SN2'd first day

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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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ayocaptain628 said:
why do people say the mcat is not a content test?? especially w/the latest exams
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Because its not. Mine wasn't. All the information was in the passage. You just had to quickly disassemble the complex dense relationships, interpret and understand the graphs, or take written out information and quickly transform it into a graph. Pretty much everything was given to you in the passage, and you had to quickly use your problem solving and critical analysis skills to figure out the passage and the answers.
 
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SwedishMD2B said:
Because its not. Mine wasn't. All the information was in the passage. You just had to quickly disassemble the complex dense relationships, interpret and understand the graphs, or take written out information and quickly transform it into a graph. Pretty much everything was given to you in the passage, and you had to quickly use your problem solving and critical analysis skills to figure out the passage and the answers.
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even for PS, it was more critical thinking?
 
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to expand swedish, of course you have to know your stuff well in order to even comprehend some of the passages, but the degree of memorization we prescribe for ourselves is usually in excess. 95%+ in PS from what Ive seen is if it isnt one of the basic equations found here http://www.mcatprep.net/frmlas.pdf, Then you are usually given it in the text.
 
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TBRBiosadist said:
to expand swedish, of course you have to know your stuff well in order to even comprehend some of the passages, but the degree of memorization we prescribe for ourselves is usually in excess. 95%+ in PS from what Ive seen is if it isnt one of the basic equations found here http://www.mcatprep.net/frmlas.pdf, Then you are usually given it in the text.
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Yeah, Sadist said it much better than me.
 
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Like you have to know the basic premises. You need to know how to get moles and know how many grams of something you used and etc, you really only need to know the absolute basics, the passage will want you to figure out something more complex using that very basic knowledge.
 
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On the note of passages, you know what I hate, when a PS passage doesnt specify whether or not to include friction. I would have had a 100 on all my 3/3 for ch3 if it wasnt for one of the ps passages where I missed ONE freaking problem bc I had to guess whether or not to count friction in a chapter that is mostly NOT about friction.
 
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TBRBiosadist said:
On the note of passages, you know what I hate, when a PS passage doesnt specify whether or not to include friction. I would have had a 100 on all my 3/3 for ch3 if it wasnt for one of the ps passages where I missed ONE freaking problem bc I had to guess whether or not to count friction in a chapter that is mostly NOT about friction.
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Unless the passage says to ignore friction or the question says to ignore friction, then I think its fair game.
 
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TBRBiosadist said:
to expand swedish, of course you have to know your stuff well in order to even comprehend some of the passages, but the degree of memorization we prescribe for ourselves is usually in excess. 95%+ in PS from what Ive seen is if it isnt one of the basic equations found here http://www.mcatprep.net/frmlas.pdf, Then you are usually given it in the text.
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Then again, being familiar with a setup/equation to the point where it's on the tip of your tongue, so to speak, is immeasurably helpful when presented with any given situation which uses it, even if absolute memorization for the eq'n isn't necessary.
 
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Jesus being tired really does kill your reading comprehension. Stared at a problem for five minutes before I realized it was asking something completely different from what I was looking for.
 
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I'm sorry, but I don't quite understand what SN2ed means by 1/3. BR Physics has 7 passages with questions corresponding to each passage. Can someone explain exactly what 1/3 we are doing?
 
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everydayjones said:
I'm sorry, but I don't quite understand what SN2ed means by 1/3. BR Physics has 7 passages with questions corresponding to each passage. Can someone explain exactly what 1/3 we are doing?
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So do 1, 3, and 5
Then next time it says second 2/3 do 2 and 4
then the last time it says do 3/3 do 6 and 7

For the chem passages if there is 15 just divide them up into threes
For bio I just went crazy and did more or less than I should have 😀

hope that makes sense!
 
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Also.... WHY THE HELL DOES GETTING A 40 ON MY FIRST PRACTICE MCAT MAKE ME MORE SCARED NOW OF TEST DAY?!
 
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orangetea said:
So do 1, 3, and 5
Then next time it says second 2/3 do 2 and 4
then the last time it says do 3/3 do 6 and 7

For the chem passages if there is 15 just divide them up into threes
For bio I just went crazy and did more or less than I should have 😀

hope that makes sense!
Click to expand...

WHAT. I have the 2009 book but I had 10 passages in physics and 15 in the rest.
 
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I've been thinking to myself...does it even matter what day of the week it is? The only major difference is which subject I'll be studying next.

Another day another chapter! Happy studying today everyone! :flame:


TBRBiosadist said:
for all yall people startin your 3/3s, whats ya averages lookin like?
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What do you mean by starting 3/3s? I've been doing all of the passages for a while now - on the same day. I most likely misread the SN2ED schedule...I'll post my Excel spreadsheet tonight if you'd like!

TBRBiosadist said:
Also.... WHY THE HELL DOES GETTING A 40 ON MY FIRST PRACTICE MCAT MAKE ME MORE SCARED NOW OF TEST DAY?!
Click to expand...

You're a funny bunny!
 
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DoctorInASaree said:
I've been thinking to myself...does it even matter what day of the week it is? The only major difference is which subject I'll be studying next.

Another day another chapter! Happy studying today everyone! :flame:




What do you mean by starting 3/3s? I've been doing all of the passages for a while now - on the same day. I most likely misread the SN2ED schedule...I'll post my Excel spreadsheet tonight if you'd like!



You're a funny bunny!
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You did them all together??

Then what did you do on your 2/3 days? You're cray cray
 
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tcon91 said:
How did the TBR Bio passages compare to the real thing?
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TBR bio wasn't as research based like the real thing. So I'd have to say it didn't prepare me as well.

We'll maybe it did. I was running out of time so I didnt really get to properly look at the passage. The passages on the real thing were just absurd.
 
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orangetea said:
So do 1, 3, and 5
Then next time it says second 2/3 do 2 and 4
then the last time it says do 3/3 do 6 and 7

For the chem passages if there is 15 just divide them up into threes
For bio I just went crazy and did more or less than I should have 😀

hope that makes sense!
Click to expand...

You know, maybe I should have read day 8 instead of asking the question! Thank you so much for your response (now it's time for me to start paying attention to detail!)
 
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ImageUploadedBySDN Mobile1405702682.457920.jpg
hat trick? Anyone?


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mehc012 said:
Why's parathyroid under 'posterior pituitary'?
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Because I'm losing my mind. HAHA. I have no idea. Good catch.

@orangetea eyebrows are priority. I got a 7 on yet another EK lecture exam and after drowning my sorrows in ice cream I decided to get my stuff together and take bio seriously. I totally cut out hat trick day though because I was behind so I'm trying to work it in

@TBRBiosadist GOOD LUCK!!

Guys I'm losing it lol. I'm actually losing it


Posted using SDN Mobile
 
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I need your help guys. I finished reading all the TBR chapters and I have about 7 weeks until my exam.

For some reason I have an urge to just do a lot of practice exams. But a friend of my recommended I save the exam until the last month and just do as many passages as I can the next three weeks.

Do you guys recommend I....

1. Do practice exams concurrently with more passages in my weak areas.

Or

2. Do passages in my weak areas for 3 weeks and then do more practice exams the last month?


Thanks in advance.

This thread rocks btw.
 
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pbrocks15 said:
I need your help guys. I finished reading all the TBR chapters and I have about 7 weeks until my exam.

For some reason I have an urge to just do a lot of practice exams. But a friend of my recommended I save the exam until the last month and just do as many passages as I can the next three weeks.

Do you guys recommend I....

1. Do practice exams concurrently with more passages in my weak areas.

Or

2. Do passages in my weak areas for 3 weeks and then do more practice exams the last month?


Thanks in advance.

This thread rocks btw.
Click to expand...

You could try the AAMC Self Assessments. Not only will you see AAMC style passages, but it will allow you to review all subjects and also tell you exactly where your weaknesses are. So it's kind of like reviewing, doing practice tests, and finding out your weaknesses. If you have extra time (and exams), I don't think extra exams would hurt, you can do those along with doing reviewing and doing extra passages.

If I had 7 weeks. I would start with self assessments. Review all subjects, strengthen the weak areas, take extra exams to see if weak areas have strengthened, then take the rest of the exams. Also, I would be reading a lot of Nature, Science, and Cell articles and get comfortable with reading research papers.
 
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pbrocks15 said:
I need your help guys. I finished reading all the TBR chapters and I have about 7 weeks until my exam.

For some reason I have an urge to just do a lot of practice exams. But a friend of my recommended I save the exam until the last month and just do as many passages as I can the next three weeks.

Do you guys recommend I....

1. Do practice exams concurrently with more passages in my weak areas.

Or

2. Do passages in my weak areas for 3 weeks and then do more practice exams the last month?


Thanks in advance.

This thread rocks btw.
Click to expand...
AAMC Self Assessments - plenty of practice, AAMC material not found on the exams, and it'll give you a sense of what to focus on, passage wise, until you get into AAMC exams.
 
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SwedishMD2B said:
You could try the AAMC Self Assessments. Not only will you see AAMC style passages, but it will allow you to review all subjects and also tell you exactly where your weaknesses are. So it's kind of like reviewing, doing practice tests, and finding out your weaknesses. If you have extra time (and exams), I don't think extra exams would hurt, you can do those along with doing reviewing and doing extra passages.

If I had 7 weeks. I would start with self assessments. Review all subjects, strengthen the weak areas, take extra exams to see if weak areas have strengthened, then take the rest of the exams. Also, I would be reading a lot of Nature, Science, and Cell articles and get comfortable with reading research papers.
Click to expand...
Lol, 5s too late. Great minds think alike...
 
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QueenJames said:
Guys quick question.

What's the difference between the AAMC practice exams and the AAMC-R ones? the R ones are essentially longer right? and have a little bit more passages than the AAMC ones?

Also, do the AAMC practice exams change at all? Like if I buy the AAMC exams and my buddy does too, we will have the same passages on each test? Can anyone confirm?
Click to expand...

I would do the non-R exam to simulate the real deal and then do the extra passages later for practice if you have access to those old exams! Especially those extra verbal passages 🙂
 
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You could try the AAMC Self Assessments. Not only will you see AAMC style passages, but it will allow you to review all subjects and also tell you exactly where your weaknesses are. So it's kind of like reviewing, doing practice tests, and finding out your weaknesses. If you have extra time (and exams), I don't think extra exams would hurt, you can do those along with doing reviewing and doing extra passages.
Click to expand...

Did you find the passages in the AAMC Self Assessments and the Official Guide to be comparable to the difficulty of the real MCAT? Or are the SA's too easy?
 
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so the self-assessment has questions for every single topic on the outlines, so you can find out where exactly your weaknesses are?
 
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ayocaptain628 said:
so the self-assessment has questions for every single topic on the outlines, so you can find out where exactly your weaknesses are?
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AAMC website said:
The Self-Assessment Package is an online tool composed of three self-assessments. You answer real MCAT questions (not found on any other practice materials) on each of the scored multiple-choice sections of the exam. After completing the test, you receive feedback on how you did comparing your performance to the average so you can see your relative strengths and weaknesses in MCAT content.

The Self-Assessment Package includes a confidence survey in which you rate your confidence of your knowledge on the subject test and each content category to compare your performance to your perceived knowledge.

After completing the test, you receive a detailed analytic summary showing your performance on the test overall, in each content category, and in each cognitive skill comparing your performance to the average. You can use this data to develop a better study plan. You will also be able to go back and review each question and the solution.
Click to expand...
 
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Jeez louise insomnia sucks, tossed and turned until 6am before I passed out. Slept in so im not wrecked for work, but hell, good thing I was ahead...but goodbye allverbal & extra practice day
 
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avenlea said:
So if you're on the last month of SN2ed's schedule, when is the best time to take the self assessments?
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I would honestly suggest not doing the self-assessment until like 2 weeks before. Take all your CBTs, review them like a mother, and keep improving. Then in the final stretch when you're like 90%, take the SA and see the very last improvement you need. Then do it and rock your MCAT
 
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