suggestions for retaking the mcat

[Erin10ReApp]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am a reapplicant for 2006 MD programs. I took the MCAT in august 2003 and got a 27-9BS 9VR 9PS. I haven't taken these courses in years and need some advice about study techniques. I am taking a Kaplan course, and am keeping up with the reading for each lecture. I need to know how people are able to review all this information and make time to review past subjects. Is it best to spend the time to do all this reading, or would you recommend doing more problems and old tests? Please anyone with a successful strategy respond ASAP, I don't have much time!

 

[cillaca]

From what I heard, do practice problems, practice problems, practice problems! That seems to be the general consensus on score improvement technique.

I am a reapplicant for 2006 MD programs. I took the MCAT in august 2003 and got a 27-9BS 9VR 9PS. I haven't taken these courses in years and need some advice about study techniques. I am taking a Kaplan course, and am keeping up with the reading for each lecture. I need to know how people are able to review all this information and make time to review past subjects. Is it best to spend the time to do all this reading, or would you recommend doing more problems and old tests? Please anyone with a successful strategy respond ASAP, I don't have much time!

 

[MoosePilot]

A lot of it depends on you. Personally, I thought I got more out of review, since it had been a few years. So I worked really hard on the review and only did the number of practice problems assigned, including about five diagnostic tests. Now I did those problems very thoroughly. Any that I missed, I studied in enough detail that I could do them again on a blank sheet of paper and get them right.

My thoughts are if you think you actually have problems with testing = do a lot of problems.

If you have problems with the material = do more review.

Ultimately you gotta decide for yourself. I don't know you.

 

[RUscrewed]

I am a reapplicant for 2006 MD programs. I took the MCAT in august 2003 and got a 27-9BS 9VR 9PS. I haven't taken these courses in years and need some advice about study techniques. I am taking a Kaplan course, and am keeping up with the reading for each lecture. I need to know how people are able to review all this information and make time to review past subjects. Is it best to spend the time to do all this reading, or would you recommend doing more problems and old tests? Please anyone with a successful strategy respond ASAP, I don't have much time!

i would go through their science review books as fast as i could, while still retaining at least 50+% of the information. The rest of the time I would spend on practice tests and topical tests (MCAT style tests that are course review material). The MCAT is a fairly basic test. No problem should take more than a minute to do and the information is fairly cursory. If you spend too much time reviewing, you'll likely study things you don't need to know. I got a 26 in 1999 with a 5V 10B 11P split, and with this strategy I improved a point in every section in August 2004 (despite completely winging orgo and going through only 40% of kaplans practice tests. i strongly recommend doing as many practice tests as you possibly could as opposed to reviewing). And if you don't have much time, don't sweat orgo... it's only like 30% of the bio section. Good luck, I'm sure if you do all of Kaplans practice tests you'll get double digits in all of the science sections.

 

[BooMed]

I wish I had made a list of my weaknesses and a schedule for studying them. I made the mistake of really focusing on my strengths (which was easier and more satisfying), but the last thing you want is for that one stupid reaction in organic you didn't get or some huge passage about electrodes to be staring you in the face on MCAT day. (Um, yes that happened to me 🙁 ) You can't know everything, but I wish I had know a least a little bit about everything 🙄

 

[Paing]

I am a reapplicant for 2006 MD programs. I took the MCAT in august 2003 and got a 27-9BS 9VR 9PS. I haven't taken these courses in years and need some advice about study techniques. I am taking a Kaplan course, and am keeping up with the reading for each lecture. I need to know how people are able to review all this information and make time to review past subjects. Is it best to spend the time to do all this reading, or would you recommend doing more problems and old tests? Please anyone with a successful strategy respond ASAP, I don't have much time!

I want to encourage you to do practice problems on the MCAT. "Practice" does make perfect. You will get good scores after doing a lot of practice. What amazes me the most is the natural phenomenum that water constantly dripping down onto the stone from above can make a hole on the stone. It just reminds humans that our continuous effort and practice, just like water dripping down non-stop, can have a tremendous impact. One by one, step by step, great things will be achieved. The other two things needed for success are to live ethically and to bear a kind heart. 🙂

 

[bbake87]

Dedicate a day and do the whole shebang (practice MCAT). The majority of material on the test will be familiar to you - timing is everything.