Learning to mouse-click with opposite hand...

[FloridaSun]

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Random, unimportant question: Do you think it's worthwhile to learn to mouse-click with your non-dominant hand? Sounds like a waste of time to me, but I'm totally willing to change my opinion if people think it's a good idea.

[the point being that you click with the non-dominant hand so you can write on the scratch paper with the other hand]

Thoughts?

 

[cur]

I don't put much stock into tips like these. Better to spend your time learning the material so you don't have to rush, rather than learning how to save time during the test.

 

[TheElement]

Yeah your focus should be on answering quicker not working with your left hand. This IMO is kinda extreme.

 

[BerkReviewTeach]

Random, unimportant question: Do you think it's worthwhile to learn to mouse-click with your non-dominant hand? Sounds like a waste of time to me, but I'm totally willing to change my opinion if people think it's a good idea.

[the point being that you click with the non-dominant hand so you can write on the scratch paper with the other hand]

Thoughts?

LOL-ROFLMAO-other cyber acronyms for comedy action

Where did you hear that? I ask, because about a year ago at one of those meetings where all the prep companies come and give a long winded infomercial that we invented the MCAT and if you take our course you'll have whiter teeth, become better looking, and everyone will love you, I jokingly mentioned that technique.

I also suggested reading the passage with your left eye and reading the questions with your right eye to be more time efficient. I might have gotten carried away when I suggested wearing Depends, and that we would be giving out official BR adult diapers with our logo so that they could study during the ten-minute breaks rather than waste time using the bathroom. Maybe I shouldn't have been such a smart a$$, but I couldn't help it when I saw one of the corporate reps taking copious notes during my talk. I just kept picturing how funny it would be when the corporate suits of said company got together to discuss what the rest of us were doing.

I must admit that if you heard that from a company rep, I would get the absolute greatest kick.

 

[greg1184]

I am lefthanded and have always used a mouse on my right hand since I first used a computer.

 

[mints of b]

Random, unimportant question: Do you think it's worthwhile to learn to mouse-click with your non-dominant hand? Sounds like a waste of time to me, but I'm totally willing to change my opinion if people think it's a good idea.

[the point being that you click with the non-dominant hand so you can write on the scratch paper with the other hand]

Thoughts?

Jesus dude, it's the MCAT, you're not diffusing a bomb.

But seriously, time shouldn't be so sensitive an issue that you'd have to resort to this type of micromanagement. If time is a big issue, trying to resolve it in this manner won't be very helpful.

 

[mints of b]

I also suggested reading the passage with your left eye and reading the questions with your right eye to be more time efficient.

 

[ghostfoot]

Random, unimportant question: Do you think it's worthwhile to learn to mouse-click with your non-dominant hand? Sounds like a waste of time to me, but I'm totally willing to change my opinion if people think it's a good idea.

[the point being that you click with the non-dominant hand so you can write on the scratch paper with the other hand]

Thoughts?

Try it if you want. I always keep my mouse on the left, and its not just an MCAT thing. Its just more convenient to be able to hold a pen (or a paper, fork, drink,...) in your dominant hand while you're reading something on a computer.

Its not a time-saving thing at all; it just makes more sense to have your writing hand free to do a calc. or make a note instead of constantly letting go of the mouse, picking up your pen and setting it down, and reaching for the mouse again.

And where do you want your paper if you're taking notes or doing calculations? Probably right where the mouse pad is.

I have always done this because it's just common sense. All the people that are knocking this are doing so just because "everyone always has the mouse on the right".

 

[ghostfoot]

It's not a time-saving thing. If everyone was like the posters on this thread, the wheel would still be square.

 

[FloridaSun]

haha. You guys are hilarious. Yeah, I have to think my time would be better spent *learning* the material then saving the .2 seconds it's going to take me to switch hands.

I'd heard it from several different people, though, which is why I wondered if the world had suddenly gone flat and I missed the announcement.

Someone above asked me if I'd heard it from a test prep representative: you'll be tickled to know that "yes" in fact, I did hear it from a test prep representative; but she only said "if you think this technique will help you, why not give it a try?"

 

[spo01]

Where did you hear that? I ask, because about a year ago at one of those meetings where all the prep companies come and give a long winded infomercial that we invented the MCAT and if you take our course you'll have whiter teeth, become better looking, and everyone will love you, I jokingly mentioned that technique.

I also suggested reading the passage with your left eye and reading the questions with your right eye to be more time efficient. I might have gotten carried away when I suggested wearing Depends, and that we would be giving out official BR adult diapers with our logo so that they could study during the ten-minute breaks rather than waste time using the bathroom. Maybe I shouldn't have been such a smart a$$, but I couldn't help it when I saw one of the corporate reps taking copious notes during my talk. I just kept picturing how funny it would be when the corporate suits of said company got together to discuss what the rest of us were doing.

I must admit that if you heard that from a company rep, I would get the absolute greatest kick.

that isn't that bad an idea haha. though a foley would be just fine. i pee too much. perhaps i'll try to sneak in with a condom catheter.

 

[BerkReviewTeach]

Someone above asked me if I'd heard it from a test prep representative: you'll be tickled to know that "yes" in fact, I did hear it from a test prep representative; but she only said "if you think this technique will help you, why not give it a try?"

Tickled I am; you made my day. Thanks. Although, I must admit I would have laughed more had they been repeating the adult diapers to save time suggestion.

...it's the MCAT, you're not diffusing a bomb.

But seriously, time shouldn't be so sensitive an issue that you'd have to resort to this type of micromanagement. If time is a big issue, trying to resolve it in this manner won't be very helpful.

Brilliant insight. I have a feeling you will own this exam (or if you've already taken it, then owned it. The best way to save time on the MCAT is to think faster, do more stuff in your head, and stay focused.

that isn't that bad an idea haha. though a foley would be just fine. i pee too much. perhaps i'll try to sneak in with a condom catheter.

If you did that, no one else in the room would be able to concentrate on the test. Talk about a unique way to lower the curve.

...it just makes more sense to have your writing hand free to do a calc. or make a note instead of constantly letting go of the mouse, picking up your pen and setting it down, and reaching for the mouse again.

All the people that are knocking this are doing so just because "everyone always has the mouse on the right".

Why not do the calculation in your head? Then it doesn't matter where the mouse, pencil, paper, etc... are located.

And for the record, I'm not knocking it because the mouse pad is on the right (I live on a laptop). I'm knocking it because it's absolutely ludicrous to be so concerned with mouse orientation and pencil position when points are gained by having better thinking. Moving your mouse from side of your computer to the other is not going to make a question on fugasity and temperature any easier.

People with mint o b's attitude kick the crud out of this exam because they attack it for what it is. People who make too much out of all the periphery stuff generally don't do as well, because they either stress themselves out or they spend too much energy worrying and obsessing about the wrong stuff.

It's just a test. All the right answers are there. Your job is to simply pick the best answer as many times as you can out 144 chances.

 

[Fireballfx]

*Cough* I'm going to be teaching for Kaplan, and when I studied out of their textbook, they *actually* recommended using the mouse in your non-dominant hand and writing with your dominant.

Who do they think we are? Robots? You might as well try to take a pee, brush your teeth, sing a song, fart, burp and sneeze all while writing your MCAT?

But in all honesty, if you're *that* pressed for time, you need to do more practice exams.

I'll definately be telling my students that the suggestion is only for those who take extreme pleasure in being ambidextrous.

Sometimes I think the test advice given by Prep companies is for the enjoyment of those ppl who need to watch the testing center security videos. Could you imagine some of the weird stuff that goes on in rooms like that? You get to see everyone's nervous habits (mine is swearing like a pirate!)

 

[koopa_troopa]

I remember Kaplan telling us to do that. That was one of their $1600 tips.

 

[greg1184]

Since I am left handed and use my right hand to use a mouse, I had experience in that. It helps a little, but it really is insignificant, at least not enough to do something that is unnatural to you.

 

[hisincognito]

I am also left handed and when I first found out the exam was computerized, I was excited b/c I thought maybe it could be one of the few instances where my lefthandedness would help me. But to be honest, it's actually kinda distracting/not very natural/perhaps even awkward to have your hand glued to the mouse while writing. and even if you did somehow find doing that ok, you would save like a fraction of a sec for each question so it wouldn't amount to much.

 

[FloridaSun]

Yeah, it's a Kaplan tip all right.

P.S. If I were trying to diffuse a bomb, I have to say I'd use my dominant hand at ALL times.😛

 

[Blade28]

Don't think you should be spending so much time using your scratch paper that you need to operate the mouse with your non-dominant hand!

 

[koopa_troopa]

yeah, I only used me scratch paper for planning the essay and working out some calculations. I only needed about half a sheet of paper.

 

[sehnsucht]

Random, unimportant question: Do you think it's worthwhile to learn to mouse-click with your non-dominant hand? Sounds like a waste of time to me, but I'm totally willing to change my opinion if people think it's a good idea.

[the point being that you click with the non-dominant hand so you can write on the scratch paper with the other hand]

Thoughts?

i learned to click my mouse using "The Force."

 

[Arjunsi]

Do you really think that you will be mousing and taking notes at the exact same time? Otherwise you are just saving the time it takes to move your right hand four inches away to your pad of paper, right?