taking the step from memorizing to understanding

[batista_123]

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as you know, the mcat is not like a college test where you just memorize and regurtiate facts. it is a test that requires you to think kind of like an engineer, how does this work, what would happen if this process goes wrong, how is that other organ affected?
as far as memorizing, i am done. i have made lots of flashcards and know which hormone is screted by which gland, i know what happens when you react an alcohol with a ketone...i know force is mass times acceleration...

but i know i will have trouble with the mcat because i am missing that "truely understanding" part.

how can i move from pure memoriziation of facts to a place where i am ready for the mcat?

 

[Forkit]

as you know, the mcat is not like a college test where you just memorize and regurtiate facts. it is a test that requires you to think kind of like an engineer, how does this work, what would happen if this process goes wrong, how is that other organ affected?
as far as memorizing, i am done. i have made lots of flashcards and know which hormone is screted by which gland, i know what happens when you react an alcohol with a ketone...i know force is mass times acceleration...

but i know i will have trouble with the mcat because i am missing that "truely understanding" part.

how can i move from pure memoriziation of facts to a place where i am ready for the mcat?

Take as many practice tests as you can!

 

[229141]

as you know, the mcat is not like a college test where you just memorize and regurtiate facts. it is a test that requires you to think kind of like an engineer, how does this work, what would happen if this process goes wrong, how is that other organ affected?
as far as memorizing, i am done. i have made lots of flashcards and know which hormone is screted by which gland, i know what happens when you react an alcohol with a ketone...i know force is mass times acceleration...

but i know i will have trouble with the mcat because i am missing that "truely understanding" part.

how can i move from pure memoriziation of facts to a place where i am ready for the mcat?

No offense, but I don't think the point of college tests are to just spit out facts...try to avoid pure memorizing at all cost- it will come back to bite you in the ass later big time. ALWAYS study to understand

 

[starrynite14]

a major jumping point in getting to understanding to memorizing in asking why. you can memorize that Sn2 reactions work best in protic solvents the strength of the nucleophile isn't as important as in Sn1. But in order to really understand whats going on, you have to be able to answer why it happens. (Because it can protonate the substrate and make it a better leaving group or serve as the nucleophile).

This is just one example bc I've been studying ochem all day. But I would recommend that any time you are studying anything, do just sit there and look at facts but ask yourself why this is happening.

Good luck.

 

[Bernoull]

starrynite14 is dead on da money. Being able to explain why is crucially important.

Another key to comprehension is "seeing relationships and interconnections between concepts" even when 2 concepts may seem completely unrelated. It takes looking beneath the surface and trying to see how one process depends on the outcome of another.

For instance in anaerobic respiration, only glycolysis produces energy (net = 2ATP) but fermentation is AS IMPORTANT even though it has NO direct energy yield. This is because fermentation oxidises NADH back into NAD+ which is required for one of the reactions of glycolysis. Without this recycling, glycolysis grinds to a stop. In other words while it's useful to know the reactants and products of both glycolysis and fermentation, it's critical to see their relationship and interdependence!!! It's a mindset that you need to develop "to scratch the surface".

 

[drdave2be]

KEY: Apply your knowledge to enhance your critical thinking skills = PRACTICE PROBLEMS, PRACTICE TESTS. I am retaking the MCAT in April. The first time around I did not allow myself enough prep time. I spent the majority of my time successfully re-learning concepts (8 yrs since physics and gchem) and did little in the way of practice problems. I did take a few AAMC practice tests online and my score only slightly improved.

The real test score was a well-deserved slap in the face 😱 What was I thinking?!? The MCAT is a test of critical thinking skills - I needed more TIME with application. This time around I have done all of the 1001 EK practice problems, NOVA physics, VR practice tests every day (reading speed has doubled), and will take all of the AAMC CBT (one per week leading up to the test). I expect my scores will have improved. Now I'm no genius - I learned the cold, hard truth from experience and the brillant people who post helpful info on these forums.

Few more things that can help you for sure:

1. Do practice problems in physics and gchem every day!
2. Do a VR practice test every day -timed (unless your VR score is solid)
3. Write random numbers in sci not and divide and multiply em' by hand until you're blue in the face. You'll learn to recognize patterns that will save you time on test day - a HUGE help.
4. Read posts by Vishadas - excellent advice offered here.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[carlogu]

I would recommend doing a ton of problems and Prac MCATS. Also, go to other sources, like online and books and the such.....If you have the time, get hands on.....for physics, look into real projectiles, look at real circuits, look at machinery (I got into building stuff since 2nd year, and I feel that physics greatly benefited from this). For chem, buy one of those ball stick sets and look at your ochem books for different explanations. really get in there! If you don't have time, just go hard at those problems, prac tests, and notes. you really gotta get in there......remember, a genius is only a person who tries a lot harder than average, so don't think that the people with 35+ mcats were given a gift from god, they were just willing to sit and study for long hours until the info became second nature. just remember, you can do it......the MCAT can and will be defeated!

 

[batista_123]

a lot of you guys are suggesting PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE

my question is what materials do i need to get to practice? kaplan topicals? official AAMC? TPR ? just go to google and search for mcat practice materials? or what?

 

[Forkit]

a lot of you guys are suggesting PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE

my question is what materials do i need to get to practice? kaplan topicals? official AAMC? TPR ? just go to google and search for mcat practice materials? or what?

Obvious answer there 🙄