Just starting to prep for the MCAT, what resources do you recommend?

[TurtBro]

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Hey!

I'm just starting to prepare for the MCAT and I havent decided whether to take it in June 2020 or Winter 2019. I've compiled a list of questions that I hope will help jumpstart my start on this studying process and maybe other people just starting to get ready for this test in the upcoming cycle.

What was your score how long did you prep for it?

When did you take the exam and why?

Do you think 1-2 year older material will be sufficient for learning prep? I was given Kaplan's complete 7 book subject review for 2018-2019 from a friend. Do you think this will be sufficient for content learning and I just need to buy some practice exams? Or should I cash out on another 2019-2020 content set?

What other resources have you had good experiences with? Are AAMC test prep materials worthwhile? I've heard good things about Princeton Review and mixed responses with NextStep. Also, I've heard some people say that you should get the AAMC materials 2-3 months after you start studying.

Should I invest in an MCAT course? What are your thoughts on it? If you've taken a course, how was your experience? Did you feel like it was worthwhile?

What ratio of core learning review to supplementary practice questions/tests do you recommend? Should I invest in more practice material than review material or vice versa? Or maybe have an equal balance of both?

 

[PlsLetMeIn21]

What was your score how long did you prep for it?
I light heartedly looked at material for two months then hardcore for three months. My SAT and GPA predicted I'd get 504, but I scored 516.

When did you take the exam and why?
September last year. So in case I bombed, I could repeat in time to apply this cycle.

Do you think 1-2 year older material will be sufficient for learning prep? Old or new, the worst scores at SDN are from people using that set. Get something better.

What other resources have you had good experiences with? Are AAMC test prep materials worthwhile? AAMC materials are the best resource you'll find. Use them in the last two months, when you are ready. For review and passages, TBR is the best for C/P and B/B, TPR is best for P/S, and EK and TPR are best for CARS.

Should I invest in an MCAT course? If it wasn't such a long commute for me, I would have taken one. I'd never take an online course. Online is a waste of money. I'd did okay without a course, but think I would have gotten more out of my time with a class.

What ratio of core learning review to supplementary practice questions/tests do you recommend? 10% to 20% content review, 60% to 70% practice passages and reviewing questions, 20% FLs where you thoroughly review EVERY question and work on test strategy and timing.

 

[medgal98]

What was your score how long did you prep for it?
I light heartedly looked at material for two months then hardcore for three months. My SAT and GPA predicted I'd get 504, but I scored 516.

When did you take the exam and why?
September last year. So in case I bombed, I could repeat in time to apply this cycle.

Do you think 1-2 year older material will be sufficient for learning prep? Old or new, the worst scores at SDN are from people using that set. Get something better.

What other resources have you had good experiences with? Are AAMC test prep materials worthwhile? AAMC materials are the best resource you'll find. Use them in the last two months, when you are ready. For review and passages, TBR is the best for C/P and B/B, TPR is best for P/S, and EK and TPR are best for CARS.

Should I invest in an MCAT course? If it wasn't such a long commute for me, I would have taken one. I'd never take an online course. Online is a waste of money. I'd did okay without a course, but think I would have gotten more out of my time with a class.

What ratio of core learning review to supplementary practice questions/tests do you recommend? 10% to 20% content review, 60% to 70% practice passages and reviewing questions, 20% FLs where you thoroughly review EVERY question and work on test strategy and timing.

How did you figure out your predicted mcat score based on your GPA and SAT score?

 

[PlsLetMeIn21]

It's something the advising office does. You use your SAT subscores, GPA, and grades in selected science classes. I'm pretty sure it's nothing more than a massive data bank for students at my school.

 

[yogglo]

What was your score how long did you prep for it?
512 - 5-6weeks?


When did you take the exam and why?
Late May - It was the last one released before July.

Do you think 1-2 year older material will be sufficient for learning prep?
Yes.

What other resources have you had good experiences with? Are AAMC test prep materials worthwhile?
uWorld and 300page psych doc. I used EK but I think it was pointless cause uWorld beat me down. AAMC is god. Buy their qpacks and SBs and all FLs.

Should I invest in an MCAT course?
No don't burn 2k unless you are rich.

What ratio of core learning review to supplementary practice questions/tests do you recommend?
20% content review, 60% pract q's, 20% tests. This worked for me idk, just focus most your time on practice q's.

 

[DeeDeeMeow]

What was your score how long did you prep for it?
510, about 6 months

When did you take the exam and why?
June so that I could send my apps out earlier. I think I sent out most of them during July/August

Do you think 1-2 year older material will be sufficient for learning prep? I was given Kaplan's complete 7 book subject review for 2018-2019 from a friend. Do you think this will be sufficient for content learning and I just need to buy some practice exams? Or should I cash out on another 2019-2020 content set?
That should be fine but I personally didn't like Kaplan and felt more confident using exam cracker books. Way easier to comprehend.

What other resources have you had good experiences with? Are AAMC test prep materials worthwhile? I've heard good things about Princeton Review and mixed responses with NextStep. Also, I've heard some people say that you should get the AAMC materials 2-3 months after you start studying.
AAMC test prep materials are a MUST. NextStep isn't bad like the first few tests they had were okay I wouldn't rely to much on those.

Should I invest in an MCAT course? What are your thoughts on it? If you've taken a course, how was your experience? Did you feel like it was worthwhile?
For me it was worth my while I used MCAT King (MCAT KING | MCAT Test Prep with a Private Tutor in New York) they have private and group tutoring. I did private it was way more personalized but I know other students who used the group tutoring and it was just as beneficial. It gave me a set idea on what I needed to accomplish for the day and the guy who runs it is amazing, really dedicated to his students doing well.

What ratio of core learning review to supplementary practice questions/tests do you recommend? Should I invest in more practice material than review material or vice versa? Or maybe have an equal balance of both?
I feel like practicing for me was more beneficial because this way I was able to pick up what each passage was looking for in particular, and got used to reading/answering questions under a time constraint.

 

[deleted987519]

What was your score how long did you prep for it?
521 (132/126/132/131); Technically 6-months but I took a lot of two-week breaks.

When did you take the exam and why?
April so I wouldn't have to balance studying and writing applications.

Do you think 1-2 year older material will be sufficient for learning prep?
Yep, I used one year old Kaplan.

What other resources have you had good experiences with? Are AAMC test prep materials worthwhile?
Khan Academy is a must since it is 100% free - - especially the P/S Word Docs, really helpful to learn terms that aren't included in your 3rd party books.

AAMC materials are a must!! I recommend struggling with your 3rd party's material and practice exams FIRST - - they are often much harder than AAMC FLs and it is a little demoralizing, but if you force yourself to learn at that level it makes the AAMC material look easy.
The question banks are great for content review and the section banks are great for getting comfortable with those difficult, research heavy passages. Both are a must in my opinion.
I recommend doing one AAMC FL each weekend leading up to your exam (try and start at 8 am if feasible to simulate test-day)
Most people score around (within 2 points from what I can tell) the average of the AAMC FLs so if you are not happy with yours definitely delay your exam!!!

Should I invest in an MCAT course? What are your thoughts on it? If you've taken a course, how was your experience? Did you feel like it was worthwhile?
N/A

What ratio of core learning review to supplementary practice questions/tests do you recommend? Should I invest in more practice material than review material or vice versa? Or maybe have an equal balance of both?

If you have the time do both. Toward the end of your studies (less than one month before exam) I would recommend practice practice practice and only review things that are high yield and trip you up