I'm still taking my last two pre-reqs until December, focusing on understanding conceptually what's occurring so its fresh. Nonetheless, I've seen a number of posters stating that studying for long periods of time is pointless due to all that one must retain. I'm planning an early April MCAT date, and while I'm surprisingly not freaking out about it at this point, I don't want January to come and get totally overwhelmed as to what I need to study in just 90 days. I'm going to follow the Sn2ed schedule, but I can't help but feel slightly anxious that I'm just relaxing for the most part (Ochem II / Phys II are my only classes, along with part-time work) right now while I could potentially do even a little studying. Thoughts?
Is three to four months optimal for practically everyone?
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It won't hurt you to start studying for it now, at all. As long as you follow the real schedule, you'll be fine. it'll actually benefit you, since you'll be more "familiar" with the content and you'll spend less time/day reviewing content (during SN2ed's schedule).
I think what people on this forum were referring to was the fact that you shouldn't have a "real" studying schedule (SN2ed's for example) that lasts for 2 long (5-6+months).
I think what people on this forum were referring to was the fact that you shouldn't have a "real" studying schedule (SN2ed's for example) that lasts for 2 long (5-6+months).
i think the 3-4 month recommendation is just so that the neurotic people who want to start studying freshman year before the pre-reqs don't get too carried away.
i started a class in january, and took the test the following september. i wasn't studying much until may though.
if you have taken the pre-reqs recently and did well and understood the topics, then really you just need to refresh some info and learn how to take the test.
i wouldn't take practice tests this far out, but reviewing material is definitely not going to hurt. especially chem and physics where it is more conceptual things that will just stick with you.
i started a class in january, and took the test the following september. i wasn't studying much until may though.
if you have taken the pre-reqs recently and did well and understood the topics, then really you just need to refresh some info and learn how to take the test.
i wouldn't take practice tests this far out, but reviewing material is definitely not going to hurt. especially chem and physics where it is more conceptual things that will just stick with you.
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It's just a rule of a thumb. Everyone's different. I studied for 6 months and I'm glad I did. Four months into my prep my practice test average was 33. I was aiming for 36 and with only a month to go until my exam I chose to delay by a month and a half in hopes of bringing my score up. My AAMC 8-11 average (taken in the last month of my six months of studying) was 37. My score on the real thing ended up being 39S (same as my AAMC 11 score, but with a different breakdown). There is no way I would have gotten that 39S or anywhere close to it if I had listened to people and taken my exam when I had originally planned.
There is a caveat though: you have to handle long term studying differently than short term studying ("short" being a relative term here). With a 3 month schedule like SN2ed's you can afford to blaze through content without ever stopping to look back. The idea is that you cover material so rapidly that it's all still fresh in your head by the time you take the exam. With long term studying though you have to stop to constantly review what you've already learned so that you don't forget any of it, and you need to do lighter amounts of studying per day than you would with a 3-4 month schedule since you're definitely going to burn out otherwise. For some people (such as myself) this works out well since you get spaced repetition that enhances your knowledge of the subject, and on a schedule that makes it easy to balance studying with work/life. For others though, this strategy works out poorly because they mismanage their schedule and blow through materials on a particular topic early on or never stop to review, and thus forget everything by the end. It really depends on what your needs are, and what strategy works best for you.
Just don't get carried away if you decide to go with a long term schedule. This is an exam where you're never going to feel truly ready, and there's going to come a point where you need to recognize when you're at your peak and stop there before you start to decline in performance.
There is a caveat though: you have to handle long term studying differently than short term studying ("short" being a relative term here). With a 3 month schedule like SN2ed's you can afford to blaze through content without ever stopping to look back. The idea is that you cover material so rapidly that it's all still fresh in your head by the time you take the exam. With long term studying though you have to stop to constantly review what you've already learned so that you don't forget any of it, and you need to do lighter amounts of studying per day than you would with a 3-4 month schedule since you're definitely going to burn out otherwise. For some people (such as myself) this works out well since you get spaced repetition that enhances your knowledge of the subject, and on a schedule that makes it easy to balance studying with work/life. For others though, this strategy works out poorly because they mismanage their schedule and blow through materials on a particular topic early on or never stop to review, and thus forget everything by the end. It really depends on what your needs are, and what strategy works best for you.
Just don't get carried away if you decide to go with a long term schedule. This is an exam where you're never going to feel truly ready, and there's going to come a point where you need to recognize when you're at your peak and stop there before you start to decline in performance.
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I have been thinking about this topic for some time now, and I appreciate your helpful insight.
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I personally think 6 months is way too long. The content isn't overly complex and won't require the average college student to spend 6 months on it. Secondly, very few individuals have the perseverance and will power to consistently study for 3-4 months, much less 6!
Obviously there are exceptions, and you may be one, but I think starting after winter break gives you plenty of time for an April test date (that's what I did).
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Did you study for the exam while taking regular classes as well?
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Chances are, if you're feeling you're going to be rushed by Jan, don't do it. Take as much time as you NEED. 3-4 months is just a ballpark estimate. It should only give you a rough idea how to structure your life, etc. But obviously if you don't feel ready, don't take it!! Take it when you are ready and feel that you can do YOUR BEST, there is no other rule to it.
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The 3-4 month rule originated from when it was the most popular time to take the MCAT, which was during the summer. I would say that for most students who actually worked hard and efficiently, that it would be enough. For one member, he studied over 3 weeks, efficiently and effectively each day, and he ended up with a 43S. This isn't a friend of a friend of a distant relative, but an actual SDN'er. I also know about his feats from a different forum. He was a biomedical engineering student. He also scored near perfect on the LSAT. He didn't go into law school or medical school, but went on to pursue a Ph.D. Something else of note, after he scored a 43S, he went back and took the MCAT again, hoping to get perfect in two sections; he didn't reach that goal, however, he did score a 41S or 42S that time.
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Yes, but I planned in advance so that I was only taking 12 hours of classes (all in the morning). 5 of those hours were a gym class and an "independent study" aka doing laboratory research for 8 hours a week. I essentially had no homework and could study in the evenings and weekends with no other responsibilities.
