Successful Self-Prep for the MCAT??? (Is it possible)

[Jamaican MD]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi SDN 🙂

I was just wondering if anyone was successful at preparing for the MCAT WITHOUT the aid of a prep course. (List scores please)If so, what study materials did you use?

If you are against this, please shae why you feel that way

Thanks!

 

[petersongator]

I did well without any prep course at all. I just got the practice tests from the AAMC and a big book from Kaplan (which had tons of errors, btw, so be careful). My scores were 11B, 11V, and 12P.

 

[JM.]

I self-prepped for about three weeks with kapland and some practice tests and got a 30 S.

 

[ilovetexas]

If I had to do it all over, I would totally forego the prep classes and pocket the $1300. I ended up skipping them all the time to go study for the 2.5 hrs. In that same amount of time, I got sooo much more done. Only do this however, if you have self- discipline and are willing to get your **** done, and want to go on mad shopping spree. weee!!!
Good luck!

 

[aquaboy]

I didn't take a review course and did well enough that now I am teaching the Princeton Review making the big bucks. Ha, ha they are paying me now. When I prepped I got a bunch of practice tests and some review books and spent about 10 hrs./week for about 3 months studying.

 

[jennie 21]

I have a friend who studied by herself and got a 39-41...but she is REALLY smart and very disciplined...she's not the norm. Most people, in my opinion, will do better with a prep course. If you really have the discipline to study by yourself it can work, but most people don't. I took the Princeton Review and went from a 24 on the first diagnostic (granted I hadn't done any review at this point) to a 38-40 on the actual thing. In my opinion, money well spent, unless you're extremely disciplined.

 

[LunaMoth]

I'm actually the aforementioned friend...(thanks for the compliment, Jennie!)

I think that is very possible to self prep for the MCAT, assuming that you have a solid science background (gen physic, gen chem, orgo, some intro bio, preferably biochem). I bought a few review books...one that had review materials (i think it was kaplan) as well as one that consisted of practice MCATs. The key is discipline and organization. The MCAT is very much knowledge based (except for verbal), so you pretty much need to set aside an hour a day to review (over the course of a summer). I completed a practice exam first to identify my weaknesses, and then concentrated more on those when studying. Also, if you know someone taking a test prep program, see if you can borrow some of the practice tests. Jennie was kind enough to loan me hers, and it gave me a better gauge of where I stood.

If you have more question, feel free to PM me.

Good Luck!!

-Luna

 

[GoodMonkey]

no test prep: bought a big "everything on the mcat and all hints" book and a book of practice tests (total set me back like $65 rather than friggin $1300) .... endured a big life "issue" (read: emotional mess) for about oh, the entire time i was to be studying (november up until the day of the test) .... out of undergrad for 3 years .... result?

33S: 12B 10P 11V S
4 acceptances (two top-10, one top-25) and a handful of waitlists.

unless you haven't any study skills or you want someone to force you to study for the test, don't waste your money. didja have good study skills as a student? dig up those skills and get to it! 🙂 best of luck.

 

[OB1🤙]

I don't think it's quite so cut and dry. I think there are two types of people in the world- those that take standardized tests well and those that don't. In many ways, the MCAT is just another standardized test, and the same "tricks" and "secrets" that help you pass the SAT will help you on the MCAT. In other ways it isn't, as some questions are impossible to think through- you know the answer or you don't.

Many of us are fortunate enough to test well, and prep courses will not help us much. But some people, of a very high academic caliber, for some reason have trouble with the standardized test format. These people will benefit significantly from prep classes.

Take a practice test- this is the only way to know where you stand. If you get within range of a 30, save your money. If you're in the low 20s, it's probably Kaplan time.

My stats- studied about two weeks with standard prep material, taking practice tests, identifying weaknesses & reinforcing them, etc. 13P, 11V, 10B.

 

[McTaggart]

I signed up for a Kaplan class way back when 3 years ago, and found that the material they provided was about ten times more useful than the classes themselves. I totally stopped going to the classes, used the free time to review the books and do the practice problems. I'd estimate 1-2 hours per day of pretty casual review, up until after winter term finals..

I spent 3 weeks (spring break plus the first 2 weeks of my "off" term) doing every problem in the Kaplan library and taking all the tests (multiple times) and nothing else. I camped out in the medical library from 9am - 6pm each day, minus lunch. I tried to get through each section as quickly as possible and then just speed onto the next section. I could usually get through two full length exams per day. It sucked hardcore, but it really helped from a discipline standpoint.

By the time the exam rolled around I was getting through sections with 10 minutes to spare and routinely getting 36+ cumulative scores. I also found the Kaplan tests to be much more difficult than the actual exam.

In the end, it paid off: I went from a 27 diag to a 41-43 actual (13-15V, 14B, P, 14P). If I had to do it again, I'd just buy the materials (~$700 from Kaplan, online) instead of enrolling in the class.

McT

 

[uwcoxswain]

I didn't take any prep course. Got a 32R. If you ask me, they are a huge waste of time and money. I realize that a vast majority of you will take one anyways, but I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

 

[VienneseWaltz]

I bought the Kaplan book ($65). Most of my studying I did from Jan-Apr. Took as many practice tests as I could get my hands on, including a couple that Kaplan offered to my school (paid for by the pre-med office). 13-15 V, 12 P, 10 B. I found being responsible for my own learning to be a valuable preparation for grad school, and it will help me in med school, too. You need to get discipline and focus at some point, might as well start now.

 

[xaelia]

I took neither prep course nor the undergraduate premedical classes before taking the MCAT. I studied using the $50 Kaplan book and its practice tests for maybe an average of 8 hours / week while working full-time for about a month and a half before getting a 35S.

I think even if you're someone who traditionally does well on standardized tests (reads quickly, rapid deduction, etc.) preparing appropriately will boost your scores. It's just up to you how much external structure you need to get the study time in.

 

[alphabeta53]

41T by just using my buddy's PR books. Take the prep course if you need the discipline...I used the money I saved to celebrate. Its still going strong.

 

[optimistique]

Students that score really high on the MCAT are already gifted. So studying and getting a 39T would happen regardless of $1300 test prep or free test packts from AAMC. Im not making any digs at the previous posters. Good for you! Just bear in mind that 24 is the average score on the test.

I used self-prep for 4 months in the fall then took Kaplan in the winter before the April test. Kaplan does give an advantage if you are a 'mere mortal' premed student. There was a question from my practice Kaplan exam on the ACTUAL MCAT test!

Asses yourself: study habits, giftedness, GPA, standardized testing expertise. Being a superstar in these categories will mean acing the MCAT. If not stellar, why forego ANY advantage in this process?(if you can afford it, of course)

 

[Asclepius]

Another $0.02

I didn't take a course; scored 10, 12, 10 S.

If you're not a great independant learner, or the discipline to study regularly and take timed tests is difficult for you, the class might be a good option. Most of the material from classes (I can't say for sure since I haven't attended them) is available in the numerous study guides and prep books. The key thing is that you practice tests...

 

[paramed2premed]

No review course. 36S

Bought all the AAMC practice tests, took 1 a week starting with the oldest.

Timed myself for test conditions. Very important.

You need the discipline to study, regardless of whether you take a course or not. Might as well spend the money on secondaries...

Also, lets stop denigrating people "who just happen to be good test-takers." A good score on the MCAT may not describe many valuable aspects of yourself, but it does reflect a certain facility for logic and reasoning, mental endurance, and academic preparation. It also correlates with higher USMLE I scores, which will be important later on!

 

[carrigallen]

No class, borrowed kaplan books from friend in march, 10V-10P-12B. Could have done better but i totally choked on a julius vern story in verbal..