MCAT is a rollercoaster ride!!!!

[UCLAprospect]

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Hi, I currently work full-time and I am having a hard time studying effectively for the MCAT. I can not quit my job. I have studied from mid July - September 2nd. I took a break from studying, but before I took a break my practice test score was 87/144. I just recently started studying again (this week) and my test score was 73/144. Please don't comment on my notation of the test it makes me less nervous than saying 22 and 18. My goal is 116/144, which is approximately a 31. Does anyone have any suggestions for improvement? I seem to be able to learn the material, but having trouble with the exam itself. I am currently enrolled in a Kaplan course, which ends Feb 6th of 2010. In addition, I also have examkrackers complete study guide series along with there audio osmosis materials. I am not giving up. I have invested too much time and money to give in. I am 25 and my undergraduate degree is a B.S in Chemistry with a 3.5 science GPA and a 3.39 cumulative. However, I graduated from college in 2005. All comments that are helpful and not demeaning are appreciated.

 

[unDRdog]

Hi, I currently work full-time and I am having a hard time studying effectively for the MCAT. I can not quit my job. I have studied from mid July - September 2nd. I took a break from studying, but before I took a break my practice test score was 87/144. I just recently started studying again (this week) and my test score was 73/144. Please don't comment on my notation of the test it makes me less nervous than saying 22 and 18. My goal is 116/144, which is approximately a 31. Does anyone have any suggestions for improvement? I seem to be able to learn the material, but having trouble with the exam itself. I am currently enrolled in a Kaplan course, which ends Feb 6th of 2010. In addition, I also have examkrackers complete study guide series along with there audio osmosis materials. I am not giving up. I have invested too much time and money to give in. I am 25 and my undergraduate degree is a B.S in Chemistry with a 3.5 science GPA and a 3.39 cumulative. However, I graduated from college in 2005. All comments that are helpful and not demeaning are appreciated.

I love the tone of this post! There is nothing i repeat nothing to be ashamed of on this forum... Your scores suck right now...SO WHAT...lol...mine sucked too and so did everybody elses at one point in time. Congrats on staying after this dream at 25...I'm 27 and feel like a border line pedophile in some of my pre req classes i'm still working on...LOL...Its really a dream if it stands the test of time 😎 OK..about your MCAT...It would really help to see your score distribution to see where your big problem is. I dont want to sound abrasive but you really dont "know" the material. If your problem was primarily test taking skill, you would be in the upper 20's with just raw content ability. You prob do know about the material but you dont KNOW it inside and out. My diagnostic was around a 15ish...( I really dont remember but i know it sucked) TBR is really the golden ticket everyone endorses on SDN...Its a hidden gym and your not going to find it outside of cali unless its a fellow SDNer. The material is bad to the bone...(I'm in the mid 30's for practice averages now.) Go to SN2ed thread and many other threads in regards to how good and why TBR is good. Thats the first thing. You gotta really grind this out. I know you work and thats tough, but hey your not in school so you should be able to get at least 4 hours in a day on top of your work day. There's 24 hours a day and its easy to live off 6. That gives you 18 hours to do what you want. There's no substitute for grinding this out and wrestling with the material. DONT STUDY WHATS COMFORTABLE....thats another big one. This is sooo easy to do and gets you absolutely no where. I think if you shift study material gears and get TBR you will see marked improvements. I've been out of undergrad for 3 years also and Kaplan didnt cut it for me...Stay after it and i'm sure you will do well. YOU CAN DO THIS

 

[J ROD]

I'm 27 and feel like a border line pedophile in some of my pre req classes i'm still working on...

I keep getting older but they stay the same age!!

 

[unDRdog]

I keep getting older but they stay the same age!!

Word brother!!! When I was their age they were 9-10 years old..LOL...with your credentials you gotta be somewhere close to my age so i know you feel my pain!!

 

[UCLAprospect]

I can not spend anymore money on test prep materials. I have to use what I have. I have to admit it is going to be weird being older than most of my classmates. I always was the youngest. When I matriculate I will be 27 years old. Thank God I am still single with no children. Otherwise it would be a lot harder to make this journey.

 

[unDRdog]

I can not spend anymore money on test prep materials. I have to use what I have. I have to admit it is going to be weird being older than most of my classmates. I always was the youngest. When I matriculate I will be 27 years old.

Well if TBR is not an option, Kaplan will be fine. Plenty of ppl have done well with Kaplan. So you still think its application of content huh? I dont think so. That prob. is a component of your problem but i encourage you to really get your hands on practice passages if thats the case and work on applying what you "know". The Kaplan course is good i hear and offers alot of passages, tests, etc so rock it out and do well. You really havent studied that much being out of school so long. BUT thats all relative..some ppl study for 2 weaks and nail a 39....i'm not that guy...LOL.. Only you know you and attacking your weaknesses is how you improve. Dont play to your strengths at this point and you should start improving.GL

 

[UCLAprospect]

Well if TBR is not an option, Kaplan will be fine. Plenty of ppl have done well with Kaplan. So you still think its application of content huh? I dont think so. That prob. is a component of your problem but i encourage you to really get your hands on practice passages if thats the case and work on applying what you "know". The Kaplan course is good i hear and offers alot of passages, tests, etc so rock it out and do well. You really havent studied that much being out of school so long. BUT thats all relative..some ppl study for 2 weaks and nail a 39....i'm not that guy...LOL.. Only you know you and attacking your weaknesses is how you improve. Dont play to your strengths at this point and you should start improving.GL

My score distribution is as follows 23/52 PS 5, 22/40 VR 6, 28/52 BS 7. I will agree that I haven't been studying like I should but I have never had to study this hard for anything. I was thinking of taking a Physics and/or an Algebra Class at a community college to refresh my memory, because this is definitely a weak area. In addition, I usually have to rush for the last two passages of each section. Maybe I should change my user name to mcatfailure. ROFL.

 

[unDRdog]

My score distribution is as follows 23/52 PS 5, 22/40 VR 6, 28/52 BS 7. I will agree that I haven't been studying like I should but I have never had to study this hard for anything. I was thinking of taking a Physics and/or an Algebra Class at a community college to refresh my memory, because this is definitely a weak area. In addition, I usually have to rush for the last two passages of each section. Maybe I should change my user name to mcatfailure. ROFL.

LMAO....thats funny. Heck no!!! dont waste your time or money taking an algebra class or physics class. I havent had algebra since 2001 and i felt the heat of not being any good at it when i started studying, but it will all come back to ya w/ a little practice. Yeah its a tough test...thats why you have to study...its the only true indicator that seperates people from the pack. Keep it simple...start with a kinematics chapter in a review book and then spend all day on it. Follow it up with as many kinematic mcat style questions you can get your hands on. Then go to the next topic. Time is your friend. If your not taking till next summer you have the advantage of slowly moving through the content review of the studying. You've met your match with the MCAT as most ppl. Your natural ability to "make good grades" doesnt mean crap anymore. Your taking the same test that ppl from Harvard are taking... This thing is a beast and exploits ppls weaknesses. Its beatable with practice, patience, and tenacity. Start learning to think like the MCAT and leave the class room game plan outside. What is Kaplan saying you should do?

 

[rama kandra]

mcatfailure is most likely taken. second, I do not think content and execution are mutually exclusive. They work in tandem, but in dynamic ways - you may be hella smarter after 1 month of hard review of material, but will not see any improvement in scores until you do enough problems and passages to get the material applied in executing the passages.

That is exactly why someone who studied for three months will still be concerned about 3 points of fluxuation in their scores. It just requires some time for both dynamics to work together. It happens, sometimes, but more often people are too pressured for time/life to see it work out. You'll improve but only with the right amount of time and effort, but don't expect a extra class or some secret to make it go faster.