MCAT content is too much for me to retain?

[Can I Have Food]

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July 30th is my MCAT date.... I haven't taken a full-length yet, but almost everything I try learning slips through my head, and I'm not sure how to fix that. I am using EK... read through the books 1-2 times. I have the Bio 1001 and Verb 101 books.... not doing so good on those. My content review is not good... For example, I'll read something in EK Physics or Bio, and in the next 10 minutes, I'll forget what the term means or the concept trend. I would read it again later, and the same thing happens.
Instead of rescheduling my MCAT.... can I take it but go in knowing 100% that I will void it? I don't know what to do to retain everything I read.

 

[muhali3]

To me it's easier to remember something if I can visualize it. Animations and videos (like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glu0dzK4dbU) can help. Also, I wouldn't take the MCAT just to void it at the end. I'd do the AAMC Tests at www.e-mcat.com

 

[olemissbabydoc]

1. Take some full lengths. That's the only way to TRULY practice for the test and the only way to assimilate the material for sure. It takes a while to get everything into long-term memory, but it will happen through the use of full lengths.

Don't stress out too much. There's no way you can remember every word of your prep books - and even if you did, that's not the way to a top mcat score. Practice makes perfect!

 

[215353]

If you are not confident that you won't do well then don't take the exam!!!

I dont know what your current academic status is (whether you are still in college or graduated) but if you feel this stuff is not staying in your brain or you are still not comfortable with the MCAT style of testing then skip applying this cycle and spend the following year improving your application further via volunteering and shadowing and study MCAT at your own pace.

Maybe even take a January 2010 MCAT and be really super early with your primaries for the 2010 cycle for admission into the Fall 2011 class.

So what if you take another year off...the avg age of the first year medical student is 25-26 anyways

 

[Cwc127]

...the avg age of the first year medical student is 25-26 anyways

Huh? Is this really true?

 

[DrYoda]

Huh? Is this really true?

Looks like the mean is about 24. Median is 23.

http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2008/age0208.htm

 

[Can I Have Food]

Thanks for the responses, everyone! 🙂

So, is it safe to say that I and everyone can really improve chances of a good score in less than a month just by taking a bunch of AAMC full-lengths and reviewing the solutions? Physics is kicking my butt. 😱

I took a free Kaplan test before I took Orgo 2 and physics 1 & 2 in January, and I ended up with a 10 cumulative! 👎 I started content review at the end of May.

 

[TexasPrincess]

Sometimes when you are superstressed out it is hard to focus and the mind begins to drift.

Relax. Learn to focus.

Remember the way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. I suggest reading more of the content from your textbooks then the review books. EK, especially, is hard to follow unless you already know the material.

Good luck!

 

[greg1184]

Heh, if the MCAT was too much wait until you get to Step 1.

 

[Hemichordate]

23/24 is the average of all test-takers. Scores of med students are around 31.

 

[Flaxmoore]

Heh, if the MCAT was too much wait until you get to Step 1.

True. Skullcrusher, that one. Think I did well, but I worked so hard as to make the MCAT seem like a Friday quiz. Abused Pretest, Wikitestprep, Step-Up... 😎

23/24 is the average of all test-takers. Scores of med students are around 31.

Makes me wonder just how many take it and never make it- there have to be a heck of a lot of really low scores out there.

 

[pandoraaj009]

I'm kinda the same way-sometimes I feel ******ed
Lol bc Ill forget the most basic details.
One thing I do to remember stuff is to stop
after a paragraph(in an answer explanation,
Ek book, etc). and then say it to myself-
sometimes in my own words if its easier that way-
until I memorize it. Also, writing down my notes,
as opposed to typing them, helps me memorize more.
I like to draw and color stuff a lot-esp for
anatomy and certain physics things.

I was a psych major, and psychologists are
virtually obssessed w/ memory (sleep is also popular).
the more creative you are w/ giving info meaning,
the easier it is to remember. I sometimes rush
thru content review w/out understanding it.
Obviously, this is not "smart" studying lol.
If I relax, take the time to comprehend and
remember something, I find I do much better on practice q's.

I think it comes down to exerting those bits of effort.
Mindless studying helps me FEEL like I've done
something, but I can't exactly type on my mcat:
"You know, I FEEL like I studied hard, so I'd
like my 45 now." Hahahaha

 

[PreMedHopeful]

shoot me now

 

[pandoraaj009]

I want you to know I literally laughed out loud when I read that.
A simple "lol" didn't seem to capture the moment.

Perhaps it is that I am taxed to describe the extent that I can utterly relate to your plea.