MCAT Verbal

[ParthVader]

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Ok, So Im not taking the MCAT for while, I'm still a freshmen.. But I know for a fact that verbal is going to be my weak point.. I keep hearing "start reading now and read every day, thats the only way you're going to get good at it".

The thing is I don't know what to read. I read novels and such, but I don't think thats really helping me out... Can anybody give me some suggestions on what I should read to become better at the skills that are needed for the verbal part...

I read several articles on CNN and Time every day, as well as the occasional article in the wallstreet journal if i can get my hands on a free copy =p..


But suggestions would be nice on what I should read and what I should do to sharpen my verbal skills.

 

[JasoniusUW]

I read the Economist (not for mcat just because I love economics and politics).
Really, the verbal section is (to a significant extent) just a test in your test taking abilities (your instinct on determining which of the answers is right) so you can probably do well (with good tactics and LOTS of practice) without a ****load of prior reading but it's recommended to read before (long period) just to decrease the variability in your scores. It will probably help your written section to be well read as well as you can pull examples out of your ass when needed.

There's a verbal thread by Lorelei who got a 15 in verbal. All I remember from that is The Economist, Harper's, The Atlantic, New Yorker. It'd probably be interesting to read a few articles and just try to find who the author is, what they believe in, what their bias is, and read another magazine with an opposite slant (Wall street vs. Harper's), (LA Times vs. Economist) etc. Books, philosophy would do it but not terribly complex. If you can tell what the author is (whether they are laissez faire vs. dirigiste, or a feminist or a pro-environmentalist etc), you'll be head of the game.

A friend of mine recommended Time, but throughout all my research I found that was a bit...banal/pedestrian. The MCAT verbal passages will be harder.

Those are all free sources online (except New Yorker which is cheap in the US, not 90 bucks like up here, f'ing protectionism).

 

[JasoniusUW]

And don't just read for the MCAT. In the interview they'll probably be looking for what kind of person you are, if you are someone who has thought about current political/economic/social issues you'll be in better standing than someone that knows nothing outside of science. I'm pretty thankful that I've read up on a bunch of economic/political junk because it'll help me invest and I understand the world better and can predict what happens as a result of policy. But you'll be more intelligent and knowledgeable and I don't think that can hurt you...except make you slightly more bitter and cynical depending on the dose. Plus...it'll be good to get off American media, they omit a lot of stuff =/. Look for that thread by Lorelei though.

 

[Superman78]

If you open up Harper's you'll see that it is essentially a magazine of MCAT verbal passages. It's exactly the kind of writing you see on the MCAT. Popular magazines like TIME don't work really well, they are written to be easy-to-read. You're looking for a more pompous style of writing.

The idea here is to kill two birds with one stone: read these magazines to get really used to reading MCAT-style passages (so that you're not intimidated by them at all, they are familiar and easy to read and maybe even fun to read), and also greatly expand your knowledge, which will be very helpful during the interview. I don't know about you but these verbal passages really stick in my head, I actually learn a lot from them.

 

[BloodySurgeon]

The consensus for the most part are The Economist and The New Yorker. Scientific America is an easy read and have mostly scienctific articles that don't take you out of your comfort-zone. If you like reading about the economy and politics I would recommend keep reading news articles and the economist. Those who suggest reading early are only trying to expose you to the style of writing that pre-meds usually dont see in our textbooks. If you read regularly and enjoy it then I don't think you need to worry as much. I would try reading an mcat passage online just to get an idea of the passage and question-types.

 

[BloodySurgeon]

I would recomend against the atlantic monthy if you don't enjoy it. Its very dry and uninteresting (mostly international politics) and if you don't enjoy it you will probably not read it.

 

[0Complications]

If you open up Harper's you'll see that it is essentially a magazine of MCAT verbal passages. It's exactly the kind of writing you see on the MCAT. Popular magazines like TIME don't work really well, they are written to be easy-to-read. You're looking for a more pompous style of writing.

The idea here is to kill two birds with one stone: read these magazines to get really used to reading MCAT-style passages (so that you're not intimidated by them at all, they are familiar and easy to read and maybe even fun to read), and also greatly expand your knowledge, which will be very helpful during the interview. I don't know about you but these verbal passages really stick in my head, I actually learn a lot from them.

I feel the same way.

 

[0Complications]

Oh, and to elaborate on some suggestions, I don't think you will go wrong with any classic literary works.

Some of them are damn good too. Other books I've recently read that you might enjoy are Life of Pi (page turner), Any of the Oliver Sacks stuff is pretty engrossing. I think the key is to just read things that are at or above high school level.

Oh, if you want a really good Sci Fi, I'm reading this one now and can't put it down:

http://www.amazon.com/Hyperion-Dan-...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237967066&sr=1-1

Hyperion by Dan Simmons. It borderline interfering with my studying 🙂

 

[JokerMD]

just read a lot of newspaper articles. this is probably the only thing you can do as of now.

and all this will really do is increase your reading speed...the questions are something you'll just have to prepare for 1-2months before you take the test.

here's a site that I use to just read for speed:

http://www.aldaily.com/

 

[ParthVader]

Oh, and to elaborate on some suggestions, I don't think you will go wrong with any classic literary works.

Some of them are damn good too. Other books I've recently read that you might enjoy are Life of Pi (page turner), Any of the Oliver Sacks stuff is pretty engrossing. I think the key is to just read things that are at or above high school level.

Oh, if you want a really good Sci Fi, I'm reading this one now and can't put it down:

http://www.amazon.com/Hyperion-Dan-...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237967066&sr=1-1

Hyperion by Dan Simmons. It borderline interfering with my studying 🙂

First, I have to say that I am definitely buying that book.. I absolutely love sci fi and fantasy..... I recently finished reading the sword of truth series and the song of ice and fire series that's out thus far, and have been looking for a new read..

And thanks guys for all of the suggestions. I just read several articles on all of the sites suggested, and each site contains very good articles. I am actually pretty interested in economics and politics, and I love international politics... I don't know why

I will definitely continue reading the content on these sites, but any suggestion on which one I should subscribe to? I'd like to subscribe to one of these sites [I can only afford to do so for one ].. Any recommendations on which one? I really enjoyed Harper's and the economist..

 

[JasoniusUW]

Harper's is cheap (20'ish?) but its twice a month, you still get their archive? I subscribe. I subscribe to Economist as well (145 bucks for me but I'm Canadian). New Yorker is cheap if you're American. Atlantic is completely free online. You probably don't need a subscription really, just read off the net (articles on the the week are free). You'll be reading like that on the MCAT anyway. Although if you must have paper...it's about how much you can afford lol. Economist is worth it's price to me.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=223930
Last post.

 

[0Complications]

First, I have to say that I am definitely buying that book.. I absolutely love sci fi and fantasy..... I recently finished reading the sword of truth series and the song of ice and fire series that's out thus far, and have been looking for a new read..

And thanks guys for all of the suggestions. I just read several articles on all of the sites suggested, and each site contains very good articles. I am actually pretty interested in economics and politics, and I love international politics... I don't know why

I will definitely continue reading the content on these sites, but any suggestion on which one I should subscribe to? I'd like to subscribe to one of these sites [I can only afford to do so for one ].. Any recommendations on which one? I really enjoyed Harper's and the economist..

Nice. I think you'll definitely enjoy Hyperion then. I'm going to have to check out the two series' that you mentioned. That should be some good fodder for a bit. I'm always on the lookout for good new Sci Fi/Fantasy books.

Oh, and Harper is cheaper. 😉