SN2'd first day

[TexasSurgeon]

---

Members do not see this ad.

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.

 

[mehc012]

wait what. what's open nominations? do you have a link? is it still there?

true but i wanna be the mod who's not a hardass

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/call-for-moderator-nominations.1071251/

It's closed, and you couldn't nominate yourself anyway.

I think the mods are, in general, quite good at what they do. They are generally nice about it and sometimes you have to be a hardass. I just disagree on the priorities, and that's not something you could really change as a mod anyway.

 

[TBRBiosadist]

so my break day turned out to be completely unproductive, which i guess isnt a bad thing

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

so my break day turned out to be completely unproductive, which i guess isnt a bad thing

That's how its supposed to be!

 

[tcon91]

How's everyone doing with their timing on verbal? For the past month I've been doing passages in 6 minutes and my scores have been inconsistent. I'm finding that I don't have enough time to fully understand or refer back to some passages. Today I tried giving myself 7 minutes and I see a dramatic improvement (only made 2 mistakes which I really had right... just circled the wrong answer). What do you guys think? Is 6 minutes per passage a little too quick?


PS. Orangetea.. What have you done? I'm now addicted to Orange is the new black on netflix. LOL

 

[TexasSurgeon]

How's everyone doing with their timing on verbal? For the past month I've been doing passages in 6 minutes and my scores have been inconsistent. I'm finding that I don't have enough time to fully understand or refer back to some passages. Today I tried giving myself 7 minutes and I see a dramatic improvement (only made 2 mistakes which I really had right... just circled the wrong answer). What do you guys think? Is 6 minutes per passage a little too quick?


PS. Orangetea.. What have you done? I'm now addicted to Orange is the new black on netflix. LOL

I give myself about 8 minutes. It works pretty well. 6 is def a little quick imo.

 

[orangetea]

I am having nightmares about "light" passages.... I need to find a good youtube video that explains all that stuff. fml

 

[hubristicphantasm]

Question for you guys:

What do you think the merits are of doing the BR passages the morning of the next day rather than the day of? I'm finding that I'm not recalling any of the information when doing the passages (especially since my brain is usually goop by then!) and am wondering if having a night for the new information (hooray for relearning from scratch!) to percolate and process will do wonders for my 1/3 passages scores- they've been between 30-60% so far and that's pretty abysmal. 🙁

 

[TBRBiosadist]

half the time I do my tbr passages the next day

 

[deleted388502]

Question for you guys:

What do you think the merits are of doing the BR passages the morning of the next day rather than the day of? I'm finding that I'm not recalling any of the information when doing the passages (especially since my brain is usually goop by then!) and am wondering if having a night for the new information (hooray for relearning from scratch!) to percolate and process will do wonders for my 1/3 passages scores- they've been between 30-60% so far and that's pretty abysmal. 🙁

I always do mine the next day, if not the day after. I literally have no pattern lol it's bad. It's just as much as I can get done that day and I want to make sure I'm doing everything while I'm awake and alert

I am having nightmares about "light" passages.... I need to find a good youtube video that explains all that stuff. fml

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/ligcon.html

This got me through my hellish undergrad Physics 2 class

 

[TexasSurgeon]

careless mistakes upon careless mistakes upon careless mistakes when reviewing my passages

 

[poop420]

Anyone else feel like having a GF or Bf during studying for the MCATs feels alot like i got a kid and 3 jobs who i have to show my attention to!! Arggg i wish i was in a box with my books and no human contact. Excluding you guys of course

 

[orangetea]

Anyone else feel like having a GF or Bf during studying for the MCATs feels alot like i got a kid and 3 jobs who i have to show my attention to!! Arggg i wish i was in a box with my books and no human contact. Excluding you guys of course
View attachment 183239 View attachment 183240

yes this topic of discussion def came up before!
We were all in consensus of the #singlelife but paid our respect to those who chose a much more treacherous path. May the odds be EVER in your favor

 

[TBRBiosadist]

careless mistakes upon careless mistakes upon careless mistakes when reviewing my passages

Every mistake I make now is careless. I smack myself and call myself an idiot at least five times if Im reviewing passages. It worries me that under the stress of the real thing I will make even more carelees mistakes. On the other hand I never go over my answers before finishing even though I usually have extra time, so hopefully that will help on the practice tests (and the real one) where you have slighlty more time per passage

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

I took the last AAMC today. AAMC 11. It was terrible. The worst of all my AAMCs, I thought it was must more difficult as compared to AAMC 3-10. I don't know what to do. AAMC 11 is supposed to be the representative of the current MCAT, if this is the case, then I am screwed.

I was quite calm through everything and I needed to do well on AAMC11 to remain calm, but now I'm freaking out.

 

[poop420]

I took the last AAMC today. AAMC 11. It was terrible. The worst of all my AAMCs, I thought it was must more difficult as compared to AAMC 3-10. I don't know what to do. AAMC 11 is supposed to be the representative of the current MCAT, if this is the case, then I am screwed.

I was quite calm through everything and I needed to do well on AAMC11 to remain calm, but now I'm freaking out.

Dont freak out too much , you have been doing well in the earlier ones.. Just take some time to relax and reevaluate the test with a open mind!

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

AAMC 3 - 11/9/12 = 32
AAMC 4 - 14/14/15 = 43!!!
AAMC 5 - 13/12/13 = 38!!
AAMC 7 - 14/8/12 = 34
AAMC 8 - 13/10/11 = 34
AAMC 9 - 13/10/11 = 34
AAMC 10 - 12/10/13 = 35
AAMC 11 - 11/9/10 = 30

It was all bloody experiments. The BS section was like experiment after experiment and I felt like there were multiple correct answers. Ugh. I don't know what happened on PS, PS seemed normal to me.

And funny, I this is the first AAMC test that I didn't have a headache through the exam, but now I have a headache. Maybe headaches are good during exams. FML

 

[DoctorInASaree]

I took the last AAMC today. AAMC 11. It was terrible. The worst of all my AAMCs, I thought it was must more difficult as compared to AAMC 3-10. I don't know what to do. AAMC 11 is supposed to be the representative of the current MCAT, if this is the case, then I am screwed.

I was quite calm through everything and I needed to do well on AAMC11 to remain calm, but now I'm freaking out.

It seems clear to me that AAMC 11 and 4, are for whatever reason(s), outliers. Extricate AAMC 11 and 4 from the set and your FL average is approximately 34.5

It is quite possible that AAMC 11 is most representative of one's actual MCAT score. However, from what I've read from threads on SDN is that user's AAMC FL average seems to be the best indicator of one's final MCAT score (with a tolerance of 2). Your average AAMC FL average, from my perspective, is a healthy and definitely respectable 34.5.

What I am saying is this: AAMC 11 does not seem to be representative of your knowledge and application of MCAT material, and you aren't "screwed". Your FL average is quite high, and I believe that I won't be alone in saying that you'll be fine.

I believe I speak for the majority of posters in this thread when I say that after scrupulously reading your posts here you seem like a person that has applied himself in the SN2ED process. You've put in the hours and have committed yourself (especially your study habits) to discipline. You seem to know your content very well (this is clearly reflected in your FL scores in BS/PS 🙂).

So, please don't second guess yourself. Do not fear the exam on Saturday, and most of all do not fear your ability to score well on the MCAT. You have proved to yourself and other posters here, on several occasions, that you CAN and HAVE scored well on AAMC FLs.

Now all that is left for you to do is apply yourself one last time on Saturday. I think you'll be fine. I'm sure others will chime in soon enough echoing my sentiments. We'll be cheerleading you on Friday and Saturday. Pom-poms and everything I promise! 😀

You are, after all, a Swedish MD to be yes? Now go on your merry way to becoming one 🙂 We'll be on the sidelines cheering you on!

 

[ymmit]

AAMC 3 - 11/9/12 = 32
AAMC 4 - 14/14/15 = 43!!!
AAMC 5 - 13/12/13 = 38!!
AAMC 7 - 14/8/12 = 34
AAMC 8 - 13/10/11 = 34
AAMC 9 - 13/10/11 = 34
AAMC 10 - 12/10/13 = 35
AAMC 11 - 11/9/10 = 30

It was all bloody experiments. The BS section was like experiment after experiment and I felt like there were multiple correct answers. Ugh. I don't know what happened on PS, PS seemed normal to me.

And funny, I this is the first AAMC test that I didn't have a headache through the exam, but now I have a headache. Maybe headaches are good during exams. FML

Also, your average for each section is 12.6/10.3/12.1, which adds up to a 35. You are more than well-prepared.

 

[poop420]

AAMC 3 - 11/9/12 = 32
AAMC 4 - 14/14/15 = 43!!!
AAMC 5 - 13/12/13 = 38!!
AAMC 7 - 14/8/12 = 34
AAMC 8 - 13/10/11 = 34
AAMC 9 - 13/10/11 = 34
AAMC 10 - 12/10/13 = 35
AAMC 11 - 11/9/10 = 30

It was all bloody experiments. The BS section was like experiment after experiment and I felt like there were multiple correct answers. Ugh. I don't know what happened on PS, PS seemed normal to me.

And funny, I this is the first AAMC test that I didn't have a headache through the exam, but now I have a headache. Maybe headaches are good during exams. FML

I have confidence that you will do fine.. You came this far , and you know your stuff so just be Germany on Saturday and pretend the test is Brazil!!

 

[poop420]

Do you guys have a particular beer you like to drink while studying ??

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

Do you guys have a particular beer you like to drink while studying ??

C2H5OH aka EtOH

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

It seems clear to me that AAMC 11 and 4, are for whatever reason(s), outliers. Extricate AAMC 11 and 4 from the set and your FL average is approximately 34.5

It is quite possible that AAMC 11 is most representative of one's actual MCAT score. However, from what I've read from threads on SDN is that user's AAMC FL average seems to be the best indicator of one's final MCAT score (with a tolerance of 2). Your average AAMC FL average, from my perspective, is a healthy and definitely respectable 34.5.

What I am saying is this: AAMC 11 does not seem to be representative of your knowledge and application of MCAT material, and you aren't "screwed". Your FL average is quite high, and I believe that I won't be alone in saying that you'll be fine.

I believe I speak for the majority of posters in this thread when I say that after scrupulously reading your posts here you seem like a person that has applied himself in the SN2ED process. You've put in the hours and have committed yourself (especially your study habits) to discipline. You seem to know your content very well (this is clearly reflected in your FL scores in BS/PS 🙂).

So, please don't second guess yourself. Do not fear the exam on Saturday, and most of all do not fear your ability to score well on the MCAT. You have proved to yourself and other posters here, on several occasions, that you CAN and HAVE scored well on AAMC FLs.

Now all that is left for you to do is apply yourself one last time on Saturday. I think you'll be fine. I'm sure others will chime in soon enough echoing my sentiments. We'll be cheerleading you on Friday and Saturday. Pom-poms and everything I promise! 😀

You are, after all, a Swedish MD to be yes? Now go on your merry way to becoming one 🙂 We'll be on the sidelines cheering you on!

Aww!! Thanks for your kind message! I do got this! AAMC 11 can go take a hike.

 

[mehc012]

Question for you guys:

What do you think the merits are of doing the BR passages the morning of the next day rather than the day of? I'm finding that I'm not recalling any of the information when doing the passages (especially since my brain is usually goop by then!) and am wondering if having a night for the new information (hooray for relearning from scratch!) to percolate and process will do wonders for my 1/3 passages scores- they've been between 30-60% so far and that's pretty abysmal. 🙁

I always do my passages the morning of the next day. That way I can study until I'm tired and I feel I really get it, take a break, go through my flashcards a few times, wake up, and test myself on them!

 

[TBRBiosadist]

Do you guys have a particular beer you like to drink while studying ??

Methamphetamine

 

[pepocho]

.

 

[tcon91]

A quick heads up for those starting the Sn2ed, as you go farer into the TBR books, the editors really begin to slack. I am near the end of all the books. and there is a relatively large number of errata. Just in the last chapter of Gen Chem, I noticed probably 3-4 errors, which may not seem like a lot but it will scare you when you read something and wonder, "WHAT, I THOUGHT X WORKED LIKE THIS?!" Just letting you know. If you are startled. Ask here. There is no "official" TBR errata thread. There really needs to be one though.....

Can you please post what errors you found?

 

[deleted388502]

It seems clear to me that AAMC 11 and 4, are for whatever reason(s), outliers. Extricate AAMC 11 and 4 from the set and your FL average is approximately 34.5

It is quite possible that AAMC 11 is most representative of one's actual MCAT score. However, from what I've read from threads on SDN is that user's AAMC FL average seems to be the best indicator of one's final MCAT score (with a tolerance of 2). Your average AAMC FL average, from my perspective, is a healthy and definitely respectable 34.5.

What I am saying is this: AAMC 11 does not seem to be representative of your knowledge and application of MCAT material, and you aren't "screwed". Your FL average is quite high, and I believe that I won't be alone in saying that you'll be fine.

I believe I speak for the majority of posters in this thread when I say that after scrupulously reading your posts here you seem like a person that has applied himself in the SN2ED process. You've put in the hours and have committed yourself (especially your study habits) to discipline. You seem to know your content very well (this is clearly reflected in your FL scores in BS/PS 🙂).

So, please don't second guess yourself. Do not fear the exam on Saturday, and most of all do not fear your ability to score well on the MCAT. You have proved to yourself and other posters here, on several occasions, that you CAN and HAVE scored well on AAMC FLs.

Now all that is left for you to do is apply yourself one last time on Saturday. I think you'll be fine. I'm sure others will chime in soon enough echoing my sentiments. We'll be cheerleading you on Friday and Saturday. Pom-poms and everything I promise! 😀

You are, after all, a Swedish MD to be yes? Now go on your merry way to becoming one 🙂 We'll be on the sidelines cheering you on!

Have you considered motivational speaking
PS: @swedishmd2be you're gonna kill it

 

[pepocho]

.

 

[TBRBiosadist]

I've been wanting to....but Im a little busy studying for the MCAT.......

There are a few, but what I remember finding was there were a few things that seemed alot like errors, but what it was actually just some cryptic wording in the question or answer or other things along the lines of that.

EDIT: Ive finished all my 1/3 & 2/3 TBR and I go over every question. There has been very few times I have thought that the book was wrong. Ive thought it was stupid at times, but never outright wrong.

 

[mehc012]

There are a few, but what I remember finding was there were a few things that seemed alot like errors, but what it was actually just some cryptic wording in the question or answer or other things along the lines of that.

EDIT: Ive finished all my 1/3 & 2/3 TBR and I go over every question. There has been very few times I have thought that the book was wrong. Ive thought it was stupid at times, but never outright wrong.

I've had at least 1 where the answer was listed as one letter, yet the entire question clearly indicates a different letter as the answer, including a near-word-for-word quote of it. Wish I'd written it down.
There have been a few other places where I've written corrections in with pencil, and one where the answer choices were CLEARLY wrong...they depict a carbon with 5 bonds attached (looks like a regular ketone and then there's also an H dangling below the carbonyl).

But...that's it. Only a few here and there, and easily recognizable.

 

[TBRBiosadist]

I've had at least 1 where the answer was listed as one letter, yet the entire question clearly indicates a different letter as the answer, including a near-word-for-word quote of it. Wish I'd written it down.
There have been a few other places where I've written corrections in with pencil, and one where the answer choices were CLEARLY wrong...they depict a carbon with 5 bonds attached (looks like a regular ketone and then there's also an H dangling below the carbonyl).

But...that's it. Only a few here and there, and easily recognizable.

Yeah should have chosen wording better. I have found a few, but ultimately it is far from the norm, just one here or there

 

[TBRBiosadist]

So anyone start hat trick yet bc this is my first day of it and suggestions would be welcome

 

[TexasSurgeon]

So anyone start hat trick yet bc this is my first day of it and suggestions would be welcome

Probably not gonna do it

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

So anyone start hat trick yet bc this is my first day of it and suggestions would be welcome

I prefer to do my hat tricks on the soccer field

But I didn't do hat trick

 

[TBRBiosadist]

Well ill either be doing hat trick or I will be doing anki and skimming over all of my chapter material....OR I will still write down all the subjects and use them to randomly check my knowledge. Recommendations?

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

I made one page notes on each chapter. I reviewed half of them every weekend so every two weeks I got a quick review of all the material. Whenever I read something in my notes and realized it is something that I had forgotten I made an Anki flashcard of it. I ended with about 50 flash cards. I went over the flash cards on my phone on the Anki app whenever I had random downtimes or while I was walking my dog. I can quite comfortably say that I know all the material and I think that was a reason why I didn't forget any of it.

 

[TBRBiosadist]

I made one page notes on each chapter. I reviewed half of them every weekend so every two weeks I got a quick review of all the material. Whenever I read something in my notes and realized it is something that I had forgotten I made an Anki flashcard of it. I ended with about 50 flash cards. I went over the flash cards on my phone on the Anki app whenever I had random downtimes or while I was walking my dog. I can quite comfortably say that I know all the material and I think that was a reason why I didn't forget any of it.

youve seen my notes

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

youve seen my notes

Oh, I thought you would be able to decode your own notes!

 

[TBRBiosadist]

nope! couldnt read them if i tried. I take notes simply to help cement concepts

 

[sharkbyte]

How do you guys plan to incorporate other FL's into the SN2 schedule? I want to go through some GS/TPR exams but I don't know how to condense those into the final month after content review...

 

[TBRBiosadist]

I have crazy fast reading speed so I just blast through chapters real quick if Ive ever needed a review

 

[TBRBiosadist]

How do you guys plan to incorporate other FL's into the SN2 schedule? I want to go through some GS/TPR exams but I don't know how to condense those into the final month after content review...

When you have the time. Take them on your break days or do them with your 1/3. Unless your having a tough time a bunch of extra full lengths on top of the aamc arent really necessary

 

[sharkbyte]

When you have the time. Take them on your break days or do them with your 1/3. Unless your having a tough time a bunch of extra full lengths on top of the aamc arent really necessary

Thanks. Yeah I just plan to do a couple of GS exams to expose myself to some hard PS sections and I know the TPR exams are also harder. I've seen some people do ALL the GS and Kaplan exams and I think that's just insane lol

 

[poop420]

I started studying for my exam 5 months before hand so im going to find a way to incorporate the GS FL , TBR FL and the AAMC ones into my schedule in that order thats about 30 exmas 🙂 o fun!!

 

[TBRBiosadist]

I started studying for my exam 5 months before hand so im going to find a way to incorporate the GS FL , TBR FL and the AAMC ones into my schedule in that order thats about 30 exmas 🙂 o fun!!

That sounds terrible....why? There is serious diminishing returns at some point.

 

[poop420]

prob wont do every single one of them but i think its good to get my hands on some practice problems like my exam is so far away! When i see my grade not moving up or worst going down i will take a break from the exams and reevaluate !

 

[orangetea]

Thanks. Yeah I just plan to do a couple of GS exams to expose myself to some hard PS sections and I know the TPR exams are also harder. I've seen some people do ALL the GS and Kaplan exams and I think that's just insane lol

I am not sure how helpful this will be now but I gave myself about 3 weeks buffer to do more practice exams either from Kaplan or GS. Be careful how many you do though because I think it's more important to do less and review them REALLY WELL rather than more tests but minimal review 🙂

 

[TexasSurgeon]

How do you guys plan to incorporate other FL's into the SN2 schedule? I want to go through some GS/TPR exams but I don't know how to condense those into the final month after content review...

As soon as they come in, I'll do a BR FL. And then I'll do one every week until I'm done with content review in like 2 weeks. Then I'll do one every 3 days

On another note, reviewing the passages the day after the 2/3s is crazy. it takes forever. How long does it take you guys? i'm about 2 passages in 40 mins

 

[TBRBiosadist]

As soon as they come in, I'll do a BR FL. And then I'll do one every week until I'm done with content review in like 2 weeks. Then I'll do one every 3 days

On another note, reviewing the passages the day after the 2/3s is crazy. it takes forever. How long does it take you guys? i'm about 2 passages in 40 mins

yeah thats about right length wise. Thats why I hope for the 100s or +90s, makes review short because I need to write less about the problem. If its somethingI have down I just write simple

 

[TexasSurgeon]

yeah thats about right length wise. Thats why I hope for the 100s or +90s, makes review short because I need to write less about the problem. If its somethingI have down I just write simple

thats when I'm really pacing myself. but i can get reaaaaly slow. kills me