SN2'd first day

[TexasSurgeon]

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EDIT: This was supposed to be a thread about the first day of SN2. However as with all intelligent life, things evolve. This thread has now become a support page for people following the SN2 plan. You can think of it as Alcoholics Anonymous for people studying to take the MCAT using the SN2 plan.

EDIT July 1, 2014:
If you are interested in @mehc012's Anki Deck, DO NOT SEND A PM. Here is the link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/7if6wgaif98rkoa/mehc012 SN2edCh4s.apkg
**A NOTE: @mehc012 and several others (myself included) want to tell you guys that studying from another person's deck will probably not be as beneficial to you as creating your own cards. Yes you can take advantage of @mehc012's generosity, but you won't get the same advantage. Study the material. Create cards as you go along. You will find it more helpful to your studying. **

EDIT July 22, 2014:
The following is @TBRBiosadist's official MCAT Verbal Reasoning Strategy:
@TBRBiosadist's strategy that got [him] from a 7 average to scoring 13-15 average..

Spend the bulk of your time reading. Up to 3 minutes per passage.

• Read the first and last paragraph thoroughly to begin with. Understand what the authors main point will be because 90% of questions require nothing more than a general idea.
• After this, read the entire passage slowly enough where you dont feel like you need to reread sentences for understanding.

Next is just answer questions, there is a few tricks here that work about 90% of the time

• Unless the passage is asking you about a specific detail, dont look back. READ EVERY ANSWER THOROUGLY AND THEN Answer what makes sense from the general point of the passage. Its very easy to prove a wrong answer to be somewhat correct if you dig hard enough, dont. Answer what your gut says and move onto the next question, dont contemplate to much. With that being said...
• Answer like you were dropped on the head as a child. Alot of times if Im arguing between two answers, there is the answer that is 100% correct, and one that is 90% correct. Be an idoit and choose the one that seems like it is correct. However.....
• "Always" is a word to avoid. If an answer uses this word, or definites like it, it is something to avoid. I would say 80% of the time the wishy washy answer is more correct then the highly affirmative one. This leads to my final point....
• 100% of the time you are not actually looking for the "right" answer in verbal, this isnt PS or BS where 1+1 almost always equals 2 (unless we are talking about the different sedimentation values for Ribosomes). In verbal you are looking for the answer that isnt wrong. Often times an answer will seem very "right" but one aspect of it is clearly wrong, as compared to an answer that isnt wrong, but doesnt seem as right as that answer, these are meant to fool you. Choose the answer that isnt wrong.

I understand that I few of these tips may be at odds with each other. Ultimately you must adjust slightly for each passage, but it comes down to one thing. Read thoroughly. Read every sentence in the passage. Read every question. Read every answer. Then the correct answer will be fairly obvious. This may seem like it takes longer, but it takes much less time than skimming, and then trying to find the correct information later.

Or to summarize in one sentence

Understand what the hell the author is arguing

EDIT July 26, 2014:
@DoctorInASaree uploaded a guide to Verbal Reasoning. If you're interested, it's worth a look. Here is the link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2byivymmqwlvjms/MCAT VR Primer DRSAREE.pdf

EDIT 2, July 26, 2014: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/sn2d-first-day.1074344/page-52#post-15510851
________________________________________________
Just finished the first day of SN2...man is it long and exhausting.

The first day is BR physics chapter (translational motion) + 1/3 of the passages. I felt like I wasn't able to apply the stuff I read into the stuff I was tested on.

Has anyone felt this way when following the schedule? It just seems like the contents of the chapter didn't really stick in my head when I took the practice passages. Will this improve over time?

EDIT 3, March 4, 2015:

For verbal, if you are feeling lost and confused, I highly highly recommend you to look into the MCAT Strategy Course by @Jack Westin. I've been working with him, and nothing comes close to his course and teaching. It's a strategy course, so it will cover everything, not just the VR/CARS section.

 

[TBRBiosadist]

That feel when you get home after a 12 hour shift at 4am and still have 60% of your material needing to be covered for that day.

 

[mehc012]

That feel when you get home after a 12 hour shift at 4am and still have 60% of your material needing to be covered for that day.

I don't work after my late 12s, only before...and I don't schedule things due on those. They're little catch-up opportunities.

 

[TexasSurgeon]

I'm doing terribly on the second 1/3 passages at the end of the week

 

[mehc012]

I'm doing terribly on the second 1/3 passages at the end of the week

I'm doing no better and no worse on them than my first ⅓. Likewise, my verbal hasn't changed at all. I feel as if I'm doing all of this review and work for zero gains, and it's driving me bonkers.
I've never studied before...I mean, sure, I've crammed a lot, and it has always worked for me, but I had this idea that taking months to truly study for the MCAT would show some improvement. Instead, I feel like I'm in the same place I'd be if I just flipped through the TBR books the week before the exam, you know?

 

[TexasSurgeon]

I'm doing no better and no worse on them than my first ⅓. Likewise, my verbal hasn't changed at all. I feel as if I'm doing all of this review and work for zero gains, and it's driving me bonkers.
I've never studied before...I mean, sure, I've crammed a lot, and it has always worked for me, but I had this idea that taking months to truly study for the MCAT would show some improvement. Instead, I feel like I'm in the same place I'd be if I just flipped through the TBR books the week before the exam, you know?

Yeah I do...this sucks

 

[orangetea]

Here's my opinion and reasoning on doing terribly on passages and you can take it with a grain of salt 🙂

I like to think of the MCAT as one of those spy movie rooms that has secret traps and lasers set up everywhere. Obviously going in without knowing where those traps are you are bound to fail miserably(or not make it out alive if were still with the movie analogy)

The reason that we do bad on certain topics is that there are so many concepts and SO MANY WAYS that those concepts are tested right? TBR and other companies have stimulated those "traps" in their passages. Some questions are designed for you to get them wrong so you can go back and review that concept. So in essence when were doing those passages were learning about all the different traps that could be set up.Now that you are familiar with these traps when you see them again on the real deal you won't fall for them.

I hope that made sense and makes you feel a little better about your mistakes 🙂

Happy Saturday #yaystuckinanemptylibraryagain #thelibrariansknowmebynow #awk.

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Here's my opinion and reasoning on doing terribly on passages and you can take it with a grain of salt 🙂

I like to think of the MCAT as one of those spy movie rooms that has secret traps and lasers set up everywhere. Obviously going in without knowing where those traps are you are bound to fail miserably(or not make it out alive if were still with the movie analogy)

The reason that we do bad on certain topics is that there are so many concepts and SO MANY WAYS that those concepts are tested right? TBR and other companies have stimulated those "traps" in their passages. Some questions are designed for you to get them wrong so you can go back and review that concept. So in essence when were doing those passages were learning about all the different traps that could be set up.Now that you are familiar with these traps when you see them again on the real deal you won't fall for them.

I hope that made sense and makes you feel a little better about your mistakes 🙂

Happy Saturday #yaystuckinanemptylibraryagain #thelibrariansknowmebynow #awk.

Yeah it definitely helps to see it like that but I think I'm still lacking somewhere in content review

 

[TBRBiosadist]

I'm doing no better and no worse on them than my first ⅓. Likewise, my verbal hasn't changed at all. I feel as if I'm doing all of this review and work for zero gains, and it's driving me bonkers.
I've never studied before...I mean, sure, I've crammed a lot, and it has always worked for me, but I had this idea that taking months to truly study for the MCAT would show some improvement. Instead, I feel like I'm in the same place I'd be if I just flipped through the TBR books the week before the exam, you know?

^this. I studied more in the first week for this test then I have ever needed to before. I thought by this point I would have ascended to a planar form, hovering several inches off of the ground with the might of my MCAT knowledge. Instead it feels like I know the stuff a bit better, but nothing that I couldn't do in less time. I say this, but I'm sure all the practice and content review does make a huge difference.

 

[mehc012]

^this. I studied more in the first week for this test then I have ever needed to before. I thought by this point I would have ascended to a planar form, hovering several inches off of the ground with the might of my MCAT knowledge. Instead it feels like I know the stuff a bit better, but nothing that I couldn't do in less time. I say this, but I'm sure all the practice and content review does make a huge difference.

Also, I take it from your username that you are a fellow "screw EK, I'm doing TBR Bio all the way!"-er?
I'm glad I did it this way, though we'll see if that changes when I hit biochem

 

[TBRBiosadist]

Also, I take it from your username that you are a fellow "screw EK, I'm doing TBR Bio all the way!"-er?
I'm glad I did it this way, though we'll see if that changes when I hit biochem

nah, I actually use ek for primary review, and skim the tbr on review days. Its just I really enjoy doing tbr passages. They used to destroy me but now I get some of my best scores from TBR.

 

[neekzg]

nah, I actually use ek for primary review, and skim the tbr on review days. Its just I really enjoy doing tbr passages. They used to destroy me but now I get some of my best scores from TBR.

I'm guessing that's why your username is TBR Bio Sadist? LOL

Anyway, glad to read about other people's experiences with this schedule as they are just starting it too. Is everyone's test in September?

 

[TBRBiosadist]

aug 15th here. day 41 of sn2

 

[nontraditional1]

hey yall...chiming in from Dallas TX...I am on a different study schedule than you...but want to say good luck to all of you...hope you all will be at an white coat ceremony in your futures.

 

[deleted388502]

Just popping in today to say HANG IN THERE GUYS! Was talking to some guys at work yesterday who weren't even using BR or following a regimented study schedule, and they did great. Don't let BR bring you down, just remember it's MCAT prep on some serious steroids

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Just popping in today to say HANG IN THERE GUYS! Was talking to some guys at work yesterday who weren't even using BR or following a regimented study schedule, and they did great. Don't let BR bring you down, just remember it's MCAT prep on some serious steroids

Yeah cause BR physics second 2/3 passages are killing me

 

[mehc012]

nah, I actually use ek for primary review, and skim the tbr on review days. Its just I really enjoy doing tbr passages. They used to destroy me but now I get some of my best scores from TBR.

Aww. All of my best scores are from TBR...as are my worst. I may or may not only do TBR passages 😛

 

[TexasSurgeon]

I've found that almost 75% of my mistakes come from not reading carefully enough. BR passages (esp BR Bio) have details hidden so tightly

 

[nontraditional1]

i cannot stand physics.....just saying....
i love ochem and biology. concepts are easy for me.

VR puts me to sleep...but i keep doing em everyday...and im getting better and better.

yes.... this classifies as rambling on......

 

[TexasSurgeon]

this is verbal

 

[nontraditional1]

muhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahah....no sht

 

[pbrocks15]

Sup everyone!

I was wondering if I could join in on your thread, it seems to be really motivating as to have someone to talk to that's in the same boat as you.

I am on day 37 and have been supplementing the program with EK and TPR. I am set for taking the exam September 10th so hope you guys don't mind if I tag along and talk about progress and what not but mostly rant haha just kidding...but not really.

PS. Nice Avatar TexasSurgeon!

 

[mehc012]

I've found that almost 75% of my mistakes come from not reading carefully enough. BR passages (esp BR Bio) have details hidden so tightly

I usually have 1 or of those per chapter thirds...where I tried to think about it instead of just looking harder. Part of the problem is that TBR expects you to know such random trivia, that it doesn't stand out when you're not expected to know some random crap. One of my answer explanations today said, and I quote,

If you find yourself asking 'do they really expect me to know this?', it's probably in the passage...find it!

I'm pissed at myself, though...fully HALF of the questions I missed today were due to mixing up "not" and "true vs false" halfway through.
The roman numeral questions kill me, but even worse is when I successfully navigate one of those 'figure it out by process of elimination because there is no way anyone knows this' questions...and then reverse the 'not' at the last second. Like so:
Which one is not true?
A
B
C
D

Hmm...A is true, B is true, I have no ****ing idea whether D is true (no one would) now what about C?
Spends 1min calculating whether C is true.

C is true! Whew, that took a while to work out...*puts C*

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Sup everyone!

I was wondering if I could join in on your thread, it seems to be really motivating as to have someone to talk to that's in the same boat as you.

I am on day 37 and have been supplementing the program with EK and TPR. I am set for taking the exam September 10th so hope you guys don't mind if I tag along and talk about progress and what not but mostly rant haha just kidding...but not really.

PS. Nice Avatar TexasSurgeon!

You too LOL
I'm on Day 24 working on the second 1/3's for the day. Exam on Aug. 27. So I'm behind a few days. I need to catch up. What's really frustrating to me is that I spent the week understanding all the material and actually feeling good about my progress, and then this second 1/3 passages completely destroyed me. I think I need to do the discretes from EK1001 just to drill stuff. How are you supplementing? Starting next week I'm just gonna do a few passages from each section each day (attempt to do this).

I usually have 1 or of those per chapter thirds...where I tried to think about it instead of just looking harder. Part of the problem is that TBR expects you to know such random trivia, that it doesn't stand out when you're not expected to know some random crap. One of my answer explanations today said, and I quote,

I'm pissed at myself, though...fully HALF of the questions I missed today were due to mixing up "not" and "true vs false" halfway through.
The roman numeral questions kill me, but even worse is when I successfully navigate one of those 'figure it out by process of elimination because there is no way anyone knows this' questions...and then reverse the 'not' at the last second. Like so:
Which one is not true?
A
B
C
D

Hmm...A is true, B is true, I have no ******* idea whether D is true (no one would) now what about C?
Spends 1min calculating whether C is true.

C is true! Whew, that took a while to work out...*puts C*

I saw that explanation on one of my answers from TBR as well...had the same reaction.

 

[TexasSurgeon]

PS- you guys are the best. this is probably the best support group on SDN I've seen (and we have like 7000 hits)

 

[lNVlNClBLE]

Damn the physical sciences. I'm not an engineer. Y U DO DIS AAMCAS

 

[pbrocks15]

I usually have 1 or of those per chapter thirds...where I tried to think about it instead of just looking harder. Part of the problem is that TBR expects you to know such random trivia, that it doesn't stand out when you're not expected to know some random crap. One of my answer explanations today said, and I quote,

I'm pissed at myself, though...fully HALF of the questions I missed today were due to mixing up "not" and "true vs false" halfway through.
The roman numeral questions kill me, but even worse is when I successfully navigate one of those 'figure it out by process of elimination because there is no way anyone knows this' questions...and then reverse the 'not' at the last second. Like so:
Which one is not true?
A
B
C
D

Hmm...A is true, B is true, I have no ******* idea whether D is true (no one would) now what about C?
Spends 1min calculating whether C is true.

C is true! Whew, that took a while to work out...*puts C*

THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME!

I always forget half way through the question whether it's asking true or not true!

And Yeah I think this support group is really cool, i've been stalking you guys for a few days and im glad it stayed alive long enough for me to join in!

 

[pbrocks15]

TexasSurgeon, to answer your question on how im supplementing I am doing passages in TPRHSW (TPR Hyperlearning Science Workbook, although I am sure that you all know what it is by now) every other day or so in the order they are in the book. So I am not doing the same topic in TBR chem and TPRHSW. Instead, I am doing gen chem in both of them but it is different topics. I for some reason like this method a lot.

I am also actually reading BR bio and EK bio at the same time. Unfortunately, my EK Bio book came in last week and I am 4 chapter behind in it but I will read two this week and two the following week to catch up. If pressed for time I might stop reading BR bio but I like it...for now.

I am not doing the EK 1001 questions yet, which is probably what is leaving me with all this time to do other things. I plan on doing them during my practice exam days.

I have 8 weeks before my test which I have dedicated to practice tests and brushing up on content I think is asked most often.

This is my plan so far, if i forgot to mention something it's probably insignificant.

Oh! I also started listening to audio osmosis! I actually listened to it as I worked out, there are times I was listening and picked up things and times I wasn't. I banged out a whole CD though and there are only 13 CDs so I could possibly get through it a few times if I keep this routine.

Sorry for the long post!

 

[orangetea]

TexasSurgeon, to answer your question on how im supplementing I am doing passages in TPRHSW (TPR Hyperlearning Science Workbook, although I am sure that you all know what it is by now) every other day or so in the order they are in the book. So I am not doing the same topic in TBR chem and TPRHSW. Instead, I am doing gen chem in both of them but it is different topics. I for some reason like this method a lot.

I am also actually reading BR bio and EK bio at the same time. Unfortunately, my EK Bio book came in last week and I am 4 chapter behind in it but I will read two this week and two the following week to catch up. If pressed for time I might stop reading BR bio but I like it...for now.

I am not doing the EK 1001 questions yet, which is probably what is leaving me with all this time to do other things. I plan on doing them during my practice exam days.

I have 8 weeks before my test which I have dedicated to practice tests and brushing up on content I think is asked most often.

This is my plan so far, if i forgot to mention something it's probably insignificant.

Oh! I also started listening to audio osmosis! I actually listened to it as I worked out, there are times I was listening and picked up things and times I wasn't. I banged out a whole CD though and there are only 13 CDs so I could possibly get through it a few times if I keep this routine.

Sorry for the long post!

how useful are those things.. I was thinking about listening to them as I workout too but for some reason provocative rap songs usually get me through the 4 mile run a lot better. idk tho

 

[orangetea]

PS- you guys are the best. this is probably the best support group on SDN I've seen (and we have like 7000 hits)

Does that mean 7000 people have stalked us so far... I always forget that these things are so public and just say whatever comes into my mind ....

 

[orangetea]

I usually have 1 or of those per chapter thirds...where I tried to think about it instead of just looking harder. Part of the problem is that TBR expects you to know such random trivia, that it doesn't stand out when you're not expected to know some random crap. One of my answer explanations today said, and I quote,

I know EXACTLY what question/passage you are talking about because I missed that one too! But the truth is .. well it's true some of the answer choices are straight up in the passages, we just need to find them. I really like Princeton Review's online material because when I get a question wrong it tells me if it was reading comprehension or miscalculation or because I didn't know of a topic. So when I do BR passages I try to in my head ask myself which of the three it was. Maybe that would help!
[QUOTE="mehc012, post: 15370698, member: 481023"
I'm pissed at myself, though...fully HALF of the questions I missed today were due to mixing up "not" and "true vs false" halfway through.
The roman numeral questions kill me, but even worse is when I successfully navigate one of those 'figure it out by process of elimination because there is no way anyone knows this' questions...and then reverse the 'not' at the last second. Like so:
Which one is not true?
A
B
C
D

Hmm...A is true, B is true, I have no ******* idea whether D is true (no one would) now what about C?
Spends 1min calculating whether C is true.

C is true! Whew, that took a while to work out...*puts C*[/QUOTE]

For ones that usually have NOT in the question step I go through the answer choices and mark T/F next to them and the one that ends up with the F is the right answer. That way I am no all flabergasted.

For the Roman numerals (if you have not already) maybe try crossing out answer choices as you go through each statement and I find that sometimes the right answer comes up without me having to go through all the choices.


Good luck! 🙂

 

[mehc012]

I know EXACTLY what question/passage you are talking about because I missed that one too! But the truth is .. well it's true some of the answer choices are straight up in the passages, we just need to find them. I really like Princeton Review's online material because when I get a question wrong it tells me if it was reading comprehension or miscalculation or because I didn't know of a topic. So when I do BR passages I try to in my head ask myself which of the three it was. Maybe that would help!

Yah, I do that when I review answers...that's how I know that half of my missteps today were due to those errors!
I go through with a different colored pen for my review and make sure to write why I missed each question right on my answer sheet...I also read the answer explanations for the ones I get right (TBR hides a lot of goldmines in there) and annotate any new info, shortcut, or whatnot right there as well, particularly for ones which I marked as difficult while doing them (or those for which I put my 'second choice' answer down in parentheses). I make flashcards out of anything I deem useful knowledge. Then, I do my 2nd readthrough in TPRH and make flashcards out of everything new I find in there.

For ones that usually have NOT in the question step I go through the answer choices and mark T/F next to them and the one that ends up with the F is the right answer. That way I am no all flabergasted.
For the Roman numerals (if you have not already) maybe try crossing out answer choices as you go through each statement and I find that sometimes the right answer comes up without me having to go through all the choices.
Good luck! 🙂

I think that would definitely help me, but I'm trying not to write in these books, as I want to resell them.

 

[pbrocks15]

how useful are those things.. I was thinking about listening to them as I workout too but for some reason provocative rap songs usually get me through the 4 mile run a lot better. idk tho

Rap defintily gets me a better workout but I actually liked listening to this stuff.

I don't know if I'll stick to it but tomorrow I plan to mow the lawn and listen to it while doing so.

I'll keep posted how it turns out!

I defintily miss information though but I could get through the while thing 5 times if I listened to it while I lift.

 

[mehc012]

Also, I procrastinate by making continually more elaborate Excel spreadsheets to analyze my passage performances...ever tried to make Excel get the average of a list of mm:ss in mm:ss? Try have it selectively pull values out of a Table and then do so...in one block, no intermediates.

Edit: PS, anyone who wants to procrastinate while FEELING like they're focusing on the MCAT, and would like overly-detailed color-coded spreadsheets which calculate your %correct, time/passage, average of both for each subsection as well as each subject, etc. feel free to hit me up!

 

[Wubbles]

Also, I procrastinate by making continually more elaborate Excel spreadsheets to analyze my passage performances...ever tried to make Excel get the average of a list of mm:ss in mm:ss? Try have it selectively pull values out of a Table and then do so...in one block, no intermediates.

Haaaa I waste time messing with my spreadsheets too. And by browsing this thread.....and taking my dog to the park....and doing dishes. Yeah, I'll choose to do dishes over finishing reading. Ughhhhh.

 

[mehc012]

Haaaa I waste time messing with my spreadsheets too. And by browsing this thread.....and taking my dog to the park....and doing dishes. Yeah, I'll choose to do dishes over finishing reading. Ughhhhh.

You should see what I've done to the *shhhh* outlawed MSAR spreadsheet that's been floating around...

 

[deleted388502]

TexasSurgeon, to answer your question on how im supplementing I am doing passages in TPRHSW (TPR Hyperlearning Science Workbook, although I am sure that you all know what it is by now) every other day or so in the order they are in the book. So I am not doing the same topic in TBR chem and TPRHSW. Instead, I am doing gen chem in both of them but it is different topics. I for some reason like this method a lot.

I am also actually reading BR bio and EK bio at the same time. Unfortunately, my EK Bio book came in last week and I am 4 chapter behind in it but I will read two this week and two the following week to catch up. If pressed for time I might stop reading BR bio but I like it...for now.

I am not doing the EK 1001 questions yet, which is probably what is leaving me with all this time to do other things. I plan on doing them during my practice exam days.

I have 8 weeks before my test which I have dedicated to practice tests and brushing up on content I think is asked most often.

This is my plan so far, if i forgot to mention something it's probably insignificant.

Oh! I also started listening to audio osmosis! I actually listened to it as I worked out, there are times I was listening and picked up things and times I wasn't. I banged out a whole CD though and there are only 13 CDs so I could possibly get through it a few times if I keep this routine.

Sorry for the long post!

Wait doing EK after content review is such a bloody brilliant idea that I'm gonna do that


Posted using SDN Mobile

 

[nontraditional1]

does anyone know if the EK audio osmosis is any good?

 

[lNVlNClBLE]

does anyone know if the EK audio osmosis is any good?

I've heard it's pretty good to listen to if you're pumping iron, running, etc.

Otherwise, to me it seems like something you would only need if you have knowledge gaps. I can't say for sure though, I haven't listened myself.

 

[mehc012]

I've heard it's pretty good to listen to if you're pumping iron, running, etc.

Otherwise, to me it seems like something you would only need if you have knowledge gaps. I can't say for sure though, I haven't listened myself.

I have an hour-long commute each way...thinking of using it then.

Also, I've decided to mix it up a bit on my scheduling The EK1001 days are really useful for me; on those days I
Review my first ⅓ and make flashcards accordingly
Read TPRH and make flashcards to complement those from TBR
Do EK problems or the discretes from TPRH on my weak areas, then do 2 add'l EKs for every missed Q (after review, of course), then make flashcards accordingly.

Problem is, those things are all fairly active, more so than passages or making flashcards on a first pass. So, even though they take little time for each subject, by the end of the EK day I can tell that I'm just not doing it thoroughly.

New plan:
Get home from work, do the EK day block (desc above) for the previous day's chapter. Then study the new chapter and make cards. Sleep.
Wake up, do the first ⅓ from the previous day's block. Go to work.

Rinse and repeat, but for the 'extra subject' of each cycle (the one where there are 2 chapters scheduled before the next EK day), do both on the same night.

That means that by Friday I can just do one final EK day and then do my 2nd ⅓s. Weekends are now my crumple zone for any missed days or days that get skipped due to 12hr shifts. The EK days get done over the course of the whole week!

Thoughts?

 

[TexasSurgeon]

I have an hour-long commute each way...thinking of using it then.

Also, I've decided to mix it up a bit on my scheduling The EK1001 days are really useful for me; on those days I
Review my first ⅓ and make flashcards accordingly
Read TPRH and make flashcards to complement those from TBR
Do EK problems or the discretes from TPRH on my weak areas, then do 2 add'l EKs for every missed Q (after review, of course), then make flashcards accordingly.

Problem is, those things are all fairly active, more so than passages or making flashcards on a first pass. So, even though they take little time for each subject, by the end of the EK day I can tell that I'm just not doing it thoroughly.

New plan:
Get home from work, do the EK day block (desc above) for the previous day's chapter. Then study the new chapter and make cards. Sleep.
Wake up, do the first ⅓ from the previous day's block. Go to work.

Rinse and repeat, but for the 'extra subject' of each cycle (the one where there are 2 chapters scheduled before the next EK day), do both on the same night.

That means that by Friday I can just do one final EK day and then do my 2nd ⅓s. Weekends are now my crumple zone for any missed days or days that get skipped due to 12hr shifts. The EK days get done over the course of the whole week!

Thoughts?

I think this is solid.

I give up- I'm going to resort to using Anki and make flashcards as well. I spoke to a friend and the information is just way too much. Ionic trends, formulas, random facts about diastereomers, it goes on. I'm just gonna make a massive flashcard desk on Anki of anything I miss/find useful to know/stuff from passages, etc. And I'll review them during my free times/end of day.

How important do your think it is to complete the final 1/3 from BR?

 

[deleted388502]

I have an hour-long commute each way...thinking of using it then.

Also, I've decided to mix it up a bit on my scheduling The EK1001 days are really useful for me; on those days I
Review my first ⅓ and make flashcards accordingly
Read TPRH and make flashcards to complement those from TBR
Do EK problems or the discretes from TPRH on my weak areas, then do 2 add'l EKs for every missed Q (after review, of course), then make flashcards accordingly.

Problem is, those things are all fairly active, more so than passages or making flashcards on a first pass. So, even though they take little time for each subject, by the end of the EK day I can tell that I'm just not doing it thoroughly.

New plan:
Get home from work, do the EK day block (desc above) for the previous day's chapter. Then study the new chapter and make cards. Sleep.
Wake up, do the first ⅓ from the previous day's block. Go to work.

Rinse and repeat, but for the 'extra subject' of each cycle (the one where there are 2 chapters scheduled before the next EK day), do both on the same night.

That means that by Friday I can just do one final EK day and then do my 2nd ⅓s. Weekends are now my crumple zone for any missed days or days that get skipped due to 12hr shifts. The EK days get done over the course of the whole week!

Thoughts?

this is what I do now; I review the previous day's material daily. And I'm thinking about taking apart the 2nd 1/3 day and doing a 2nd 1/3 each day as I go on. I always fall behind because I spend too much time reviewing my previous 1/3

 

[TheRelevant]

**** I am on day 15 and 15 days behind.

How am gonna b optimist about dis bastille

 

[listener23]

**** I am on day 15 and 15 days behind.

How am gonna b optimist about dis bastille

Did you graduate yet?

 

[TBRBiosadist]

I think this is solid.

I give up- I'm going to resort to using Anki and make flashcards as well. I spoke to a friend and the information is just way too much. Ionic trends, formulas, random facts about diastereomers, it goes on. I'm just gonna make a massive flashcard desk on Anki of anything I miss/find useful to know/stuff from passages, etc. And I'll review them during my free times/end of day.

How important do your think it is to complete the final 1/3 from BR?

Depends. If it is that or a full AAMC, not important, but they play the vital role of reintroducing you to your older subjects in the MCAT format. Flashcards are great for memorization. I use them for alot of the PS formulas and amino acids and such, but the MCAT is a reading comprehension test before it is a memorization, so that final review is important.

 

[TBRBiosadist]

I

I've heard it's pretty good to listen to if you're pumping iron, running, etc.

Otherwise, to me it seems like something you would only need if you have knowledge gaps. I can't say for sure though, I haven't listened myself.

I've listened through them completely about 7 times. They are very useful for review and going over certain subjects. There is only a certain amount though that you can get out of them, but then I again, I listened to them passively while working, so someone who was doing only that could probably get more out of them. Be prepared for lame jokes though.

 

[TheRelevant]

Did you graduate yet?

hmmm?

Yeah I just graduated after an extra year (and an additional break year after freshman year). So my pre-reqs are super super rusty. Except biology/physiology since those were my majors.

 

[pbrocks15]

does anyone know if the EK audio osmosis is any good?

Audio Osmosis is good to listen to here and there to solidify your memory of the basics and the big picture.

And like the guy above me, listening to it passively makes it easier in my opinion and you can get through it a few times.

 

[pbrocks15]

Wait doing EK after content review is such a bloody brilliant idea that I'm gonna do that


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Yeah I think it'll help solidify any gaps I might have in content. I'm not sure if this is going to come back and bite me in the butt but i've been doing almost all the practice passages in BR after the chapters.

Do you guys think i should leave 1/3 and do them during the AAMCs? A friend of mine recommend to finish them and do something else during the time OR to go back and redo any of the ones i struggled with.

 

[mehc012]

this is what I do now; I review the previous day's material daily. And I'm thinking about taking apart the 2nd 1/3 day and doing a 2nd 1/3 each day as I go on. I always fall behind because I spend too much time reviewing my previous 1/3

For me, the second 1/3s don't take too long...I do them timed, just like the real deal, so they can only take a few hours, max, right?
I do my review one of two times - before learning the next chapter, or while reviewing my first 1/3 from the next chapter. It's the 'reread + EK' that takes so goddam long!

 

[mehc012]

I think this is solid.

I give up- I'm going to resort to using Anki and make flashcards as well. I spoke to a friend and the information is just way too much. Ionic trends, formulas, random facts about diastereomers, it goes on. I'm just gonna make a massive flashcard desk on Anki of anything I miss/find useful to know/stuff from passages, etc. And I'll review them during my free times/end of day.

How important do your think it is to complete the final 1/3 from BR?

Haha, I have about 2k cards in my MCAT deck now, and I'm only halfway through!
To be fair, a lot of them are for 2nd half material - I made and tagged them while I was taking the prereqs - so it's not exactly going to double or anything.