If you got 36+ on mcat while studying over summer..l

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...how many hours per day did you study? How many days per week?
(I am going to study in the summer with little to no ECs going during that time)

Did you follow the sn2ed or spinach schedules? Or did you just divide the material by yourself?
 
set my own schedule using the Berk review books for physics/orgo/chem and Examkrackers for bio.
I took a ~25 hr/wk physics class at the same time so I did about 4 hours per week day and then all day on weekends

the key is not to allocate time evenly to all things, you need to take a few practice exams at the beginning and then spend twice as much time on your weak areas and half as much on what you already mastered in your classes
 
Took a Kaplan course during the same summer I took the MCAT. I was working a 40 hr per week internship at the same time so I didn't have a set schedule. I don't think I would recommend working full time while preparing for the MCAT especially if you only have 2.5 months. I liked that the prep course kinda forced me to at least attempt to keep with the material and it did cover all the content.

I second what @efle mentions about really working on your weak areas. It can sometimes be oddly tempting to want to study the material you already know pretty well compared to working on your weak areas. Reviewing your practice exams to see what you are getting wrong and why you are getting it wrong is a huge part of preparing for the MCAT.
 
kevinsword91 said:
Took a Kaplan course during the same summer I took the MCAT. I was working a 40 hr per week internship at the same time so I didn't have a set schedule. I don't think I would recommend working full time while preparing for the MCAT especially if you only have 2.5 months. I liked that the prep course kinda forced me to at least attempt to keep with the material and it did cover all the content.

I second what @efle mentions about really working on your weak areas. It can sometimes be oddly tempting to want to study the material you already know pretty well compared to working on your weak areas. Reviewing your practice exams to see what you are getting wrong and why you are getting it wrong is a huge part of preparing for the MCAT.
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I had something similar (Kaplan course, 2.5 months, 40 hours a week job), but I actually recommend working full time because it provided a nice break (and money!)

But other than my job, it was almost all MCAT studying, with an occasional night out with friends (like, maybe 5 nights out total that summer). Granted, I procrastinate a lot when I study, so it was usually a combination of goofing off and studying. I just followed the Kaplan's recommended order of subjects, so I split each subject into 3 categories and alternated between subjects (Bio 1, Chem 1, Phys 1, Ochem 1, Bio 2, Chem 2 etc.). Eventually in my down time, I started memorizing various bio concepts via flash cards (stuff like circulation pathways etc.).

Good choice studying for it during the summer. I absolutely recommend you get it out of the way before the school year begins. I remember people in my summer prep class who scheduled their tests for January, which surprised me since I just wanted to get it out of the way.

I would recommend maybe prioritizing learning/re-learning the material during the first half of your studying, and prioritize practice tests during the second half. I started out with a 30 on my diagnostic test, and was pleased to see significant progress by the halfway point when I took my first practice test after that.
 
3mo self-study using TBR for content, EK1001 for practice, and making Anki flashcards for everything. My study schedule was all over the place because I was working 2 jobs at the time, but it was basically 'work 3-4hrs in the morning, come home around noon, study until I went to bed' with random 'work 12hr days, no studying' (or if I was in a real jam, 'study for 3-4hrs then work a 12hr day') mixed in. Of course, I got a bit burnt out at some point, so there were a lot of 'do nothing for 3-4d' stretches in there which were discouraging. However, I hit my target score, so it all worked out!
 
I kinda did something similar to Spinach's approach: practice on what you're weak in until you're proficient (in a very generalized way.) I also had a friend who made a schedule that I used. He ended up making a 39 and I made a 36. He is currently at BU :laugh:
 
I worked an internship all summer and self-studied at night. I studied ~10 hours a week for 10 weeks, and then 7 hours a day in the week leading up to it!
 
I ended up making my own schedule and did lots of questions.
 
I studied maybe like 8 hours of MCAT per week in the first half of spring semester junior year, started taking practice exams in March, increased studying to 12 hours/week until May, took 1 practice exam every 2 days in the last 10 days before my exam, didn't study at all the day before (went to see Iron Man 3 with my friends instead), and then felt like I bombed the bio section on test day. Final score was 12, 13, 11 (lol bio major having bio as lowest score - oh the irony). My practice exam average was 32-33, with highest score being 35.

Although I agree that it's better to study MCAT during the summer because it's 2-3 months without classes, you should not ONLY study MCAT during those 2-3 months. Be sure to do something else like volunteering, light research, or a paid job so that you can take your mind of studying and not get burnt out (and possibly add this EC to your app if you stick with it).
 
I did physics, physiology, and biochem during my senior year, and started with very light verbal practice in December. Ramped up studying in June, I really just had to focus on chem and certain bio sections. I expected about a 34 and ended up a couple of points higher. I'd guess I did approx 5 hours a day, 6-7 days a week for about 7 weeks.
 
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oh wow, I was considering doing 7 hrs/day for 5 days/week for 3 months... is that too intense?
All posters above seem to go from 10-15 hours/week while doing other activities. I plan to devote most of my time to studying and leave little for ECs, but I guess I might reconsider now
 
ratman7 said:
oh wow, I was considering doing 7 hrs/day for 5 days/week for 3 months... is that too intense?
All posters above seem to go from 10-15 hours/week while doing other activities. I plan to devote most of my time to studying and leave little for ECs, but I guess I might reconsider now
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That sounds miserable.

I studied over 4ish months while working full time.

I probably studied for 3-5 hours 4-5 times during the work week and made sure to go out and be social atleast once during the work week. On the weekends, I'd do a major practice problem push (8ish hrs) and then take a day either off or correct/review problems from the prior week (~2hrs tops).

It was started to be a bit much towards the end but I managed to keep it together till after the exam and it paid off. I really wouldn't recommend studying that much when you really don't have to.

Then again, I got a 34 so...
/eyeroll.
 
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ratman7 said:
...how many hours per day did you study? How many days per week?
(I am going to study in the summer with little to no ECs going during that time)

Did you follow the sn2ed or spinach schedules? Or did you just divide the material by yourself?
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Are you planning to take the new MCAT?
 
Like a few others on here, I took a Kaplan class (major benefit: structure + motivation) and studied for about three months while working full-time. I gobbled up all the practice tests I could find, which I think was the best practice (getting timing down is key) after the basic content review was finished.

Besides Kaplan hours I studied no more than a couple hours per day 5-6 days per week.
 
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6 weeks, ~20 hours a week while working at a startup.

No one can study 7 hrs a day straight for weeks. No one. You'll just be taking breaks and lying to yourself that you're studying for that long.

Also, track your own progress. You may be a better or worse test taker than all of us, so our times shouldn't impact you that much.
 
Only got a 35, but I did it by studying about 4-5 hours a day for about 2.5 months using TBR, EK, and the official AAMCs. I had a baseline 12 VR and a strong bio background though, so YMMV.
 
Mad Jack said:
Only got a 35, but I did it by studying about 4-5 hours a day for about 2.5 months using TBR, EK, and the official AAMCs. I had a baseline 12 VR and a strong bio background though, so YMMV.
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Same here, baseline 12 VR. Never went up, never went down. 🤔
 
Mad Jack said:
I never even tried to raise it lol. Figured a 12 was fine by me.
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I was more persistent. Worked my way through TPRH VW and did one section in EK. Gave up. Got a 13 on an AAMC and celebrated. Then back to 12s. lol
 
WillburCobb said:
I guess I'm not someone then...
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I mean...I would just be really impressed if 7 hours of full work time were put in. I'd say most people who think they study 7 only really study for around 5 functionally on a consistent basis.
 
Do you guys think the old study strategies and books will help for the new MCAT? I keep thinking it's completely different...
 
moop said:
I mean...I would just be really impressed if 7 hours of full work time were put in. I'd say most people who think they study 7 only really study for around 5 functionally on a consistent basis.
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I always count how much time I spend actually studying and account for breaks etc. when talking with others. I didn't spend 7+ hours everyday, but there were days, especially as my test date came near that I was putting in 8+ hour days, including breaks.
 
Cyberdyne 101 said:
Are you serious? If I get something equivalent to your score on the new MCAT, I'll buy you drinks 😉
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Dude srsly a 12 was devastating bc I didn't improve at all

(lmao jk)
 
WillburCobb said:
I always count how much time I spend actually studying and account for breaks etc. when talking with others. I didn't spend 7+ hours everyday, but there were days, especially as my test date came near that I was putting in 8+ hour days, including breaks.
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Okay. Impressed. But I'd argue there are more efficient and sane ways to approach MCAT studying.
 
@connie95 Yes, this post is intended for the amount of studying for the new MCAT, and I am hoping that the methods of people with 36+ (or close to that) on the old would translate to the new MCAT.

Verbal looks to be the big question mark (though I hope it is the same as the old MCAT's) on my study schedule needing improvement.
Biochemistry I hope that Biochemistry 521 in my school (1st semester biochemistry) can provide a solid foundation for the new MCAT biochem.

As for materials, I gather that EK is good for Verbal and TPR and BKR is good for the sciences (refresher mainly, not learning). I will have only taken the bare prereqs + biochemistry one semester when I take the MCAT, so I'm hoping the genetics, neurobio, physiology, and anatomy on the new MCAT is able to be picked up from the content review study materials.
If you have any specific suggestions for materials, please mention.


Should I purchase all of the AAMC FLs when they are available or is only a select few needed?


PS: Is the TPR Hyperlearning no longer available for the recent editions? I can only seem to find used versions of that workbook.
 
There is way more content on the new exam. How much time you should spend all depends on how familiar you are with the new stuff. I don't think old MCAT study time is very reflective of what's required for the new exam. The key, like any standardized exam, is to practice, practice, practice, and focus especially on the stuff you stink at. For some, your intended study time will be more than enough. For others, it won't be enough. Be realistic about how much time you can dedicate to getting the highest score possible and find the discipline to make that time fruitful.
 
moop said:
I mean...I would just be really impressed if 7 hours of full work time were put in. I'd say most people who think they study 7 only really study for around 5 functionally on a consistent basis.
Click to expand...
I was unable to do it every day because of my jobs and my laziness, but I frequently did 7-8hr stints after working 3hrs in the morning. I'm more of a momentum-driven person, so I am more likely to do an insane amount of go-go-go one day and then a day of nothing-because-that-would-require-getting-out-of-bed than I would be to do two average days.
 
I studied for one summer full-time after my sophomore year. I did a Kaplan course to pace myself and went to every in-person class session to be part of the discussions (helps with long term retention). All in all I probably studied 6 hours a day on average and tried to go on runs/do other things on occasion to keep my mind from breaking.

Rough Breakdown:
Diagnostic Test - 27
1 month content review
Practice Test 1 - 37
1 month content review
Practice test marathon(Practice test day/Test review day/Content review day... repeat)
Actual test felt like :barf:scored like :soexcited:


*Special note: The second you get above a 35 your score is a bit random since the difference between a 35 and a 37 is only a handful of questions.
 
Sat at desk for around 12-14 hours/day but in reality got around 10-11 hours of work done each day. 7 days a week, about 14 consecutive weeks. 1 break day total for the whole summer since I didn't have enough time to take more.

Did modified Sn2ed.
 
Will the TBR Biology books work for the 2015 MCAT?
Id TBR only good for bio and chem?

Does anyone have the link to a thread where they explain the best brands and materials for each section?
 
I believe the mental attitude of success and commitment goes a long way to doing well on the exam.
 
I took a summer off and studied for the MCAT. I didn't have anything else to do.
I used the Sn2ed study plan and worked well. I changed it a little and I took longer breaks since I am very addicted to tv shows 😀 but I ended with a 40+/-2 🙂
 
I work full time >8 hrs a day (cant' study during work) and did average 3-4 hrs a day (including weekends) for about 3 months pretty steadily. Some days I took breaks, others I did like 10 hrs/day on weekends. I powered through each subject review for 1.5-2 weeks per subject then spent the rest of the time honing in on weak areas.
 
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