Help with MCAT study plan/materials

[Gator Edge]

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I've read, in detail, SN2's 3-4 month study plan and will use it to model my MCAT study agenda.

A little about me: I'm a non-trad student, 33yo, work full time as a science & math tutor but will be going to half time next semster while studying for the MCAT. I've finished all my science pre-reqs over the past couple years with a 4.0. My original undergrad GPA ~ 3.1/2 and now it's ~3.4. Depending on MCAT practice test scores, I plan to take the MCAT in May. My goal is to get a combined DO/MBA or MD/MBA.

I would like to get some feedback as to which books I should use as my main study guides per subject. For instance, I have heard Wikipremed is excellent for physics and PR hyperlearning is great for verbal, EK for Bio, etc. I'm strongest in Organic, BIO, and Chem 1. Weakest in Verbal Reasoning, Chem 2, and Physics. I'll have 5 weeks over winter break in which I will study full time 5 days/week, research in the organic lab 1 day/week, and 1 full day of rest/week. Once I start tutoring again, I will have 3 days of full time work, 3 days of full time studying. I dont plan on taking a study course (Kaplan was not what I expected and dropped the class after attending a few sessions).

Here are the materials I have:
- Complete BR set
- EK lesson books
- EK Audio Osmosis
- PR Complete Hyperlearning/classroom set
- Kaplan Course Review Notes books (I hink the books from the class are worthless)
- Wikipremed materials
- EK 1001/101 question books
- all Pre-reqs text books

Much appreciation fellow non-trads!

 

[Belle Melodie]

I've read, in detail, SN2's 3-4 month study plan and will use it to model my MCAT study agenda.

A little about me: I'm a non-trad student, 33yo, work full time as a science & math tutor but will be going to half time next semster while studying for the MCAT. I've finished all my science pre-reqs over the past couple years with a 4.0. My original undergrad GPA ~ 3.1/2 and now it's ~3.4. Depending on MCAT practice test scores, I plan to take the MCAT in May. My goal is to get a combined DO/MBA or MD/MBA.

I would like to get some feedback as to which books I should use as my main study guides per subject. For instance, I have heard Wikipremed is excellent for physics and PR hyperlearning is great for verbal, EK for Bio, etc. I'm strongest in Organic, BIO, and Chem 1. Weakest in Verbal Reasoning, Chem 2, and Physics. I'll have 5 weeks over winter break in which I will study full time 5 days/week, research in the organic lab 1 day/week, and 1 full day of rest/week. Once I start tutoring again, I will have 3 days of full time work, 3 days of full time studying. I dont plan on taking a study course (Kaplan was not what I expected and dropped the class after attending a few sessions).

Here are the materials I have:
- Complete BR set
- EK lesson books
- EK Audio Osmosis
- PR Complete Hyperlearning/classroom set
- Kaplan Course Review Notes books (I hink the books from the class are worthless)
- Wikipremed materials
- EK 1001/101 question books
- all Pre-reqs text books

Much appreciation fellow non-trads!

I dont have MUCH advice because I havent started my MCAT studying. BUT, I think a prep course will be of a lot of help... Maybe Princeton Review will be better than Kaplan? I plan to take the Princeton Review course and purchase some of the books from SN's study plan (like EK 1001 because of all the problem practice). I think BR are probably the best books.

Good Luck with your studying.

 

[anguisette]

I've read, in detail, SN2's 3-4 month study plan and will use it to model my MCAT study agenda.

A little about me: I'm a non-trad student, 33yo, work full time as a science & math tutor but will be going to half time next semster while studying for the MCAT. I've finished all my science pre-reqs over the past couple years with a 4.0. My original undergrad GPA ~ 3.1/2 and now it's ~3.4. Depending on MCAT practice test scores, I plan to take the MCAT in May. My goal is to get a combined DO/MBA or MD/MBA.

What do you tutor exactly? If you're tutoring anything like AP Chem you may not even need to study the Gen Chem stuff--just review so that the concepts/equations remain fresh while you focus on other subjects. Also, I might be wrong so you should double check, but I believe if you apply to an MBA program you need to take the GRE as well?

Edit: Nevermind, see post below.

I would like to get some feedback as to which books I should use as my main study guides per subject. For instance, I have heard Wikipremed is excellent for physics and PR hyperlearning is great for verbal, EK for Bio, etc. I'm strongest in Organic, BIO, and Chem 1. Weakest in Verbal Reasoning, Chem 2, and Physics. I'll have 5 weeks over winter break in which I will study full time 5 days/week, research in the organic lab 1 day/week, and 1 full day of rest/week. Once I start tutoring again, I will have 3 days of full time work, 3 days of full time studying. I dont plan on taking a study course (Kaplan was not what I expected and dropped the class after attending a few sessions).

Here are the materials I have:
- Complete BR set
- EK lesson books
- EK Audio Osmosis
- PR Complete Hyperlearning/classroom set
- Kaplan Course Review Notes books (I hink the books from the class are worthless)
- Wikipremed materials
- EK 1001/101 question books
- all Pre-reqs text books

Much appreciation fellow non-trads!

Part of it comes down to your learning style. BR/PR is pretty dense in terms of reading, Audio Osmosis is good for auditory learners, EK is good visually, and I agree that the Kaplan course review books are the worst of the bunch. This is what worked for me (and I had all the materials you listed except for Audio Osmosis):

Physics: BR is great. I was weakest in Physics, but by the time I was done studying BR, PS was my strongest section on every practice AAMC test.
Chem: BR too, maybe supplemented by PR if necessary/you have time.
Verbal: EK 101 and PR Hyperlearning verbal workbook if you have it. And start reading more in general. I think the SN2ed's guide in terms of how to do verbal is good (divide all the practice passages you have by the number of days in your study schedule and make sure you do a couple every study session).
Bio: If you're strong in Bio, a quick review of EK Bio. Personally, I didn't like the way EK presents info as much as BR presents info, so BR bio worked better for me in terms of retaining what I was studying... but understand that BR bio goes WAY MORE in depth than you need to know for the MCAT and you could probably better spend your time studying a subject you're weaker in.
Organic: If you're strong in Ochem, I'd skip the studying in it if you're running out of time. The material is pretty low-yield compared to the strides you'd make in studying physics and gen chem. I didn't really study organic (and it wasn't my strongest subject but I did have a foundation) and I did fine (but maybe I got lucky). If you want a quick review, EK probably.

You can supplement each subject with EK1001 to narrow down your weakest topics and then look to PR as another source if you're still struggling. I suggested things based on what worked for me, and it sounds like we may have similar strengths and weaknesses, so I hope it works for you. Good luck !

 

[mspeedwagon]

I saw this and had to make mention that it is not accurate. All MD/MBA and DO/MBA programs that I looked into accepted the MCAT in lieu of the GRE. Most required that you scored at our above the 50th percentile on the MCAT.

Also, I might be wrong so you should double check, but I believe if you apply to an MBA program you need to take the GRE as well?

 

[anguisette]

I saw this and had to make mention that it is not accurate. All MD/MBA and DO/MBA programs that I looked into accepted the MCAT in lieu of the GRE. Most required that you scored at our above the 50th percentile on the MCAT.

Ah thanks! I wasn't sure but I've corrected the post now.

 

[jp6285]

I know you said that you dropped the Kaplan course, but it really worked wonders for me. I hadnt taken ochem or gen chem II when I took the MCAT. I took the course that met once per week, did all the practice exercises, did all 10 practice tests online over the course of the class and the 2 months after and ended up with a 32.

 

[hishamnajam]

University admissions tests are a very important part of a student’s academic life and the thought of them can also make even the bravest student understandably a little nervous, but with study groups, practice exams and preparation material, as well as an understanding of what each test involves, taking an entrance exam isn’t nearly as frightening as it sounds.
Here is an article that differentiates between MCAT, ACT, SAT, GRE and other exams of the kind. Have a look;
http://en.docsity.com/news/university-admission-tests/comparison-sat-gre-act-tofel-ielts/

 

[anguisette]

I know you said that you dropped the Kaplan course, but it really worked wonders for me. I hadnt taken ochem or gen chem II when I took the MCAT. I took the course that met once per week, did all the practice exercises, did all 10 practice tests online over the course of the class and the 2 months after and ended up with a 32.

I think the Kaplan course can be a hit or a miss depending on the instructor. The full length practice tests online aren't bad and it's nice to have access to the AAMC full lengths tests without having to buy them separately.

 

[Gator Edge]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

My Kaplan experience caused some minor heartburn. It was 3 times/week, the instructor wasn't great, and the books left me desiring much more in terms of pictures/diagrams. For the money, I bought all my materials and still had half to put into savings in order to take some time off to study.

I'm a math, Gen Chem., Gen Bio, Organic Chem tutor, and sometimes algebra Physics for a community college. I have a couple private tutor clients (one AP Chem.). I decided to tutor some basic math classes to get my "no calculator" skills up to par.

Lady: I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and study recommendations. Being a tutor, I'm pretty even among my learning styles (auditory, visual, kinesthetic, and read/write). With some stuff, I favor visual and auditory and other stuff I'm more read/write. One of my favorite things to do is talk out certain topics as if I was teaching it to someone. One of the divisions I tutor for is a program for disabled students and this is how I prep for these lessons.

REgarding physics, the only thing I'm going to add into the equation is the Wikipremed. I really think the visual (videos) will help me most here. Plus, I've read good things about the program.

I will mainly devote winter break to physics, Gen Chem 2, and some BIO ( cell cycle, genetics, & physiology). I'll work in the other subjects too, but since I'll have about 5 weeks off, and these are the subjects I struggle with most, it will ensure targeted study time. It would be ideal if I found a couple people to form a study group, but no luck yet.

After talking with a couple of admissions members - as long as I do well enough on the MCAT, my prior professional experience should benefit me greatly. UC Denver has a hospital administration MBA but I'm not sure I will have the undergrad GPA to land me a seat in their medical school.

My biggest challenge on the MCAT will be TIMING. I'm a methodical problem solver and a fairly detailed reader. I'm open to suggestions from everyone.

 

[anguisette]

My biggest challenge on the MCAT will be TIMING. I'm a methodical problem solver and a fairly detailed reader. I'm open to suggestions from everyone.

With regards to timing, taking the practice AAMC exams should help a lot with that. I'd save those toward the end, after most of your content review.

The detailed reading may be an issue in verbal. I'm not saying skimming is better, but I struggled with the timing in the verbal because I tend to read for details and you can easily run out of time with a passage or two left if you're not paying attention to the clock. That's why practice with the verbal passages under timed conditions are helpful.

If you have any other practice full length exams (not the AAMC ones), I'd suggest you take one maybe midway through your study and see how you're doing. If you run out of time, are you running out of time because of unfamiliarity with the content or are you running out of time because you're working at a slow pace? Then you can adjust your strategies accordingly.

 

[Gator Edge]

What non-AAMC full length practice tests can you recommend?

 

[anguisette]

I'm afraid the only non-AAMC ones I used were the Kaplan ones since I took the course. It did help me with the timing/format of the test even if it wasn't nearly as representative as AAMC content wise. I don't know if you can buy those separately. SN2ed's FAQ post talks about other full lengths.

I've already taken the AAMC FLs, are there other practice tests you recommend?

Both Gold Standard and Berkeley Review offer practice tests. Currently, BR FLs are your best bet despite the increased cost and hassle of ordering them. They're great practice for the science sections and okay verbal practice. However, their verbal is much better than GS's which is almost always hated and thought of as very unrealistic compared to the AAMC and the real MCAT. I believe BR's better verbal author wrote those sections which is why they're alright (BR's worse verbal author wrote the passages in the verbal workbook with the lengthy answer explanations).

Conversely, Gold Standard has decent science sections, but their scaling is harsh. Expect a couple points lower than normal. As mentioned, their verbal is bad. The only real positive to GS is their price.

Overall, spend the extra money on BR's tests. Of course, if you haven't used the AAMC FLs, buy those before any other FLs.

How would you rank the FLs?

In terms of easily accessible tests (tests that are available to non-class MCAT studiers), BR is your best bet.

When considering all four, unlike MCAT prep books, I don't think the agreement on practice test ranking is that strong. Most tend to agree that the later AAMC tests are the best, but beyond that, there isn't much of a consensus. There's even an argument to be made that the AAMCs are only really good for verbal since there are more accurate CBTs in regards to the sciences. Despite this, your first priority should be to take all of the AAMC FLs in order from 3 to 11

1. AAMC #7-11
2. BR #1-7
3. Kaplan #1-6
4. AAMC #3-5
5. TPR
6. Kaplan #7-10/GS

The reason why TPR tests are so low is because the opinions are too mixed to gain a good read.

I don't know if we're straying off topic for the non-trad forum, but feel free to PM me if you have more questions 🙂

 

[Gator Edge]

Thanks.