SN2'd first day

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TexasSurgeon

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.
 
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TexasSurgeon said:
I can neither confirm nor deny that I may or may not have posted multiple times in a row to get the first post on a new page. #Italktoyouguysmorethanmyfriendsonfacebook
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#onlycuzwearewaycooler

But yeah, this thread has become awesome. I'm quite glad to have encountered it!
On the plus side, I managed to do a chapter and finish the 2nd ⅓'s that I was behind on today, so...catching up. I am now only 3 days behind, where 'on schedule' means no break days until just before the exam.
Aka I'm still behind, but less so...and I just got a scaled 14 on the ginormous Bio chapter I was dreading doing, so I'm in a good mood!
 
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Yuck!!! had my first cup of coffee tonight I don't understand why you guys seem like you just tasted from the fountain of youth when you drink it. O well Anki flash cards need to be finished today!
 
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poop420 said:
Yuck!!! had my first cup of coffee tonight I don't understand why you guys seem like you just tasted from the fountain of youth when you drink it. O well Anki flash cards need to be finished today!
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I've had coffee once. Never again.
 
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I finished the last 2/3s earlier today, taking hte night of and going to grade them and do anki on my break day tomorrw and generally get ready for my first FL
 
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the worst ive done was a caffiene pill, espresso mixed with rockstar and chased with a 5-hour energy. I almost died. I feel like im being lazy for not working tonight (despite being caught up)
 
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Do you guys Anki certain questions or only info? I hear alot of people say Knowing how to take the exam and attacking certain questions is just as important as knowing the information. So some questions I think wouldn't use the correct train of thought to answer the questions so i am anki-ng them especially the limiting cases. But i am wondering if this is going to help because you will never see the questions on the MCAT but I hope I can constantly remind myself of the right way of thinking in certain questions by constantly seeing them and then bolster this by taking as much practice problems as possible. Just bought TPR physics review and the NOVA MCAT book for additional practice
 
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poop420 said:
what else do you use to stay up ? redbull, Monster ?? I was thinking that some green tea might be a better alternative ! or maybe speed lol jk!
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Usually I don't need anything...I trained myself to do up to 3 allnighters in one week with no caffeine back in highschool.
Now that I've looked up the actual benefits, I bought caffeine pills and use one every week or so. Less caffeine than coffee, always available, waaayyy cheaper than energy drinks, easier to know how much you're having and when.
 
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poop420 said:
Do you guys Anki certain questions or only info? I hear alot of people say Knowing how to take the exam and attacking certain questions is just as important as knowing the information. So some questions I think wouldn't use the correct train of thought to answer the questions so i am anki-ng them especially the limiting cases. But i am wondering if this is going to help because you will never see the questions on the MCAT but I hope I can constantly remind myself of the right way of thinking in certain questions by constantly seeing them and then bolster this by taking as much practice problems as possible. Just bought TPR physics review and the NOVA MCAT book for additional practice
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You get your question format practice from tbr. Anki just for equations and random bites for me
 
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Your guys' TBR scores inspire me. I got above 80% on the carbs section in ochem and I was like on cloud 9. Getting consistently above 80% is just not gonna happen for me I think, but learning from the mistakes is gold

I feel like I'm just getting better at process of elimination too though. Like we all have weak areas and strong areas, and yeah I don't really think I'll ever get the carnot cycle or remember the details, but I can sure as hell guess really well now. TBR breaks me down and hopefully the AAMCs will put me back together...or break me down some more
 
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TexasSurgeon said:
I can neither confirm nor deny that I may or may not have posted multiple times in a row to get the first post on a new page. #Italktoyouguysmorethanmyfriendsonfacebook
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As my Econ professor frequently stated: It's a conspiracy!!!
--------------------
Starting out my day with this:



See you on the other side in eleven hours!:flame:
 
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When is everyone's test date if you guys don't mind me asking and how far along the schedule are you guys? Mine is in about 50 days and i still feel so unprepared.
 
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mehc012 said:
Usually I don't need anything...I trained myself to do up to 3 allnighters in one week with no caffeine back in highschool.
Now that I've looked up the actual benefits, I bought caffeine pills and use one every week or so. Less caffeine than coffee, always available, waaayyy cheaper than energy drinks, easier to know how much you're having and when.
Click to expand...

Why in the world did you have to do all nighters in high school.

I think my first all nighter was second year of college for orgo 1.
 
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You know how they say most of your body is made up of water.. Well mine is made up of caffeine. And by that I mean 3-4 cups a day.

However I read a lot of "pro-caffeine" research.. minus the added sugar/cream... it's actually quit beneficial. #fingerscrossed.

I am Sept 6th!!! yaya. But I REALLY want to take it sooner. really.
 
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orangetea said:
You know how they say most of your body is made up of water.. Well mine is made up of caffeine. And by that I mean 3-4 cups a day.

However I read a lot of "pro-caffeine" research.. minus the added sugar/cream... it's actually quit beneficial. #fingerscrossed.

I am Sept 6th!!! yaya. But I REALLY want to take it sooner. really.
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Wanna trade spots?
 
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SwedishMD2B said:
Why in the world did you have to do all nighters in high school.

I think my first all nighter was second year of college for orgo 1.
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My school only let you do APs junior and senior year. I took 11 of them. I was also in 2 orchestras (both year-round) and 2 soccer teams (so there was only 1 season where I didn't have a sport), plus other random activities here and there, and cooking dinner pretty often.
I also procrastinated like crazy, so if there was a big project due, I wouldn't even look at it (or often know about it) until the night before...which meant an all-nighter to finish. If I had 3 projects due in a week, that meant 3 all-nighters. I was just the kind of procrastinator who could only finish something in a panicked late-night rush. Heck, I even forgot about my dang SAT, remembered at like 2am the night before, went to bed, slept in, found out it was DST, did 1 practice question and went.
MOST of the time, I just did no homework at home, because I was busy, I procrastinated, etc. I could finish it all between classes or on the bus. I remember once I finished a lab report during an all-day field trip to the theater (only on the bus rides, jeez!)

Also, I love the nights and when given freedom in my schedule, end up sleeping from between 4 and 7am until 2 to 4pm because it feels better.

Also, August 27th, folks!
 
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Any so far every single damn FL I have taken I get a massive headache and I don't know what to do. I develop a headache right at the end of the PS section. It goes through Verbal and BS. I'm pretty sure its affecting my score on both of those sections because I really need to concentrate on VR and then I make so many stupid errors on BS. I tried changing environments still get the same headache. I take Aleve and Tylenol pre-emptively, still doesn't work.

Any tips?
 
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SwedishMD2B said:
Any so far every single damn FL I have taken I get a massive headache and I don't know what to do. I develop a headache right at the end of the PS section. It goes through Verbal and BS. I'm pretty sure its affecting my score on both of those sections because I really need to concentrate on VR and then I make so many stupid errors on BS. I tried changing environments still get the same headache. I take Aleve and Tylenol pre-emptively, still doesn't work.

Any tips?
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Caffeine.
No but srs, caffeine helps with headaches, and it's not like it will hurt you to have some during an FL.
 
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mehc012 said:
Caffeine.
No but srs, caffeine helps with headaches, and it's not like it will hurt you to have some during an FL.
Click to expand...

Oh I drink several cups a day everyday all the time. I have a 24 oz cup on my desk. I drink like 1.5 of those so thats 36 oz of coffee a day which is about 4-5 cups.
 
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SwedishMD2B said:
Oh I drink several cups a day everyday all the time. I have a 24 oz cup on my desk. I drink like 1.5 of those so thats 36 oz of coffee a day which is about 4-5 cups.
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Hmm...you can't have any in the testing room. Is it going to be weird for you not to have coffee for several hours of concentrating? Are you doing that now?
Just wondering if perhaps you have the opposite problem than the one I was anticipating.
 
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SwedishMD2B said:
Any so far every single damn FL I have taken I get a massive headache and I don't know what to do. I develop a headache right at the end of the PS section. It goes through Verbal and BS. I'm pretty sure its affecting my score on both of those sections because I really need to concentrate on VR and then I make so many stupid errors on BS. I tried changing environments still get the same headache. I take Aleve and Tylenol pre-emptively, still doesn't work.

Any tips?
Click to expand...
I've heard enema's help with headaches...
 
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mine is November 8th!
SwedishMD2B said:
Any so far every single damn FL I have taken I get a massive headache and I don't know what to do. I develop a headache right at the end of the PS section. It goes through Verbal and BS. I'm pretty sure its affecting my score on both of those sections because I really need to concentrate on VR and then I make so many stupid errors on BS. I tried changing environments still get the same headache. I take Aleve and Tylenol pre-emptively, still doesn't work.

Any tips?
Click to expand...
how have you been scoring in them?
 
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mehc012 said:
Hmm...you can't have any in the testing room. Is it going to be weird for you not to have coffee for several hours of concentrating? Are you doing that now?
Just wondering if perhaps you have the opposite problem than the one I was anticipating.
Click to expand...

I'll have it on breaks. That's what I do during FLs
 
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poop420 said:
Im is November 8th!

how have you been scoring in them?
Click to expand...

PS is going good averaging 13-14. Verbal: not good, averaging like 9-10. BS: Is OK, but every exam is stupid mistakes none are because of lack of knowledge. Averaging 11-12. I feel like the headache causes me to lose some questions on verbal and definitely on BS because I can't even concentrate anymore after the verbal + headache.
 
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SwedishMD2B said:
PS is going good averaging 13-14. Verbal: not good, averaging like 9-10. BS: Is OK, but every exam is stupid mistakes none are because of lack of knowledge. Averaging 11-12. I feel like the headache causes me to lose some questions on verbal and definitely on BS because I can't even concentrate anymore after the verbal + headache.
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Take a break and do your favorite hobby .. I find going around nature really calming i live in new york so its hard to find nature but a walk in central park take all my Mcat problems away
 
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poop420 said:
Take a break and do your favorite hobby .. I find going around nature really calming i live in new york so its hard to find nature but a walk in central park take all my Mcat problems away
Click to expand...

My favorite hobby is studying for the MCAT obviously. The joy of my life, gives it meaning.
 
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aspiringMD/DO said:
Do you guys know if there is any difference between BR 2011 and 2013 editions? I'm thinking not much would be changed?
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Depends on the subject.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/guideline-to-buying-used-berkeley-review-materials.852061/
From a TBR instructor!
Actually, this is the updated one, with more info:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/berkeley-review-books.903191/

Fwiw, TBR seems to be the company which is most proactive about updating their materials. You can buy TPRH from anytime in this century and you're probably golden, but TBR is constantly updating itself, it seems.

Bio is the same, as is Physics.
Orgo and Chem both had major revisions since that time - 10-20% of the passages changed, text changes, etc.
 
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How I really feel about Light and Optics this afternoon
200.gif
 
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