Is this school load OK while doing MCAT prep?

[dexorbit]

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Hello everyone,

I definitely need some guidance with MCAT and how you prepare for it because right now, I just feel so intimidated about the exam. Even thinking about it makes me nervous. 🙁

So, I would like to know your thoughts about how much course load I should take in spring semester along with preparing for the MCAT. Okay here's my plan:

Option 1: 10 units

Physics 2 with Lab
Cell Biology
Undergrad Research
MCAT prep (Berkeley Review)
Part-time work RN work

Option 2: 7 units

Only Physics 2 with lab
Undergrad Research
MCAT prep.
Part-time RN work

I did some research on this site and I've found some people who did well with a full course load plus extra stuff and found others who did very well without any course load and just focused on studying for it.

How much is too much course load when your studying for the MCAT?

 

[rguil15]

Hello everyone,

I definitely need some guidance with MCAT and how you prepare for it because right now, I just feel so intimidated about the exam. Even thinking about it makes me nervous. 🙁

Doing content review for it now, I **** my pants just about every day that I work on it and get wrong answers, so I know how you feel.

The more time you can give it, the better.

 

[mspeedwagon]

+1. Also doing content review now (after a fairly crappy score on my two past practice tests... Kaplan's baseline and AAMC 3). That said, it's definitely an exam that with time you'll improve on (the more time the better).

PS - didn't take cell bio, but took molecular and it can be a time suck. I think that time is better spent on MCAT prep (but that's just my opinion). Take a practice test and if you score anywhere below 24 plan to spend a lot of time prepping.

Doing content review for it now, I **** my pants just about every day that I work on it and get wrong answers, so I know how you feel.

The more time you can give it, the better.

 

[Chip N Sawbones]

Take AAMC's free practice MCAT and see how you do. If you're getting a decent score without any review, take the hard schedule. If you encounter a lot of problems that are totally unfamiliar, take a lighter schedule or take the difficult schedule and be prepared to have less free time than you'd like.

 

[dexorbit]

Thank you @Chip N Sawbones. 🙂

 

[dexorbit]

okay. i'll definitely take a practice test and see how I'll do. Thanks for your input @mspeedwagon

 

[dexorbit]

Doing content review for it now, I **** my pants just about every day that I work on it and get wrong answers, so I know how you feel.

The more time you can give it, the better.

Its definitely scaring me now so I plan to really focus on studying for it. Good luck with your studying! 🙂

 

[Gauss44]

Hello everyone,

I definitely need some guidance with MCAT and how you prepare for it because right now, I just feel so intimidated about the exam. Even thinking about it makes me nervous. 🙁

So, I would like to know your thoughts about how much course load I should take in spring semester along with preparing for the MCAT. Okay here's my plan:

Option 1: 10 units

Physics 2 with Lab
Cell Biology
Undergrad Research
MCAT prep (Berkeley Review)
Part-time work RN work

Option 2: 7 units

Only Physics 2 with lab
Undergrad Research
MCAT prep.
Part-time RN work

I did some research on this site and I've found some people who did well with a full course load plus extra stuff and found others who did very well without any course load and just focused on studying for it.

How much is too much course load when your studying for the MCAT?

Try to prepare. To answer your last question, make your best guess based on your knowledge of yourself. Everyone is different. But if your AAMC scores are not satisfactory a couple weeks prior to the test, reschedule. DO NOT TAKE until your AAMC practice test scores indicate that you are ready. The MCAT is not on a curve! It is scaled. In all likelihood, what you get on AAMC practice tests will be what you get on the MCAT (give or take a point or two).

You will only know if it will work for you if you try it.

 

[rguil15]

Its definitely scaring me now so I plan to really focus on studying for it. Good luck with your studying! 🙂

This may sound really obvious, but one way I've found to make some quick progress is by not following anyone elses reveiw schedule, including the review book writer's order of content. What I mean is, I'm taking a class on genetics. Well genetics is the last two chapters of the Berkely Review Bio content. A great way to knock out two of the ten chapters I need to cover is by doing them simultaneously with my class work, as opposed to a few months from now by starting at chapter 1 with the stuff from bio 1 that I'm already rusty on. Doing the same for physics (covering the most recent material I've had 1st, instead of getting bogged down doing the stuff I havent' seen in over a decade).

 

[Dynamo24]

It depends on your ability to manage your time. I think quite a few folks on here have had pretty heavy schedules while studying for the MCAT and had success in both. I will start studying a week after this semester ends with a March/April test date. I'll be taking Physics 2 w/ lab, Molecular Biology, a religion course and an advanced Neuroscience lab (14 total cr. hours)....all with a baby due on Jan. 7th. Add in 10-12 hours of research a week plus ~20 hours of EMT work a week. Its intimidating on paper, but its really about time management. Plan your schedule around YOUR study time, not your study time around your schedule. I'm sure you will do a great job.

 

[augeremt]

I've been told it's the equivalent of a 5 credit hour class. From my experience studying for it, that's pretty accurate.

 

[dexorbit]

This may sound really obvious, but one way I've found to make some quick progress is by not following anyone elses reveiw schedule, including the review book writer's order of content. What I mean is, I'm taking a class on genetics. Well genetics is the last two chapters of the Berkely Review Bio content. A great way to knock out two of the ten chapters I need to cover is by doing them simultaneously with my class work, as opposed to a few months from now by starting at chapter 1 with the stuff from bio 1 that I'm already rusty on. Doing the same for physics (covering the most recent material I've had 1st, instead of getting bogged down doing the stuff I havent' seen in over a decade).

Oh cool, I've never really thought about doing this. But thanks for the Tip. Just a further question, since I havent taken Genetics yet. Do you really need to take Genetics before taking the MCAT or is studying from the reviewers and from Bio 1 and 2 sufficient enough?

 

[dexorbit]

It depends on your ability to manage your time. I think quite a few folks on here have had pretty heavy schedules while studying for the MCAT and had success in both. I will start studying a week after this semester ends with a March/April test date. I'll be taking Physics 2 w/ lab, Molecular Biology, a religion course and an advanced Neuroscience lab (14 total cr. hours)....all with a baby due on Jan. 7th. Add in 10-12 hours of research a week plus ~20 hours of EMT work a week. Its intimidating on paper, but its really about time management. Plan your schedule around YOUR study time, not your study time around your schedule. I'm sure you will do a great job.

Oh wow! And I thought my planned schedule was already difficult. It's all about time management. Thanks for this! And congratulations on your baby! 🙂