How to find confidence for MCAT?

[SoulinNeed]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi, I'm just wondering if I could get some advice here from a forum that's always managed to give me some. Like I said in an earlier thread, I've decided to delay taking Orgo I until the Fall, and thus, will take Orgo II in the Spring. I'm also planning on taking the MCAT in May. I did this because I thought a six week course in Orgo I wouldn't be enough time to properly learn a subject for the MCAT, and finishing Orgo II right around my MCAT date will keep it fresh in my mind.

I hate sitting around not having much to do, though, so I decided to follow S2Ned's MCAT study strategy for the summer, using the TBR books. I'm planning on doing a course during the Spring, with either TPR or Kaplan, so I decided to get some use out of these books now. I'm only on the second day, and so far, the Physics and Chem have kicked my ass. There are just so many little things to remember. It just seems like an impossible load. I'm averaging 9s, thus far (like I said only after the first section of Chem and Physics), which is what I want (I'm aiming for DO), but I know it only gets harder from here. It's starting to depress me, and kill my confidence, which is key for the MCAT. How did you guys manage to keep your confidence up? Are these passages just harder than the real thing? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[SN2ed]

You're wasting valuable resources. Stop taking practice passages. They won't help this far out and neither will studying. Don't bother studying for the MCAT this early. Work on your ECs if you want to boost your application.

 

[SoulinNeed]

You're wasting valuable resources. Stop taking practice passages. They won't help this far out and neither will studying. Don't bother studying for the MCAT this early. Work on your ECs if you want to boost your application.

Oh, I'm certainly doing that too. I guess I just need to relax, but confidence can be hard to find.

 

[kehlsh]

you need to chillax

 

[Ismet]

Step away from the books! Whatever you study/practice now will be completely forgotten by the time you test in May.

I took a Kaplan class from Jan-March, dabbled in studying on my own in April, and then started studying hard and doing full-lengths once I was done with finals. I averaged a 33 on AAMC and Kaplan FL's, and I'll be happy with that on the real test. A good time to start studying is winter break. Not summer. Go travel, see the world, volunteer, work...put MCAT far away for the next 6 months!

 

[SoulinNeed]

Step away from the books! Whatever you study/practice now will be completely forgotten by the time you test in May.

I took a Kaplan class from Jan-March, dabbled in studying on my own in April, and then started studying hard and doing full-lengths once I was done with finals. I averaged a 33 on AAMC and Kaplan FL's, and I'll be happy with that on the real test. A good time to start studying is winter break. Not summer. Go travel, see the world, volunteer, work...put MCAT far away for the next 6 months!

Yeah, but I'm taking Orgo II and another science class in the Spring, so I don't know. I do need to relax, though. It's 9 credits, so it's not ridiculous (13 hours of classes a week), and with a prep course to guide me, I should be good. I'm not an idiot, I've gotten straight A's on my prereqs that I've taken thus far. I guess I just over prepare unnecessarily.

 

[Ismet]

Yeah, but I'm taking Orgo II and another science class in the Spring, so I don't know. I do need to relax, though. It's 9 credits, so it's not ridiculous (13 hours of classes a week), and with a prep course to guide me, I should be good. I'm not an idiot, I've gotten straight A's on my prereqs that I've taken thus far. I guess I just over prepare unnecessarily.

I took biochemistry, two upper level neuroscience courses, and a writing intensive course in addition to 12 hours/week in lab, 4 hours/week volunteering, and 6 hours/week of Kaplan. All you have to do is make a schedule and stick to it. There's no point in doing the 3-month plan if you're 12 months from the test. Judging by your 4.0 on pre-reqs, I'm sure you will be fine. With a schedule, you can focus both on your classes and on studying for the MCAT. 👍

 

[SoulinNeed]

I took biochemistry, two upper level neuroscience courses, and a writing intensive course in addition to 12 hours/week in lab, 4 hours/week volunteering, and 6 hours/week of Kaplan. All you have to do is make a schedule and stick to it. There's no point in doing the 3-month plan if you're 12 months from the test. Judging by your 4.0 on pre-reqs, I'm sure you will be fine. With a schedule, you can focus both on your classes and on studying for the MCAT. 👍

Thanks for that man, I appreciate it.

 

[Ismet]

Thanks for that man, I appreciate it.

For the record, I'm female. 😀 Ismet's my dog's name. But you're welcome 🙂

 

[SoulinNeed]

For the record, I'm female. 😀 Ismet's my dog's name. But you're welcome 🙂

See, right when I wrote that I was wondering whether you were a female, or not. Now, I know better, lol.