MCAT/FT job, forgetting the material....

[NaomiS]

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So I decided to take another year so that I have more time to study the MCAT/get a good score, and submit an early application. I have a FT job, and also studying at least 3 hours a weekday and more on the weekends for the MCAT. But the problem is that since I am not studying the same subjects consecutively or constantly, I tend to forget the materials that I studied a month ago, for example.

I am taking Kaplan prep course until the end of this month. My current plan is that I'm reading the review notes, doing minimum practice problems to get myself familiarize the major concepts.At the end of this course, when I have more flexibility on my studying schedule, I will review each section again and consolidate the material, at the same time, I will do more full length exams and such.

Thanks so much for reading this! and let me know if any of you have any similar experiences. 🙂

 

[image187]

Don't take a whole year off for this.. Study efficiently starting now every day and take it mid-April or beginning of may. It'll be more than enough time and you'll still be able to apply the first day possible.

 

[Leonardo Noto]

Don't take a whole year off for this.. Study efficiently starting now every day and take it mid-April or beginning of may. It'll be more than enough time and you'll still be able to apply the first day possible.

Have you completed your pre-reqs? If so, then I agree with the post above entirely.

Dr. Leonardo Noto
www.leonardonoto.com

 

[NaomiS]

Don't take a whole year off for this.. Study efficiently starting now every day and take it mid-April or beginning of may. It'll be more than enough time and you'll still be able to apply the first day possible.

I have all my pre-reqs ready. Since im working full time, i dont think i will be able to study as effective as those don't. a month from now? im not sure i will be ready then. However, I may take it sometime at the end of the summer.

 

[JLeBling]

Cue cards!

EK audio osmosis may be worth a peek as well.

 

[sdm33]

there is a great app called brainscape it will help you retain the information, it is study smart flashcards on the web or your iPhone, in my opinion kaplan sucks , but it is your money.

 

[MedGrl@2022]

there is a great app called brainscape it will help you retain the information, it is study smart flashcards on the web or your iPhone, in my opinion kaplan sucks , but it is your money.

https://www.brainscape.com/market/test_prep/mcat

Are these worth the money? Are there good Biology and Organic Chemistry ones too?

Kaplan used to have its own set of flash cards... I would try those too. 🙂

 

[sdm33]

I think making your own cards is a lot better using brainscape 1 - 5 system. Buying their cards or kaplan are only good for learning isolated facts, however by making your own cards while applying principles for achieving deep processing and over learning, continuing to study beyond just knowing the information to where it can be recalled quickly and easily. Apply principles for achieving deep processing, for example, A) elaboration, how this concept relates to other concepts. The more meaningful association you can make the better you can learn. B) Distinctiveness, how is this concept different from other concepts, C) personal, how can I relate this concept to my personal experience.

 

[Jay2910]

Yeah I too have a question about this . . . ..
Lets say that I have come back from "a big break"( I know I'm not supposed to do this) and I feel like I know everything already. Where do I start? What's the minimum that you should study on a daily basis supposing that you have a FT job and/or classes in the way?

 

[sdm33]

Designing a Personal Study Schedule
1. Rank in order of difficulty (1 =easiest , 5 = most difficult)

Physics
General Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Biology
Verbal Reasoning
(understanding English passages)


3. When is your chosen MCAT date?

MY IDEAL STUDY TIME: from To


4. Are you cramming?
6 weeks or less
(not recommended)

5. When do I start studying?
(i) Students who have taken all the science
sections at the undergraduate
level (or high school physics) and
have averaged a:
Grade A: 3 months
Grade B: 5 months
Grade C or less: 7 months
(ii) Students who have not yet taken:
(a) one of the required science
courses, 9 months;
(b) two or more of the science
courses, 11 months.
(iii) Add 1 month for each year since
you have taken each undergraduate
science course (MAX = 6).


(iv) Add 1 month if you are doing the MCAT during the academic year or working full time (presumably you have less daily time to commit to the MCAT).

MY IDEAL STUDY TIME
6. Mark in an approximate but realistic number of hours available daily to study for the MCAT on an average week.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday


N.B. The Personal Study Schedule is meant to accommodate the average student. Special circumstances may require either more or less time for preparation.

If Verbal Reasoning ranks either 4 or 5

1. You must read from various sources
(online, newspapers, magazines etc.) to build understanding, grammar, etc.

2. Always time yourself when you do Verbal Reasoning Practice Items.

 

[Leonardo Noto]

If my memory serves me, you're an MCAT preparation counselor and your outline of a study plan below certainly makes it look like you should be if you're not (it's a really good post, man). With that said, I disagree with you about making your own flashcards. In my experience working questions--lots of them--is the most efficient way to promote recall when studying for an exam. Most people spend so much time making flashcards--and lousy ones at that--that they'd have been better off spending half of that time studying areas of weakness and the rest of it working questions. I think that pre-made flashcards are great for working productive study time into other activities. I used to do 2-3 flashcards between weightlifting sets in the gym, between rounds on the heavybag, and while doing my cardio in med school and they added a lot to my preparation.

Well, this was true for me at least, and a lot of other people that I know and helped prep for the medical boards (I didn't use flashcards for the MCAT--I learned that in med school). With that said, do what works for you--if making your own flashcards is high yield for your learning style, then it's the right method for you.

Dr. Leonardo Noto
www.leonardonoto.com

 

[sdm33]

Thanks Dr, I am glad you like it. I agree with you about working questions--lots of them--is a good way to promote recall when studying for an exam, however, making my own flashcards is high yield for reviewing my weakness and not for things that t I already know. I realized that we tend to make the same mistakes over and over again. For example, after taking a full length exam, I transfer my mistakes into index cards that is stored online, so I can review them anywhere anytime via my iphone device.

 

[Jay2910]

Hey Sdm33,

Actually I was talking about in terms of content. You see I finished the content review, I took a test two weeks ago, I reviewed it that same week. Its been about 2 weeks since, but I feel like I know everything( which I know is not true) . . .. so how do I break the spell?

Thanks for your advice!

 

[sdm33]

You finished the content review, do as many FLs as you can, and review your mistakes.

 

[MedGrl@2022]

Yeah I too have a question about this . . . ..
Lets say that I have come back from "a big break"( I know I'm not supposed to do this) and I feel like I know everything already. Where do I start? What's the minimum that you should study on a daily basis supposing that you have a FT job and/or classes in the way?

Check out AAMC... they have a package you can buy in which they took a few tests which they no longer offer and (I think) as questions about all the material... it is supposed to give you a self-assessment as to what you need to focus on... as soon as I finish my content review I am probably going to do it... hopefully next week... I need to figure out Light and Optics and Electrochemistry first. 🙂

Good luck!

Thank you for everyone's help and advice as I am studying to ace this exam. 🙂

 

[MedGrl@2022]

Hey Sdm33,

Actually I was talking about in terms of content. You see I finished the content review, I took a test two weeks ago, I reviewed it that same week. Its been about 2 weeks since, but I feel like I know everything( which I know is not true) . . .. so how do I break the spell?

Thanks for your advice!

Check out AAMC... they have a package you can buy in which they took a few tests which they no longer offer and (I think) as questions about all the material... it is supposed to give you a self-assessment as to what you need to focus on... as soon as I finish my content review I am probably going to do it... hopefully next week... I need to figure out Light and Optics and Electrochemistry first. 🙂

Good luck!

Thank you for everyone's help and advice as I am studying to ace this exam. 🙂

 

[MD Odyssey]

I have all my pre-reqs ready. Since im working full time, i dont think i will be able to study as effective as those don't. a month from now? im not sure i will be ready then. However, I may take it sometime at the end of the summer.

I was in your position this past June when I started studying for the MCAT. I work full-time and studied about as much as you are planning to. I studied 2-4 hours on weeknights after work and then on one of my weekend days, I'd do two 3-hour sessions. I took one weekend day off each week and studied for four months.

I was burnt to a cinder by the time I was finished, but I believe it's definitely doable, though it depends upon how well you know the base material.

My blog has a pretty detailed record of what it was like for me - check out last May and read onward.