MCAT Studying Frustrations

[UpQuark]

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Anybody else frustrated with studying for the MCAT? I've been studying for 3 months now, and scheduled to take the MCAT on 26th May. I really don't seem to be improving much after the first month of studying. I find myself regressing in verbal reasoning and getting extremely put down when I miss questions and passages. It's like the more I do, the worse I get, I don't get it. My first diagnostic was a 29 (AAMC10) followed by a 26 on AAMC 4 (WTF?).

It's getting to the point where I just want to burn everything MCAT related. Any helpful advice/suggestions?

 

[flodhi1]

Anybody else frustrated with studying for the MCAT? I've been studying for 3 months now, and scheduled to take the MCAT on 26th May. I really don't seem to be improving much after the first month of studying. I find myself regressing in verbal reasoning and getting extremely put down when I miss questions and passages. It's like the more I do, the worse I get, I don't get it. My first diagnostic was a 29 (AAMC10) followed by a 26 on AAMC 4 (WTF?).

It's getting to the point where I just want to burn everything MCAT related. Any helpful advice/suggestions?

I understand your frustration. Do you sit down and review your exams extensively? What I do is some extreme post analysis. I grab a specific notebook write down the % correct, my score (1-15). After that i go over every single question I write down in my notebook why I got a question correct or why I got it incorrect. I try to get my trail of thought in the correct "MCAT way". After doing this with a couple full length exams I would say 3+ you will start to pick up trends and when you pick up trends you start to improve. I can tell you that my first exam after my diagnostic I gained a total of 10 points. It's very possible don't be frustrated keep your head up. This post analysis can be very painful and drain the life out of you but is the most important step. It takes me about 9-10 hours per exam, I pretty much spend the entire day going over it. If you're spending less than 6 hours post reviewing your mistakes you are doing it wrong and will not see much gain. So be honest with yourself and ask yourself a sincere question HOW MUCH EFFORT do you put in when you analyze your correct answers and most importantly your mistakes? Good luck

 

[SN2ed]

As I've written in other threads, it sounds like burnout. Verbal scores are the first to drop. Take a few days off and have some fun, absolutely MCAT-free days.

 

[BerkReviewTeach]

As I've written in other threads, it sounds like burnout. Verbal scores are the first to drop. Take a few days off and have some fun, absolutely MCAT-free days.

Second!

This advice is golden. Like any kind of workout, you benefit from the rest periods inbetween and without them you fatigue faster and get less accomplished.

 

[Etorphine]

You're not the only one, if it makes you feel better.

 

[blackandgold1]

i take mine the same day, and im in the same exact boat as you are. ugh.

 

[ridethecliche]

I'm just confused as to why you took aamc 10 first...

 

[RedSoxSuck]

I'm just confused as to why you took aamc 10 first...

.

 

[UpQuark]

I'm just confused as to why you took aamc 10 first...

I'm taking the TPR class. I was advised to take that one first so I went with it and found it pretty straightforward.

@ SN2ed and others. Thanks for the simple advise lol. It pretty much was burnout and frustration when I took that practice test. I had finals (quarter system) the following week, working on presentations, volunteering, and research. Thank god it's Spring break. Gonna take a few days off and get back to studying.

@ flodhi. I actually redo the test without any time constraints and go through it slowly. I did, however, find myself stupid for not writing down things I consistently miss, so I really have to work on the self-criticizing part.

Good luck to those that have to take it!