Nontrad with a 496 and 3.4 gpa. Do I still have a chance to retake and apply DO this cycle?

[Southlander]

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Hi guys,

Long time lurker and first time poster here. So I just got back my mcat score and did pretty terrible on it. All of my DO schools and secondaries are turned in and I just don't know what to do from here. I would like to apply this cycle and re- take it but I'm not sure about my timeline.

I know the DO cycle tends to run later than MD in the cycle and a lot of schools have Jan. scores as a cut off. I'm taking 2 elective biology courses at a local college which is why having winter break to study again would be ideal but I don't know if that's pushing it. Any advice would be really helpful. I really don't want to wait another cycle to re apply.

Hundreds of hours as a volunteer as a special needs teacher, volunteer team lead at a clinic and national competitive dancing experience from college.

Breakdown of scores: cp: 124, cars: 125, bb: 122, ps: 125

I did all the AAMC material and took all the practice exams and was averaging around 512 pre- exam. However, that was my 2nd time taking the exams so that's an inflated average. Left the exam feeling terrible about CP and good on BB so I'm surprised at my section scores. Thank you in advance for any advice!

EDIT: I've signed up for the September 18th mcat but now I'm unsure of what materials to reuse or to purchase. I have all AAMC, TPR and Kaplan materials/ books. Any advice in addition to my current situation would be appreciated!

 

[PlsLetMeIn21]

It sounds like you would be too far behind with too much ground to catch up trying to take it this summer. You need to get your C/P and especially B/B scores up, and that requires time and practice. Why not step away for a while and start up again with a fresh start and new approach for a January exam? Set a schedule based completely on doing passages.

 

[Southlander]

It sounds like you would be too far behind with too much ground to catch up trying to take it this summer. You need to get your C/P and especially B/B scores up, and that requires time and practice. Why not step away for a while and start up again with a fresh start and new approach for a January exam? Set a schedule based completely on doing passages.

That sounds like a good plan to me and I would like to have that winter break to study. But would I still be able to apply this cycle? Many DO schools accept Jan MCAT scores but I don't know if majority of the spots would be taken up. However, I feel that if I have until Jan. I could do really well.

 

[toedrag]

Most schools view B/B and C/P as the most important sections (especially B/B since this score is correlated with success in med school/ board scores, etc). Low CARS scores can be forgiven because the subsection is pretty volatile.

Good thing is that B/B can be improved pretty easily. Do well in your bio classes, supplement with the Khan academy passages, redo the section banks, and read up on research/study designs in various med journals. You can take the same approach for C/P and P/S.

For now, I recommend targeting the newest DO schools and then retaking the MCAT in Jan. Push that B/B up to 125+ and I think you'd still have a shot for the 2018-2019 cycle. I have had two classmates who applied to DO schools in February who gained acceptance for the 2017-2018 cycle. Keep grinding.

 

[Southlander]

Most schools view B/B and C/P as the most important sections (especially B/B since this score is correlated with success in med school/ board scores, etc). Low CARS scores can be forgiven because the subsection is pretty volatile.

Good thing is that B/B can be improved pretty easily. Do well in your bio classes, supplement with the Khan academy passages, redo the section banks, and read up on research/study designs in various med journals. You can take the same approach for C/P and P/S.

For now, I recommend targeting the newest DO schools and then retaking the MCAT in Jan. Push that B/B up to 125+ and I think you'd still have a shot for the 2018-2019 cycle. I have had two classmates who applied to DO schools in February who gained acceptance for the 2017-2018 cycle. Keep grinding.

That's good to hear! I've applied to ICOM, BCOM, Incarnate, ACOM and many others so I think I'll bite the bullet and take it in January. My one concern is that I've done the section bank two times already so I'm worried that the next time I attempt them I'll be too familiar with the correct answer. Would you suggest I purchase the Next Step practice exams? I took NS #1 a few days ago (to avoid getting rusty) and got a 507. I'm not sure how well it translates over. Thank you!

 

[toedrag]

I did the SB x3 as well. I remembered a few questions but I still found it worthwhile to run through it a third time. Give yourself 2-3 months before your third attempt.

I suggest NS 1-4. They can be a little inflated if <508, so focus most on the percentages.

 

[Southlander]

I did the SB x3 as well. I remembered a few questions but I still found it worthwhile to run through it a third time. Give yourself 2-3 months before your third attempt.

I suggest NS 1-4. They can be a little inflated if <508, so focus most on the percentages.

Good to know, thank you! 🙂

 

[PlsLetMeIn21]

That's good to hear! I've applied to ICOM, BCOM, Incarnate, ACOM and many others so I think I'll bite the bullet and take it in January. My one concern is that I've done the section bank two times already so I'm worried that the next time I attempt them I'll be too familiar with the correct answer. Would you suggest I purchase the Next Step practice exams? I took NS #1 a few days ago (to avoid getting rusty) and got a 507. I'm not sure how well it translates over. Thank you!

I'd suggest getting exams from EK, Altius, and TBR. They will give you a broad perspective and they are the best in terms of passages or best in terms of questions, next to AAMC.

 

[ChiDr]

That's good to hear! I've applied to ICOM, BCOM, Incarnate, ACOM and many others so I think I'll bite the bullet and take it in January. My one concern is that I've done the section bank two times already so I'm worried that the next time I attempt them I'll be too familiar with the correct answer. Would you suggest I purchase the Next Step practice exams? I took NS #1 a few days ago (to avoid getting rusty) and got a 507. I'm not sure how well it translates over. Thank you!

I want you to be prepared because BCOM and ICOM will most likely screen you. Your BB score will get you screened out of several schools. ICOM prefers above 35% per section. BCOM screens at ~25%. Not sure about ACOM.

In the future, perhaps do some research before you apply. Look at their minimum numbers, they are usually posted on their minimum requirements section. If not, contact the school. It would be great to save some money and use that for secondary apps or other.

Focus on your retake and knock it out of the park.

You need to focus on why you are getting it wrong. Do you not understand the content? Make connections to understand the concepts better.

You will never see the same questions on the test. However, you will see the same concepts. Now, the bank should be used to gather knowledge on the concepts and the types of questions they ask.

Use UWORLD. Get a free trial, do their questions, and go over their explanations. Take your time.

Do not move on to the next question until you understand the concept. If you understand the concept, the answer will come.

Good luck.

 

[Goro]

Hi guys,

Long time lurker and first time poster here. So I just got back my mcat score and did pretty terrible on it. All of my DO schools and secondaries are turned in and I just don't know what to do from here. I would like to apply this cycle and re- take it but I'm not sure about my timeline.

I know the DO cycle tends to run later than MD in the cycle and a lot of schools have Jan. scores as a cut off. I'm taking 2 elective biology courses at a local college which is why having winter break to study again would be ideal but I don't know if that's pushing it. Any advice would be really helpful. I really don't want to wait another cycle to re apply.

Hundreds of hours as a volunteer as a special needs teacher, volunteer team lead at a clinic and national competitive dancing experience from college.

Breakdown of scores: cp: 124, cars: 125, bb: 122, ps: 125

I did all the AAMC material and took all the practice exams and was averaging around 512 pre- exam. However, that was my 2nd time taking the exams so that's an inflated average. Left the exam feeling terrible about CP and good on BB so I'm surprised at my section scores. Thank you in advance for any advice!

I can't recommend applying with an MCAT score that low. Retake only when you're 100% ready, and apply next cycle

 

[Southlander]

I want you to be prepared because BCOM and ICOM will most likely screen you. Your BB score will get you screened out of several schools. ICOM prefers above 35% per section. BCOM screens at ~25%. Not sure about ACOM.

In the future, perhaps do some research before you apply. Look at their minimum numbers, they are usually posted on their minimum requirements section. If not, contact the school. It would be great to save some money and use that for secondary apps or other.

Focus on your retake and knock it out of the park.

You need to focus on why you are getting it wrong. Do you not understand the content? Make connections to understand the concepts better.

You will never see the same questions on the test. However, you will see the same concepts. Now, the bank should be used to gather knowledge on the concepts and the types of questions they ask.

Use UWORLD. Get a free trial, do their questions, and go over their explanations. Take your time.

Do not move on to the next question until you understand the concept. If you understand the concept, the answer will come.

Good luck.

Hey there, thanks for your input! I do intend to retake and will be updating my aacomas so that I'm put on hold for the schools you mentioned above + many more. This way, I'll have a chance to redeem myself before getting screened out. I felt that my main concern on test day was my anxiety. I wasn't anticipating it to affect me as much as it did and felt really prepared beforehand. When I did all the aamc material, I went through every chapter of each concept and made sure I knew it well.

I also used uworld and did probably 100 questions in total on b/b and chem and many adaptive q bank questions from kaplan. But I will say that I could have reviewed uworld's explanations more thoroughly and will work on that for this time around. After my exam I scheduled a 2nd date for Aug. 31st and I've been studying every day since but I'm not sure if I should go through with a date coming up so soon or take it in Sept. or push to Jan. I think that's one of my biggest worries right now.

 

[ChiDr]

Hey there, thanks for your input! I do intend to retake and will be updating my aacomas so that I'm put on hold for the schools you mentioned above + many more. This way, I'll have a chance to redeem myself before getting screened out. I felt that my main concern on test day was my anxiety. I wasn't anticipating it to affect me as much as it did and felt really prepared beforehand. When I did all the aamc material, I went through every chapter of each concept and made sure I knew it well.

I also used uworld and did probably 100 questions in total on b/b and chem and many adaptive q bank questions from kaplan. But I will say that I could have reviewed uworld's explanations more thoroughly and will work on that for this time around. After my exam I scheduled a 2nd date for Aug. 31st and I've been studying every day since but I'm not sure if I should go through with a date coming up so soon or take it in Sept. or push to Jan. I think that's one of my biggest worries right now.

Well, it seems like you did things correctly. Test anxiety is difficult. I feel like I had that occur during CARS when I was falling way behind.
There is nothing wrong with pushing it back. It will cost you a bit of money but if you need more time, take it. It will pay dividends later on.
I was scoring 510+ on all practice tests at the end and CARS got the best of me so I understand your frustration. Luckily, the sections you need to improve are easier to improve than CARS. You got this.

 

[YeezyQ]

OP, set aside 2-3 months. Make sure you work some breaks in there so you don't get burned out.

-Set a sleep schedule.
-Start working out.
-Start meditating at night.
-Get some social support.

It may sound crazy, but, just laying down in bed before you sleep and visualizing it all can help (I used the headspace app for this). I went from a 492 diagnostic to a 509 (126/125/129/129) with two months of full-time study and one month of part-time study. Best believe it helped with the nerves.

For my studying, I read TPR books, hit up the reddit/MCAT (RIP), khan academy and youtube. Anki was my best friend and should be yours too. Also, I highly suggest the MCAT podcast with Dr. Ryan Grey. He is the savior of the underdogs sent from God himself. That podcast is free.

Retake it, I believe in you.

 

[Southlander]

Well, it seems like you did things correctly. Test anxiety is difficult. I feel like I had that occur during CARS when I was falling way behind.
There is nothing wrong with pushing it back. It will cost you a bit of money but if you need more time, take it. It will pay dividends later on.
I was scoring 510+ on all practice tests at the end and CARS got the best of me so I understand your frustration. Luckily, the sections you need to improve are easier to improve than CARS. You got this.

Last night I moved my exam to September 18th! I've been studying since late July so I haven't missed a beat but my confidence is definitely bruised at the moment. Thank you for the encouraging words, I've been trying to lift myself up and figure out how to proceed with the time I have left.

 

[adrenocorticotropicana]

How long does it take for you read and dissect a long passage? Do you read the passage in order, or do you follow a rapid iterative thesis-antithesis-synthesis model?

I find that regularly reading scientific literature and long journal articles, hunting for a piece of information you are looking for so you can use it for your research protocols, translates really well to CARS and P&S. This is the skill they are really testing you for.

 

[Southlander]

OP, set aside 2-3 months. Make sure you work some breaks in there so you don't get burned out.

-Set a sleep schedule.
-Start working out.
-Start meditating at night.
-Get some social support.

It may sound crazy, but, just laying down in bed before you sleep and visualizing it all can help (I used the headspace app for this). I went from a 492 diagnostic to a 509 (126/125/129/129) with two months of full-time study and one month of part-time study. Best believe it helped with the nerves.

For my studying, I read TPR books, hit up the reddit/MCAT (RIP), khan academy and youtube. Anki was my best friend and should be yours too. Also, I highly suggest the MCAT podcast with Dr. Ryan Grey. He is the savior of the underdogs sent from God himself. That podcast is free.

Retake it, I believe in you.

Thank you for the vote of confidence! When you say visualize it, do you mean like mcat material or like the end goal? Both sound like good ideas! That's really great to hear, congrats! I also have the TPR books (+ Kaplan) and I like all the charts TPR offers! Also for anki, I've been using premed95's decks and other random ones I've come across. Since I'm taking the exam on September 18th (rescheduled it last night), do you think it would be better for me to continue using theirs or make my own? I also love Dr. Grey's podcast! I have to say, it feels so much better to have some encouragement here and I'll look into the Headspace app.

 

[Southlander]

How long does it take for you read and dissect a long passage?

I find that regularly reading scientific literature and long academic articles, hunting for a piece of information you are looking for so you can use it for your research protocols, translates really well to CARS and P&S.

It actually takes me a long time if I'm just doing practice passages. I've heard that reading those help but if I don't have questions that help me find the important information, idk if it would be just as helpful reading it. Like on exam day, I remember on one bb passage I got frantic because I couldn't dissect the passage enough to answer the question. I'm not sure if that makes sense haha sorry

 

[adrenocorticotropicana]

There are eight official practice exams right?

I started out by doing the practice exams open book (looking up questions I didn't know, and making a note in my notebook), just to figure out what I need to know, then I did the exams closed book to practice. I spent 30 hours preparing for the MCAT maximum and got 515.

 

[Southlander]

There are eight official practice exams right?

I started out by doing the practice exams open book (looking up questions I didn't know, and making a note in my notebook), just to figure out what I need to know, then I did the exams closed book to practice. I spent 30 hours preparing for the MCAT maximum and got 515.

That's really great! I think there are just 3 official AAMC exams? And then a bunch of q packs and section banks. What I did for my first time studying is that I created custom tests with all the aamc material. So I would do 1-50 on cp section bank, then 60 from CARS qpack, etc. So I think I made 5 custom exams + had 3 official exams. So I would take 1 exam then the next day I would spend reviewing every concept and answer choice.

But now that I've taken the exam, I've done all the custom exams again and 1 aamc official exam. I like your approach but I'm not sure if I should do that or just re-read all the material and review the section banks.

 

[adrenocorticotropicana]

I've heard that reading those help but if I don't have questions that help me find the important information, idk if it would be just as helpful reading it. Like on exam day, I remember on one bb passage I got frantic because I couldn't dissect the passage enough to answer the question.

Oh, this is why undergrad research helps. I'd read large amounts of scientific literature just to try to address like a few questions and I'd be like CAN THEY ANSWER MY CORE GOOGLE SCHOLAR QUERY ALREADY??

And this is really the mindset to approach the passages with. You want to glean as much as possible and not read anything that's not necessary. ("Can this passage answer my question already?!!") For example, if I want to extract an advanced statistical analysis method from another study, but I am otherwise not really that interested in their psychological interview methods, I would have to connect their materials and methods and their results but only focus on the statistical part.

The core method I've been experimenting with as a teaching method is thesis - antithesis - synthesis. This is the method I use especially for what Kaplan calls Type II and especially Type III questions on CARS (reasoning beyond the text). Passages on CARS tend to be nuanced. Thus when you read an argument (a thesis), try to prime yourself for what the antithesis could be, before you even hit it. In fact, I try to locate where the thesis argument and antithesis arguments are in a passage immediately. This is my natural instinct reading any academic or nonfiction passage -- not just on the MCAT.

Often there is a third, synthesis view that combines both views into a more nuanced view. This is often the narrator view, but not always. (Sometimes, there are more than three arguments and this model must be modified, but it is good as a quick and dirty model.) I can then group large chunks of text into "supporting evidence," supporting the thesis, antithesis or synthesis. I then only have to read the supporting evidence if I have to answer a question that specifically addresses that evidence or an argument using that evidence. Sometimes, the arguments are iterated. That means, a single argument itself has internal theses and antitheses which are combined into a synthesis. That synthesized argument is then juxtaposed against another view. This is what I call the dialectic approach to CARS. As it happens, doing well on CARS tends to mean you do well on P&S as well as other passages.

The other thing is that it's important not to get too frantic because panic leads to too much epinephrine which leads to overactivation of your amygdala which then inhibits your prefrontal cortex and then you're like those panicked kids on Legends on the Hidden Temple who ran through an obstacle course for two hours while being chased by Temple Guards only to miserably fail at putting a simple puzzle together. You just want a moderate amount of arousal.

Oh, you also don't have to do questions in order. You can skip ahead. I actually forgot this. On the computer, it's easy to forget you can come back to questions later. Don't get bogged down by one question. If you're running out of time, I often find there are TONS of easy questions at the end. Find all the easy questions and finish those.

 

[adrenocorticotropicana]

That's really great! I think there are just 3 official AAMC exams? And then a bunch of q packs and section banks. What I did for my first time studying is that I created custom tests with all the aamc material. So I would do 1-50 on cp section bank, then 60 from CARS qpack, etc. So I think I made 5 custom exams + had 3 official exams. So I would take 1 exam then the next day I would spend reviewing every concept and answer choice.

But now that I've taken the exam, I've done all the custom exams again and 1 aamc official exam. I like your approach but I'm not sure if I should do that or just re-read all the material and review the section banks.

As a tutor, I have to say that reading anything to study without active engagement is wasted time. As far as studying goes, it should be active studying, unless you're in a busy place or don't have the ability to whip out your notebook and pen. If you read something, find a way to test your knowledge and apply it. And then test your knowledge 24 hours, 72 hours, and 1 week later.

Short bursts of studying with regular reinforcement are better than long days without regular reinforcement.

 

[Southlander]

As a tutor, I have to say that reading anything to study without active engagement is wasted time. As far as studying goes, it should be active studying, unless you're in a busy place or don't have the ability to whip out your notebook and pen. If you read something, find a way to test your knowledge and apply it. And then test your knowledge 24 hours, 72 hours, and 1 week later.

Short bursts of studying with regular reinforcement are better than long days without regular reinforcement.

So you're saying my studying wasn't active because I was just reading chapters that I had missed from on the practice tests? So, since my exam is in a little under a month, you would suggest I take the exams open book and read in my books as I answer the questions? Sorry if you've already iterated this I just want to make sure I understand what you would do!

 

[Southlander]

Oh, this is why undergrad research helps. I'd read large amounts of scientific literature just to try to address like a few questions and I'd be like CAN THEY ANSWER MY CORE GOOGLE SCHOLAR QUERY ALREADY??

And this is really the mindset to approach the passages with. You want to glean as much as possible and not read anything that's not necessary. ("Can this passage answer my question already?!!") For example, if I want to extract an advanced statistical analysis method from another study, but I am otherwise not really that interested in their psychological interview methods, I would have to connect their materials and methods and their results but only focus on the statistical part.

The core method I've been experimenting with as a teaching method is thesis - antithesis - synthesis. This is the method I use especially for what Kaplan calls Type II and especially Type III questions on CARS (reasoning beyond the text). Passages on CARS tend to be nuanced. Thus when you read an argument (a thesis), try to prime yourself for what the antithesis could be, before you even hit it. In fact, I try to locate what the thesis argument and antithesis arguments in a passage is immediately. This is my natural instinct reading any nonfiction passage -- not just the MCAT.

Often there is a third, synthesis view that combines both views into a more nuanced view. This is often the narrator view, but not always. (Sometimes, there are more than three arguments and this model must be modified, but it is good as a quick and dirty model.) I can then group large chunks of text into "supporting evidence," supporting the thesis, antithesis or synthesis. I then only have to read the supporting evidence if I have to answer a question that specifically addresses that evidence or an argument using that evidence. Sometimes, the arguments are iterated. That means, a single argument itself has internal theses and antitheses which are combined into a synthesis. That synthesized argument is then juxtaposed against another view. This is what I call the dialectic approach to CARS. As it happens, doing well on CARS tends to mean you do well on P&S as well as other passages.

The other thing is that it's important not to get too frantic because panic leads to too much epinephrine which leads to overactivation of your amygdala which then inhibits your prefrontal cortex and then you're like those panicked kids on Legends on the Hidden Temple who ran through an obstacle course for two hours while being chased by Temple Guards only to miserably fail at putting a simple puzzle together. You just want a moderate amount of arousal.

Oh, you also don't have to do questions in order. You can skip ahead. I actually forgot this. On the computer, it's easy to forget you can come back to questions later. Don't get bogged down by one question. If you're running out of time, I often find there are TONS of easy questions at the end. Find all the easy questions and finish those.

WOW, thank you for your insight. This sounds like a unique approach and a good one but did you consistently read the question first as you took the exam or did you read the passage first sometimes and switch it around? Because sometimes it's hard to tell how much I'll need to dissect from a passage before reading the questions or interpreting the graphs.

 

[adrenocorticotropicana]

Take ONE (1) practice exam open book. I didn't even use the official practice exams -- I used the free full practice exam and the free diagnostic half-practice exam from Next-step MCAT (all online) and the free online practice exam from The Princeton Review. The TPR's free online practice is harder than the real MCAT if you haven't actually taken it yet. But it's also timed. Because I would say it's harder than the real test and thus not a good simulation, if you haven't taken it yet it's a great way to figure out which topics you need to work on.

When you hit a question that's like, "damn this is hard" or "damn I forgot this" LOOK THE SPECIFIC TOPIC UP (e.g. the two-factor theory of emotion) and also make a note of what topic it is in your notebook, meaning this is what you need to work on. This also allows you to identify the questions you looked up (because doing a practice exam open book will of course, distort your score). When I did this, I then learned more precisely the type of topics I needed to review.

When you read a bunch of material on say, P&S, you can then also quiz yourself on Khan Academy.

Reading large chunks of text without active learning is a waste of time. One way to actively learn is to rewrite the material in your own words. (Do this in writing to help further consolidate it with the help of muscle memory, not on the computer!) Then after you complete a chunk of studying, apply or assess your knowledge. Assess yourself immediately, and then 24 hours, 72 hours, and 1 week later. This solidifies the content in long-term memory.

 

[adrenocorticotropicana]

WOW, thank you for your insight. This sounds like a unique approach and a good one but did you consistently read the question first as you took the exam or did you read the passage first sometimes and switch it around? Because sometimes it's hard to tell how much I'll need to dissect from a passage before reading the questions or interpreting the graphs.

I did whatever came intuitively until I hit a roadblock, then switched. 🙂

If the passage seems convoluted and abstract, the questions may give you a clue on what you need to read for, or even what the thesis and antithesis could be. If the passage seems straightforward, read the passage but read for the thesis, antithesis and synthesis.

 

[adrenocorticotropicana]

I find CARS meaningful because it hones a skill that future physicians will have to use when they read tons of scientific and medical literature, but don't need to use all the information.

For example, a physician that's planning a clinical trial might need the study design or recruitment methods information from one paper, while a prescribing physician trying to use the literature to inform their prescribing practices might be more interested in the actual results, while a third physician might actually be interested in some crucial details of a laboratory test that happened to be described in a single passing paragraph in Materials & Methods (but remains very useful because the study was very large and references a more detailed protocol in a further citation). Each physician, to get all the information they need to solve their problem, will probably have to read dozens of looong journal articles and synthesize the information into a single cohesive solution.

They should be able to do this for any sort of literature for any discipline they might not even be experts in, or have passing knowledge of, without being intimidated: hence, testing premeds on passages concerning philosophy, art or architecture. This is the perspective from which I approach CARS.

(I've only tutored CARS very casually and only from a peer basis because my MCAT wasn't like 520+ like competing tutors in my area, but those I've tutored say my method is pretty effective and saves a lot of time.)

 

[YeezyQ]

t

Thank you for the vote of confidence! When you say visualize it, do you mean like mcat material or like the end goal? Both sound like good ideas! That's really great to hear, congrats! I also have the TPR books (+ Kaplan) and I like all the charts TPR offers! Also for anki, I've been using premed95's decks and other random ones I've come across. Since I'm taking the exam on September 18th (rescheduled it last night), do you think it would be better for me to continue using theirs or make my own? I also love Dr. Grey's podcast! I have to say, it feels so much better to have some encouragement here and I'll look into the Headspace app.

I visualized myself in a first person pov; sitting there reading passages, writing notes, calculating, formulating, eliminating answers etc. I did this about 30 minutes before bed, around 10pm.

Meditating and visualization helped me remain calm and collected during the exam. Test anxiety is a real thing. I never talked with anyone about it, but, I guess it takes a beast of a test for it to manifest.

In regards to anki, I made my own. But supplemented with premed95 and other decks as I felt more confident with the fundamentals (amino acids etc.)

 

[Southlander]

Take ONE (1) practice exam open book. I didn't even use the official practice exams -- I used the free full practice exam and the free diagnostic half-practice exam from Next-step MCAT (all online) and the free online practice exam from The Princeton Review. The TPR's free online practice is harder than the real MCAT if you haven't actually taken it yet. But it's also timed. Because I would say it's harder than the real test and thus not a good simulation, if you haven't taken it yet it's a great way to figure out which topics you need to work on.

When you hit a question that's like, "damn this is hard" or "damn I forgot this" LOOK THE SPECIFIC TOPIC UP (e.g. the two-factor theory of emotion) and also make a note of what topic it is in your notebook, meaning this is what you need to work on. This also allows you to identify the questions you looked up (because doing a practice exam open book will of course, distort your score). When I did this, I then learned more precisely the type of topics I needed to review.

When you read a bunch of material on say, P&S, you can then also quiz yourself on Khan Academy.

Reading large chunks of text without active learning is a waste of time. One way to actively learn is to rewrite the material in your own words. (Do this in writing to help further consolidate it with the help of muscle memory, not on the computer!) Then after you complete a chunk of studying, apply or assess your knowledge. Assess yourself immediately, and then 24 hours, 72 hours, and 1 week later. This solidifies the content in long-term memory.

Hmm okay, I've taken several TPR FLs last winter break but that was before I took bio 2, orgo 2, physics 2. I did it to get familiar with the exam format but I think I'll take the Next Step diagnostic open book. This sounds like a really good idea! I have a whiteboard at home (birthday gift from family lol) so I'll rewrite it on there several times throughout the week. I will admit I get lazy to write everything down repetitively. I have a whole notebook filled with mcat notes but I find myself having to refresh myself on it since I don't assess myself continuously so now I know! Is there anything else you recommend I do to study for the retake? Or would you say to just do practice exams, question banks, section banks all open book and re- assess myself continuously? I can't really figure out a solid plan but if this method is all I need for preparation I would love to stick with this.

 

[Southlander]

I did whatever came intuitively until I hit a roadblock, then switched. 🙂

If the passage seems convoluted and abstract, the questions may give you a clue on what you need to read for, or even what the thesis and antithesis could be. If the passage seems straightforward, read the passage but read for the thesis, antithesis and synthesis.

I love this approach! I'm going to do this for the open book exam and onwards hopefully, thank you a ton!

 

[Southlander]

I find CARS meaningful because it hones a skill that future physicians will have to use when they read tons of scientific and medical literature, but don't need to use all the information.

For example, a physician that's planning a clinical trial might need the study design or recruitment methods information from one paper, while a prescribing physician trying to use the literature to inform their prescribing practices might be more interested in the actual results, while a third physician might actually be interested in some crucial details of a laboratory test that happened to be described in a single passing paragraph in Materials & Methods (but remains very useful because the study was very large and references a more detailed protocol in a further citation). Each physician, to get all the information they need to solve their problem, will probably have to read dozens of looong journal articles and synthesize the information into a single cohesive solution.

They should be able to do this for any sort of literature for any discipline they might not even be experts in, or have passing knowledge of, without being intimidated: hence, testing premeds on passages concerning philosophy, art or architecture. This is the perspective from which I approach CARS.

(I've only tutored CARS very casually and only from a peer basis because my MCAT wasn't like 520+ like competing tutors in my area, but those I've tutored say my method is pretty effective and saves a lot of time.)

I agree, I think CARS can provide a lot of benefits to future physicians. When I took the exam, I felt really great about the section so it sucks that I can't evaluate where I went wrong. I approach it pretty intuitively and feel like I was able to avoid the trap answers but my score says otherwise lol.

 

[Southlander]

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I visualized myself in a first person pov; sitting there reading passages, writing notes, calculating, formulating, eliminating answers etc. I did this about 30 minutes before bed, around 10pm.

Meditating and visualization helped me remain calm and collected during the exam. Test anxiety is a real thing. I never talked with anyone about it, but, I guess it takes a beast of a test for it to manifest.

In regards to anki, I made my own. But supplemented with premed95 and other decks as I felt more confident with the fundamentals (amino acids etc.)

Wow this is such a unique habit to have. I'll definitely give it a try, this will be my last time taking it (hopefully) so I can already feel the nerves kicking in! I'm going to try to visualize the stuff you mentioned but I am curious with how you dealt with mid- exam panic- when I was on a bio passage that was really confusing and I couldn't figure out the answer, I froze up and had a mental block and it got worse when I would look at the timer. I even ran out of time on 3 questions on bb. I honestly don't know how I would deal with it a 2nd time so any ideas would be great.

I always thought of myself as someone who could block out emotions during an exam but I guess not lol. Yeah I'll continue the anki decks I've found online. I like to do them before bed but I'm not consistent with it, unfortunately.