How Early is too Early?

[MexicanDr]

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How early is to early to start studying for the MCAT? A lot of people seem to do it a few months before they take it while other people recommend starting early.

1) For example: Some people say its good to start reviewing/studying for the mcat while taking your pre-reqs. Chemistry 1/2 and doing Chemistry problems in the mcat study guides? I guess to get used to the testing/asking format.. The same for physics, ochem and Bio. Using such guides as EK, Kaplan, BR
What are your thoughts on this?

2) Another thing: Will studying and practicing verbal passages 1 year and a half before you take the actual mcat help you in the verbal section? Again, getting familiar with the questioning and such things?

3) My first language is Spanish; I was born and raised in MX until I moved here a few years ago. What type of readings should help me do better on the verbal section and overall in the mcat?

Some people have mentioned magazines such as The New Yorker, TIME, and newspapers like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal?

What are your thoughts/advice on these questions from your previous experience on the MCAT?

Thanks...

 

[J ROD]

I would not do more than 3-4 months with 2 months being hardcore

You more than likely get burned out....

those mags are good ones to read to get better at purely reading comp. I would save the materials for when I was actually in the prep.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

a) there's an mcat forum
b) what j dub said
c) stop making threads.

 

[lstone13]

How early is to early to start studying for the MCAT? A lot of people seem to do it a few months before they take it while other people recommend starting early.

1) For example: Some people say its good to start reviewing/studying for the mcat while taking your pre-reqs. Chemistry 1/2 and doing Chemistry problems in the mcat study guides? I guess to get used to the testing/asking format.. The same for physics, ochem and Bio. Using such guides as EK, Kaplan, BR
What are your thoughts on this?

2) Another thing: Will studying and practicing verbal passages 1 year and a half before you take the actual mcat help you in the verbal section? Again, getting familiar with the questioning and such things?

3) My first language is Spanish; I was born and raised in MX until I moved here a few years ago. What type of readings should help me do better on the verbal section and overall in the mcat?

Some people have mentioned magazines such as The New Yorker, TIME, and newspapers like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal?

What are your thoughts/advice on these questions from your previous experience on the MCAT?

Thanks...

Check out SN2ed's 3 month study guide for the MCAT in the MCAT forum and that will give you a really good idea for your study timeline.

1) My best advice: learn it well the first time through. Then MCAT review won't be nearly as tedious. Check out the MCAT forum for feedback on which books and study materials SDNers liked best. Personally, I used and liked both Kaplan and TPR.

2) Personally, studying for a year and a half seems a little silly, and I don't think it would help you much to study MCAT specific verbal passages for so long. However, my best advice here: read a speed-reading book. Learning to speed-read will help you in the timed verbal passages.

3) Read as much as possible. And, be able to recall the thesis, important points, and the outline of the materials you read after you finish.

 

[ksmi117]

Please do not make similar threads in different forums. Anyone wishing to reply may do so here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=678762