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Hello all,
So I have some random/all-over-the-place questions about MCAT and studying for it, but I need to give some context first and let you know what I'm doing already to prepare. I apologize in advance for the lengthiness of the post.
I'm applying for the 2021-2022 cycle. My test date is 7/17/21. Money is tight for me, as I quit my job to study full-time for this and focus on starting applications. Also taking Orgo 2 starting this summer (fml).
So far, I've already put in countless hours of content review, over the past couple months. I'm using the free "Med School Coach-MCAT Prep" app, and before you knock it for being free, it has hundreds of videos of (virtually) every single possible topic on the MCAT, with practice questions and extensive explanations of each. I looked up books to get (i.e. Kaplan), but they seem so lengthy (tons of low-yield stuff) and not to mention obscenely expensive for me. I just bought Uworld, but have not begun delving too hard into practice questions, because my strategy so far is trying to focus on covering and at least partially memorizing everything on the test. I also have the entire AAMC MCAT prep package (from the fee assistance program), but I'm hording it at the moment; This include 4 FL's, some practice tests, and a couple hundred questions on each topic. I have not done a diagnostic test yet, because again, I'm hording it lol.
This strategy might seem weird, but so far it seems okay, and I'm kind of making it up as I go along, based on advice I've gotten from peers, the internet, how I've studied in the past, etc.
So here's my questions:
1) Should I be doing practice questions (Uworld) related to the subjects I'm doing content review on every day, or should I wait until I'm done reviewing all the content, then ONLY do questions?
2) Should I use my FL's closer to the test date?
3) Should I wait to use the AAMC stuff until after I feel more confident in all of the subjects, or should I use them now? (You can't reuse questions like with Uworld; once they're gone, they're gone and I really can't afford the package on my own, hence the fee assistance thing).
4) Do I really need to burn a FL as a "diagnostic test", even after I've already reviewed over half of the material on the test?
5) How much should I focus on MCAT strategy vs. content? There's so much content I feel overwhelmed half the time.
6) Overall, how can I best optimize my time in preparing for this freaking test?
------
These questions are related to MCAT and applying to schools:
7) Should I submit my applications before getting my MCAT scores back, since it's kind of late in the game? Or should I play it safe and wait to submit (I'll get my scores in early-mid August)?
8) How bad does it REALLY look to admins to retake the MCAT, and what if I don't do well and have to wait until January to take it again?
9) If you've already taken the time to read/reply at this point, please provide any advice on the MCAT/admission process that you can think of, and thanks so much for your help!!
So I have some random/all-over-the-place questions about MCAT and studying for it, but I need to give some context first and let you know what I'm doing already to prepare. I apologize in advance for the lengthiness of the post.
I'm applying for the 2021-2022 cycle. My test date is 7/17/21. Money is tight for me, as I quit my job to study full-time for this and focus on starting applications. Also taking Orgo 2 starting this summer (fml).
So far, I've already put in countless hours of content review, over the past couple months. I'm using the free "Med School Coach-MCAT Prep" app, and before you knock it for being free, it has hundreds of videos of (virtually) every single possible topic on the MCAT, with practice questions and extensive explanations of each. I looked up books to get (i.e. Kaplan), but they seem so lengthy (tons of low-yield stuff) and not to mention obscenely expensive for me. I just bought Uworld, but have not begun delving too hard into practice questions, because my strategy so far is trying to focus on covering and at least partially memorizing everything on the test. I also have the entire AAMC MCAT prep package (from the fee assistance program), but I'm hording it at the moment; This include 4 FL's, some practice tests, and a couple hundred questions on each topic. I have not done a diagnostic test yet, because again, I'm hording it lol.
This strategy might seem weird, but so far it seems okay, and I'm kind of making it up as I go along, based on advice I've gotten from peers, the internet, how I've studied in the past, etc.
So here's my questions:
1) Should I be doing practice questions (Uworld) related to the subjects I'm doing content review on every day, or should I wait until I'm done reviewing all the content, then ONLY do questions?
2) Should I use my FL's closer to the test date?
3) Should I wait to use the AAMC stuff until after I feel more confident in all of the subjects, or should I use them now? (You can't reuse questions like with Uworld; once they're gone, they're gone and I really can't afford the package on my own, hence the fee assistance thing).
4) Do I really need to burn a FL as a "diagnostic test", even after I've already reviewed over half of the material on the test?
5) How much should I focus on MCAT strategy vs. content? There's so much content I feel overwhelmed half the time.
6) Overall, how can I best optimize my time in preparing for this freaking test?
------
These questions are related to MCAT and applying to schools:
7) Should I submit my applications before getting my MCAT scores back, since it's kind of late in the game? Or should I play it safe and wait to submit (I'll get my scores in early-mid August)?
8) How bad does it REALLY look to admins to retake the MCAT, and what if I don't do well and have to wait until January to take it again?
9) If you've already taken the time to read/reply at this point, please provide any advice on the MCAT/admission process that you can think of, and thanks so much for your help!!
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