How to retake mcat while working full time

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viasidd

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Hi,
I graduated with a 3.38cgpa and 3.2sgpa (URM, African American)
I plan on applying to DO med school next year 2018, and the plan is to retake my MCAT, however I just got an amazing opportunity working as a medical intern at a fertility clinic, where I work closely with an MD. The job is full time which takes away from studying.
My first MCAT score was 499 and it was undistributed, 121 CARS (Horrible...), 125 Chem/Phys, 125 Bio, 128 Psych. I got this score while studying full time with no work....

Clearly the CARS section destroyed me and I feel like I tried several tactics...but it didnt work out so well.

How should I manage the mcat this time around? Whats a good schedule? I'm worried about studying witht this job. Its gonna be tough, but if I have a good schedule I feel like I will be okay?
 
After reading a bunch of stuff on these forums, most people seem to agree that, for CARS, doing 2-3 passages most days (timed @6-7 min per passage) of TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook (there are other resources out there, but this one seems to pop up a lot) is the way to go. Vihsadas's verbal guide seems to be a nice, detailed explanation on CARS strategy (search these forums for it)
 
Hi,
I graduated with a 3.38cgpa and 3.2sgpa (URM, African American)
I plan on applying to DO med school next year 2018, and the plan is to retake my MCAT, however I just got an amazing opportunity working as a medical intern at a fertility clinic, where I work closely with an MD. The job is full time which takes away from studying.
My first MCAT score was 499 and it was undistributed, 121 CARS (Horrible...), 125 Chem/Phys, 125 Bio, 128 Psych. I got this score while studying full time with no work....

Clearly the CARS section destroyed me and I feel like I tried several tactics...but it didnt work out so well.

How should I manage the mcat this time around? Whats a good schedule? I'm worried about studying witht this job. Its gonna be tough, but if I have a good schedule I feel like I will be okay?

Yea truthfully man if you had just had an acceptable CARS score you would have been competitive for DO schools with like a 504 or so. With that said I definitely think you can improve in all areas if you're looking for a jan or feb test date.

Honestly the best prep for CARS is reading books in your free time.

Did you use AAMC FLs last time? Highly recommend them if you did not. Taking each one, and thoroughly reviewing where I went wrong on problems I erred really helped me improve my score.
 
Yea truthfully man if you had just had an acceptable CARS score you would have been competitive for DO schools with like a 504 or so. With that said I definitely think you can improve in all areas if you're looking for a jan or feb test date.

Honestly the best prep for CARS is reading books in your free time.

Did you use AAMC FLs last time? Highly recommend them if you did not. Taking each one, and thoroughly reviewing where I went wrong on problems I erred really helped me improve my score.
I used the AAMC FL's but maybe I'm not reviewing them the right way. I noticed everyone who does good finds a really good strategy or pattern to combat problems, but for some reason I can't grasp them.

Do you have a schedule you would recommend for full time working mcat takers?
 
After reading a bunch of stuff on these forums, most people seem to agree that, for CARS, doing 2-3 passages most days (timed @6-7 min per passage) of TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook (there are other resources out there, but this one seems to pop up a lot) is the way to go. Vihsadas's verbal guide seems to be a nice, detailed explanation on CARS strategy (search these forums for it)
Thanks! I'm gonna try that strategy
 
I used the AAMC FL's but maybe I'm not reviewing them the right way. I noticed everyone who does good finds a really good strategy or pattern to combat problems, but for some reason I can't grasp them.

Do you have a schedule you would recommend for full time working mcat takers?

What I did was to do a once over, general content review and note taking period for 2 months where I reviewed everything. Then I spent a month and a half memorizing these notes, followed by six weeks or so of practice tests and AAMC materials.

Since you've already taken the test, maybe you won't need as much time for review. This is just a framework I used, hope it helps! Don't give up OP.
 
I retook the MCAT while working a full time job too. I would get up at 5am every day so I could study before work, and then come home and study until about 9 or 10. It's hard because most of your day is working but you have to make sure to have enough time to study too. I also brought my study materials to work with me and tried to study on breaks and such there.
 
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