How do you know when to throw out MCAT books?

[BushBaby]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I have taken the MCAT THREE BLASTED TIMES and I have had it. I am reapplying for the second time and I am trying to figure out when should I throw out my MCAT study materials?

I have pretty much had enough and sorta told myself that I would NOT be taking the MCAT again because I am fed up, but what if I don't get in this cycle?🙁

My room is a freaking mess and I have two big bags of mcat study material that I have written in and what not. I want to throw them out but a part of me doesn't want to jump the gun.

What to do?

 

[XCanadianRagwee]

I kept all mine until accepted...now I'm trying to find people to give them too otherwise to the garbage can they go.

 

[jlee9531]

dont throw em out. they make great gifts and stocking stuffers for the upcoming christmas season.

now maybe you are overdoing the study thing? i really dont know what to tell you honestly. are you focusing too much on the minutia of the test? take a nice break perhaps for a couple of weeks or a month even to clear your mind and your frustrations.

sometimes you just need to get away for a while to come back energized to start again. thats how i felt when summer came around. a much needed break from the stresses of studying.

i hope you do get in this cycle so noone gets hit by the books your will drop from your window 😉.

 

[vixenell]

Send them to me...

 

[XCanadianRagwee]

The shipping alone would cost zillions. I have so much crud it's not funny. I'd tell you exactly, but then I'd have to kill you....I mean I'd tell you, but I can't since they are some 1,200 miles away from me.

If you seriously want them, when I get back there over winter I can look and see what I have. Mind you most of the books are heavily highlighted and the tests have tons of notes and junk in them (but not all tests nor all books).

 

[greggth]

Don't you have to get special permission to take the MCAT more than 3 times?

 

[Pinkertinkle]

You have to prove that you've been trying to apply at least. I'm going to burn my MCAT books in a big bonfire someday.

 

[MichiMO]

You know, its funny. Even though I am in medical school I have still found it hard to part with the Kaplan MCAT books. I keep thinking, "what if one day I need to know something that is in there?" Silly, I know.
I did however manage to part with four years worth of notes and books from undergrad. It felt like a party after hanging onto them for so long for medical school/MCAT prep. Once I got my acceptance call, putting them into big bags and dragging them down to the trash was high on my list.

My advice: all of the notes and text books I saved for MCAT prep were not worth the space on my shelves. I never looked at them. I stuck to the Kaplan class and Kaplan books. Everything I needed for the MCAT was in those books and it kept studying from getting to be too much. I was focused on what I NEEDED to know for the exam and had done the most important thing: practice, practice, practice!!!!!

So, I say, if for some reason you have to take the MCAT again, only use focused study materials. Two bags full of stuff is more likely to hurt than help. Too much information keeps you from learning the really important skill of actually taking the MCAT!

 

[XCanadianRagwee]

SO is a boxful way too much?

 

[XCanadianRagwee]

Seriously if people want my stuff you can have it, but I won't know what stuff I have until winter.

 

[sgilani]

bush baby i am in the SAME situation as you. i took it 3 times. i'm not satisfied with my last score but i can't imagine taking it again. i'm not applying this cycle. my friend really wants the books... it's literally 3 boxes full and i dunno if i should give them away or wait til like 2005 when i may start med school if i get in next cycle? not to mention, i don't have so much room for them.

 

[freesolo]

dont throw them out for gods sakes pm me ill buy!

 

[Md 2b In TN]

Bush, sgilani - I'm in your boat. I came home this august went right to my room sacked it up and took it to the dumpster. F#$% that test (can you tell I'm still dissatisfied with my score). Anyway, are you both reapplying, if so where, heard anything?

 

[sgilani]

Md2binTn
i haven't applied yet. i have good gpa, average mcat. i'm applying to mph programs. i'm really not sure if i'm a strong applicant and my freaking advisor is not helpful. and i dunno if taking the test for the 4th time is gonna look so good...

 

[czarbasch]

I'm putting mine on ebay. Hopefully I can make some $.

 

[XCanadianRagwee]

mine are free all friggin free. i'd hate for them to go to waste. except shipping.

 

[Samoa]

Donated mine to Tweetie bird. Anybody heard from her lately? I hope she gets in this year.

 

[Sophie]

If anyone would like to get rid of their MCAT books I'd be more than happy to accept them. I'm broke and in need of handouts. 🙁

 

[BushBaby]

Originally posted by sgilani
bush baby i am in the SAME situation as you. i took it 3 times. i'm not satisfied with my last score but i can't imagine taking it again. i'm not applying this cycle. my friend really wants the books... it's literally 3 boxes full and i dunno if i should give them away or wait til like 2005 when i may start med school if i get in next cycle? not to mention, i don't have so much room for them.

I am trying to clean out my room and I saw this HUGE box of books and I am really hoping that I don't need them again. It's too l early for me to make decisions regarding my application so I can't assume I will get in.
The books are old and written in but I feel like I "might" want to keep them just incase I have to go through this again.

 

[BushBaby]

Originally posted by Md 2b In TN
Bush, sgilani - I'm in your boat. I came home this august went right to my room sacked it up and took it to the dumpster. F#$% that test (can you tell I'm still dissatisfied with my score). Anyway, are you both reapplying, if so where, heard anything?

I am reapplying right now. I applied to 6 schools. I've had one interview in November. Another interview is coming next week. A school "promised" to invite me for an interview in Dec so I have to wait for their email invite.
I have interviews from half of the schools and I haven't heard from the three other (higher tier) schools.
As long as I get in where I fit in, I am cool.

 

[Md 2b In TN]

how did you get them to promise you an interview?

 

[BushBaby]

Originally posted by Md 2b In TN
how did you get them to promise you an interview?

Good question my dear Watson.
They sent me a letter in Sept/Oct stating that they would like to interview me and they will send me an invite in Dec. but meanwhle I should send them a copy of my recent transcript. I did that last week and guess what.....??????

I was in a meeting at work this morning from 10-12pm and I just came out and I listened to my voicemessage and it was a lady from the admissions office trying to schedule a date for my "promised" interview

I called back but she is at lunch🙄 I will call her back after 1pm and before 3pm.

I am happy, but not too happy as I have been through the whole interview yet rejected process last year.

 

[DrLady]

Hey BB,
congrats!!!

Btw, after I took the mcat, I put all the books in a box and then I had this neurotic idea and weighed the whole box. I don't know why I had this sudden, strange, idea but I remember it weighed over 55 pounds!

 

[lotanna]

way to go BB!!!! Happy for u as a fellow multiple MCAT taker and a reapplicant 😀 I've 1 interview so far, hopin for more since i took aug MCAT. If my interview goes well next week, in 2 weeks(when they'll let me know the deal) u might see me in the news "Lady found running crazy in michigan" 😀

I've too many MCAT books, 3 fulls sets of PR stuff, Kaplan stuff, my beloved EK stuff. I'm giving EK to a friend to study with, but not to keep, I love EK too much, it saved my life 😛 I'm supposed to be sending a friend PR to study for april, then sending another one for aug one.

Plus the bio stuff according to friends in med schl is gr8 to keep as review while in med schl!

 

[felipe5]

Yes, i too am waiting until an acceptance before I take one of two actions........

1.) Sell them
2.) Burn them in effigy, dancing naked around the fire wearing only a hat with 2 beers attached by a straw

I'm thinkin' choice 2 might be the way to go, seeing as my books are marked up as hell

😀 😀 😀 😀