SN2'd first day

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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
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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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Motivational speaking always angers me, for some reason.
Me a bit as well. It is also the opposite of what I need. Encouragement at best does nothing and at worse pisses me off and makes me self consciousness. Now if someone calls me a worthless piece of crap and challenges me, demeans me, and attempts to tell me I cant do something, is when I get stuff done and I can feel the fire inside me grow.
 
Me a bit as well. It is also the opposite of what I need. Encouragement at best does nothing and at worse pisses me off and makes me self consciousness. Now if someone calls me a worthless piece of crap and challenges me, demeans me, and attempts to tell me I cant do something, is when I get stuff done and I can feel the fire inside me grow.
I'll drink to that.
 
Me a bit as well. It is also the opposite of what I need. Encouragement at best does nothing and at worse pisses me off and makes me self consciousness. Now if someone calls me a worthless piece of crap and challenges me, demeans me, and attempts to tell me I cant do something, is when I get stuff done and I can feel the fire inside me grow.

I don't mind motivational speeches. But yeah, tell me I can't do something, and watch me do it and shove it in your face.
 
400 flashcards later

tumblr_inline_n8tbipApb81r79k32.gif
 
You know what? Screw it. I have a lot I want to get done extra and no time to do. Its all nighter time! I've only had 200mg of caffeine today so as long as I stay under 800mg more I'll be good. #whoneedssleepanways #restisfortheweak
 
i wonder...

Is there anyone who followed this schedule (maybe not perfectly) but still used the TBR stuff and all and ended up NOT scoring below a 30? or just ended up doing worse than they expected??
 
THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION QUEENJAMES. I FEEL THAT THIS SCHEDULE IS SET UP SPECIFICALLY SO THAT YOU MUST APPLY YOURSELF TO FOLLOW AND ARE BOTH USED TO EXPECTING QUESTIONS OF HIGH DIFFICULTY. I COULD POSSIBLY SEE A 29 OR A 28 FROM SOMEONE FOLLOWING THIS SCHEDULE BUT HONESTLY COULD NOT SEE MUCH LOWER IF SOMEONE ACTUALLY FULLY APPLIED THEMSELVES. WORSE THAN EXPECTED IS NORMAL

EDIT:IM ASSUMING THAT YOU MEAN NOT SCORING ABOVE A 30, NOT BELOW

EDITEDEDIT:HOWCOULDIEVERSLEEPWITHTHESEBRUTALDROPSBLASTINGMYPREFRONTALCORTEXWITHTHEIRTASTYDELICIOUSNESS
 
THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION QUEENJAMES. I FEEL THAT THIS SCHEDULE IS SET UP SPECIFICALLY SO THAT YOU MUST APPLY YOURSELF TO FOLLOW AND ARE BOTH USED TO EXPECTING QUESTIONS OF HIGH DIFFICULTY. I COULD POSSIBLY SEE A 29 OR A 28 FROM SOMEONE FOLLOWING THIS SCHEDULE BUT HONESTLY COULD NOT SEE MUCH LOWER IF SOMEONE ACTUALLY FULLY APPLIED THEMSELVES. WORSE THAN EXPECTED IS NORMAL

EDIT:IM ASSUMING THAT YOU MEAN NOT SCORING ABOVE A 30, NOT BELOW

EDITEDEDIT:HOWCOULDIEVERSLEEPWITHTHESEBRUTALDROPSBLASTINGMYPREFRONTALCORTEXWITHTHEIRTASTYDELICIOUSNESS

i take it you got that caffeine in your system lol right on bro!
 
I'm not actually a motivational speaker in any capacity; just providing some friendly nudges. I think Swedish was simply complimenting me 😛

Anyways, happy studying today everyone!:flame:
Haha, I'm aware. I'm just not the 'friendly nudge' type. It makes me all awkward and off-kilter.
But then, that was probably unnecessary to point out, as you were helping and Swedish was being nice...no need to inject my awkward into the situation.
My apologies.
 
There's this cute girl at my gym, but I've only seen her like 2 times. Anyway I think she seems interested but I realized yesterday evening that I don't wanna/can't really pursue it because of all the mcat/school stuff I've got to work with. So that's gonna suck because I have to somehow act like I'm not interested now
 
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There's this cute girl at my gym, but I've only seen her like 2 times. Anyway I think she seems interested but I realized yesterday evening that I don't wanna/can't really pursue it because of all the mcat/school stuff I've got to work with. So that's gonna suck because I have to somehow act like I'm not interested


LOL. I NEVER understood how guys find girls attractive at the gym. I am usually at the gym running like...

a40.gif
 
Also, I am going psychotic over content review. I feel like if I miss even one question, I somehow don't have the concepts down right. I think it's because the pressure is increasing after being in the sn2 schedule for so long but whatever it is, it's motivating me to fix everything
 
Also, I am going psychotic over content review. I feel like if I miss even one question, I somehow don't have the concepts down right. I think it's because the pressure is increasing after being in the sn2 schedule for so long but whatever it is, it's motivating me to fix everything

Then you go take the exam and realize it wasn't even about content. FML
 
LOL. I NEVER understood how guys find girls attractive at the gym. I am usually at the gym running like...

a40.gif
LOL
you would be surprised how many guys find that attractive

also my gym is packed chock-full of workaholics. Everyone at my gym is involved in the field of investment banking, lawyers, scientists, MDs, grad students, random college students, board of executives, etc.

Then you go take the exam and realize it wasn't even about content. FML
But having a solid conceptual background helps tremendously. After a point though, it has diminishing returns if you have no real reading comprehension ability though.
 
oh I was talking about the AAMC practice exams. I feel like none of it is necessarily content based you know? Like maybe the free standing questions. Otherwise I feel like you can figure things out from the passage. I could be wrong in this observation doe 😀

I think its an accurate observation.
 
There's this cute girl at my gym, but I've only seen her like 2 times. Anyway I think she seems interested but I realized yesterday evening that I don't wanna/can't really pursue it because of all the mcat/school stuff I've got to work with. So that's gonna suck because I have to somehow act like I'm not interested

Duuudeee... You should totally ask her to spot you lolzz keep her on reserve for after your mcat! That's gonna be a lonnnggg month.
 
There's this cute girl at my gym, but I've only seen her like 2 times. Anyway I think she seems interested but I realized yesterday evening that I don't wanna/can't really pursue it because of all the mcat/school stuff I've got to work with. So that's gonna suck because I have to somehow act like I'm not interested

Study breaks are important...
 
There's this cute girl at my gym, but I've only seen her like 2 times. Anyway I think she seems interested but I realized yesterday evening that I don't wanna/can't really pursue it because of all the mcat/school stuff I've got to work with. So that's gonna suck because I have to somehow act like I'm not interested
Should you even be asking this question bro? #Greenlight 👍
 
Which do you guys generally think is easier to deal with for you personally: a really hard PS or a really hard BS? Just curious
 
Also, I am going psychotic over content review. I feel like if I miss even one question, I somehow don't have the concepts down right. I think it's because the pressure is increasing after being in the sn2 schedule for so long but whatever it is, it's motivating me to fix everything

I feel like I need to contribute to the "GIFs" in this thread: here goes...

tumblr_m9dl1xFKMJ1qifzwao2_250.gif

That's what I picture in my head whenever I get one or several questions wrong. It really irks me! I take comfort in knowing that no one has scored a 45 in the last ten years (correct me if I'm wrong). I'll settle for reaching the asymptote of perfection. 🙂
 
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?
 
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?

R ones are the old format, so longer, more questions and passages.

No the exams should be the same
 
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