Kind of confused on exactly HOW to study..

[Jayhawker07]

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I feel silly for asking this, but here goes nothing. How exactly do you guys study for the MCAT? I read things that say to read over the material and make sure you understand it well (understanding is more important than memorizing). So I read over lectures (I'm using EK complete study pkg) and I really do understand what I'm reading, but a couple weeks later I don't remember anything from that lecture it seems, although when I flip back to it, it still makes perfect sense. On the other hand, I don't feel like I could or should memorize everything. So I guess I'm confused about what you should read once and understand, and what you should just memorize?

 

[surftheiop]

I feel silly for asking this, but here goes nothing. How exactly do you guys study for the MCAT? I read things that say to read over the material and make sure you understand it well (understanding is more important than memorizing). So I read over lectures (I'm using EK complete study pkg) and I really do understand what I'm reading, but a couple weeks later I don't remember anything from that lecture it seems, although when I flip back to it, it still makes perfect sense. On the other hand, I don't feel like I could or should memorize everything. So I guess I'm confused about what you should read once and understand, and what you should just memorize?

I used the EK study pack also, my strategy was something like this.

I would read through a chapter and do the study questions for each section in them as I went along. When I finished a chapter, I would wait until the next day to take the 30 min practice test for that chapter.

I was doing the entire study pack in 5 week period so I was really pushing the tempo. What you could do is read everything up to a set of questions, then do the questions the next day. Review any parts you missed. This should have you finishing a chapter every 3 or 4 days which would be a good pace in my opinion.

When I was doing 1 or 2 chapters a day, it was pretty tough to absorb stuff, but not impossible.

 

[knightstale4]

Try the hat trick approach described by SDN2. I am a huge supporter because if you do it everyday, you are constantly having to remember a bunch of different topics. MCAT isn't just about memorization, but also the ability to recall and apply the info. I have one bag of orgo/bio and another with chem/physics. It is helping with recall for me atleast 🙂

 

[Drexon]

For me personally it's all about repetition. You need to know certain things cold. Hormones, brain anatomy & functions, physics formulas, chemistry formulas, IR / NMR , major Ochem mech. etc I mean i know it's a wealth of knowledge to retain but after going over the material and taking tons of practice tests, you'll get things down.

It could also be the amount of info you're trying to learn at one time. Remember to pace yourself because it's a marathon not one time all you can eat buffet.

Even with knight and sdn2 and the hat trick it's still repetition and practice.

 

[LostInStudy]

It's terribly surprising how many people get SDN2 (who I don't think is a real member) and SN2ed confused. Generally it's new members though.

Just interesting,

-LIS

 

[Jayhawker07]

Thanks for the replys, that's all good advice. I guess I need to just discipline myself to take the extra 15 min or so a day to review/recall old material so as to not just completely forget it. I think I need to work on the whole discipline thing in general

 

[Flapjacks]

Especially since SN2 is an organic chemistry mechanism.

 

[Velocity]

I think I need to work on the whole discipline thing in general

That's a good way to look at it. My wife will be taking the USMLE Step 1 this summer - while one could argue that Step 1's tested topics aren't as disjointed as the MCAT, there's still a ton of material (about a solid two years' worth) to go through and know in precise detail. If you can get a solid routine down and can build up the discipline to study hard, know that it won't go to waste. Once you make it into medical school, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to use the skills you've built up over the MCAT!

Everyone's advice above is quite good. The only thing I'd like to add is that you should do loads of practice problems. Buy the ExamKrackers 1001 questions books, if you don't have them already (not sure if they're included in the complete package). Read your chapters, then the next day (or a few days later) do some practice problems. I've found that things often make plenty of sense when you read them over, but practice problems are the moment of truth - even a concept you thought you understood very well can become problematic, and it's only through those practice problems that you can discover that. I'd argue that practice problems solidify the content in your mind, too, but that may just be me. We're all different, after all

If you're worried about remembering things you read a few weeks ago, there are some things you can do to help. You can vary up your practice problems to include problems from previous concepts. (The EK 1001 questions book suggests doing every third or fourth problem, so that you can go back and still have fresh problems to do. Repeating problems that you've solved before isn't as useful.) Another potentially helpful aid is the ExamKrackers "Audio Osmosis" CDs. Audio Osmosis is basically each lecture from the ExamKrackers books, compacted into 15-30 minute sessions. They run through the material and concepts very quickly, but hearing it if you've already studied it can help to reinforce it. I'll listen to a lecture (or two) while doing laundry, brushing my teeth - any menial task where my mind is free or where I have downtime.

As a disclaimer, I'm not affiliated with ExamKrackers, I just happen to be using their stuff this time around 🙂 If the other companies offer similar products, look into those, too!

 

[mjjdm1985]

I used the EK study pack also, my strategy was something like this.

I would read through a chapter and do the study questions for each section in them as I went along. When I finished a chapter, I would wait until the next day to take the 30 min practice test for that chapter.

I was doing the entire study pack in 5 week period so I was really pushing the tempo. What you could do is read everything up to a set of questions, then do the questions the next day. Review any parts you missed. This should have you finishing a chapter every 3 or 4 days which would be a good pace in my opinion.

When I was doing 1 or 2 chapters a day, it was pretty tough to absorb stuff, but not impossible.

Hey surf I'm doing pretty much the same thing--trying to finish the entire ExamKrackers in about 7 weeks. It's tough because I work full-time, but I was wondering if you already took your MCAT and how you felt when you took it. If you are comfortable enough to include scores that would be great. I scored a 23 without any review and think it's possible to get a 30 or above if I can get a good grasp of the info but I don't really have anything to go by.

 

[surftheiop]

Hey surf I'm doing pretty much the same thing--trying to finish the entire ExamKrackers in about 7 weeks. It's tough because I work full-time, but I was wondering if you already took your MCAT and how you felt when you took it. If you are comfortable enough to include scores that would be great. I scored a 23 without any review and think it's possible to get a 30 or above if I can get a good grasp of the info but I don't really have anything to go by.

I get scores back in 3 or 4 days. After then I'll make a post/thread somewhere about "How to study for the MCAT in a Month " or something to that extent

 

[mjjdm1985]

I get scores back in 3 or 4 days. After then I'll make a post/thread somewhere about "How to study for the MCAT in a Month " or something to that extent

OK I'll be on the lookout for it, thanks.