Gunner Training for retention and accountability...

[NightOwly]

After reading the 1271 replies on the Step 1 section, I decided to use Gunner Training MCAT for test prep. Does anyone here have any experience with it?

Since I can't devote my time only on test prep, I really don't have that luxury, then I started studying 7 months prior to test day, and retention is my concern, so I was making Anki flashcards from EK content, but making cards took half my time, so now I'm giving GT a try.

I did EK for 1 month, and so far I've been doing GT for 3 weeks, and I'm starting to build a nice routine. I review a flashcard, bank the questions, and after I review the material and bank the questions, it distributes them on my calendar based on how well I know them.

Last week I I took 2 days off from review and when I logged in to GT ---since it uses algorithms based on my card ratings-- it forced me to go back to review the sections it felt I might have forgotten since it noticed they were my weakest areas (Literally. It highlighted the sections of the pages for me to review) and I had to re-bank my questions, and then move forward. I like that, for accountability. So now I don't miss a day so it won't "un bank" my questions and send me back.

My concern is that I don't want to miss anything, and it's always best to use proven sources, but at the same time, I do like using technology for efficiency, and med students are already doing quite well with this. So I plan to finish one section next month, 4 months early, and I'll go back and compare GT to my other books to make sure I've covered everything, take practice tests and, of course, I'll continue with GT for retention.

Is anyone else doing this?

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[stevvo111]

I'm pretty curious, whats up with the gunner training? I haven't heard much reviews about it, but my bro recommended it to me for some reason.

 

[SN2ed]

If GT for the MCAT is similar to the Step 1 version, I don't think it will be helpful. GT is more about rout memorization and less about application and critical thinking which is the hallmark of the MCAT. Even for the Step 1, GT isn't used as a primary study source by most students. I'd stick with taking practice passages to help with retention since you'll remember the material better when you actually use it and apply it to new scenarios.

 

[NightOwly]

Before we can talk about application and reasoning and critical thinking, you need to know the material down cold.

That's what GT is for, and that's what I want to take from it. Review, memorize, and keep it fresh.

After 3 weeks, I think it's doing more than pound in the material.

Today for example, I was walking around the house and I was reciting effortlessly every process Glucose goes through as it enters Glycolysis down to the electron transport chain, what enzyme does what, when, how, where… and I could tell you the reasons why, and I can visualize the molecule shifting shapes, splitting, and I understand the the process behind each step, and the energy inputs and yields. The tips helped understand that there is a concept behind the names and one leads to another, which is what finally helped me remember the names of the enzymes and products. Things. Made. Sense. I even told my study buddy "I was reciting enzymes in my sleep!"

Whereas in EK that section was particularly painful, I reviewed it in January, and it didn't stick.
Though I do like EK. I made 900 Anki cards off EK in January.

Now I credit my retention to understanding the reasoning, breaking it down to the steps, and the algorithms behind the card repetition, and the questions themselves. I'll admit I did have to write it down as well, and I had to go through quite a lot of card reps before it really sunk in, but it's in and with more than 5 months to go.

No, I wouldn't use this as the only method either. The exam is too important for that.

I began using GT 7 months prior to the test to understand, memorize and retain the material.

Then 3 months before the exam, which is when I expect to have the content down solid, I'll move on to what you describe.

That's my method, and it's helpful to me...

 

[stevvo111]

nice looks like you have a pretty good plan, it might be beneficial to use this as a simple way to pound things down before going hardcore.

 

[MedPR]

Before we can talk about application and reasoning and critical thinking, you need to know the material down cold.

I disagree. If you know the material very well you already have gone through rounds and rounds of critical thinking and reasoning. Straight memorization of equations and facts will not get you a good MCAT score.

I was actually thinking about this today as I made flash cards for the EWG/EDGs and realized that I haven't actually sat down and tried to memorize ANYTHING besides the hormones. Every physics equation, chem equation, orgo mechanism, etc, I memorized just by doing problems and passages. By memorizing things that way, you kill two birds with one stone because you are also increasing your ability to read through convoluted questions and to identify curveballs mcat will try to get you with.

 

[NightOwly]

I disagree. If you know the material very well you already have gone through rounds and rounds of critical thinking and reasoning. Straight memorization of equations and facts will not get you a good MCAT score.

Well, my alma mater is the University of California system, and for my pre-med courses, Physics in particular, the professor refused to assign a textbook. We were forced to deduce the concepts from experiments and think for ourselves. The entire undergrad years we were forced to reason, think differently, see things from different angles, use critical thinking. That's a given!

But for the past few years I've been doing an extended stay abroad. Look up my IP. I'm volunteering in a medical humanitarian project in Latin America with German specialists. So it's been a while since I've reviewed the basics.

To me, knowing everything from top to bottom is a given --you need to know it, and I will make sure I do, and I don't feel GT is the "facts only" you make it out to be. After a full review I'll go through the other sources you mentioned and practice applying it.

I came to connect with others using this, since the GT thread with 1,200 replies is for Step 1. Obviously, not many are...

 

[NightOwly]

nice looks like you have a pretty good plan, it might be beneficial to use this as a simple way to pound things down before going hardcore.

There you go! You hit the nail on the head.

 

[mcloaf]

Today for example, I was walking around the house and I was reciting effortlessly every process Glucose goes through as it enters Glycolysis down to the electron transport chain, what enzyme does what, when, how, where… and I could tell you the reasons why, and I can visualize the molecule shifting shapes, splitting, and I understand the the process behind each step, and the energy inputs and yields. The tips helped understand that there is a concept behind the names and one leads to another, which is what finally helped me remember the names of the enzymes and products. Things. Made. Sense. I even told my study buddy "I was reciting enzymes in my sleep!"

I am sorry, but this is so much more information than you need to know I couldn't help but lol. If you cover everything this thoroughly there is just no way you will have the breadth you need for this exam. You'd need to memorize the steps of glycolysis in detail for a biochem midterm, but you don't and shouldn't for the MCAT. Keep that brain space for stuff that will actually be on the exam.

 

[MedPR]

Well, my alma mater is the University of California system, and for my pre-med courses, Physics in particular, the professor refused to assign a textbook. We were forced to deduce the concepts from experiments and think for ourselves. The entire undergrad years we were forced to reason, think differently, see things from different angles, use critical thinking. That's a given!

But for the past few years I've been doing an extended stay abroad. Look up my IP. I'm volunteering in a medical humanitarian project in Latin America with German specialists. So it's been a while since I've reviewed the basics.

To me, knowing everything from top to bottom is a given --you need to know it, and I will make sure I do, and I don't feel GT is the "facts only" you make it out to be. After a full review I'll go through the other sources you mentioned and practice applying it.

I came to connect with others using this, since the GT thread with 1,200 replies is for Step 1. Obviously, not many are...

I am not trying to make GT out to be "facts only." Don't put words in my mouth.

I simply disagreed with the notion that memorizing things and practicing critical thinking have to be separate activities.

 

[NightOwly]

I am sorry, but this is so much more information than you need to know I couldn't help but lol. If you cover everything this thoroughly there is just no way you will have the breadth you need for this exam. You'd need to memorize the steps of glycolysis in detail for a biochem midterm, but you don't and shouldn't for the MCAT. Keep that brain space for stuff that will actually be on the exam.

Heh. Thanks for getting your point across in a friendly manner. That's nice.

Well. I already banked those cards, and moved on, so now they're just in review-mode spinning round and round, and I've been at this long enough that some sections are starting to feel as natural as what color is the sky? It's not hard. It's just a matter of getting it done, and I started early enough.

Besides. I built myself a nice routine, so I'll stick it out and continue in review mode for the last couple months.

I can't post the actual questions, for obvious reasons, and this is not the question, but to give you an idea, banked cards may ask something sort of like if a researcher is working on xyz enzyme, where should they look after they lyse the cell, and since I'm familiar with the enzyme, and I remember the process it belongs to, and thereby where the process takes place in a cell… then I can answer the question.

What I'm wondering … and this is for anyone out there who completed GT ...how does your dashboard look like once you bank all of your flashcards of every section and enter review mode? That's what I'm wondering.