*Official June 2016 MCAT Thread*

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aalamruad

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Hey there everyone! Figured I'd start this thread since I recently started preparing for the June 18th MCAT. For those of you who are taking the June 2nd MCAT, June 18th MCAT, or still considering one of those two dates, feel free to post here with any questions, comments, concerns, or support you have to offer!

Good luck to you all! Let's crush it.
 
My main worry right now is having stomach troubles during the exam. It's happened for every practice exam I've taken- no matter what I've done 🙁
Me too. :/ I have managed to wait til breaks to go, but it does get a little distracting. I know it'll only be worse tomorrow because nerves always affect me that way. 🙁 maybe take pepto bismol?
 
The uncertainty right now is killing me... Like what will each section be like? Have I crammed enough random information into my brain to be able to answer their questions? Will I be able to sleep tonight? Will I have a breakdown taking the test? How will I survive a month wait to get back my score? Will I have to retake? I keep looking over my notes but am super unfocused and think I need to stop. What I know right now has gotten me my goal score on practice tests, so I just have to have faith that my brain won't break down on me tomorrow.

In a sickening way, I think it puts me more at ease knowing I have a group of 10 online friends across the nation who are all going through the same things as I am.
 
I'm at a different center which sucks because Case was my first choice lol. Wonder why only 7 are taking it? Maybe they're also doing COMLEX or something tmrw too?
There's only room for literally six people in the testing room. When I first walked in and saw the six lockers, I thought I was in the wrong place. Beats me
 
There's only room for literally six people in the testing room. When I first walked in and saw the six lockers, I thought I was in the wrong place. Beats me
I wasn't allowed to go any further than the front desk and have no idea what the prometric part looks like (my location is combined with a sylvan learning center). I just pray that I don't have to sit by the door/have super distracting people around.
 
Me too. :/ I have managed to wait til breaks to go, but it does get a little distracting. I know it'll only be worse tomorrow because nerves always affect me that way. 🙁 maybe take pepto bismol?

Yeah me too 🙁
I packed a bunch I'm just debating whether to take it preemptively. I guess that would be smart since I know it will happen, just a matter of when is the question.
 
I wasn't allowed to go any further than the front desk and have no idea what the prometric part looks like (my location is combined with a sylvan learning center). I just pray that I don't have to sit by the door/have super distracting people around.
When I took it I was the first one there since they asked to be there an hour early. Because of that I was seated at the very first seat which was directly in front of the door. I practically begged not to be assigned to that seat so the lady told me to go out and come sign in at a later time. Next time I'll probably not be so early and ask if I could be seated in the back corner. So just ask if you can sit in the back 🙂 Also, if you get distracted easily with people coming and going then I'd suggest not to go too early either because that way most people will already have started the test. I wish they made it so that everyone would start at the same time.. it gets really distracting when the proctors walk the students to the computers next to you while explaining directions etc.
 
Yeah me too 🙁
I packed a bunch I'm just debating whether to take it preemptively. I guess that would be smart since I know it will happen, just a matter of when is the question.

Just some advice: to settle your nerves and focus, ginger (tea, candy, plant, supplement ect) is a great fix. Also, Amazon sells Queezy Drops they're candies that taste like life savers and calm your system.
Also, peppermint is an option, if you're not able to grab anything
 
When I took it I was the first one there since they asked to be there an hour early. Because of that I was seated at the very first seat which was directly in front of the door. I practically begged not to be assigned to that seat so the lady told me to go out and come sign in at a later time. Next time I'll probably not be so early and ask if I could be seated in the back corner. So just ask if you can sit in the back 🙂 Also, if you get distracted easily with people coming and going then I'd suggest not to go too early either because that way most people will already have started the test. I wish they made it so that everyone would start at the same time.. it gets really distracting when the proctors walk the students to the computers next to you while explaining directions etc.
Good to know, thank you for the tips!!
 
Do you understand number 26 on the section bank referring to the physical science section? Why do we multiply rate and volume to get number of molecules
Because the rate is given in molarity per unit time, so multiplying by time and volume will just give moles

(moles/liter x second) x (seconds) x (liters) = moles
 
Just some advice: to settle your nerves and focus, ginger (tea, candy, plant, supplement ect) is a great fix. Also, Amazon sells Queezy Drops they're candies that taste like life savers and calm your system.
Also, peppermint is an option, if you're not able to grab anything

Ooooh good idea! I love tea so I might pack some tea with me 🙂
I need some queezy drops for life in general :laugh:

Thank you!!!! I'm definitely going to try one or more of these tomorrow!
 
I know we've really harped on this the past couple days, but can someone confirm/correct my understanding?

What I think in my head right now:

Electrophoresis Types: Low MW and more (-) charge move further down the gel
Agarose gel (big DNA/RNA segments of >50bp's)
SDS (small DNA/RNA fragments and also proteins)


SDS Types: Lower MW will move further down the gel
Native SDS: no denaturing of quaternary structure or reduction of disulfide bonds
SDS-PAGE (non-reducing): quaternary structure perturbed
SDS-PAGE (reducing): quaternary structure and disulfide bonds perturbed

Blotting Types: Confirming the presence of a sequence/protein/DNA or RNA segment using cDNA
Southern: DNA
Northern: RNA
Western: Protein
 
I know we've really harped on this the past couple days, but can someone confirm/correct my understanding?

What I think in my head right now:

Electrophoresis Types: Low MW and more (-) charge move further down the gel
Agarose gel (big DNA/RNA segments of >50bp's)
SDS (small DNA/RNA fragments and also proteins)


SDS Types: Lower MW will move further down the gel
Native SDS: no denaturing of quaternary structure or reduction of disulfide bonds
SDS-PAGE (non-reducing): quaternary structure perturbed
SDS-PAGE (reducing): quaternary structure and disulfide bonds perturbed

Blotting Types: Confirming the presence of a sequence/protein/DNA or RNA segment using cDNA
Southern: DNA
Northern: RNA
Western: Protein

Looks good to me unless you wanted to include the polyacrylamide as the other type of gel! 🙂

I'm also in the process of memorizing important peaks for NMR and such.
 
I know we've really harped on this the past couple days, but can someone confirm/correct my understanding?

What I think in my head right now:

Electrophoresis Types: Low MW and more (-) charge move further down the gel
Agarose gel (big DNA/RNA segments of >50bp's)
SDS (small DNA/RNA fragments and also proteins)


SDS Types: Lower MW will move further down the gel
Native SDS: no denaturing of quaternary structure or reduction of disulfide bonds
SDS-PAGE (non-reducing): quaternary structure perturbed
SDS-PAGE (reducing): quaternary structure and disulfide bonds perturbed

Blotting Types: Confirming the presence of a sequence/protein/DNA or RNA segment using cDNA
Southern: DNA
Northern: RNA
Western: Protein
Yep, I agree, this is a really good summary for everyone.

In other news, I found some old notes and things I missed from when I first started studying. I was a grade-A idiot two months ago. hahaha
 
Looks good to me unless you wanted to include the polyacrylamide as the other type of gel! 🙂

I'm also in the process of memorizing important peaks for NMR and such.

I really hope this isn't on the exam..

For IR the two I've seen time and time again are for alcohol and carbonyl groups so I memorized those. Are there any specific groups like that you've seen a lot on exams for NMR that might be good to know?

I know the more EN elements are more downfield and I know how the splitting works but that's it.
 
NSFL5 halftime. Even though I'm not taking the test tomorrow, I feel like I'm in it with all of you guys. The July MCAT thread is pretty dead and you guys are all super supportive and helpful. It's nice to have such a cool group to vent to and read about! I'm wishing you all the best tomorrow -- you're all going to get scores that reflect the work you've put in! Hoorah. Walloobi, be careful and don't break the scale!
 
This one took me a while and I'll try to explain as best I can through the Interweb.
You're given that the object is at 3 focal lengths, so your Do = 1/3f, and set the focal length at 1, so 1/f = 1/1
We're trying to find image height now, so rearrange the thin lens equation to look like 1/1f - 1/3f = 1/di
Solving for that gives you 1/1 - 1/3 = 2/3, but is flipped for 1/di......now Di = 3/2
Now that you have Di and Do, plug them into the magnification formula, Di/Do = Hi/Ho, which gives you (3/2)/(3) = 1/2
Ratio of Hi to Ho is what the question was asking so there you have it

Yes that makes a lot of sense, thanks!!!
 
Yep, I agree, this is a really good summary for everyone.

In other news, I found some old notes and things I missed from when I first started studying. I was a grade-A idiot two months ago. hahaha
Same here.... I glanced over the unscored sample the other day when someone on here asked a question, and i wonder why i resisted memorizing the amino acids for so long?? i missed at least 8 questions due to that alone. Same with types of inhibition...
 
Hey guys! So this is for people in and around Richmond VA. Or anyone who knows anyone that's been in a similar situation. We had an insane storm last night and the testing center has signs all over it saying it's closed today... So of course immediate panic attack ensued. I'm praying the power is back by tomorrow but if ANYONE has advice I would totally appreciate it!! And good luck to everyone who's taking the test tomorrow!
 
You're good. I'm leaving at 6:50 but my testing center is like half an hour away. :/

That's not too bad! I'm kind of glad the test starts at 8 and not 9 bc the real morning rush starts at 7:50 when everyone's on the road for their 9am jobs lol

Same here.... I glanced over the unscored sample the other day when someone on here asked a question, and i wonder why i resisted memorizing the amino acids for so long?? i missed at least 8 questions due to that alone. Same with types of inhibition...

I'm still resisting anything related to metabolism. Up until two days ago, I swear all I knew was mitochondria is the power house of the cell
 
I really hope this isn't on the exam..

For IR the two I've seen time and time again are for alcohol and carbonyl groups so I memorized those. Are there any specific groups like that you've seen a lot on exams for NMR that might be good to know?

I know the more EN elements are more downfield and I know how the splitting works but that's it.

I might memorize where COOH is since it seems like a good portion of orgo deals with carboxylic acid derivatives? No clue to be honest lol.
 
I LIVE IN RICHMOND TOO. West end. I haven't checked my specific center in person but regardless I'm still going in the morning. Worst comes to worst, we'll have to take the exam a few weeks from now. Good luck!!

That's my hometown but I couldn't snag a spot 😛 Hence why I'm in NC :laugh:
 
I LIVE IN RICHMOND TOO. West end. I haven't checked my specific center in person but regardless I'm still going in the morning. Worst comes to worst, we'll have to take the exam a few weeks from now. Good luck!!
Yeaah it's the Nuckols Road center... I'm freaking out. I'm leaving the country on the 27th so I'm seriously screwed if it's canceled. Or rescheduled for more than a week from now. today was supposed to be such a chill in day after so many months of studying.
 
Hey guys! So this is for people in and around Richmond VA. Or anyone who knows anyone that's been in a similar situation. We had an insane storm last night and the testing center has signs all over it saying it's closed today... So of course immediate panic attack ensued. I'm praying the power is back by tomorrow but if ANYONE has advice I would totally appreciate it!! And good luck to everyone who's taking the test tomorrow!

I would be so mad if that happened to me considering I made daily rituals this entire week to prepare for test day and I'm planning to apply this cycle so delaying it would harm my application even more as well as I've been ready to take this damn exam for a while now and just want it over with so I don't have to keep thinking about fukking enzyme kinetics and AAs in my head day and night
 
I would be so mad if that happened to me considering I made daily rituals this entire week to prepare for test day and I'm planning to apply this cycle so delaying it would harm my application even more as well as I've been ready to take this damn exam for a while now and just want it over with so I don't have to keep thinking about fukking enzyme kinetics and AAs in my head day and night
That's the exact boat I'm in... And I've left no room for error or for Mother Nature to swoop in and mess with plans. But yeah I just want to get this over with. Like I don't need more time to study or do anything! I just wanna take it it already!!!
 
I'm taking it there too! And I'm also going out of country on July 1st 😱 we're the same person

I'm probably not as freaked out as I should be though...Did the signs themselves say they were closed due to a power outage? Or maybe they were just closed because there wasn't any testing today? My mom was taking her USMLE a few years back and there was a crazy hurricane that came through and had everyone's neighborhoods out of power for days. But her testing center was open the next day so all was good!
Yeah it said power outage so I'm hoping its up by tomorrow! And that's good to know they had it up and running for you mom. I'm seriously praying! But yeah all the offices around it were black and closed but the light at the intersection right there was on. Haha the only lights on in the whole city right now!
 
That's the exact boat I'm in... And I've left no room for error or for Mother Nature to swoop in and mess with plans. But yeah I just want to get this over with. Like I don't need more time to study or do anything! I just wanna take it it already!!!

I know how you feel. I was worried for like 3 days that I wouldn't be able to write the MCAT cuz my first name didn't match my government ID exactly but it turned out to be okay but during those 3 days I was stressing about having to fukking delay this exam another month cuz I'd have to push back all my ECs I already had planned right after the MCAT!
 
I'm taking it there too! And I'm also going out of country on July 1st 😱 we're the same person

I'm probably not as freaked out as I should be though...Did the signs themselves say they were closed due to a power outage? Or maybe they were just closed because there wasn't any testing today? My mom was taking her USMLE a few years back and there was a crazy hurricane that came through and had everyone's neighborhoods out of power for days. But her testing center (the Nuckols road one) was open the next day so all was good!
Maheen! I think we have a mutual friend! Ahmed Noreddin.... I hope this is the right person.
 
Haha yep that's me! Were you the one that always sat next to him in animal phis? I'm on hold with AAMC right now. I'll PM you once I find out what's going on.
Yeaah!! And yes please do! Or tell Ahmed to send you my number. I called them earlier and it was the most useless conversation...
 
If anyone in this thread has heard of a "lipid raft" before you took AAMC Scored, I'll call you a liar...
Haha I'd never heard of it either, but the other three options could be ruled out pretty reasonably since a transport protein needs to go through the whole membrane, and can't just be on the intracellular or extracellular side
 
What??? What happened exactly?

It was storming, and I was 10 questions away from finishing my pretty easy C/P when half the test takers computers shut down (about 25 of us). And the other half kept going (I felt a little bitter haha). Anyways, we sat there for an hour before they said the generator wouldn't be fixed in time, and I managed to get rescheduled for tmmrw!
 
Going over all my formulas,AA, and important notes and then i'm going to call it a day. I've been studying for this test since Jan/Feb and hopefully it won't be too bad!
 
Hey guys for transition metals- they lose the s electrons first right? I know this is basic chemistry, but I just want to solidify this fact.
 
Haven't taken the scored, but briefly talked about it in relation to sphingolipids in biochem. Is it used in this context?
Yes, in relation to membranes. So glad that I've been bombarded with all these unfamiliar terms in prep!
Hey guys for transition metals- they lose the s electrons first right? I know this is basic chemistry, but I just want to solidify this fact.
Higher energy electrons go first, which relates to the "n" number. So 4s gets eliminated before 3d in some of those tricky electron configurations
 
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