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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just pushed my date back from oct 21 to nov 7. I was debating this all day today and so relieved to get this monkey off my back. Now I have a solid 3 months to diligently follow the SN2ed method as best as I can with slight modifications.
 
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@pbrocks15 I am positive about it since I was kinda ready all i needed was a couple of weeks and I get all this time to nail it down. Its like ive been given a second chance to do all those what ifs and what nots from the first time, super motivated since You really need to nail from that time or you will miss a year, so we better study.

@avenlea I still didnt devise a plan yet, im taking this week off as my "summer vacation" and starting monday SN2 v 2 will be in action

Good luck to all of you, @TBRBiosadist kill the mcat for me please. Thank you
 
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Aerus said:
When is your MCAT date, @TBRBiosadist and what is your goal?
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test is on the 15th. Of course within 2 points of my AAMC average (43.5) would be great since that would still put me in the 40s+, but honestly, above a 35 I would be happy (maybe a little miffed because I could have done better). I dont need to go to top 10, I just want to go to a cali school 🙂

Edit: below a 35 I would retake because that is 10pts below my average, that just means I seriously under-preformed on test day
 
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TBRBiosadist said:
test is on the 15th. Of course within 2 points of my AAMC average (43.5) would be great since that would still put me in the 40s+, but honestly, above a 35 I would be happy (maybe a little miffed because I could have done better). I dont need to go to top 10, I just want to go to a cali school 🙂

Edit: below a 35 I would retake because that is 10pts below my average, that just means I seriously under-preformed on test day
Click to expand...

Best of luck! I'm sure you'll do at least 40. For content, did you use Anki religiously?
 
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TBRBiosadist said:
nah, just review of forgotten stuff here and there, maybe some equations, thats it
Click to expand...

Ah okay. I'm approaching the end of my content review and I'm considering changing up the SN2ed last month. The plan recommends doing a full length every 3 days and using the other two as review time for the full length, but I feel like that's not enough...
 
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Aerus said:
Ah okay. I'm approaching the end of my content review and I'm considering changing up the SN2ed last month. The plan recommends doing a full length every 3 days and using the other two as review time for the full length, but I feel like that's not enough...
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Unless you're working alot, or are doing very poorly, that is not necessary, even with my terrible work ethic I still end up with a fair amount of free time to scream and cry some more
 
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TBRBiosadist said:
Unless you're working alot, or are doing very poorly, that is not necessary, even with my terrible work ethic I still end up with a fair amount of free time to scream and cry some more
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That's good to hear. I'm not sure how terrible my work ethic is. I've already taken two "break weeks" (both were spaced out through June/July) which resulted in having to cram twice the amount the following week. I'm still on schedule, but it's not ideal for long term information retention.

How many hours are you putting in a day? I recall you also had to work full time too. I've been getting 2-4 hours, depending on how tired I am....
 
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I dont work full time if you count only my weekend job. I only work 24-38 hours per weekend (fri-sun).
I have a few volunteer days during the week but nothing that is more than a few hours.
I would say my average day overall is probs about 5 counting everything. Some days are shorter, but I have had my fair share of 10 hour days when Im a bit behind and I need to do a bunch of passages or content review
 
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ramires said:
@pbrocks15 I am positive about it since I was kinda ready all i needed was a couple of weeks and I get all this time to nail it down. Its like ive been given a second chance to do all those what ifs and what nots from the first time, super motivated since You really need to nail from that time or you will miss a year, so we better study.

@avenlea I still didnt devise a plan yet, im taking this week off as my "summer vacation" and starting monday SN2 v 2 will be in action

Good luck to all of you, @TBRBiosadist kill the mcat for me please. Thank you
Click to expand...

I wish i had that "starting all over" opportunity. I have a feeling I could rock this exam if I just had the chance to go back and not do the dumb mistakes I did during my schedule. However, I have 5 weeks left and I'm going all out. I'm doing about 10-12 hours right now every day, except Friday and Sunday, they're probably 8 hours. If that doesn't get me in a good range I'll probably move my exam and see what happens.

I wish you the best of luck. I think you will do awesome. Use your previous mistakes to motivate you. Actually, I can see your already doing that. But keep it up!
 
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sillyjoe said:
This post is why you are the best.
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Awwww guyssss 😍

pbrocks15 said:
I wish i had that "starting all over" opportunity. I have a feeling I could rock this exam if I just had the chance to go back and not do the dumb mistakes I did during my schedule. However, I have 5 weeks left and I'm going all out. I'm doing about 10-12 hours right now every day, except Friday and Sunday, they're probably 8 hours. If that doesn't get me in a good range I'll probably move my exam and see what happens.

I wish you the best of luck. I think you will do awesome. Use your previous mistakes to motivate you. Actually, I can see your already doing that. But keep it up!
Click to expand...

I really couldn't agree more. If I could go back and do it over I feel like I would do so much differently, but all we got is the here and the now and all is not lost. We have learned from out mistakes and it's not like we wasted the past 3 months - we spent all that time actively studying, albeit not all of it was entirely productive and helpful - I have spent the past 6 days going over EVERYTHING in the AAMC gen chem and physics outline through chad + TBR and I can tell you I already feel a whole lot more confident, even if it is false confidence. 😀 I think I had VERY large content knowledge gaps, and while there weren't a lot of them, they were very large and encompassed many subjects - i.e., acid/bases, equilibrium, and some of it was memorization like the nuclear reactions- but I think this cram style is going to be really great for me.

I am taking this thing on September 6th. Taking an untimed FL on sat/sun and if I fail that I will cry like a lot, but I'm gonna do TPRHSW and still take this thing and do my best. :highfive: I think what kills me is a lot of my errors are careless and mathematical rather than actual content, but at the end of the day they are careless for a reason. Timing was an issue because I didn't have the contents down pat, which comes with practice and being confident in your knowledge with the material. I'm hoping walking into the real thing having drilled the **** out of this stuff for 5 weeks straight 10+ hours a day will give me the confidence to be like HELL YEAH I know EVERYTHING there is to know about this, you literally cannot throw anything at me about this topic that I don't know. That's half the mental battle for me. 😵

Happy study day y'all!
 
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TBRBiosadist said:
**** idk whats wrong with me. I feel like im having a mental breakdown. I just want to cry for no reason. Im ancy and depressed and I just ****ing want it to be over. ****

You know what, I think I am going to go have a good cry. First one in years.......
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Sometimes, the best thing you can do it just take like a 3 day hiatus and let your brain repair itself! I have seen many people who said they just needed a break and after a short hiatus, came back and made the highest they have ever made on a FL. Sometimes, you just need a break.
 
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PhysicsFailure said:
Sometimes, the best thing you can do it just take like a 3 day hiatus and let your brain repair itself! I have seen many people who said they just needed a break and after a short hiatus, came back and made the highest they have ever made on a FL. Sometimes, you just need a break.
Click to expand...

And thisssss ^^^ friday night fun y'all
 
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avenlea said:
Awwww guyssss 😍



I really couldn't agree more. If I could go back and do it over I feel like I would do so much differently, but all we got is the here and the now and all is not lost. We have learned from out mistakes and it's not like we wasted the past 3 months - we spent all that time actively studying, albeit not all of it was entirely productive and helpful - I have spent the past 6 days going over EVERYTHING in the AAMC gen chem and physics outline through chad + TBR and I can tell you I already feel a whole lot more confident, even if it is false confidence. 😀 I think I had VERY large content knowledge gaps, and while there weren't a lot of them, they were very large and encompassed many subjects - i.e., acid/bases, equilibrium, and some of it was memorization like the nuclear reactions- but I think this cram style is going to be really great for me.

I am taking this thing on September 6th. Taking an untimed FL on sat/sun and if I fail that I will cry like a lot, but I'm gonna do TPRHSW and still take this thing and do my best. :highfive: I think what kills me is a lot of my errors are careless and mathematical rather than actual content, but at the end of the day they are careless for a reason. Timing was an issue because I didn't have the contents down pat, which comes with practice and being confident in your knowledge with the material. I'm hoping walking into the real thing having drilled the **** out of this stuff for 5 weeks straight 10+ hours a day will give me the confidence to be like HELL YEAH I know EVERYTHING there is to know about this, you literally cannot throw anything at me about this topic that I don't know. That's half the mental battle for me. 😵

Happy study day y'all!
Click to expand...
Don't cry
 
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OH MY GOOD GREAT GOD IS THIS WHAT BEING WELL RESTED FEELS LIKE!!??
I FEEL LIKE IM ON CRACK AND I HAVENT EVEN HAD ANY COFFEE YET!!!!
 
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Guise, I had a dream about the mcat last night. I dreamed I was sitting around a table of a bunch of me, and we were quizzing each other on random facts. Thing was I remember most of the things that were said and they are, surprisingly, correct.


I have begun to effectively study in my sleep.
 
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TBRBiosadist said:
Guise, I had a dream about the mcat last night. I dreamed I was sitting around a table of a bunch of me, and we were quizzing each other on random facts. Thing was I remember most of the things that were said and they are, surprisingly, correct.


I have begun to effectively study in my sleep.
Click to expand...

Dude I definitely did an electric potential problem in my sleep last night
 
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TBRBiosadist said:
Guise, I had a dream about the mcat last night. I dreamed I was sitting around a table of a bunch of me, and we were quizzing each other on random facts. Thing was I remember most of the things that were said and they are, surprisingly, correct.


I have begun to effectively study in my sleep.
Click to expand...

My dreams are still filled with smut and no MCAT 😱

...guess that's why my scores are down.
 
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Has anyone else looked up the art they are talking about in some of the verbal passages and not have a f***ing clue how they got all that esoteric BS from a painting or comparison of two paintings?

MCAT verbal definitely knows how to make you feel stupid.
 
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My parents force to me to study at home. The main reason: they need me every 5 minutes.

I was simulating an exam but just doing a PS Section test and then take a 10min break to do the VR section test. My mom sees me walk out of my room and during the break and tell me there are 10 bags of cement that I need to take out of the truck because they weight too much and it's bad for the truck....

Like do people not understand that this isn't easy? I just totally got out of the zone but writing this got my anger out a little.

UGHHH.

*takes a deep breath, styles hair back*..........Imma eff this VR up.

Edit: The cement bags are 80ibs each and my mom says she'll cancel my gym membership if I don't help....meanwhile, I PAY FOR IT!
 
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@pbrocks15, remind yourself of who you're truly accountable to

tumblr_n9y4vilTc71tuv6hbo1_500.gif
 
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Have any of you guys taken the self assessments? I took orgo today, and I'm not sure how I should be timing these passages... it felt like most of them only had 3-4 questions and I'm used to the 7-8 from TBR. I haven't taken any FL's yet so I don't know if this is only a self assessment thing. Anyway, how did you guys time these passages? Still 7 min each or did you do min/question?
 
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confuciastt said:
Have any of you guys taken the self assessments? I took orgo today, and I'm not sure how I should be timing these passages... it felt like most of them only had 3-4 questions and I'm used to the 7-8 from TBR. I haven't taken any FL's yet so I don't know if this is only a self assessment thing. Anyway, how did you guys time these passages? Still 7 min each or did you do min/question?
Click to expand...

I spent about 1.2 minutes overall per question, some of the passages I spent more and some I spent a little less depending on it's length.
 
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pbrocks15 said:
How was your trial section? That's impressive for not having to study...hmmm, the new MCAT sounds good right now haha Just kidding, it's just going to get worse
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It was terrible! I was like WTF is this, I was clueless. I was expecting more like 35-40%.
 
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confuciastt said:
Have any of you guys taken the self assessments? I took orgo today, and I'm not sure how I should be timing these passages... it felt like most of them only had 3-4 questions and I'm used to the 7-8 from TBR. I haven't taken any FL's yet so I don't know if this is only a self assessment thing. Anyway, how did you guys time these passages? Still 7 min each or did you do min/question?
Click to expand...

I think for the self assessments you should be more focused on making sure your good with content. I'm pretty sure thats the main reason for them, to asses your content. Also, these passages won't take you too long, just have an internal clock that notices if your spending too much time on a question and mark it so you know later that you struggled with said question.
 
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