Thank you for the reply and encouragement. I have taken 3 practice tests--and plan on taking more. How many do you think one should take?
If you can take all the AAMC practice tests (there are probably 8 or so available) And the funny thing is, each time I think I will do better and I DON'T
(Review the tests after scored, and analyze not only your mistakes but also the correct answers too, make sure you got it by correct reasoning, that's important).
I can sit for hours on end studying and what not so I know that is not the problem. I think my main problem is I overanalyze everything (even in life haha),
Ok then let's try to minimize overanalyzing then . I can usually disregard 2 of the choices but then the other 2 seem like they could both work and I have a difficult time distinguishing between the two
(Go with your first answer or with your gut feeling, sometimes it works ).
The verbal section kills me--THE PASSAGES ARE LOOOOONG and I have a hard time focusing on what the author is trying to say
(Try with EK verbal and practice EK verbal 101, pay attention to overall feeling of passage, not just individual paragraph). Also, I feel it is very subjective. So that is difficult as well. I do much better on paper than on computer
(me too)--even on my tests in school and HW I write all over them which is part of my thought process. It is difficult to transfer all my thoughts to scrap paper esp involving i.e., a large reaction etc. And yes, sometimes my mind just goes blank when I am confronted with something that I'm eh so-so on and I get super nervous which creates a domino effect
(This where you have to control yourself, you have done so much studying, even if you don't know the answer you can reason out from what you know about the topics, so do not panic. Most of the time all of us don't know the answer right away).
I bought a Kaplan review book and EK books for each section. Do you think practicing verbal passages from an EK book will help with my concentration?
(EK helps once you have basic idea of all of the topics, if you need detailed explanation EK won't help much, I used TPR, Kplan, EK, my used textbooks etc). And yes, I know there are questions that I get wrong because I have NO idea what it is talking about because I haven't gotten that far in org/phys
(that means you're not ready to take the practice exam yet). I think I have a lot of problems--lack of confidence also...ugh.
(Let's build up your confidence slowly, let's learn the all material first, and then let's practice it, then let's take the AAMC practice tests, then let's take the real MCAT)
I am only applying to MD schools
(Consider other options if you're up to it because MCAT around mid twenties will get you nowhere in MD programs, they're very competitive and the average is around 29-30 I think). Do you mind me asking (and if you don't want to answer it is totally ok) what your MCAT score ended up being?
( I was slightly lower than MD average due to my very poor verbal which killed my whole MCAT, I'm speaking English only 8 years by the way). Did you apply to both MD and DO schools?
(I applied only DO programs since that's what I interested in from the start). Which type of school are you attending now?
( I will start my med school in this summer in pretty good DO program) I am hoping-like you said-that the other strengths of my app (volunteer work, research, LORs, PS, GPAs, clinical exp, AWESOMENESS as a person haha)
(Other things help but GPA/ MCAT take HUGE Place in Admission, Awesomeness might help you in interview if you do it correctly )will help me just in case my MCAT score isn't stellar
(My MCAT was not that great either mostly due to my language barrier but science part is very doable I scored 11 on both science just by studying them. But I was able to accepted in many DO programs with my MCAT and I have no regret). Thank you again. It's nice to have support.