Non-Traditional MCAT prep using ANKI

[jd221b]

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I've searched and can't find anyone who has tried this before, but I've started this and am feeling very good about where its headed.

If you're unfamiliar with ANKI it is an open source FREE spaced repetition flashcard program.

If you're unfamiliar with spaced repetition, in a nutshell it uses research on the exponential "forgetting" curve to reinforce memory just before you are likely to forget. This results in a steadily increasing interval between reviews for items that you retain, and an interval reset on items that you miss.

The reason I'm doing this is because so many have stated that 4 months is the maximum time you want to study. Because of work and family and such I can't really do that right now, and doubt seriously that I'll get a chance to do that in the next 22 months (which is my timeframe for taking the MCAT). It never has made sense to me why so many think that 4 months is max when we obviously "study" for three years while taking pre-reqs. The fact is that after 8 years away from school I know I'm rusty and I need to prime the pump well in advance of my target test date. So this solution is perfect.

The reason that I feel Anki is perfect for my situation is because:

1. I can study new material at my pace. (at my current rate of 1-1.5 hours spent on input per day I'll be getting through all content within 4 to 5 months, this does not include any practice questions or tests)
2. There is a researched method for retaining everything I study indefinitely, as long as I keep up with my scheduled reviews. (they claim greater than 90% recall at any time)
3. When I get to a point that I know my test is 90-120 days away I can then do a quick content review of things that will be second nature to me by then and do traditional practice questions and tests.
4. My flashcard reviews can fit anywhere into my day because they are available from any internet connection or my Iphone. So the 10-60 minutes of flashcard review feels like nothing.

So exactly what is entailed in my procedure? I read through approximately 6 pages of TBR and highlight every fact that I did not know before I read it. If I don't understand it I reread it and if necessary pull out an old text book or internet resource to come from a different angle. Once I understand everything I begin turning every fact and figure illustration that I highlighted into a flashcard. The facts are super easy as I just type. The figures are a little bit more involved, but pretty simple scan, edit, and add once I got used to it. Adding it gives another level of learning before the review process starts. Right now I'm averaging about 7-10 cards per page so I'll end up with approximately 7000-9000 flashcards.

So what do you think? It seems like the perfect solution to the non-traditional MCAT study problem. It may seem tedious, but in the end its pretty darn efficient for the level of recall I'll be able to achieve. Keep in mind that once the new material is stopped that the daily reviews will trail off to less and less time required for review.

 

[Pons Asinorum]

I think the <4 month method has approximately infinitely more successful applications and scores than yours. Try it out, let us know how it works out. Color me skeptical until then. Don't post a damn thing referring to another website or trying to sell something (sorry, my anti-entrepreneurial-in-this-forum antennae are tingling reading through your post.)

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Also, I wish you the best of luck, but you are going to have a hard row to hoe, as discussed in this thread...

I dropped out of medical school in 2003 after attending less than a semester. I had legal custody problems with my stepson that did not allow him and thus my wife to move to the location of the school that I had been accepted to. I had been optimistic that the legal stuff would straighten itself out and I had to admit that I was wrong and chose family over career. This felt like a permanent decision because I felt like I wasted my chances (legal battle and 22 hrs in last semester after acceptance significantly dropped my gpa). This is no longer a decision I can live with and I'm re-comitting to a career in medicine. The legal problems will not be there anymore as my stepson will be 18 before I'm probably accepted. I'm applying to UTD's Certificate in Biomedical Sciences post bacc program to boost my gpa back up/ demonstrate competence in the classroom. I've lived alot in the last 8 years and have gained alot of maturity and perspective. My question is, will my dropping out affect my chances if it was that far in the past and I can explain it? I scored a 33 on my first MCAT and I know I will need to study hard and match or improve on that to be competitive. Any feedback will be appreciated.

Thanks,

JD

 

[jd221b]

I think the <4 month method has approximately infinitely more successful applications and scores than yours. Try it out, let us know how it works out. Color me skeptical until then. Don't post a damn thing referring to another website or trying to sell something (sorry, my anti-entrepreneurial-in-this-forum antennae are tingling reading through your post.)

Wow. Didn't mean to hit a nerve. Don't worry I'm not selling anything. The reason I'm posting is because I found something greatly useful to my situation that is free. I'm sold, but not selling. And what I'm not selling is free.

It is true that I have a tough row to hoe, but I am up for it. I have contacted a number of medical schools and the programs referred to in that post and feel pretty good about my chances if I take the right steps.

<4 months infinitely more useful in most situations? Maybe.
<4 months more useful in my situation? Not by a long shot.

I know there are many more who are in my shoes because I ran across many other threads while searching for answers.

Hence the post.

Cheers.

 

[spiderpete]

Seems to make a lot of sense to use Anki for MCAT. So much of what you have to know is memorization and it is quite useful for that.

Alas, I am past the MCAT already. I studied for the test for 15 months, much of it simultaneous w/ post-bacc classes. And it seems like the much-admired 4 month SDN schedule (I borrowed heavily from it myself) could be used in tandem with a memorization tool. i.e. Capture the memorization facts into the tool the first time you go thru a subject, then use the tool, review books and practice tests in subsequent iterations.

I am using Anki for a Biochem course right now and to prep for Anatomy next fall.

gl. Hope you ace it!

 

[jd221b]

I am using Anki for a Biochem course right now and to prep for Anatomy next fall.

gl. Hope you ace it!

Its funny you should mention Anatomy. One of the few references I found when searching for public MCAT flashcards was someone who was using Anki to get a head start on Anatomy before MS1 last year. It was a facebook post that showed up on a general google search. It'd be interesting to find out how he did.

Acing it is my goal. I know that I made a 33 on the 8 hour test with a fraction of the studying that I'm willing to do now. If I'm physically capable of a 37 or even a 40, then I'll get it.

Thanks

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Wow. Didn't mean to hit a nerve. Don't worry I'm not selling anything. The reason I'm posting is because I found something greatly useful to my situation that is free. I'm sold, but not selling. And what I'm not selling is free.

It is true that I have a tough row to hoe, but I am up for it. I have contacted a number of medical schools and the programs referred to in that post and feel pretty good about my chances if I take the right steps.

<4 months infinitely more useful in most situations? Maybe.
<4 months more useful in my situation? Not by a long shot.

I know there are many more who are in my shoes because I ran across many other threads while searching for answers.

Hence the post.

Cheers.

No worries, mate. I wish you the best, and by all means keep us up to date as you progress through the AAMC practice exams. Lots around here are daunted by the MCAT+prereqs+work+life dance that non-trads have to figure out. The various attempts at using SDN as a source of advertising to a somewhat captive audience seem to be increasing in rate and sophistication is the only reason for my concern. Best of luck.

 

[jd221b]

No worries, mate. I wish you the best, and by all means keep us up to date as you progress through the AAMC practice exams. Lots around here are daunted by the MCAT+prereqs+work+life dance that non-trads have to figure out. The various attempts at using SDN as a source of advertising to a somewhat captive audience seem to be increasing in rate and sophistication is the only reason for my concern. Best of luck.

I've never been much of a forum poster, though I've lurked on a few from time to time. Having lurked quite a bit here I found myself having to look up the word troll. Reading about some examples of ulterior motives made me wince. That said, I certainly understand not trusting a newbie.

 

[EdLongshanks]

I've searched and can't find anyone who has tried this before, but I've started this and am feeling very good about where its headed.

If you're unfamiliar with ANKI it is an open source FREE spaced repetition flashcard program.

If you're unfamiliar with spaced repetition, in a nutshell it uses research on the exponential "forgetting" curve to reinforce memory just before you are likely to forget. This results in a steadily increasing interval between reviews for items that you retain, and an interval reset on items that you miss.

The reason I'm doing this is because so many have stated that 4 months is the maximum time you want to study. Because of work and family and such I can't really do that right now, and doubt seriously that I'll get a chance to do that in the next 22 months (which is my timeframe for taking the MCAT). It never has made sense to me why so many think that 4 months is max when we obviously "study" for three years while taking pre-reqs. The fact is that after 8 years away from school I know I'm rusty and I need to prime the pump well in advance of my target test date. So this solution is perfect.

The reason that I feel Anki is perfect for my situation is because:

1. I can study new material at my pace. (at my current rate of 1-1.5 hours spent on input per day I'll be getting through all content within 4 to 5 months, this does not include any practice questions or tests)
2. There is a researched method for retaining everything I study indefinitely, as long as I keep up with my scheduled reviews. (they claim greater than 90% recall at any time)
3. When I get to a point that I know my test is 90-120 days away I can then do a quick content review of things that will be second nature to me by then and do traditional practice questions and tests.
4. My flashcard reviews can fit anywhere into my day because they are available from any internet connection or my Iphone. So the 10-60 minutes of flashcard review feels like nothing.

So exactly what is entailed in my procedure? I read through approximately 6 pages of TBR and highlight every fact that I did not know before I read it. If I don't understand it I reread it and if necessary pull out an old text book or internet resource to come from a different angle. Once I understand everything I begin turning every fact and figure illustration that I highlighted into a flashcard. The facts are super easy as I just type. The figures are a little bit more involved, but pretty simple scan, edit, and add once I got used to it. Adding it gives another level of learning before the review process starts. Right now I'm averaging about 7-10 cards per page so I'll end up with approximately 7000-9000 flashcards.

So what do you think? It seems like the perfect solution to the non-traditional MCAT study problem. It may seem tedious, but in the end its pretty darn efficient for the level of recall I'll be able to achieve. Keep in mind that once the new material is stopped that the daily reviews will trail off to less and less time required for review.

I'm a believer in spaced repetition flash cards (although I use AnyMemo, not anki), and I am finding ways to make it work for all of my classes, in preparation for med school.

But I don't think that it will work for the MCAT. The MCAT is a reading comprehension test, not a regurgitate memorized information test.

 

[StudyShy]

I 😍 Anki! Spaced recognition is the way to go. I have it on my iPod and my desktop. It is great for GRE/SAT words or learning a language.

 

[jd221b]

I'm a believer in spaced repetition flash cards (although I use AnyMemo, not anki), and I am finding ways to make it work for all of my classes, in preparation for med school.

But I don't think that it will work for the MCAT. The MCAT is a reading comprehension test, not a regurgitate memorized information test.

I think there's enough memorization especially in Biology and Ochem to make it useful. Since I was weak on those 10 years ago I really wanted something that made the memorization easier. If its a reading comprehension test, then knowing the language that the passages are written in is the foundation. All of the reactions, biochemical pathways, formulas, and cellular processes are the vocabulary and/or sentence structure that it is written in IMHO. Btw I've never been good at memorizing just facts without comprehension. I find myself reviewing in my head the background info and the why's everytime a card comes up.

 

[spiderpete]

I think there's enough memorization especially in Biology and Ochem to make it useful. Since I was weak on those 10 years ago I really wanted something that made the memorization easier. If its a reading comprehension test, then knowing the language that the passages are written in is the foundation. All of the reactions, biochemical pathways, formulas, and cellular processes are the vocabulary and/or sentence structure that it is written in IMHO. Btw I've never been good at memorizing just facts without comprehension. I find myself reviewing in my head the background info and the why's everytime a card comes up.

Biology and medicine have their own language. Memorization tools are excellent to learn vocabulary, and reinforcing it by thinking thru the concepts solidifies the knowledge.