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
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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.

 

[ayocaptain628]

btw, 2 questions about tbr physics ch 10.

1) why nearsightedness = concave lens and farsightedness = convex lens?
i dont understand conceptually y these diff lenses correct the issues

2) TBR Physics Ch 10 Question 51:
i have absolutely no idea what this question is asking nor do i understand the answer explanation

i understand, from irl experience, that polarizer has diff effects depending on its orientation and that perpendicularly, the screen will turn dark

but what does it mean by the plastic is a semi-polarizer and reflects and refracts light differently according to EM wave's orientation?

 

[TBRBiosadist]

On phone currently so I can answer #2, but number one is easy.

Near sightedness they are great at having image focused on retina as object is close . As object moves farther away their lens does not change, so the image gets closer to the lens, making it focus in front of the retina, the convex lens moves the image back to the retina
The opposite is true for farsightedness, they are focused with objects far away. As the object moves closer their lens the image migrates farther away from the lens, behind the retina, so they need a converging lens to move the image back to the retina

 

[TBRBiosadist]

I swear I took stupid pills before today's 3/3s. If I make one more stupid mistake Im going to have to go for a run before I go to sleep because Ill just be too angry at myself

 

[Rypto]

.

 

[Dreamstoo]

Is it just me or does it seem like the TBR Organic Chem book goes way too much in depth? Also I thought that starting in Chapter 1, they skip some very important fundamentals. I have the TPR Organic Chem book and I feel like that one is so much more reader friendly and easier to understand. I don't know why everyone recommends the TBR book so much when it goes so much in depth even though the OChem on the BS section is like 30% of the section.

Friend who got a 35 and did SN2 personally said if you have the time do TBR orgo and if you don't think you do substitute it with TPR Orgo.

 

[Rypto]

.

 

[TBRBiosadist]

I guess I'll give TBR another shot, hopefully the rest of the book is not all over the place like Chapter 1.

It supposedly is only 30%, but It can be far more, and if its on a topic you are unfamiliar with it can really kill your score. Book II of orgo is both the most important because it is actually dealing with alot of the reactions you will encounter. Book I is mostly background

 

[namesthegame21]

First, let me begin by recognizing that there are people in this thread that live by Anki, and it is working well for them. However, I am not one of those people. With that being said....

But..but you have suggested Anki in so many previous posts??

 

[poop420]

But..but you have suggested Anki in so many previous posts??

Trust me by the end of your 3 months studying you will change and evolve your study plan more than once... Studying for this exam is personal so you have to fool around with different things to see what works for you .. She might have started off with anki like I did and noticed that it didnt give enough results to justify the time it takes making the cards. Or just memorizing is ok but fully grasping the information is much better.. We all evolve and changes what works best for us over a period of time.. Hope this helps GOOD LUCK! *and @mehc012 & @TexasSurgeon Both are big anki users so If you have any questions you can shoot them a pm. mehc has a really good thread laying out the basics

 

[TBRBiosadist]

Trust me by the end of your 3 months studying you will change and evolve your study plan more than once... Studying for this exam is personal so you have to fool around with different things to see what works for you .. She might have started off with anki like I did and noticed that it didnt give enough results to justify the time it takes making the cards. Or just memorizing is ok but fully grasping the information is much better.. We all evolve and changes what works best for us over a period of time.. Hope this helps GOOD LUCK! *and @mehc012 & @TexasSurgeon Both are big anki users so If you have any questions you can shoot them a pm. mehc has a really good thread laying out the basics

For me anki just serves the purpose of a memory hint if I forget a random fact or equation. Usually go through my "forgetfulness deck" night before a FL.

 

[poop420]

I found out actually questioning every word of the TBR to be the most beneficial in retaining memory .. For example its all good and safe knowing that diene like (EDG) in a diels-Alder reaction but If you know why it makes alot more sense and easier to recall.. So be like thomas griffin

 

[TBRBiosadist]

I found out actually questioning every word of the TBR to be the most beneficial in retaining memory .. For example its all good and safe knowing that diene like (EDG) in a diels-Alder reaction but If you know why it makes alot more sense and easier to recall.. So be like thomas griffin

In general, the more you know why these reactions occur, the less you have to know.

 

[TBRBiosadist]

And with further thought I have come to the decission that I will shift my FL one day back instead of taking it tomorrow morning......because I have yet to take an FL with more than 5 hours of sleep and Im curious at how well I will do at 7-9 hours of sleep

 

[poop420]

And with further thought I have come to the decission that I will shift my FL one day back instead of taking it tomorrow morning......because I have yet to take an FL with more than 5 hours of sleep and Im curious at how well I will do at 7-9 hours of sleep

Is the sadist actually taking care of himself for once ??... Thats good man give your self a break you sure deserve it . And no greasy foods as well ..

 

[pbrocks15]

My research professors wants me to write out a research paper styled lab report of what we've done over the summer.....

 

[ayocaptain628]

答えた

 

[JMMTB]

btw, 2 questions about tbr physics ch 10.

2) TBR Physics Ch 10 Question 51:
i have absolutely no idea what this question is asking nor do i understand the answer explanation

i understand, from irl experience, that polarizer has diff effects depending on its orientation and that perpendicularly, the screen will turn dark

but what does it mean by the plastic is a semi-polarizer and reflects and refracts light differently according to EM wave's orientation?

A polarizer always cuts ambient light to 1/2 its original intensity because every light wave can be split up into x and y components. Regardless of direction the polarizer is it will always be 1/2.
Then the second part of the question states that we have ambient light and light reflected off of a plastic surface. So of the ambient light the polarizer will cut it down to 1/2 but we also have the polarized light off of the plastic. When light hits a surface it can reflect or refract. Some of the reflected light will be polarized parallel to the plane of the surface (horizontal if plastic is on the ground in front of us). This is why we use polarized sunglasses. Light reflects off of the road or water and has more lightwaves parallel to the surface plane. The glasses would then have the polarizers oriented such that only the vertical component passes through.

 

[ayocaptain628]

A polarizer always cuts ambient light to 1/2 its original intensity because every light wave can be split up into x and y components. Regardless of direction the polarizer is it will always be 1/2.
Then the second part of the question states that we have ambient light and light reflected off of a plastic surface. So of the ambient light the polarizer will cut it down to 1/2 but we also have the polarized light off of the plastic. When light hits a surface it can reflect or refract. Some of the reflected light will be polarized parallel to the plane of the surface (horizontal if plastic is on the ground in front of us). This is why we use polarized sunglasses. Light reflects off of the road or water and has more lightwaves parallel to the surface plane. The glasses would then have the polarizers oriented such that only the vertical component passes through.

Fantastic explanation ty! Wen is ur exam?

 

[JMMTB]

I'm signed up for Jan but really want to switch to a sooner time so I can focus on fall classes, but can't seem to pick a date yet. I've done content review (but still need more physiology) and am planning on taking my first practice test Friday to gauge where I'm at.

 

[MrTaco92]

So what are everyone's thoughts on aamc 3 compared to the other aamc FL's? I feel like I've read some mixed opinions on it. Some people say aamc 3 is the easiest, and others say your score will generally improve after aamc 3. I did better than I expected to in the sciences but I'm still hoping for a higher score on the real deal.

 

[Sed8&Intub8]

So what are everyone's thoughts on aamc 3 compared to the other aamc FL's? I feel like I've read some mixed opinions on it. Some people say aamc 3 is the easiest, and others say your score will generally improve after aamc 3. I did better than I expected to in the sciences but I'm still hoping for a higher score on the real deal.

I thought it was the easiest but my score improved afterwards.

 

[sillyjoe]

So what are everyone's thoughts on aamc 3 compared to the other aamc FL's? I feel like I've read some mixed opinions on it. Some people say aamc 3 is the easiest, and others say your score will generally improve after aamc 3. I did better than I expected to in the sciences but I'm still hoping for a higher score on the real deal.

I thought PS was decently on par...maybe a little easier. The verbal section was definitely challenging. The bio section was a joke.

 

[valkener]

TBR is generally the most time-intensive but if you have the time, it will pay off. If you compare it to exercise it would be like running 10k while being used to 5k. Don't despair if TBR comes across as too hard, rather use it as an opportunity and get a more realistic assessment with the full-length AAMC tests (on average). Honestly if you do that you shouldn't be surprised when you get your final MCAT score.

 

[ayocaptain628]

are there any other study guides online/notes that previous SDNers have shared
like mcat-review that go thru each aamc outline bullet point and expand on it?

(wondering b/c the mcat study guide that valkener has in sig is not in order)

 

[orangetea]

are there any other study guides online/notes that previous SDNers have shared
like mcat-review that go thru each aamc outline bullet point and expand on it?

(wondering b/c the mcat study guide that valkener has in sig is not in order)

are you talking about something like this ?
http://mcat-review.org/

I also use the Kaplan quick sheets to review before each FL.. that's been helpful!

 

[ayocaptain628]

are you talking about something like this ?
http://mcat-review.org/

I also use the Kaplan quick sheets to review before each FL.. that's been helpful!

ya i figured theres lots of ppl on here whove already taken their exam
maybe some other people posted their notes according to aamc outlines??

 

[ramires]

Postponed till january will be ready with 7 months of mcat studying ... I had to postpone cause travel arrangements didnt work out, and the closest open seats are in Jan, talk about pros and cons ...
Will go through BR again with anki this time and osmosis along the way... What other thoughts do you guys have ?

 

[pbrocks15]

Postponed till january will be ready with 7 months of mcat studying ... I had to postpone cause travel arrangements didnt work out, and the closest open seats are in Jan, talk about pros and cons ...
Will go through BR again with anki this time and osmosis along the way... What other thoughts do you guys have ?

If my AAMC scores don't go up I will be either moving it to October or January. I hesitate to move it to January myself because I am afraid of not being able to retake it. Do you have that fear or you know your going in there full force?

 

[pbrocks15]

Also, how long does it take everyone to read the passages, on average, in verbal?

 

[ayocaptain628]

doing TBR phys ch 9 for my sn2 day today...omg this capacitance stuff is annihilating me
i think i only got 6/25 questions right on the passages

all this "after switch X" business is confusing me,
is there another source that deals w/hypothetical scenarios like this?

taking a break before i do the next 52 q...

 

[Rhino1000]

And with further thought I have come to the decission that I will shift my FL one day back instead of taking it tomorrow morning......because I have yet to take an FL with more than 5 hours of sleep and Im curious at how well I will do at 7-9 hours of sleep

Yeah, if you got a 45 on 5 hours of sleep, who can dream of the possibilities at 8?

 

[Lokkja]

This bio intensive focusing is paying off I think - I've been going through TBR bio and averaging 75-80% compared to the 50% I was getting before.

 

[deleted388502]

Postponed till january will be ready with 7 months of mcat studying ... I had to postpone cause travel arrangements didnt work out, and the closest open seats are in Jan, talk about pros and cons ...
Will go through BR again with anki this time and osmosis along the way... What other thoughts do you guys have ?

You're gonna kill it ramires!
I feel like if I was to push to January and had 7 months to study I would want to make sure that I was keeping myself accountable for those 7 months, I think the reason I don't want to push that long if at possible is because my self discipline is not great enough for me to keep up with studying, school, work, extracurricular activities, etc. So make a plan that works for you and stick to it.
Talked to a friend last night who told me she crammed for her MCAT retake in three weeks before her test and had her score go up 7 points and it motivated the **** out of me because I think that's the style of studying that works best for me - so really think about what style of studying that's best for you. I really learn best in the 12 hour marathon study sessions where I am living, breathing, IMMERSED in the material and the exam. Obviously you can't cram for this exam in such a short period of time, but cater to what study style has worked for you in the past.
Can't wait to see you destroy in January!

 

[Mantis__TobogganMD]

Also, how long does it take everyone to read the passages, on average, in verbal?

I try to read and annotate the passage in 2.5 minutes, leaving 5.5 for the questions.

 

[MelloTangelo]

Day three, done! Kinda'. Going through the O-Chem chapter was a loooot smoother than a lot of people made it sound, and while my averages for the passages don't seem to get any better (I did fine on all but one passage, which killed me [I thought it was an easy passage too...]), I felt a lot more confident handling this material than those pesky densities and mass percentages. Speaking of that, I took the wrong book to the library, so I had to do my Chemistry review at home. Thaaaaaaaat was not good, and due to lack of focus (and a growing headache), I figured I'll finish up my review tomorrow morning.

I am so ready for Bio day...!! That's my thiiiiiing (that, and I already read this chapter two-three weeks ago, so I'll just give it a skim).

 

[TBRBiosadist]

Get ready to be murdered

 

[Lokkja]

I am so ready for Bio day...!! That's my thiiiiiing (that, and I already read this chapter two-three weeks ago, so I'll just give it a skim).

TBR BIO destoyed me so much so that I stopped using EK and switched to TPR which helped - don't get discouraged if it happens to you, I know people with 13-14's on BS who got ~60% the first time around with TBR.

 

[sharkbyte]

Get ready to be murdered

AAMC 10?

 

[TBRBiosadist]

AAMC 10?

No it was @MelloTangelo first bio day, aamc 10 tomorrow for me

 

[ayocaptain628]

yay! done w/electricity and electric circuits, defo need to relook some stuff over tho
horrible average on all passages

 

[MelloTangelo]

Get ready to be murdered

TBR BIO destoyed me so much so that I stopped using EK and switched to TPR which helped - don't get discouraged if it happens to you, I know people with 13-14's on BS who got ~60% the first time around with TBR.

I've heard the horror stories! I'm just trying to stay optimistic! I did a few passages before I went on holiday, and even though I scored like a 60% (that's my score on all of my TBR passages, it seems), I felt pretty comfortable with the material. But that's probably 'cause I'm used to studying cells/proteins/DNA. That physiology is probably gonna' kill me, though....those hormones!!

 

[lazyindy]

how long does it take everyone here to read each BR chapter? I just started SN2ed method today and decided to focus on my weaknesses first based on TPR1 and AAMC 3. The thermochemistry chapter in BR gen chem was really dense. Or it could just be that I'm reading too slowly.

And do you guys time each of the individual 1/3 passages you do or just take it all timed at once? For example, I set my timer to 21 mins for passages 1,4, and 7 of the thermochemistry chapter. (7 mins each passage) Going to work towards 6 by the end of the week.

 

[pbrocks15]

I've heard the horror stories! I'm just trying to stay optimistic! I did a few passages before I went on holiday, and even though I scored like a 60% (that's my score on all of my TBR passages, it seems), I felt pretty comfortable with the material. But that's probably 'cause I'm used to studying cells/proteins/DNA. That physiology is probably gonna' kill me, though....those hormones!!

What I would do differently if I had the chance regarding TBR is get a full understanding of the material. I think I feel behind in content because I wasn't reading to really understand, I was relying more on memory. Huge mistake, and its haunting me now. Although I remember unnecessary facts from TBR they are not helpful and a general understanding of a concept can help much more.

When you read through the chapters don't allow yourself to get to the bottom of the page and say "What did I just read?"

Do a through review of the passages though, that is of the utmost importance. This is where you get to see what information is more relevant and how they tend to ask these questions.

 

[pbrocks15]

how long does it take everyone here to read each BR chapter? I just started SN2ed method today and decided to focus on my weaknesses first based on TPR1 and AAMC 3. The thermochemistry chapter in BR gen chem was really dense. Or it could just be that I'm reading too slowly.

And do you guys time each of the individual 1/3 passages you do or just take it all timed at once? For example, I set my timer to 21 mins for passages 1,4, and 7 of the thermochemistry chapter. (7 mins each passage) Going to work towards 6 by the end of the week.

I dig your avatar, I love Fight Club. I don't know if it's weird but that movie gives me so much motivation. Brad Pitt is also an amazing actor, I love all his movies.

To answer your question, it probably took me 2 or 3 hours to read a chapter, sometimes longer if its was 50+ pages. Some here read much quicker than I do, I tend to read slowly to prevent myself from missing any information. Although this attention to detail is good, it might not be necessary. You may be fine reading through the chapters at a normal rate if you are able to stay with the concepts and not "just move on because you'll understand it later."

I know a handful of the people here didn't time their 1st 1/3. I timed it from 8:30 minutes to 7 minutes by the time I got around to the 2nd 1/3. Time yourself if you believe it will not hinder your performance, that's my opinion. Early on I found myself dwelling too long on certain questions and this CAN'T happen to you. That is when I began to go back and see why I couldn't get that question quicker. The MCAT doesn't just test knowledge, it tests your ability to perform under pressure.

 

[deleted388502]

"it's only after you've lost everything that you're free to do anything. nothing is static, everything is evolving, everything is falling apart"

damn now I wanna go watch fight club tonight. thanks @lazyindy.

 

[poop420]

Listen up, maggots. You are not special. You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake. You're the same decaying organic matter as everything else. Ha Ha my movie!

 

[poop420]

how long does it take everyone here to read each BR chapter? I just started SN2ed method today and decided to focus on my weaknesses first based on TPR1 and AAMC 3. The thermochemistry chapter in BR gen chem was really dense. Or it could just be that I'm reading too slowly.

And do you guys time each of the individual 1/3 passages you do or just take it all timed at once? For example, I set my timer to 21 mins for passages 1,4, and 7 of the thermochemistry chapter. (7 mins each passage) Going to work towards 6 by the end of the week.

It takes me around 8 hours to get through a chapter, I read and write notes on the side of the pages like crazy. If they bring up something that I might not be too strong on such as bond dissociation energy when talking about free radical mechanism, I would go back to that chapter and do a full read up on that.. I also do mini review each day to keep the information fresh ... What I have been noticing is too many people trying to keep up with this schedule at the cost of not fully understanding what the chapter is saying ... I try and approach every paragraph like a verbal essay , ask why do they say that how does this fit in ??

 

[pbrocks15]

It takes me around 8 hours to get through a chapter, I read and write notes on the side of the pages like crazy. If they bring up something that I might not be too strong on such as bond dissociation energy when talking about free radical mechanism, I would go back to that chapter and do a full read up on that.. I also do mini review each day to keep the information fresh ... What I have been noticing is too many people trying to keep up with this schedule at the cost of not fully understanding what the chapter is saying ... I try and approach every paragraph like a verbal essay , ask why do they say that how does this fit in ??

This is the way to go my friend. Listen to this advice @lazyindy

 

[poop420]

I also like to write summaries of the break down of each passage .. I find it a little better than keeping a Book because I didnt have to freak out about leaving information out because I could just quickly scan the chapter to see if I left anything out

 

[ayocaptain628]

how long does it take everyone here to read each BR chapter? I just started SN2ed method today and decided to focus on my weaknesses first based on TPR1 and AAMC 3. The thermochemistry chapter in BR gen chem was really dense. Or it could just be that I'm reading too slowly.

And do you guys time each of the individual 1/3 passages you do or just take it all timed at once? For example, I set my timer to 21 mins for passages 1,4, and 7 of the thermochemistry chapter. (7 mins each passage) Going to work towards 6 by the end of the week.

yay another sn2d starter!