I've lost all faith

[Assembler]

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I know this might seem like I'm complaining, venting, or just b*tching in general, but I'm not really sure if there's any other way I could express it right now. I've been taking the Princeton Review class over the summer, and I have been studying like crazy; as much as ten hours a day, 6-7 days a week. I thought my scores would improve, but I'm really not seeing the trend I want.

4911: 7BS 6PS 5V (18)
4921: 8BS 5PS 3V (16)
4931: 7BS 5PS 7V (19)

I just took AAMC 5R today, and graded it at home. I ended up with a 24 (9BS-8PS-7V). I'm so disappointed. I just don't know what to do. I've done most of the TPR workbook, including the verbal workbook. I don't understand this inconsistency. On the TPR workbook passages, I rarely get more than 2 questions wrong. On verbal, I usually get 2 wrong, and on the last two verbal workbook tests I took, I got 45/60 and 43/60. The thing is, I never time myself when doing passages at home. On the real test I always have trouble with time. I've tried to force myself to go faster, but it just doesn't happen. On AAMC 5R, I had to skip a 6 question passage (the second to last one in PS). Also, on verbal, I didn't even touch the Picasso passage, and that shot me down 10 questions alone. I just can't seem to do it in the time given, and I really can't work well under this kind of pressure. When I do it at home though, I have no problem getting "decent" scores. I guess that is because it takes me about a minute or two extra than it regularly would on the exam.

Anyway, I really am in a slump. I guess, if this test is the real predictor, maybe I should just not apply to any US schools. I don't know. I don't want to go to the Caribbeans, but somehow I doubt any school will take me with 24-25; I know there are exceptions to the rule, but they are exceptions for a reason.

Also, I guess this is trivial, but I don't really think I'm dumb. At least, maybe I didn't until before this. My GPA is 3.65 and my BCPM is 3.5, from a well-respected university. Not that it matters anyway...

Do you guys have any suggestions? I'm really in dire need of help. 🙁

 

[ScOrPiO2983]

I know this might seem like I'm complaining, venting, or just b*tching in general, but I'm not really sure if there's any other way I could express it right now. I've been taking the Princeton Review class over the summer, and I have been studying like crazy; as much as ten hours a day, 6-7 days a week. I thought my scores would improve, but I'm really not seeing the trend I want.

4911: 7BS 6PS 5V (18)
4921: 8BS 5PS 3V (16)
4931: 7BS 5PS 7V (19)

I just took AAMC 5R today, and graded it at home. I ended up with a 24 (9BS-8PS-7V). I'm so disappointed. I just don't know what to do. I've done most of the TPR workbook, including the verbal workbook. I don't understand this inconsistency. On the TPR workbook passages, I rarely get more than 2 questions wrong. On verbal, I usually get 2 wrong, and on the last two verbal workbook tests I took, I got 45/60 and 43/60. The thing is, I never time myself when doing passages at home. On the real test I always have trouble with time. I've tried to force myself to go faster, but it just doesn't happen. On AAMC 5R, I had to skip a 6 question passage (the second to last one in PS). Also, on verbal, I didn't even touch the Picasso passage, and that shot me down 10 questions alone. I just can't seem to do it in the time given, and I really can't work well under this kind of pressure. When I do it at home though, I have no problem getting "decent" scores. I guess that is because it takes me about a minute or two extra than it regularly would on the exam.

Anyway, I really am in a slump. I guess, if this test is the real predictor, maybe I should just not apply to any US schools. I don't know. I don't want to go to the Caribbeans, but somehow I doubt any school will take me with 24-25; I know there are exceptions to the rule, but they are exceptions for a reason.

Also, I guess this is trivial, but I don't really think I'm dumb. At least, maybe I didn't until before this. My GPA is 3.65 and my BCPM is 3.5, from a well-respected university. Not that it matters anyway...

Do you guys have any suggestions? I'm really in dire need of help. 🙁

Hey,
STOP Stressing! You'll do fine. The PR tests are harder from what everyone usually says and the AAMC ones are more practical. You went up quite a bit from the PR tests, so that's a good sign. Plus, u still have 2 more weeks to find your mistakes and improve. Jus work really hard in these two weeks and I'm sure you will do fine. Also your GPA is pretty high which will help u. Definately apply to US med schools because you will get in, providing the interview and everything goes well. Jus relax and work really hard these two weeks. Review the practice tests and see what kind of questions you are getting wrong and either review the material or kno how to improve in those areas. Good Luck! 🙂

 

[safrat]

First off, as much of a long shot as it is, you can get into STATE med school with a 25. In my school, you can get an interview with a 24. If you have the proper EC's and clinical experience, then you should have a good shot. Of course, though, no one wants to apply with a weakness.

Now, correcting that weakness. I'm really surprised that when reading these posts most people don't take or redo a lot of exams. That's strange to me, b/c I knew nothing before taking the tests. I used to review so much, but it didn't account to diddly. If your spending 10hr days, then do the exams over and over again, and watch not only your speed but your score go up. What I mean by that is you should do all the AAMC's, review, do them again. Except when redoing, you should do all the ps sections together, then bio. I don't bother doing the verbal again, cause I can't forget the answers, but I do review it really well. Consistently do this and at the same time memorize little facts. I think your score should either become a solid 25 or go up several points.

Also, this is what worked for me, so I can't really say 100% that it's going to work for you. However, I do realize that a lot people that just review and don't take and re-take exams are usually the ones struggling. I hope it helps. oh, btw, it's a damn good thing you skipped the picasso passage; I think the max someone got right on that one was 4/10. That means you've good great since of which one not to do, unlike me. My struggle is with the verbal section. I just can't ever finish it. I usually 1-2 passages left, depending on whether or not I do one of the two 10 passage questions. Alright, later.

 

[Naima19]

With two weeks until the MCAT is to focus on strategy. For me, taking Princeton Review was not about learning information. If you approach it that way you are going to be learning of lot of information that is not necessary for the exam.

Right now focus on taking as many exams as you can. For verbal you have to TIME YOURSELF. There is no way around it.

Each day try a different strategy. Have you tried doing passages in the order of interest? Do you outline passages? Do you identify the main idea of each passage so that you know where to go to quickly find answers? If you do all of that, great! Just focus on getting as many as you can correct. If you decide before a test to only do 8-9 passages you can focus on that. If you do more great, if you don't then you have met your goal.

I am sorry to ramble on. But in your case I think that it is better to just shoot for getting the most correct answers and not finishing the test.

As for the science sections. If timing is your issue as well, do the free standing questions first. With those, you either know the answer or you don't. Get them out of the way because those are easy points. The rest of the questions are passage based so you can use the same strategy that you do for verbal.

At this point if you don't know something, you aren't going to. At least not in time for the MCAT. So devote all of your time to working out your strategies.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

First calm down, stressing over it won't help at all.

Have you taken the AAMC tests? Those are the greatest predictors of outcome. Take one a day now if you have the time, or eveyr other day and spend the alternate day going over the answers.

I presume you guess when you say you don't hav ethe time to finish, so surely you get a % of those right.

You defintiely need to pick up speed. Don't let hard passages sow you down. if you don't know an answer make the best guess possible and mark your booklet to go back if you have the time. Keep an eye on the clock so you can gauge yourself to finish going thru the exam.

Good luck.

 

[4 Ever]

Question for the OP: After you take your test do you just look at your scores and think "**** i gotta do better" and then continue with what youre doing?

Though 2weeks is cutting it really close, you could try to look over your old exams and review every question to figure out why you got it wrong and how you get the right answer. This can be tedious but i learned a lot more from doing that than just memorizing things. You find out what you are consistently doing wrong and how to fix them next time. For myself, I didn't even focus much on the verbal - i just tried to handle it one passage at a time and do the best i could. I used a bunch of various strategies and it only threw me around the usual 8-9score. On test day, i felt very comfortable and relaxed which i felt made me get my good verbal score (11). Being calm and collected really does help your score out. Luckily for me, i took the test in a place i knew noone so i just sat there, and focused on myself. Just block out everything else and dont lose motivation. My professor gave me a bookmark that said "never never never qiut - winston churchill" and i had it with me for inspiration. It helped me stay focused. Just remember that negative doubts will feed on itself and get stronger so you have to eliminate it. its tough though since u have 2weeks but dont give up

 

[Howard Roark]

start timing yourself at home


.

 

[Assembler]

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone.

I looked back at my test scores today, and I did find some strange things. It turns out I was only 4 questions away from a 27; 1 in PS (9), 2 in VR (8) , and 1 in BS (10). It seems like you really need luck on your side on the day of the test, since only a few questions could differentiate it.

I understand that I really need to work on my strategies in these last few days. I'm not sure exactly when I'm going to be able to do this though, because our PR course is designed so we're still learning/reviewing about ten more lectures of info until August 9th. I'll probably finish it all by friday, since our last diag (AAMC 7) will be on Saturday. I only have two more workbook tests in verbal though, so I am going to definitely time myself, and work on using the 2/3-Pass system more often.

This is probably going to be in the most backwards order, but since we're done with PR officially on Saturday, would it make sense to do 3R, 4R, and 6R afterwards? I would like to try and get as much practice as possible, even if it means doing the tests online.

 

[BerlinNeuro]

I was in a similar situation as you this spring. I just couldn't get my score above a 24 even after 3 months of hardcore review. Then I finally bought the "real" MCAT tests from AAMC (as I see you must have). I did NOTHING but tests for two weeks straight before the exam. AAMC, review books, online Qs, whatever was available. I figured out it has nothing much to do with what you know but how you reason under pressure. I got a 30 on the real thing. Good Luck. 😉

 

[strangelight]

I was in a similar situation as you this spring. I just couldn't get my score above a 24 even after 3 months of hardcore review. Then I finally bought the "real" MCAT tests from AAMC (as I see you must have). I did NOTHING but tests for two weeks straight before the exam. AAMC, review books, online Qs, whatever was available. I figured out it has nothing much to do with what you know but how you reason under pressure. I got a 30 on the real thing. Good Luck. 😉

Hah wow, now that REALLY gives me motivation to keep on working since I'm pretty much in that situation right now. I almost thought it was impossible to improve that much in 2 weeks. Thanks!

 

[sunUCB]

not if the state you live in begins with a Cal and ends with an ifornia

First off, as much of a long shot as it is, you can get into STATE med school with a 25. In my school, you can get an interview with a 24. If you have the proper EC's and clinical experience, then you should have a good shot. Of course, though, no one wants to apply with a weakness.

 

[4 Ever]

well i know jersey wont really give you good shots with a 24 mcat score so i think that 24-25mcat score is a bit misleading.

Regarding the AAMC tests, what you should do is take them 2-3times a week until the mcat. what i did was test on monday, review mistakes on tuesday, test wednesday, review mistakes thursday, off friday to just review and get a breather. Then do 3more the following week. The last one you take you shouldnt grade though. Just do it so you're up to the stamina.