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
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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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orangetea said:
I don't want to blow her up because she's a good friend but she is pretty well known on the west coast 😉
I am so excited that our Pre-med community is full of accomplished and known individuals!
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hmmm after days of research.. I think I found out who she is. amirite??

bohlxykieaew1mo.jpg
 
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sherpame said:
For the people scoring poorly, what was your kaplan diagnostic?
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You'll definitely get your science scores up following the SN2'd schedule. No need to worry about your score on a diagnostic. I got a 24 (8, 8, 8) on my kaplan diagnostic as well, which was back in october. I've been averaging in the 6-11 range for TBR passages during my 2 first 2 months of studying, which has recently gone up to the 10-12 range in the past couple weeks (somehow, magically). Last week on aamc 3 I scored a 30 (11 PS, 7 VR 🙁, and 12 in BS) and I'm about to take aamc 4 tomorrow. I'm screwed for VR, but I'm feeling a lot more confident in the sciences at least.
 
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Review day! Yay. I went and read through everything using TPR/EK, and just started working on 1001's. I used these books for a time when I worked on the MCAT last time, and after five minutes, I remember why I hated them so. I know some of you guys dropped the 1001s, so I was wondering what you guys did instead.
 
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MelloTangelo said:
Review day! Yay. I went and read through everything using TPR/EK, and just started working on 1001's. I used these books for a time when I worked on the MCAT last time, and after five minutes, I remember why I hated them so. I know some of you guys dropped the 1001s, so I was wondering what you guys did instead.
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I used EK 1001 throughout the whole schedule. Each book has a ton of questions, so there definitely are bad eggs. Another issue that makes it more challenging if you are doing SN2ed is that the books really works off of building concepts. For example, by having you complete question 5, they get you to think in a certain way that is important to synthesize and build concepts for answering question 6. When you are doing every 1/3rd problem you miss that concept building and it complicates things. As proof to that, you can see my previous Q&A posts that are 70% EK questions. The best advice to solve this is if you have no clue what is going on, read the previous few questions and answers.

That being said, EK 1001 is very good at giving you concepts and perspectives not given in TBR AND helps make sure you have the content down. Moreover, for the WTF questions, if you spend time looking up the concepts and making sure you understand them you will be much better off than if you didn't use EK 1001.

Finally, if you are re-reading the BR you want to get your hands on as many applicable questions as possible to allow you to use, manipulate, understand, and memorize the formulas and concepts.

IMHO, you should use it if you have the time. In the content review section I would rank in this order reading + TBR passages > re-reading > EK1001. Try to do as much as you can though.

p.s. glad to see this thread is back to conversations that are relatively normal (see: previous 30 posts)
 
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Also anybody else notice they are losing muscle mass and weight every since they started studying? I've lost a good 12 lbs got me feeling like 50 cent from All Things Fall Apart
 
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FitnessDoc said:
Also anybody else notice they are losing muscle mass and weight every since they started studying? I've lost a good 12 lbs got me feeling like 50 cent from All Things Fall Apart
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In all seriousness, I think I grew a little bit lol and body's filing up. Late bloomer like pretty much everyone in my family I guess lol.
 
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DoctorInASaree said:
Here's another tip: Stop insulting Joe and Orangetea. Go study. I don't know what advice they showered you with, nor do I care, because there's no reason why you need to disrespect another human being in such a demeaning way.

I will be the first to admit that many in this thread have suggested study methods that I do not necessarily agree with, or said tactics are not harmonious with my framework. I don't go around berating and demeaning them in any way. All humans beings are worthy of our respect no matter what they have said or done, and recognize that there isn't a singular recipe to scoring well on the MCAT.

Would you like to really know why I am scoring well on MCAT FLs? Love. I love studying, and my thirst for knowledge and asking why is undying. I also love people no matter who they are. It is my indubitable love towards human beings (and cute rabbits) that allows me to succeed.
Recognize that in preparing for the MCAT you have set yourself upon an arduous task. So, too, have all of the other posters and viewers in this thread. I can't count on both of my hands how many people have, in the most condescending way, told me how incredibly imbecilic I am in pursuing an MD and writing the MCAT. Not only is the MCAT very very very difficult, but the negativity surrounding the MD profession and people's attitudes don't help either.

So, please, don't add to the negativity. I get enough of that in my personal life, and I certainly don't want this SN2'd thread to become anything like that. Let's keep the environment here fresh and positive - filled with hard working, loving, good-natured, and dedicated people.

At the very least, don't do it for me or anyone else in this thread, do it for yourself - to succeed as a doctor and a human being in life you will need to develop a love for knowledge and a love for other human beings.
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I would like to pursue a friendship with you, become study buddies, and eat lunch together.

Waiting anxiously to hear what you think : )
 
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pbrocks15 said:
All of Kaplans exams? What about their online material?
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Kaplan = Travis Tanner. Harvey no likey Tanner. Harvey no likey Kaplan. 😀

aspiringMD/DO said:
I would like to pursue a friendship with you, become study buddies, and eat lunch together.

Waiting anxiously to hear what you think : )
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Oh, thank you so much! Now I can acquire my beauty sleep in peace 😀

I believe in the law of gravitation - that whether we like it or not (I like it): we are all attracted to each other in some way. My default position with everyone else is that we're already on friendly terms. 🙂

Lunch? Let's skip to dinner!😍
 
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DoctorInASaree said:
Kaplan = Travis Tanner. Harvey no likey Tanner. Harvey no likey Kaplan. 😀



Oh, thank you so much! Now I can acquire my beauty sleep in peace 😀

I believe in the law of gravitation - that whether we like it or not (I like it): we are all attracted to each other in some way. My default position with everyone else is that we're already on friendly terms. 🙂

Lunch? Let's skip to dinner!😍
Click to expand...

Would Harvey like Princeton?!? (I'm curious which character you'd liken Princeton to :joyful:)
 
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if any of you guys have time or are taking a break 🙂D), could you help me with this question in TBR orgo part 1: first chapter page 74 on passage 13, question 86

why would increasing the pH lead to the nucleophiles being neutral?

sorry no one was answering in the Q&A subforum and I feel like I'm missing something obvious.
 
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lazyindy said:
if any of you guys have time or are taking a break 🙂D), could you help me with this question in TBR orgo part 1: first chapter page 74 on passage 13, question 86

why would increasing the pH lead to the nucleophiles being neutral?

sorry no one was answering in the Q&A subforum and I feel like I'm missing something obvious.
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It's just the best answer. Looking at the other answer choices:

A. The graphs in the passage clearly show the nucleophilicity increases as pH increases, so this is false.
B. Here they are saying that it is best when the nucleophilic species has a positive charge i.e. decrease in electron density. This is the opposite of what makes a nucleophile. You want an increase in electron density for a good nucleophile. This is incorrect.
C. If you were to lower the pH of a solution of nucleophiles like the nitrogen compound in the passage it will protonate and become positive. Again, this is an increase in positive charge and a subsequent decrease in nucleophilicity. If they were neutral however, they would still have their lone pair of electrons available for nucleophilic attack. Therefore, this answer is the best choice
D. There is no data given in the passage to support the idea that size of the nucleophile makes it more nucleophilic. This answer is incorrect.

The MCAT loves to do this. They love to ask questions in PS and BS where they give 3 bad answers and one correct answer said in a weird and circuitous manner. You will get better at this as you study more.

Hope that helps!
 
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sillyjoe said:
It's just the best answer. Looking at the other answer choices:

A. The graphs in the passage clearly show the nucleophilicity increases as pH increases so this is false.
B. Is best when the species has a positive charge i.e. decrease in electron density. This is the opposite of what makes a nucleophile. You want an increase in electron density for a good nucleophile. This is incorrect.
C. If you were to lower the pH of a solution of nucleophiles like the nitrogen compound in the passage it will protonate and become positive. Again, this is an increase in positive charge and a subsequent decrease in nucleophilicity. If they were neutral however, they would still have their lone pair of electrons available for nucleophilic attack. Therefore, this answer is the best answer choice
D. There is no data given in the passage to support the size of the nucleophile makes it more nucleophilic. This answer is incorrect.

The MCAT loves to do this. They love to ask questions in PS and BS where they give 3 bad answers and one correct answer said in a weird and circuitous manner. You will get better at this as you study more.

Hope that helps!
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that helped tremendously!! THANKS!!
 
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Feel free to bring this conversation back to the pages of normality anytime guys...LOL

I've missed like 10 pages of crap. Apparently we got attacked by a troll. Remember, we're bigger than trolls. I don't get notified for some reason when people tag me on this thread idk why but feel free to PM me or an admin

Remember:
:troll:
 
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orangetea said:
noo don't cry! Trust ME you will not need half the content review you are doing. The point of these books is to expose you to EVERYTHING on the AAMC outline but when you start taking practice tests you will see they like certain things and just present them in different ways. I cam almost guarantee there will always be some form of chem experiment testing stoich, acid base, Le Chat. There will waves, kinematics, maybe a discrete about fluids. Just make sure you know how to solve problems and get the basic concepts then move on to the next chapter. The bulk of your studying will be from practice tests (that's how I learned at least, and managed to increase my scores). You can do it, there are a lot of people that have been where you are and have eventually gotten great scores! #let'sgetttit
tumblr_inline_mzj6r4M74r1r79k32.gif
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I know I just said to go back to normality but I just saw this and this post is why I love you
 
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SO if I get a 40+ on my MCAT I will donate $50 to charity, stop masturbating for a month, and post my real face here

If I get a 44 or 45 I will donate $50 to charity and $50 dollars to my university, stop masturbating for 2 months, and post my real face and first name here
 
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OHGODOHGODOHGOD IM AT FULL FREAKOUT. I just can't sleep but **** I just need to....**** I dont know. I "know" everything basically, Im having a hard time finding gaps in my knowledge and I memorized all the major equations but do I ****ing "know" it or do I KNOW it. MY stupid ****ing mistakes that I make are going to sink this..... ****!

Edit:I just took a bunch of melatonin and Valerian root, goodnight yall
 
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Is anyone here planning on using/used BR's CBTs? I'm nearing the end of content review and need a good amount of practice tests. I have all AAMCs (8) and TPR (11), but need a few more and want to plan ahead. I also have the SA package, planning on doing it too. Anyone taken the GS since SwedishMD suggested them?
 
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namesthegame21 said:
Is anyone here planning on using/used BR's CBTs? I'm nearing the end of content review and need a good amount of practice tests. I have all AAMCs (8) and TPR (11), but need a few more and want to plan ahead. I also have the SA package, planning on doing it too. Anyone taken the GS since SwedishMD suggested them?
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why would you need more than 20 practice tests for the last month?
 
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