P/at least 10V) is content review and above that is more test-taking practice and nailing down minute details (which takes time). So I can't really decide which one is correct.

 

[NickNaylor]

I guess it's confusing to me because on the one hand people say more than 3 months means burn out, but on the other hand there are people who study for a long time and put in a lot of effort and do well. There are posters who did really well on the MCAT (one person I talked to with a 42) who say getting up to a 34 is content review and above that is more test-taking practice and nailing down minute details (which takes time). So I can't really decide which one is correct.

News flash: EVERYONE STUDIES IN DIFFERENT WAYS. Blindly following the advice of people that scored well simply because they scored well is not going to get you the results you are looking for. Thinking that simply repeating what someone else did will result in the same score represents a fundamental misunderstanding of how to study anything.

The plan that will get you a good score is the plan that you think will allow you to learn the material as best as you possibly can. Only you know how to do that.

Sent from my Nexus 7

 

[deleted303591]

News flash: EVERYONE STUDIES IN DIFFERENT WAYS. Blindly following the advice of people that scored well simply because they scored well is not going to get you the results you are looking for. Thinking that simply repeating what someone else did will result in the same score represent a fundamental misunderstanding of how to study anything.

Sent from my Nexus 7

Yeah, everyone does study in different ways.

But, you better learn how to study efficiently, OP. Going at it for a year is just ridiculous. I am not even going to go in to how your study plan is over the top.

Also, OP, do you really think that getting a 34 is about content mastery, given the complexity of the test and the subjects tested? What kind of statistical information do you have to imply that?

I would not rely on word of mouth, or even "free advice". You are really wasting your time and it is absolutely foolish.

Somebody as naive as you should probably have a private tutor independently guide them through the whole MCAT exam, because you have no idea on what to do. At least get some "good MCAT review books"....

 

[Anicetus]

I have to say it would vary per person. If everyone had a year to study in the methods some of you are proposing, I would say only about 60-70% would actually hit a 12/12/12. This is due to the fact that every new MCAT presented is different. People also have bad test days. The MCAT changes ever so slightly overtime (BS becoming more experimental). Some people as well hit their max in certain areas too. We aren't all designed the same way.

 

[IslandStyle808]

News flash: EVERYONE STUDIES IN DIFFERENT WAYS. Blindly following the advice of people that scored well simply because they scored well is not going to get you the results you are looking for. Thinking that simply repeating what someone else did will result in the same score represents a fundamental misunderstanding of how to study anything.

The plan that will get you a good score is the plan that you think will allow you to learn the material as best as you possibly can. Only you know how to do that.

Sent from my Nexus 7

I agree with the main message of your statement but not the last sentence. People have their own ways of best learning the material but not everyone figures out their best way of learning by themselves. Why do you think people ask on the forums how they study? It is because some of them have tried "on there own" to figure out how to study and it didn't work out. Various techniques are posted on here may or may not work. However, it speeds up the process of trial and error and people are able to figure out that perfect combo more easily.

 

[NickNaylor]

I agree with the main message of your statement but not the last sentence. People have their own ways of best learning the material but not everyone figures out their best way of learning by themselves. Why do you think people ask on the forums how they study? It is because some of them have tried "on there own" to figure out how to study and it didn't work out. Various techniques are posted on here may or may not work. However, it speeds up the process of trial and error and people are able to figure out that perfect combo more easily.

I agree that seeing what other people did has some value, but I don't get the sense that that's what the OP is doing here.

Sent from my Nexus 7

 

[Nymphicus]

This sounds like a very unhappy idea.

 

[IslandStyle808]

I agree that seeing what other people did has some value, but I don't get the sense that that's what the OP is doing here.

Sent from my Nexus 7

Yes you are right about that.

To answer OPs question there is no guarantee that one will get a good score with a year of studying to the best of one's abilities. One person could be getting a 40+ in this time frame and another who gets a 30+ in this time frame. Although we are all different in our ability to study for these exams, we are still human beings and hit a limit after some point. As one person pointed out, there are diminishing returns for studying long periods of time. This is partially because we are not able to recall information that is not constantly in use. We all forget a lot of the material we learn from one semester of college as soon as we are in the next, due to the information not being in constant use. Of course the amount of information "lost" depends on the person. Thus we all similarly hit a limit in our studying after sometime but these limits vary from person to person.

 

[pv515]

No, nothing guarantees you anything, especially in verbal.

Studying for a year is not working smarter than anyone. You've wasted an entire year studying for a 36 when you could have spent 2 months and gotten a 30 and got in. Maybe not to the same caliber of school, but still and acceptance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSDZMTs1sbg&t=0m5s

I think if you CAN study to get a 36, even if it will take a year, it may very well be worth it. It opens doors for you to maybe get out of your college town/home town and reinvent yourself. I'm very glad I get the chance to leave my home state, experience something new, and have some opportunities at a top 20 school I might not have had at my state school, only made possible by a 34.

 

[NickNaylor]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSDZMTs1sbg&t=0m5s

I think if you CAN study to get a 36, even if it will take a year, it may very well be worth it. It opens doors for you to maybe get out of your college town/home town and reinvent yourself. I'm very glad I get the chance to leave my home state, experience something new, and have some opportunities at a top 20 school I might not have had at my state school, only made possible by a 34.

I disagree. I think spending a year to get a 36, which is a decent but by no means exemplary score, is the definition of diminishing returns. That time IMO would've been better spent doing things that you could otherwise talk about on your app or, even better, living life. At some point you have to know when to stop.

Sent from my Nexus 7