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]

In my days SAT's didn't go above 1600 😵

They really don't mean anything, and so far doing well on them seems unrelated to anything else I have done, including the MCAT, and the ACT for that matter.

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

They really don't mean anything, and so far doing well on them seems unrelated to anything else I have done, including the MCAT, and the ACT for that matter.

None of these exams predict anything. They just are.

If anything they might predict maturity.

 

[TBRBiosadist]

None of these exams predict anything. They just are.

If anything they might predict maturity.

Just part of this little dance that we have to do to succeed.


The boards (hopefully) are going to be terrible, but I have to feel they show more than any other test because you need to know your books cover to cover.

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

Just part of this little dance that we have to do to succeed.


The boards (hopefully) are going to be terrible, but I have to feel they show more than any other test because you need to know your books cover to cover.

You're hoping that the boards are going to be terrible 😛

 

[TBRBiosadist]

You're hoping that the boards are going to be terrible 😛

Well they're going to be terrible regardless, it's just if im worrying about them, it means im in a position where I am taking them.

 

[TBRBiosadist]

On that note, I hope every one of you in here have the chance to piss yourselves over the boards. You guys deserve it more than anyone.

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

Well they're going to be terrible regardless, it's just if im worrying about them, it means im in a position where I am taking them.

I know I was just messing with you

 

[TBRBiosadist]

so just perused the may macters thread and here is what I have absorbed (for one scores all over the place). Firstly most scored about 2 below aamc FL average (this is expected) Secondly, the PS feels like the hardest section, but the curve is very very real. The BS is alright, not one way or the other to much, but the Verbal is killing people. It apparently feels rather easy but it seems like there is no curve whatsoever.

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

so just perused the may macters thread and here is what I have absorbed (for one scores all over the place). Firstly most scored about 2 below aamc FL average (this is expected) Secondly, the PS feels like the hardest section, but the curve is very very real. The BS is alright, not one way or the other to much, but the Verbal is killing people. It apparently feels rather easy but it seems like there is no curve whatsoever.

I read through the people who took it today. It seems like they all thought PS was very difficult and VS was either long or difficult, and BS was a joke.

 

[TBRBiosadist]

so aim for a 15 BS to make up for the 8 V

 

[K1NG]

Man you guys are killing it with these scores.. really motivating me to step it up a gear. How long have you guys been studying content? I'm also taking my first FL next week Monday

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

Man you guys are killing it with these scores.. really motivating me to step it up a gear. How long have you guys been studying content? I'm also taking my first FL next week Monday

Freshman year 😛

I have been studying off an on for like 6 months. But actually studying since like mid april.

 

[K1NG]

Haha nice. I wish I could give myself more time, but really want to get my score in early. I started studying end of May. I guess it depends on my FL score to see if I want to extend studying for a week or two. Although I don't think it'll be worth it for just a weeks worth of studying, but we'll see!

 

[TBRBiosadist]

Man you guys are killing it with these scores.. really motivating me to step it up a gear. How long have you guys been studying content? I'm also taking my first FL next week Monday

Started mid may. But I had all my prereqs in the last two years so they are super fresh.

 

[TBRBiosadist]

>mfw when reading the entire second half of the lens chapter for physics

or

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

I read some physics website on lenses. Helped. I wish I knew what it was, but it was a long time ago.

 

[Aerus]

I love Physics days! So short and easy.

 

[TBRBiosadist]

I love Physics days! So short and easy.

2nd half of book two is where the chapters become 30 pages like the rest of tbr

 

[QueenJames]

How is everybody determining which equations to keep and commit to memory and which ones to ignore for TBR Physics? Just don't wanna get screwed over cause I didn't remember some simple equation when I made the mistake of trying to remember something more intense lol

 

[TBRBiosadist]

How is everybody determining which equations to keep and commit to memory and which ones to ignore for TBR Physics? Just don't wanna get screwed over cause I didn't remember some simple equation when I made the mistake of trying to remember something more intense lol

If it is simple and used all the time, memorize. Half the equations in tbr physics can be derived from the base equations. Sure memorizing everything would give you a little boost, but there are clearly some which are used more often and can usually tell from the passages.

 

[lNVlNClBLE]

http://www.goldstandard-mcat.com/physics-equation-lists/

http://www.mcatprep.net/frmlas.pdf

Those links served me veryyyyyy well.

 

[ramires]

@TBRBiosadist @orangetea I just finished the Toilet passage Damn this one needs the meme the F I just read... seriously I think this passage should have a different status

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

@TBRBiosadist @orangetea I just finished the Toilet passage Damn this one needs the meme the F I just read... seriously I think this passage should have a different status

What the heck is this toilet passage everyone is talking about. I don't remember any toilet passages. Which one is it?

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

They really don't mean anything, and so far doing well on them seems unrelated to anything else I have done, including the MCAT, and the ACT for that matter.

Oh and btw, I mean't they actually didn't go above 1600, like that was the max score. It's not the score I got. lol

 

[mehc012]

Or choke horribly lol

It's 90% my mental state. I have to tell myself a test doesnt mean anything to do well. My first SAT I went in anxious and did ok on mostly and bombed one section because I had shifted half the answers up one. The second one, with not much extra studying I was calm and got a 2300.

That is my one strength...I enjoy tests. Even the SAT, where I forgot about it until the night before (where I'm from people don't study for SATs), awoke in horrible abdominal pain, and spent most of the exam trying desperately to fall asleep to block out my misery...the actual test taking was the only bearable part!

 

[mehc012]

None of these exams predict anything. They just are.

If anything they might predict maturity.

How so? The SAT is just a test-of-test-taking-ability. Some people rock it, others don't, and a few can actually improve their score from studying (or so I've heard). It's not material-based, so it doesn't even test your preparation like the MCAT seems to be doing.

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

That is my one strength...I enjoy tests. Even the SAT, where I forgot about it until the night before (where I'm from people don't study for SATs), awoke in horrible abdominal pain, and spent most of the exam trying desperately to fall asleep to block out my misery...the actual test taking was the only bearable part!

You enjoy tests...you're not normal 😛

 

[mehc012]

Alright: instructions for fixing the 'Cloze+' cards in my Anki deck, if you want to review mobilely and don't want to lose your progress:
1. Select 'Browse'
2. In the left-hand sidebar of the Browser, select 'Cloze+'
3. Highlight any random Cloze+ card in the Browser. You can actually skip Step 2 as long as you do 3, but 2 makes it easier.
4. Select 'Cards' - the button is just above the 'Text' field
5. In the 'Back Template' entry (bottom left), there are two places where {{cloze::Text}} is written. Change this to {{cloze:Text}}, with only one colon.
6. Exit everything
YOU ARE DONE

It's seriously that easy.

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

How so? The SAT is just a test-of-test-taking-ability. Some people rock it, others don't, and a few can actually improve their score from studying (or so I've heard). It's not material-based, so it doesn't even test your preparation like the MCAT seems to be doing.

From my understanding SAT scores barely correlate to college success, at most a 20% correlation. Same thing with MCAT, it doesn't really predict medical school success, and GRE with grad school. These are just tests and many bad students are good at taking standardized tests and many good students are bad at taking standardized tests. And yes you can study and do better, so that's why I said it might show maturity, that you can sit down and study hard.

 

[mehc012]

From my understanding SAT scores barely correlate to college success, at most a 20% correlation. Same thing with MCAT, it doesn't really predict medical school success, and GRE with grad school. These are just tests and many bad students are good at taking standardized tests and many good students are bad at taking standardized tests. And yes you can study and do better, so that's why I said it might show maturity, that you can sit down and study hard.

As I said, where I grew up nobody 'studied' for the SAT. You just took it, and most people did well. I did exceedingly well on the SAT, and trust me, it had nothing to do with maturity. I forgot about the exam, slept in, and only even made it there because of Daylight Savings. Then I had horrible abdominal cramps and spent the whole test trying to sleep it off.
Others in my class were not, perhaps, that bad, but they certainly didn't study. And we all ended up with a normal distribution of SAT grades...actually, a bit skewed towards the high end.
I don't count the SAT as measuring maturity because, in my experience, it is not a test which requires studying to get a good score (or even an 'amazing' score or a near-perfect one). I don't see the point in SAT studying at all unless there was something keeping you below the baseline level in the first place, or if you feel more comfortable taking tests after practice.

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

As I said, where I grew up nobody 'studied' for the SAT. You just took it, and most people did well. I did exceedingly well on the SAT, and trust me, it had nothing to do with maturity. I forgot about the exam, slept in, and only even made it there because of Daylight Savings. Then I had horrible abdominal cramps and spent the whole test trying to sleep it off.
Others in my class were not, perhaps, that bad, but they certainly didn't study. And we all ended up with a normal distribution of SAT grades...actually, a bit skewed towards the high end.
I don't count the SAT as measuring maturity because, in my experience, it is not a test which requires studying to get a good score (or even an 'amazing' score or a near-perfect one). I don't see the point in SAT studying at all unless there was something keeping you below the baseline level in the first place, or if you feel more comfortable taking tests after practice.

Fair doos, I can't argue with that.

I studied for it and studied for the GRE too. Well all I studied was for the verbal parts of both. I got a perfect 800 on the SAT math, and like a 520 or so on the verbal after studying vocabulary and stuff. Same thing on the GRE, I didn't study the math and got a 780, but studied for verbal and only got like 540. Ugh, I have always struggled with verbal, it has been haunting me since high school when I took the SAT (in 2003). I guess that is what happens when you are born in Sweden.

 

[mehc012]

Fair doos, I can't argue with that.

I studied for it and studied for the GRE too. Well all I studied was for the verbal parts of both. I got a perfect 800 on the SAT math, and like a 520 or so on the verbal after studying vocabulary and stuff. Same thing on the GRE, I didn't study the math and got a 780, but studied for verbal and only got like 540. Ugh, I have always struggled with verbal, it has been haunting me since high school when I took the SAT (in 2003). I guess that is what happens when you are born in Sweden.

I got an 800 on SAT verbal, just got a 9 on the morning's TPRH passages, for whatever that's worth. 🙁 The two are apparently not as well correlated as I'd rather!

 

[orangetea]

I have a confession: I actually studied for my SATs (for like two years ... )

 

[ayocaptain628]

Im devastated

 

[Aerus]

2nd half of book two is where the chapters become 30 pages like the rest of tbr

Luckily, E&M is very fun for me, so that won't be too bad. I'm not looking forward to optics and waves, though. So 😴

 

[TBRBiosadist]

Luckily, E&M is very fun for me, so that won't be too bad. I'm not looking forward to optics and waves, though. So 😴

I got perfect scores on both E&M chapters first time arounds. I like E&M and like I said before, my physics teacher found that physically arousing. He was terrible with optics, so TBR was the first time I had seen alot of the stuff pas the properties of lenses and mirrrors

 

[poop420]

Hey guys first of all can i say that you all have given me hope to study and do well , I visit this forum multiple times a day to stay sane . I have a few issues I would like feedback on.
1. I take longer than one day to finish some of the chapters, I normally grasp information at a slower rate. But i think this is hurting me because I think i am not retaining as much as i should. (on bio chapter today and i dont think i remember anything about physics hopefully Anki will hep correct that)
2. I am reading the EK Bio book and it seems the first chapter is only 21 pages is this the right book ??? I just feel really paranoid because i am accustomed to the 40 pages that BR books have per chapter.
3. Do you guys think the EK Bo book is better than the BR Bio book the EK book looks pretty simplified to me or maybe im just use to BR books killing me..
4. When i am doing the 1/3 passages for each chapter should i complete all the questions in under 6 minutes or all the questions under a passage in 6 minutes ..
5. You guys are awesome and have motivated me to kick butt!!!

 

[TBRBiosadist]

Hey guys first of all can i say that you all have given me hope to study and do well , I visit this forum multiple times a day to stay sane . I have a few issues I would like feedback on.
1. I take longer than one day to finish some of the chapters, I normally grasp information at a slower rate. But i think this is hurting me because I think i am not retaining as much as i should. (on bio chapter today and i dont think i remember anything about physics hopefully Anki will hep correct that)
2. I am reading the EK Bio book and it seems the first chapter is only 21 pages is this the right book ??? I just feel really paranoid because i am accustomed to the 40 pages that BR books have per chapter.
3. Do you guys think the EK Bo book is better than the BR Bio book the EK book looks pretty simplified to me or maybe im just use to BR books killing me..
4. When i am doing the 1/3 passages for each chapter should i complete all the questions in under 6 minutes or all the questions under a passage in 6 minutes ..
5. You guys are awesome and have motivated me to kick butt!!!

1.You'll get better with time, is it taking you a long time to read or are you going back multiple times to try to drive home info. For me, to do a chapter read and note fully takes several hours, it is easily the longest part of the day, but I find if I put in the effort, it pays off with awesome retention weeks later..
2.&3.Ek bio chapters are short, and they are far simpler than tbr bio, but......unlike tbr where there is a fair amount of throwaway info, or they go a tad to far explaining things, ek shotguns it. Memorize everything they mention in ek and skim tbr bio chapters later
4.~7 minutes per passage (everything, passage and questions) is a good time limit. Try not to ever go over, and 5 minute per passage is probably better because there are some passages that will take 10 minutes, so you want to have extra time for them.
5. Nice!

 

[poop420]

1.You'll get better with time, is it taking you a long time to read or are you going back multiple times to try to drive home info. For me, to do a chapter read and note fully takes several hours, it is easily the longest part of the day, but I find if I put in the effort, it pays off with awesome retention weeks later..
2.&3.Ek bio chapters are short, and they are far simpler than tbr bio, but......unlike tbr where there is a fair amount of throwaway info, or they go a tad to far explaining things, ek shotguns it. Memorize everything they mention in ek and skim tbr bio chapters later
4.~7 minutes per passage (everything, passage and questions) is a good time limit. Try not to ever go over, and 5 minute per passage is probably better because there are some passages that will take 10 minutes, so you want to have extra time for them.
5. Nice!

Thank you so much so to clarify. The first 1/3 in gen chem is stoichiometry but on the practice passage 1 only has questions from 1-7 , practice passage 2 has from 8-13 so i should take around 6 minute to do what is about 3 questions per passage ..because im doing every 3rd question eg 1,4,7? Im sorry if im a bit slow :/

 

[mehc012]

Thank you so much so to clarify. The first 1/3 in gen chem is stoichiometry but on the practice passage 1 only has questions from 1-7 , practice passage 2 has from 8-13 so i should take around 6 minute to do what is about 3 questions per passage ..because im doing every 3rd question eg 1,4,7? Im sorry if im a bit slow :/

Do every third PASSAGE, not every third QUESTION. Far easier to work with!

 

[mcheung]

Wow, just reading these posts is really motivating. I'm only in about day 20 of the schedule and I'm finding it really hard to balance my time to study for the MCAT along with work, going to the gym, and so on; nonetheless, knowing that there are others that are going "full throttle" is boosting my spirits and making me less lazy. Thanks guys

^ When i first read the SN2 schedule, I misunderstood it and did every third question as well hahahaha .. until i noticed that approach seemed a bit weird

 

[poop420]

Do every third PASSAGE, not every third QUESTION. Far easier to work with!

That makes alot more sense !! *🙁 kinda embarrassed* And You have personally save my studying with Anki!

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

My brain is fried. But had a good day! Took an AAMC. Pleased with the results 🙂

 

[poop420]

From your guys experience does the EK Bio seems enough for you ?? I am feeling like i should switch over to the BR Bio... What have you guys been personally using ?

 

[DoctorInASaree]

From your guys experience does the EK Bio seems enough for you ?? I am feeling like i should switch over to the BR Bio... What have you guys been personally using ?

I'm using EK and TPR Biology whilst completing EK/TPR & TBR passages.

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

From your guys experience does the EK Bio seems enough for you ?? I am feeling like i should switch over to the BR Bio... What have you guys been personally using ?

I only used EK for content (TBR for passages) Seems like enough for me I got a 15 in biology for the AAMC test I took today 😛

 

[poop420]

WOW great man!! I will stick with it a while and see if it works .. Does anyone know where i can get the TPR work book a little cheaper ?? From what im hearing from you guys it looks like a good resource

 

[TBRBiosadist]

Goodness the EK101 really does seem like it is trying to trick you half the time. TPRH the passages are difficult and the questions require thinking. EK101, it feels like that the passages, while easier, is trying to trick you with alot of the questions. Not challenge but trick.


EDIT: Example
Which assertion is not supported by the author?
a.not even talked about
b.Actually refuted by the author
c. Author kinda supports it
d. not talked about.

Well the answer would obviously be B, right? Nope

Explanation: While it is true the author refutes B, was never for it in the first place. C is more correct because while there can be some support inferred from tone and word use, he never directly supports it.


It never asked whether the author made the assertion, just whether it was supported or not. -_-

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

Goodness the EK101 really does seem like it is trying to trick you half the time. TPRH the passages are difficult and the questions require thinking. EK101, it feels like that the passages, while easier, is trying to trick you with alot of the questions. Not challenge but trick.


EDIT: Example
Which assertion is not supported by the author?
a.not even talked about
b.Actually refuted by the author
c. Author kinda supports it
d. not talked about.

Well the answer would obviously be B, right? Nope

Explanation: While it is true the author refutes B, was never for it in the first place. C is more correct because while there can be some support inferred from tone and word use, he never directly supports it.


It never asked whether the author made the assertion, just whether it was supported or not. -_-

SEEE I told you!

One of the questions they tried to justify the answer by saying that psychologists aren't really part of the medical community. Many other examples you will find as you progress...

 

[TBRBiosadist]

SEEE I told you!

One of the questions they tried to justify the answer by saying that psychologists aren't really part of the medical community. Many other examples you will find as you progress...

They dont seem to understand the difference between tricky questions and trick questions