SN2'd first day

[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.

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Do you guys work out in the evening?
I'll study for like 5-6 hours and hit the gym around 7. By the time i come back It's like 9 + dinner and shower is 9:45. It feels like time flies by after you get back from the gym

 

[mehc012]

Do you guys work out in the evening?
I'll study for like 5-6 hours and hit the gym around 7. By the time i come back It's like 9 + dinner and shower is 9:45. It feels like time flies by after you get back from the gym

No. I'm now completely lazy and out of shape.

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

Do you guys work out in the evening?
I'll study for like 5-6 hours and hit the gym around 7. By the time i come back It's like 9 + dinner and shower is 9:45. It feels like time flies by after you get back from the gym

Not anymore. I used to go to the gym 6 days a week and jog about 2 miles every night. Then I reduced it to 3 days a week and jog every night. Then I reduced it to once a week just so that I don't lose progress plus jog every night, but I haven't been to the gym for the past two weeks and I won't be going next week either, but I'll continue to jog every night.

Man you eat dinner late, I eat it by like 630

 

[ymmit]

Can anyone comment on how much depth we need to go into TBR Orgo? Should we just be able to read and understand what we're reading? Because there's no way I can memorize 90% of this stuff. I'm 6+ years removed from the last time I took Orgo, but I can understand everything I'm reading - I'm being hindered by how much stuff there is and I keep stalling because I'm worried I won't be able to get it all in my head.

I'm planning on memorizing a set of reactions, a few IR/NMR shifts, and hoping that just reading and doing the TBR Orgo questions will be enough review for the real thing. Any input?

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

Can anyone comment on how much depth we need to go into TBR Orgo? Should we just be able to read and understand what we're reading? Because there's no way I can memorize 90% of this stuff. I'm 6+ years removed from the last time I took Orgo, but I can understand everything I'm reading - I'm being hindered by how much stuff there is and I keep stalling because I'm worried I won't be able to get it all in my head.

I'm planning on memorizing a set of reactions, a few IR/NMR shifts, and hoping that just reading and doing the TBR Orgo questions will be enough review for the real thing. Any input?

TBR goes in a little excessive details about organic too. I think once you do passages and AAMC's you'll notice they focus on a smaller subset of knowledge. You gotta know addition, elimination, substitution, SN1, SN2, E1, E2, priorities, carbohydrate chapter is good, lab techniques chapter is also good. Ofcourse you gotta know all the IR/HNMR/CNMR/UV etc. Certain reactions are common like diels-alder, esterification, saponification, ozonolysis, halogenaton, haloform. Know acidity and basicity. Know about alpha protons. Knows patterns like aldehydes and ketones generally under this type of reaction and the other carbonyls under go that type of reaction. Know priorities, R-S, Cis-trans, know if tertiary, secondary, etc is more or less likely to react, if they give you a reaction know if acid halides, acid chloride, ketone, is more reactive or less. Naming. It's usually not too complex, after you do passages and AAMC exams you'll see what's important. But TBR level of detail is not necessary.

I remember reading a post by a TBR rep that in the new TBR orgo book they removed a lot of material. I don't know if this is true or not or if I am remembering incorrectly, I bought my book a couple years ago...

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Not anymore. I used to go to the gym 6 days a week and jog about 2 miles every night. Then I reduced it to 3 days a week and jog every night. Then I reduced it to once a week just so that I don't lose progress plus jog every night, but I haven't been to the gym for the past two weeks and I won't be going next week either, but I'll continue to jog every night.

Man you eat dinner late, I eat it by like 630

I try to go about 3-4 times a week. Def 3. It just helps me clear my mind
And yeah I do, it's just cause of the schedule I have + protein shakes

 

[DoctorInASaree]

Do you guys work out in the evening?
I'll study for like 5-6 hours and hit the gym around 7. By the time i come back It's like 9 + dinner and shower is 9:45. It feels like time flies by after you get back from the gym

I go for a run in the mornings; it's been crazy humid where I live...too hot to go for a run later on in the day.

Not anymore. I used to go to the gym 6 days a week and jog about 2 miles every night. Then I reduced it to 3 days a week and jog every night. Then I reduced it to once a week just so that I don't lose progress plus jog every night, but I haven't been to the gym for the past two weeks and I won't be going next week either, but I'll continue to jog every night.

Man you eat dinner late, I eat it by like 630

Yes, but TexasSurgeon operates under IST - Indian Standard Time 😀😀 Late to parties, late to formal events...late supper.

Did anyone catch my pun? TexasSurgeon... operates. Anyone?

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

I go for a run in the mornings; it's been crazy humid where I live...too hot to go for a run later on in the day.



Yes, but TexasSurgeon operates under IST - Indian Standard Time 😀😀 Late to parties, late to formal events...late supper.

Did anyone catch my pun? TexasSurgeon... operates. Anyone?

Does he also stand at the door for 2 hours saying goodbye? I thought that was another thing?

 

[orangetea]

I try to go about 3-4 times a week. Def 3. It just helps me clear my mind
And yeah I do, it's just cause of the schedule I have + protein shakes

YES. I know what you mean then by them time you're doing absolutely nothing it's 11:30 and you wonder where all that time went. I try going in the mornings sometimes it works out better 🙂

 

[TexasSurgeon]

I go for a run in the mornings; it's been crazy humid where I live...too hot to go for a run later on in the day.



Yes, but TexasSurgeon operates under IST - Indian Standard Time 😀😀 Late to parties, late to formal events...late supper.

Did anyone catch my pun? TexasSurgeon... operates. Anyone?

Does he also stand at the door for 2 hours saying goodbye? I thought that was another thing?

Hahaha you guys are hilarious. LOL @SwedishMD2B that is a thing

YES. I know what you mean then by them time you're doing absolutely nothing it's 11:30 and you wonder where all that time went. I try going in the mornings sometimes it works out better 🙂

Yesssssssssss
Yeah mornings work well for me sometimes as well.

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

Anyone else's EK 101 book fall apart???

I started using this for the first time like a month ago, it was never thrown around or abused. But like the third time I opened the book the first page literally flew out of the book. Now the first 20 pages are not attached to the binding anymore...ITS ALL GOING TO FALL OUT!

How can I fix this!?

 

[mehc012]

Anyone else's EK 101 book fall apart???

I started using this for the first time like a month ago, it was never thrown around or abused. But like the third time I opened the book the first page literally flew out of the book. Now the first 20 pages are not attached to the binding anymore...ITS ALL GOING TO FALL OUT!

How can I fix this!?

When in doubt, Duck Tape
(and no, that is not a typo nor a misconception...there is apparently a fair bit of controversy over 'duct tape' vs 'duck tape', so I just went with the brand name to avoid all of that jazz. Google it if you like procrastinating!)

 

[ymmit]

Thanks for your response! @SwedishMD2B

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Anyone else's EK 101 book fall apart???

I started using this for the first time like a month ago, it was never thrown around or abused. But like the third time I opened the book the first page literally flew out of the book. Now the first 20 pages are not attached to the binding anymore...ITS ALL GOING TO FALL OUT!

How can I fix this!?

Your dog has been sabotaging your materials

 

[mehc012]

Uggghhh why can't I make myself work anymore? I think it's cuz it's so damn hot out. I got 3 hours in this morning (reviewed 4 chapters worth of passages, did EK 1001s for Physics) and then I took a 'short break'...from 3pm until like, 8pm. And now I feel 'ugh' like I would do cruddy work if I did get back into it.
It's just too damn hot in here.

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

Uggghhh why can't I make myself work anymore? I think it's cuz it's so damn hot out. I got 3 hours in this morning (reviewed 4 chapters worth of passages, did EK 1001s for Physics) and then I took a 'short break'...from 3pm until like, 8pm. And now I feel 'ugh' like I would do cruddy work if I did get back into it.
It's just too damn hot in here.

Go to a bookstore!

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

Your dog has been sabotaging your materials

He only took my TBR Bio book! Since I don't use it I leave it on the floor against the wall! The other books are on my desk or backpack

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

When in doubt, Duck Tape
(and no, that is not a typo nor a misconception...there is apparently a fair bit of controversy over 'duct tape' vs 'duck tape', so I just went with the brand name to avoid all of that jazz. Google it if you like procrastinating!)

Lol I always thought Duct tape was the silver aluminum colored tape that you use for Duct work in Home A/C (sorry to talk about A/C) and heating systems. And Duck tape was the grey colored tape used for....fixing everything!

Do I have it wrong?

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Uggghhh why can't I make myself work anymore? I think it's cuz it's so damn hot out. I got 3 hours in this morning (reviewed 4 chapters worth of passages, did EK 1001s for Physics) and then I took a 'short break'...from 3pm until like, 8pm. And now I feel 'ugh' like I would do cruddy work if I did get back into it.
It's just too damn hot in here.

Maybe you should take a que from Nelly

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

So I never watched nor watch music videos, nor do I know what any celebrities look like other than the super-mega-celebrities (Arnold, Angelina, Pitt, Tom Cruise types). And for the longest time I was so impressed by Nelly. Because I thought that Nelly and Nelly Furtado were the same person. And I was so impressed at how versatile she was, to be able to sing pop song like "I'm like a Bird" then go and sing rap/R&B song like "Hot in Here"

 

[mehc012]

Maybe you should take a que from Nelly

See, the reason I've always liked cold better than heat is that you can always add layers, but at some point skin is skin...and it doesn't come off so well.
Aka that was step 1 - I've got the house to myself this week!

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

See, the reason I've always liked cold better than heat is that you can always add layers, but at some point skin is skin...and it doesn't come off so well.
Aka that was step 1 - I've got the house to myself this week!

Exact same reason I love winter, you can actual do something about it if you are cold.

 

[poop420]

Do you guys work out in the evening?
I'll study for like 5-6 hours and hit the gym around 7. By the time i come back It's like 9 + dinner and shower is 9:45. It feels like time flies by after you get back from the gym

Whats you secret ?? It takes me around 8 hours to finish a chapter and that's excluding the verbal work i have to do in a day

 

[mcheung]

Do you guys work out in the evening?
I'll study for like 5-6 hours and hit the gym around 7. By the time i come back It's like 9 + dinner and shower is 9:45. It feels like time flies by after you get back from the gym

I go about 5-6 times a week cause i just love hitting the gym. Great stress reliever!
I find going to the gym at night makes me extremely tired by the time I get home and that my productivity level goes down the drain.
For that reason, i try to go earlier during the day (after breakfast is optimal for me) because I have most energy after a good nights rest and my CNS is not worn out from studying the whole day
Going earlier also helps me "get it out of the way" so i can focus the rest of the day studying and not worrying about whether or not I will have time to work out that day 😛
As my MCAT exam date draws closer, ill probably lessen this to ~3 times a week, but we'll see haha

 

[deleted388502]

Whats you secret ?? It takes me around 8 hours to finish a chapter and that's excluding the verbal work i have to do in a day

I can do a chapter in 2-3 hours. I think it just depends on how in-depth you're going and how solid your undergrad pre-req background is. I personally think it's a waste of time to spend my study time memorizing details within the chapter, and I want to spend more time doing problems from what I've read in the 30+ CBT thread. the info seems basic in terms of background knowledge you need to have, so spend more time analyzing your practice questions, unless you're removed from your pre-reqs or don't remember much.

 

[TBRBiosadist]

Gym 3-5x a week, kickboxing 2-3x a week, run in the mornings. So glad I got ahead a day, my hangover made work terrible and Im collapsing, no way i would be able to crack open an orgo book. Im realizing desprately that I need to make some concise notecards for physics and chem for myself just to get some equations down. @mehc012 your stuff is amazing but it's just to much for me. Thank you though.

 

[TBRBiosadist]

For any of those who have a hard time memorizing the mountain of ochem reactions remember...

https://www.aamc.org/students/download/85566/data/bstopics.pdf

Organic Chemistry begins on page 13, I believe. As you can see, there are quite a few eligible reactions. However, the MCAT cannot ask you to sketch mechanisms step-by-step, and even if you had the time and capacity to commit all those mechanisms to memory, there are so many more efficient ways to use your study time that it would be insensible to try. If by "memorize various reactions" you simply mean be able to predict products from reactants, then yeah, it's probably in your best interest to make an attempt at that. But rather than rote flash-card techniques, try to understand how electrons and atoms "behave" so that you can reason your way through problems rather than try to pick bits and pieces of information out of the swirling tornado of facts that will be your brain come test day. This will enhance your mastery of the material and at the same time dramatically reduce the amount that needs to be memorized. Easier said than done, though, I get it...

The frustrating thing is that while there's a vast amount of material that COULD be covered, organic questions will comprise a small minority of actual exam questions. I don't mean to encourage you to gloss over reactions, but I do think the amount of time typically spent studying them is disproportionate to their importance on the exam. I'd be surpised if more than 2 questions on the whole exam actually required any knowledge at all of reactions. I may get heat for that one, but that's my perception

 

[mehc012]

Gym 3-5x a week, kickboxing 2-3x a week, run in the mornings. So glad I got ahead a day, my hangover made work terrible and Im collapsing, no way i would be able to crack open an orgo book. Im realizing desprately that I need to make some concise notecards for physics and chem for myself just to get some equations down. @mehc012 your stuff is amazing but it's just to much for me. Thank you though.

Haha, I maintained from the beginning that my deck is mostly helpful for my own use...anyone else who gets even a little out of it is just bonus!
I mean, I'm nice and all, but I'm no saint...that deck was made because it is my ONLY form of note-taking and learning. It was never intended to be a quick review, so no worries!
This is what I mean about tagging, though...at first I was tagging all equations (with the super imaginative term 'equations'), but I stopped doing that. If I had continued to do it right, you could just pull all of the eq's out of the deck now, sorry 🙁

 

[TBRBiosadist]

Haha, I maintained from the beginning that my deck is mostly helpful for my own use...anyone else who gets even a little out of it is just bonus!
I mean, I'm nice and all, but I'm no saint...that deck was made because it is my ONLY form of note-taking and learning. It was never intended to be a quick review, so no worries!
This is what I mean about tagging, though...at first I was tagging all equations (with the super imaginative term 'equations'), but I stopped doing that. If I had continued to do it right, you could just pull all of the eq's out of the deck now, sorry 🙁

no probs. Ill benefit more and remember them better if I make it myself anyways

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Whats you secret ?? It takes me around 8 hours to finish a chapter and that's excluding the verbal work i have to do in a day

It takes me a long time as well, but I think I'm gonna start reading much faster. 8 hrs is slightly more than it takes me but still

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

Since you guys are talking about all this gym stuff I decided to weigh myself. Since my physical activity in the past few weeks has gone to zero and I haven't weighed myself in like a month, I was concerned that I probably gained a lot of weight. But phew, I have not gained any weight. Probably because since I am not going to the gym I am not eating my pre- and post-workout meal.

 

[MelloTangelo]

Hey folks! Since we can take the MCAT in Oct/Nov now, I'm thinking of using a modified version of the Sn2ed schedule starting August, and going for it! I just recently graduated, so I have no obligations to worry about, but the last time I tried to study on my own (didn't use the schedule), I crashed and burned haaaard. My folks have been pushing me to take a Kaplan class (they think the structure will be better for someone like me, whose motivation is pretty awful), so I'm trying to easen up SN2ed to make room for this. I don't feel like I can just take the Kaplan course and be done with it, but the Kaplan FLs will be helpful since I used up the AAMC ones.

I was wondering if you guys had any tips and suggestions! How long does a typical day normally take you? What about the re-reading days (I was thinking about dumping these and using the Kaplan course as a refresher)?! I need to definitely get my content down (especially for PS), but it's just balancing it all that's tough!

Best of luck studying, folks!

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Since you guys are talking about all this gym stuff I decided to weigh myself. Since my physical activity in the past few weeks has gone to zero and I haven't weighed myself in like a month, I was concerned that I probably gained a lot of weight. But phew, I have not gained any weight. Probably because since I am not going to the gym I am not eating my pre- and post-workout meal.

What is your pre/post meal?

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Hey folks! Since we can take the MCAT in Oct/Nov now, I'm thinking of using a modified version of the Sn2ed schedule starting August, and going for it! I just recently graduated, so I have no obligations to worry about, but the last time I tried to study on my own (didn't use the schedule), I crashed and burned haaaard. My folks have been pushing me to take a Kaplan class (they think the structure will be better for someone like me, whose motivation is pretty awful), so I'm trying to easen up SN2ed to make room for this. I don't feel like I can just take the Kaplan course and be done with it, but the Kaplan FLs will be helpful since I used up the AAMC ones.

I was wondering if you guys had any tips and suggestions! How long does a typical day normally take you? What about the re-reading days (I was thinking about dumping these and using the Kaplan course as a refresher)?! I need to definitely get my content down (especially for PS), but it's just balancing it all that's tough!

Best of luck studying, folks!

Tips? Don't lose motivation. Expect long hours. Don't lose motivation

 

[orangetea]

Hey folks! Since we can take the MCAT in Oct/Nov now, I'm thinking of using a modified version of the Sn2ed schedule starting August, and going for it! I just recently graduated, so I have no obligations to worry about, but the last time I tried to study on my own (didn't use the schedule), I crashed and burned haaaard. My folks have been pushing me to take a Kaplan class (they think the structure will be better for someone like me, whose motivation is pretty awful), so I'm trying to easen up SN2ed to make room for this. I don't feel like I can just take the Kaplan course and be done with it, but the Kaplan FLs will be helpful since I used up the AAMC ones.

I was wondering if you guys had any tips and suggestions! How long does a typical day normally take you? What about the re-reading days (I was thinking about dumping these and using the Kaplan course as a refresher)?! I need to definitely get my content down (especially for PS), but it's just balancing it all that's tough!

Best of luck studying, folks!

I am going to be super honest but this is just my opinion and experience 🙂 When I first graduated I too took a prerp course because I just thought there was now way I would be able to teach all this stuff to myself. What I don't like about a prep course is that I would spend time trying to to "keep up with the course" as in read assigned chapters go to class and take notes and come back again doing it all over. I didn't feel like I was gaining anything really. The time I spent taking notes I could have been studying on my own. Now with that said I am usually really good at motivating myself and sticking to a schedule.

This schedule takes A LOT of self motivation and persistence because idk if it's just me and others can attest but it's really hard at the beginning, there are some really long chapters, and it's super easy to fall behind. You really have to be on top of things.

If you think that a course can help why don't you take it see how it is and you can always just use their prep material and come back to S2ned 🙂

 

[MelloTangelo]

Tips? Don't lose motivation. Expect long hours. Don't lose motivation

Haha...a tough task indeed, but I'll be doing my best! I'm somewhat optimistic!

I am going to be super honest but this is just my opinion and experience 🙂 When I first graduated I too took a prerp course because I just thought there was now way I would be able to teach all this stuff to myself. What I don't like about a prep course is that I would spend time trying to to "keep up with the course" as in read assigned chapters go to class and take notes and come back again doing it all over. I didn't feel like I was gaining anything really. The time I spent taking notes I could have been studying on my own. Now with that said I am usually really good at motivating myself and sticking to a schedule.

This schedule takes A LOT of self motivation and persistence because idk if it's just me and others can attest but it's really hard at the beginning, there are some really long chapters, and it's super easy to fall behind. You really have to be on top of things.

If you think that a course can help why don't you take it see how it is and you can always just use their prep material and come back to S2ned 🙂

I've heard that a -lot-, and to be honest, I'm not a lecture-based learner. I rarely paid attention in college lectures because they did nothing for me, and I always learned my material going through my notes + book to clear up some concepts (usually only some four-five days before the test). I messed up majorly the first time I tried to study because I literally shut myself up in my room for the entire summer, and it was so -depressing-. I plan on getting out of the house for studying this time around, but knowing myself, I'm just worried that if I don't end up having some form of structure, it'll get all messed up again! Also, I was thinking that instead of using the Kaplan material, I would probably just do 2/3 of the Berkeley review questions corresponding to that chapter (since I should have already read that by the time the class starts!).

I'll be starting some form of SN2ed in August, but my MCAT class wouldn't be until September. That's the plan right now, but who knows, maybe if SN2ed goes well, I'll drop the MCAT course!

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

What is your pre/post meal?

Pre-1 scoop whey + oatmeal with banana or something like that.
Post-3/4 scoop whey + 3/4 scoop casein plus some almonds and PB&J with white bread and some almonds

 

[deleted388502]

Haha...a tough task indeed, but I'll be doing my best! I'm somewhat optimistic!



I've heard that a -lot-, and to be honest, I'm not a lecture-based learner. I rarely paid attention in college lectures because they did nothing for me, and I always learned my material going through my notes + book to clear up some concepts (usually only some four-five days before the test). I messed up majorly the first time I tried to study because I literally shut myself up in my room for the entire summer, and it was so -depressing-. I plan on getting out of the house for studying this time around, but knowing myself, I'm just worried that if I don't end up having some form of structure, it'll get all messed up again! Also, I was thinking that instead of using the Kaplan material, I would probably just do 2/3 of the Berkeley review questions corresponding to that chapter (since I should have already read that by the time the class starts!).

I'll be starting some form of SN2ed in August, but my MCAT class wouldn't be until September. That's the plan right now, but who knows, maybe if SN2ed goes well, I'll drop the MCAT course!

Don't take a prep course! It's like paying a grand to have someone motivate you. Might as well hire someone to yell at you to study at that point lol. I'm not a lecture learner at all either and TBR books blow Kaplan out of the water in my opinion. The only other thing a course offers I think is a support group of people in the same boat and access to someone who can help you with questions...which I think you can get on sdn anyway.

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Don't take a prep course! It's like paying a grand to have someone motivate you. Might as well hire someone to yell at you to study at that point lol. I'm not a lecture learner at all either and TBR books blow Kaplan out of the water in my opinion. The only other thing a course offers I think is a support group of people in the same boat and access to someone who can help you with questions...which I think you can get on sdn anyway.

You guys are my support group 😍

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Pre-1 scoop whey + oatmeal with banana or something like that.
Post-3/4 scoop whey + 3/4 scoop casein plus some almonds and PB&J with white bread and some almonds

This is pretty clean! I'm gonna get some white bread for the PBJ as well
I use a mass gainer protein powder though, since it's super hard for me to gain weight

 

[orangetea]

This is pretty clean! I'm gonna get some white bread for the PBJ as well
I use a mass gainer protein powder though, since it's super hard for me to gain weight

I make chocolate chip pancakes 😀

 

[DoctorInASaree]

I make chocolate chip pancakes 😀

I make samosas.

Hm...Samosa with chocolate chips? 😕 Could that be a thing? Is it a thing?

Five minute break over! Back to studying!😉

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

This is pretty clean! I'm gonna get some white bread for the PBJ as well
I use a mass gainer protein powder though, since it's super hard for me to gain weight

It's easy for me to gain weight when I am not working out, in other words gain fat. However, when I am consistently working out it's almost impossible for me to gain weight, I have to eat about 3600-4000 calories to gain weight very slowly. So, I just eat clean, but eat a lot. Those serious mass products are way too expensive, I can't justify the cost.

 

[TexasSurgeon]

I make samosas.

Hm...Samosa with chocolate chips? 😕 Could that be a thing? Is it a thing?

Five minute break over! Back to studying!😉

Holy crap. You should make a "samosa" of cookie dough

 

[mehc012]

I hate verbal. Hate hate hate.
I'm not even doing that badly, I'm just...not doing well. I really need a very very good score, and if my VR stays in the 10 range, that's not really possible. And that's IF I don't get a fluke set of passages like today's which just destroyed me.

 

[TexasSurgeon]

It's easy for me to gain weight when I am not working out, in other words gain fat. However, when I am consistently working out it's almost impossible for me to gain weight, I have to eat about 3600-4000 calories to gain weight very slowly. So, I just eat clean, but eat a lot. Those serious mass products are way too expensive, I can't justify the cost.

Google allstarhealth. Great company and their products are well priced

 

[orangetea]

I hate verbal. Hate hate hate.
I'm not even doing that badly, I'm just...not doing well. I really need a very very good score, and if my VR stays in the 10 range, that's not really possible. And that's IF I don't get a fluke set of passages like today's which just destroyed me.

I hate that scores are HIGHLY dependent on accuracy especially for verbal =/

 

[deleted388502]

one strategy that works well for me on verbal (granted i'm no expert and am scoring in the same range, but when i am consciously employing it it serves me well) - skim over the passages so you understand it (as if you were reading a normal article tbh) and then use the questions to get further understanding, but when you're on those annoying questions when you're between two answers, think about which one is more likely to be NOT correct.

that helps me a lot because i find that the questions i get wrong are the ones where i'm in between two, or ones that i was totally sure on and didn't even bother looking at twice (i'm looking at you TPR verbal passage 33)

 

[deleted388502]

also, don't psych yourself out about getting a good score!!! do your best. keep practicing, realize it's just one test and your life will go on no matter what and you WILL get into medical school - i find the pressure causes me to do far more poorly than just doing my best.
i love BR's motto - "if you study it, it will come!" (thinking about getting that tattooed at some point, seriously...)

 

[mehc012]

I have like a 3.2. If I don't do exceptionally well on the MCAT, I will NOT get into medical school. Just the way the game plays.
I'm the opposite with pressure, though...I not only perform better under pressure, but I am way way happier when under pressure.
I'm mostly weirded out, because I am usually a really, really good standardized test taker. I have never taken a standardized test (SATs, APs, etc) or series thereof where I haven't gotten the highest possible score, without trying or studying. So it's utterly confounding to me that I'm doing 'well' after putting in effort for once in my life.