How do I know what to Prioritize for MCAT - Kaplan books are all 300 pages+

[knucklehead1]

Hello,

Im currently easing in the MCAT while Im in classes. I plan on studying for it moderately until I graduate, then studying for it intensely for 3 months or so in order to prepare.

I bought the Kaplan books to help me prepare. My biggest weakness is definitely general chemistry so I decided to prepare by studying that book through and through.
However, Im starting to realize that it may not be the best way to study by trying to absorb ALL that material. I mean, Jesus Christ, each of the Kaplan books is like atleast 300 pages of material to learn. How can anyone remember all that? And how do I even know if the stuff Im studying is even going to be on the test. Surely not all the material in those giant books is going to be tested. Are we seriously going to have to learn all that stuff and then maybe be tested on only 40 -50 percent of it?

For example, I was studying a section on electron orbitals, which took me a while because I was very rusty on the subject. After finally grasping it, which took me almost an hour for the whole section, I saw that the section only had 3 stars!!! Kaplan uses a ranking system from 1 - 6 starts based on how common and how difficult a section is. Basically, something with six stars is going to be easier to grasp and more commonly tested on the mcat. So basically I busted my but on something that Im not even certain is going to be on the mcat!!

How do I know what to prioritize and what to spend my time on. I figured id just work on general chemistry for now, which in a way is prioritizing. But, like i said, surely not all the stuff in that book is going to be tested.

If anyone can fill me in id greatly appreciate it.

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[red doctober]

I used EK, which is much more condensed than Kaplan, TPR, and TBR. It is not as comprehensive though, so I did have to refer to old textbooks or Kahn Academy if I was especially rusty on a specific topic. If you think that you have most of the topics down reasonably well, just need a "refresher," and can shell out the extra cash, I'd recommend getting your hands on the EK content books (not the workbooks.)

Honestly though, studying "moderately" for a while before hitting it hard 3 months prior is going to be a waste of time. Just concentrate on keeping your GPA and ECs up right now, and worry about the MCAT when it gets closer.

 

[Dbate]

Use Exam Krackers it takes out alot of the BS you don't need to know for the test.

And even has hints at the most important things of the information you do need to know.

 

[angldrps]

Having used books by pretty much every prep. company out there, I can tell you that you made a big mistake getting Kaplan books. I am a big fan of Kaplan's practice material that comes with the online class but their books are crap. Do yourself a favor and don't use this. I highly recommend TPR books.

 

[angldrps]

Hello,



For example, I was studying a section on electron orbitals, which took me a while because I was very rusty on the subject. After finally grasping it, which took me almost an hour for the whole section, I saw that the section only had 3 stars!!! Kaplan uses a ranking system from 1 - 6 starts based on how common and how difficult a section is. Basically, something with six stars is going to be easier to grasp and more commonly tested on the mcat. So basically I busted my but on something that Im not even certain is going to be on the mcat!!

If anyone can fill me in id greatly appreciate it.

Ignore this. No test company can tell you whats high yield and whats not. People have been screwed over by this when they find that their MCAT has material that was meant to be low yield. MCAT can test you on anything and everything.

 

[newmember1]

Honestly, content knowledge is not the hard part of the MCAT. Any prep company book will give you the content you need to know. It's the passage content and MCAT "trick and trap" reasoning and thinking that sets some companies above others.

I recommend:

PS: a) TPR science workbook passages (best source in my opinion)
b) Berkeley passages (harder then a. and good practice, but do a. first)

Verbal: Do any and everything you can get your hands on and the last month download the full pdf versions of the AAMC tests and do all the passages there. The reasoning is the aspect you need to get down.

BS: no company has good passages here. What I do recommend is:

a) TPR science workbook "hard passages" and all of their orgo
b) the physiology passages from TBR...don't do their orgo or genetics it's way to detailed and off cue...know everything about genetics though, especially from c.
c) ***most of all**** reading journal articles and comprehending research...this will increase your score the most