Self Study MCAT Prep Syllabus

[loveoforganic]

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I'm making myself a syllabus to guide my studies over the summer prepping for the MCAT, based off of what AAMC has posted as need to know material. It's looking like it's going to be about 61 days (no break days included, will take as needed) for a total content review + 4 CBT's. Does this sound like a reasonable allotment of time? I'm leaving one day to take each CBT, then 2 days following to review answers. Following completion of this, I figure I'll have about 20 days left to take/review 6 more CBT's before I go to take the MCAT.

Does this sound like a reasonable schedule?

Thanks!

 

[SBR249]

I would say that's pretty reasonable. I think my rough schedule for self- study when I took the MCAT was about 2 weeks per subject (bio, phys, chem, orgo) followed by practices leading up to the MCAT.

 

[loveoforganic]

Thanks 🙂

 

[SN2ed]

Schedule in the break days. Don't wait until you're burned out. Also, mixing up the CBTs with your content review isn't that good of an idea. You should hold off on them until you're done with your content review. Instead of doing CBTs during your content review section, you should focus on taking tons of timed practice passages.

 

[loveoforganic]

Thank you. How many break days would you schedule in? Just as many as I have, evenly spaced, with maybe a couple extra before the actual test?

 

[scaredoflife]

Well here is my schedule.

I am doing a month of content review or 4-5weeks. Every week I am doing on FL test on friday. Saturday for review and weakness from previous test. Sunday break if you get bored just go over flash cards. The last three weeks I plan on doing about 3 FL's a week and going over my weakness. But always take a break on sunday I say, or if you go out with a friend on saturday then study sunday.

 

[capn jazz]

Well here is my schedule.

I am doing a month of content review or 4-5weeks. Every week I am doing on FL test on friday. Saturday for review and weakness from previous test. Sunday break if you get bored just go over flash cards. The last three weeks I plan on doing about 3 FL's a week and going over my weakness. But always take a break on sunday I say, or if you go out with a friend on saturday then study sunday.

Why are you wasting your full lengths?? They mean nothing if you haven't finished reviewing ALL content. Speed up your content review and save the full lengths for the last month before the test.

 

[Protactinium]

Why are you wasting your full lengths?? They mean nothing if you haven't finished reviewing ALL content. Speed up your content review and save the full lengths for the last month before the test.

To add to this, if you have GS or Kaplan Full lengths, use those as diagnostics or as guides while you do content review. I regret wasting my AAMC's, there aren't many to go around. Schedule breaks in, you'll need them, trust me. It's very easy to start getting sick of the material you're reading and slow to a crawl.

 

[loveoforganic]

I'm ending up with a 95 day course - first ~2 months are content review with one subject studied per day, and subject studied varying daily. Last ~1 month is the 10 AAMC FL's - take one, review 2 days following. Scheduled break every ~5-6 days, with a 3 day break before the test. Hope it works!

 

[capn jazz]

As far as breaks go, you know yourself best. I'm on day 38 of 120 and I have yet to take a break, but I also only study 2-3 hours a day. Once I get down to the last month, I'll throw in one day off per week because I'll be studying many more hours per day. So don't assume you'll need breaks if you're good at staying committed/focused for long periods.

I'm ending up with a 95 day course - first ~2 months are content review with one subject studied per day, and subject studied varying daily. Last ~1 month is the 10 AAMC FL's - take one, review 2 days following. Scheduled break every ~5-6 days, with a 3 day break before the test. Hope it works!

I'm sure you know this, but there are only 7 AAMCs.

 

[Protactinium]

There are 8 actually 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10, although you have to buy 7. Use those at the end as you know. I would take a day off on a weekend day. Maybe insert a longer break in the middle of the study period. It depends on you, just be realistic about it. When I burnout...I can work 1 day, the next day I crash, then I can work the next day then crash the next and so on...That's a signal to take a multiple day break. One trick I learned (and love) is just to get up early and start studying right away (if you're not working or in school). Those are the only days where I'm happy with my productivity. I think this is just a procrastinators cure for the (oh ****, it's 5 pm, way too late to start working now, half the day is gone).

 

[capn jazz]

I have 2-3 hour long gaps between classes in the morning and I use that time to study.

 

[loveoforganic]

Ha, actually I thought there were 10, based off the fact the numbers went up to 10! Never actually bothered to notice that they weren't numbered from 1. So that'll free up another 6 break days. As I'm going to be working full time while I study, they'll be much appreciated! Thanks again for the help - much appreciated.