please critique my final two-month schedule!

[aspiring20]

my exam is on 7/13, and as of right now, I am mostly complete with content review.

for the next 2+ month, i will live and breath MCAT, though I do have a 30 hr/wk job that i dont want to give up. but

so from now to D-Day, I plan to do the following:

-~20 full lengths (AAMC + TPR)
-TPRH science workbook (cover to cover)
-TPRH verbal workbook (cover to cover)
-EK verbal 101 (cover to cover)
-all 4 EK 1001 science questions (cover to cover)
-targeted review of advanced materials (ketone bodies, photosynthesis, etc.)
-textbook-focused review of difficult subjects
-all the additional online questions and passages provided for by the TPR course
-a few other assorted practice materials from NOVA physics, Barrons, etc.

goal is a 36+, and if i dont get it after all those passages and questions, then i'll settle for whatever i get.

any suggestions/tips? are all of the above really necessary?

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[wjs010]

How are you going to do tprh fl ? Is that what the compendium thing is?

 

[wjs010]

Looks good to me BtW. Have you already finished content? Do you actually remember stuff from content review? Seems like I lost a LOT by not re reading during content review . 20 full lengths is going to be beastly lol

 

[aspiring20]

Looks good to me BtW. Have you already finished content? Do you actually remember stuff from content review? Seems like I lost a LOT by not re reading during content review . 20 full lengths is going to be beastly lol

TPR has its own full length exams on the computer that you can do as part of the course. these are NOT the in class compendium passage books that contain very challenging passages.

as for content, i spent A LOT of time reviewing them (going over them multiple times even), and for the most part, i can remember most of them.

i think periodic review of content is always needed. of course, a good part of reviewing content is doing problems and passages and full lengths. so really, they all reinforce each other.

 

[wjs010]

Would you recommend doing the compendium? I bought the books from some dude on Craig's list. Do you think I have access to FL? Thanks

 

[aspiring20]

Would you recommend doing the compendium? I bought the books from some dude on Craig's list. Do you think I have access to FL? Thanks

i would definitely recommend the compendium, as more passages never hurt.

i am not sure about the FLs and whether you'll have access to them without a course. but these full-lengths aren't that valuable compared to AAMC exams, so i wouldn't worry too much.

 

[aspiring20]

I am feeling less and less confident about this exam with every passing day. There is exactly two months away from my 7/13 test date, and i am still not complete with content review.

Do you guys think it is a good move to study my balls off these two months, take it 7/13, and then void it immediately if i screw up? Is it toxic and unproductive to have this "void" mentality?

 

[brood910]

I am feeling less and less confident about this exam with every passing day. There is exactly two months away from my 7/13 test date, and i am still not complete with content review.

Do you guys think it is a good move to study my balls off these two months, take it 7/13, and then void it immediately if i screw up? Is it toxic and unproductive to have this "void" mentality?

Not really.
I am scheduled for 5/30 but I am not ready.
I will take it + void it just to see what it is like.. as everyone here says that the real thing is not similar to AAMC FLs at all. I am gonna re-take it on 9/12.

 

[Elevencents]

Yes. Confidence is so important for an exam of this magnitude. I still am not entirely done with content review because I feel is a fluid process and my exam is on 6/20. I have zero intentions of voiding.

 

[aspiring20]

Not really.
I am scheduled for 5/30 but I am not ready.
I will take it + void it just to see what it is like.. as everyone here says that the real thing is not similar to AAMC FLs at all. I am gonna re-take it on 9/12.

i am leaning towards this, but i KNOW this is not productive!

 

[gettheleadout]

Er...photosynthesis?

 

[aspiring20]

Er...photosynthesis?

i know it's not explicitly tested, but i've seen TPRH science workbook passages that expect you to USE YOUR KNOWLEDGE of glycolysis/oxidative phosphorylation and apply that knowledge to elements of photosynthesis. there is substantial similarities between the two systems, so i wouldn't put it past those guys.

anyways, what do you think of my final push?

 

[aspiring20]

i will stick to this date and give it all i have. if i dont hit my target of 36+, then i'll take it again in september.

 

[krogers21]

i will stick to this date and give it all i have. if i dont hit my target of 36+, then i'll take it again in september.

I'd say that constant content review is essential to priming yourself for the MCAT. I'll be reviewing until D-day but at the same time working passages. My plan is to do content review over and over and wean off of review and focus on passages. I think a good way to study topics you're not understanding is by getting a good textbook of the material that you've had from classes. I'll be using Campbell and Reece's 7th edition BIO book. Chad's Videos are amazing though for review. I've been watching them; I think they will be my primary source for most of my studying with EK Lecture series as my readings.

 

[aspiring20]

I'd say that constant content review is essential to priming yourself for the MCAT. I'll be reviewing until D-day but at the same time working passages. My plan is to do content review over and over and wean off of review and focus on passages. I think a good way to study topics you're not understanding is by getting a good textbook of the material that you've had from classes. I'll be using Campbell and Reece's 7th edition BIO book. Chad's Videos are amazing though for review. I've been watching them; I think they will be my primary source for most of my studying with EK Lecture series as my readings.

good point. when are you taking your exam?

i am taking it in exactly 2 months and even though i've completed most content review (read TPR Bio like 5 times), i have zero confidence that i'll even break a 30, let alone get a 36+. i am literally having an anxiety attack every minute and pissing in my pants right now.

 

[gettheleadout]

i know it's not explicitly tested, but i've seen TPRH science workbook passages that expect you to USE YOUR KNOWLEDGE of glycolysis/oxidative phosphorylation and apply that knowledge to elements of photosynthesis. there is substantial similarities between the two systems, so i wouldn't put it past those guys.

anyways, what do you think of my final push?

Intense in a good way. Very thorough and likely to prepare you maximally.

good point. when are you taking your exam?

i am taking it in exactly 2 months and even though i've completed most content review (read TPR Bio like 5 times), i have zero confidence that i'll even break a 30, let alone get a 36+. i am literally having an anxiety attack every minute and pissing in my pants right now.

If you haven't even taken an AAMC FL why are you freaking out so much? I say that not to criticize but as a comfort. I don't see any reason why you shouldn't have confidence in yourself.

 

[aspiring20]

Intense in a good way. Very thorough and likely to prepare you maximally.


If you haven't even taken an AAMC FL why are you freaking out so much? I say that not to criticize but as a comfort. I don't see any reason why you shouldn't have confidence in yourself.

the thing is...i've been doing the TPR MCAT review series passages that come with the course, and these are intensely difficult. that and the fact that everyone claims the actual test is much harder and longer than the aamc, and i am just afraid like a little bitch.

 

[Laureatebarrel]

Did you finish content review? Considering 20 full lengths that will take you at least 40 days to complete properly I don't think you can finish all your goals.

 

[aspiring20]

Did you finish content review? Considering 20 full lengths that will take you at least 40 days to complete properly I don't think you can finish all your goals.

pretty much!

 

[gettheleadout]

Did you finish content review? Considering 20 full lengths that will take you at least 40 days to complete properly I don't think you can finish all your goals.

This is a good point, I didn't consider the timing issue. You expect to do and review ~6000 problems/passages in 20 days?

 

[aspiring20]

This is a good point, I didn't consider the timing issue. You expect to do and review ~6000 problems/passages in 20 days?

how do 20 full lengths contain 6000 problems/passages?

 

[gettheleadout]

how do 20 full lengths contain 6000 problems/passages?

I wasn't referring to them. Two months is 60 days, 40 of which will be occupied by 20 FL's + their review. The remainder is 20 days for all four EK 1001 books, EK 101, and the two TPRH Workbooks, which I collectively estimate at ~6000 questions.

 

[aspiring20]

I wasn't referring to them. Two months is 60 days, 40 of which will be occupied by 20 FL's + their review. The remainder is 20 days for all four EK 1001 books, EK 101, and the two TPRH Workbooks, which I collectively estimate at ~6000 questions.

those questions will be spread out among all 60 days. on the day of the full length, i'll spend 4 hours in the morning doing passages, 4 hour in the afternoon full length, and 4 hour at night reviewing full length. the days i am not doing full length, it's all passages and questions.

 

[gettheleadout]

those questions will be spread out among all 60 days. on the day of the full length, i'll spend 4 hours in the morning doing passages, 4 hour in the afternoon full length, and 4 hour at night reviewing full length. the days i am not doing full length, it's all passages and questions.

What happened to your 30 hour/week job?

 

[aspiring20]

What happened to your 30 hour/week job?

sigh....cancelled it

didn't want to, but i had to do it not just because of the MCAT (complicated and sad reason).

i spent almost a year at this job, so i guess it is a logical place to stop.

 

[aspiring20]

also, is it normal for people to devote ~2 months to the MCAT full time?

or do the mcloafians all work 50+ hours a week on top of MCAT studying? thing is, i dont want med school to give different weight to MCAT taken at different times under difference circumstances.