The MCAT Twitter Thread (AKA MCAT-oholics)

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ridethecliche

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Alright, so many of us are in the same boat, right?

We all have to take this exam, and lets be honest, it sucks. It's a roadblock and it's annoying. But we HAVE to do it, so we might as well enjoy it.

At the same time, I think having a 'support group' would be helpful. So why not post about MCAT trials/tribulations here?

Did you have an awesome study session? Grasp concept that you were having trouble with? Beast that practice test?

If so, post!

Did you have a crappy study session? Are you failing miserably at figuring out something seemingly simple? Just get frustrated at that practice exam you just took?

If so, post!

MCAT-oholics unite!

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Ugh Biology has been so weird for me, I suck at TBR and do okay in EK.
I really wanna be pro at the Bio section but don't think its happening. I feel like I pretty much have all the material EK presents for bio down, but feel as though it isn't enough. Here are my scores:

EK Chapter 1

EK 1001- 71%

TBR part 1-57% part 2 - 62%
EK 30 minute exam-14 scaled

EK Chapter 2
EK 1001-80%
TBR Part 1-70% Part 2- 73%
EK 30 Minute Exam-10 scaled

Ek Chapter 3
EK 1001- 73%
TBR part 1- 65% Part 2-?
EK 30 Minute Exam-12 scaled

EK Chapter 4
EK 1001-81%
TBR Part 1- 56% Part 2-?
EK 30 minute exam-?


Can anyone help me analyze whether I'm okay or if I need to get more material? Maybe I should read tbr bio
 
Frustrated...

Finished TBR Orgo ch 5 yesterday (RATN). Started the physics 'practice' passages and gave up after checking the first one.

I'm going to review my notes, memorize the formulas, and try again.

I'm having a really hard time memorizing the formulas this time. I just need to start staring at them every time before I study. Then I'll have it down.

Sigh...
 
Ugh Biology has been so weird for me, I suck at TBR and do okay in EK.
I really wanna be pro at the Bio section but don't think its happening. I feel like I pretty much have all the material EK presents for bio down, but feel as though it isn't enough. Here are my scores:

EK Chapter 1

EK 1001- 71%

TBR part 1-57% part 2 - 62%
EK 30 minute exam-14 scaled

EK Chapter 2
EK 1001-80%
TBR Part 1-70% Part 2- 73%
EK 30 Minute Exam-10 scaled

Ek Chapter 3
EK 1001- 73%
TBR part 1- 65% Part 2-?
EK 30 Minute Exam-12 scaled

EK Chapter 4
EK 1001-81%
TBR Part 1- 56% Part 2-?
EK 30 minute exam-?


Can anyone help me analyze whether I'm okay or if I need to get more material? Maybe I should read tbr bio

I think you are gonna be just fine. DW about TBR scores as long as they're in the 50% range or higher-- that's the gist I got from analyzing threads listing TBR scores and actual mcat scores. there were ppl who said they consistently scored between 50-60 something % right on TBR bio and got 13's on the actual BS test portion :luck:
 
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I think you are gonna be just fine. DW about TBR scores as long as they're in the 50% range or higher-- that's the gist I got from analyzing threads listing TBR scores and actual mcat scores. there were ppl who said they consistently scored between 50-60 something % right on TBR bio and got 13's on the actual BS test portion :luck:

Thanks! Man I just don't know, I want to get a 15 on the section. I know thats like wtf, but it seems that many people say that getting a 14-15 is possible if you put in the work and exhaust everything you can. That is what I'm trying to do. I will also be completing the TPR science workbook once I'm done with review. I think that at this point I would be fine to score an 11 or so, but that is unacceptable to me which is why I feel like I need to do more. I think I am having trouble actually analyzing the Biology experiments, since TBR and EK have majority of questions that don't require the experiments I do fine on those. But I think I am missing the ones that pertain to the experiment. I think I should start reading some scientific journals but I don't know where to read them and I want to read ones that aren't 30+ pages and don't require having a Ph.D. to understand haha
 
Yayy here is an update:

TBR Chapter 4 Physics Phase 1- 11 🙂/ I know I'll do better phase 2)
TBR Chapter 3 Chemistry Phase 1- 14 (woot!)
TBR Chapter 4 Chemistry Phase 1- 14 (woottt!) (I've gotten a 14 on Phase 1 for chapter 2/3/4 now :])

If only I did well in Biology haha
 
Nicely done.

I got like a 50% on Ch. 5 for physics. Really need to go back and review phase one for that and see what the deal was.

I knew I wasn't 'getting it' while I was working on it.

Though I did my first EK verbal test since I started studying again and got a 10... That's exactly where I was when I stopped studying last time.

I bought another of the 101 books from EK. I've written in mine and I bet I've forgotten most of the stuff, so it should be good for practice this time around.
 
Thanks, and good job with the verbal. My verbal in EK is all over the place!
I usually do passages in sets of 3. I've gotten 89%, a couple of low 80%'s, a couple of 70%'s, and 2 50%. I'm all over the place :/

I just wish I could improve on Biology!
 
Thanks, and good job with the verbal. My verbal in EK is all over the place!
I usually do passages in sets of 3. I've gotten 89%, a couple of low 80%'s, a couple of 70%'s, and 2 50%. I'm all over the place :/

I just wish I could improve on Biology!

I'm going to start doing a few of the TPR VR passages 3 in the AM before work a few days a week. I'm planning on taking the EK ones as full exams.

Goal is to consistently finish the EK exams with 8-10 mins left.
7 mins a passage. Boom.
 
As I progress in the TBR Physics book, the topics get easier and easier. I'm only to periodic motion/waves, but it's much easier for me than translational motion.
 
Man Not a good week for physics!

Chapter 4 phase 1-11 phase 2-8

I guess I do'nt understand momentum as much as I thought I did. I especially dont understand impulse since my class never stressed it :/

and a 44% on TBR verbal 3 passages. Sigh.
 
Yeah...

I did TBR Gen Chem 5 and 6 yesterday, 5 passages.

For ch 5, I just couldn't do it. It took me an hour. I decided that I was going to do the passages, check them, and then do the next one. I started doing much better towards the end.

I have a lot of work to do with buffers. Ended up getting like a 66%, but doesn't count since it was untimed.

Ch.6. was a little better with 73% for the first 4 passages, but I bombed the 5th passage and ended up with ~66% again.

Not a bad range to be in for the first run through. I'm hoping to kick it up about 10% for phase 2 and 10% more for phase 3. So goal is to score in the 80's the last time around.

Tonight, I'm going to do TBR Orgo Ch5 and a few passages for bio that I've missed coming down.

Honestly, I think for bio time is better spent reviewing earlier and then doing passages. For orgo, gen chem, and physics application makes learning better. I prefer to do less practice for bio till I feel like I have the content down atleast a little.

As I progress in the TBR Physics book, the topics get easier and easier. I'm only to periodic motion/waves, but it's much easier for me than translational motion.

I wish I could say the same.

Thankfully, physics is the easiest to improve on so I've got that working out for me.
 
As I progress in the TBR Physics book, the topics get easier and easier. I'm only to periodic motion/waves, but it's much easier for me than translational motion.

I was doing alright in physics till i got to this momentum & torque chapter. It actually ate me alive (as in 4/7 being my highest score) =(

How did you solidify your torque & momentum intuition? (btw just want to put it out there that I'm actually decent at probs regarding balancing torques quantitatively)
 
I was doing alright in physics till i got to this momentum & torque chapter. It actually ate me alive (as in 4/7 being my highest score) =(

How did you solidify your torque & momentum intuition? (btw just want to put it out there that I'm actually decent at probs regarding balancing torques quantitatively)

Same as me man, I was doing good in physics till the momentum chapter and got owned lol. Iguess I don't understasnd the conceptual aspects of it as much
 
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i even found EK physics 1001 momentum to be just as conceptually challenging...


Yeah it was pretty tough for me as well.

LOL my VR is seriously all over the place, yesterday TBR verbal 3 passages-43%, today TBR 3 Passages-100%

lol.


On the bright side, I got a 12 on Tbr chapter 3 o-chem phase 1. I get happy when I do 11+ since I haven't taken o-chem. It seems I even do better on o-chem than biology 0_O

Edit-ugh just did phase 2 of chapter 3 chemistry, got an 8. I don't get it, I got a 14 on phase 1, I also went well overtime...
 
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Did okay on Ch5 Orgo passages. Got in the mid 60's.

I need to start doing better. This is starting to get annoying. I need to take a while to just sit down and review my notes. Hoping to do that soon.
 
Just finished reviewing Br Bio chap 4. For some reason I'm doing really well with the BR Bio. I actually find it pretty easy (probably due to the fact that I took 2 really hardcore A&P classes). But the physics is something else. If I get lucky enough to only miss 1 or 2 per passage I feel like a freakin genius. I think whats so stressful about studying for this test is you can't really tell how well you are doing (or should be doing) until you start taking practice tests (from what I have read, practice passage scores don't correlate with real scores). It seems like we are all in the same boat when it comes to our scores for BR which makes me feel better because I feel like a total loser when I get a 50% on a passage....atleast I'm not alone!
 
I've been getting scaled 10's on TBR stuff.

It's not bad, but I'm not taking that score again. I have a ton of work to do. I just reallllllyyy need to finish content by mid feb. I'll probably take a day or two off to give myself a 4 day weekend to study, so I can finish content review on time.

I might do that to brush up on content as well. A full day for reviewing a subject after one run through is a lot if you're focused. I can read through all my notes for a subject in that long.
 
So what have you guys and gals been working on?

Finished phase 2 of Chapter 4 TBR chemistry-13

Finished phase 2 of Chapter 3 TBR Ochem-12

Finished Phase 1 Chapter 5 Chemistry TBR-13

Did a 3 set TBR passages- 45% ;/

Going to do EK Bio chapter 5 today :]

If only I did as good in Bio!
 
Finished reviewing all of my practice for the chapter 6's 1/3 for TBR. It's nice when you redo a question and get it right. Gives you hope that you've learned something and will get it right next time 🙂

Tomorrow, I'm going to do 1/3 for physics, gen chem, and orgo for chapter 7. I'll use thursday and friday to work ahead a little bit. Trying to move my content review date up a week.

I'm also not doing any bio practice right now. Instead, I'm reviewing my notes till I can memorize some of the basics. I don't want to waste the bio passages. They're not too bad to do and are actually kinda fun.

I'm probably taking a couple of half days over the next couple of weeks to finish content review by mid feb. I am dead set on that. I want to have seen all the material atleast once with 2 months left.
 
im baaaaacckkk lol i dunno what happened i just hit a streak of supreme laziness and didn't really do much for a week and a half except for some verbal passages time to hop back on the wagon.....gonna probably take 2-3 days to do so 🙄

what have you guys/gals been up to?
 
Getting a move on for content review.

Finished EK Bio entirely.

Finished TBR Gen Chem and Physics chapter 8 today.

3.5 chapters read for the day.

Going to do one more chapter of physics or chem tomorrow maybe both if I'm feeling sinister.

Lots to do lots to do.
 
Sup guys, so I have a test coming up. Haven't spent too many hours on Mcat the last few days. I did however still get everything done -1 day. So I'm 1 day behind, I plan on reviewing 2 chapters on tuesday though to make up for it :].

Here is an update

Chapter 5 Tbr Chem phase 2- 14 (by the way how do you guys calculate? It says 84-100% = 13-15. I usually give myself a 14 with 90% and a 15 with 95%. Or is that wrong?)

Chapter 6 TBR chem phase 1- 11 ( :/)

Chapter 5 TBR physics phase 1- 8 :/ (Man, sometimes I do really bad in physics)

EK Bio chapter 5 1001- 81%

Ek Chapter 5 TBR passages phase 1= 69%

Ek Bio Chapter 6 TBR phase 1 passages: 64%

Good luck guys!
 
Sup guys, so I have a test coming up. Haven't spent too many hours on Mcat the last few days. I did however still get everything done -1 day. So I'm 1 day behind, I plan on reviewing 2 chapters on tuesday though to make up for it :].

Here is an update

Chapter 5 Tbr Chem phase 2- 14 (by the way how do you guys calculate? It says 84-100% = 13-15. I usually give myself a 14 with 90% and a 15 with 95%. Or is that wrong?)

Chapter 6 TBR chem phase 1- 11 ( :/)

Chapter 5 TBR physics phase 1- 8 :/ (Man, sometimes I do really bad in physics)

EK Bio chapter 5 1001- 81%

Ek Chapter 5 TBR passages phase 1= 69%

Ek Bio Chapter 6 TBR phase 1 passages: 64%

Good luck guys!

that chapter 5 physics is RIDICULOUS doesn't teach u jack and then u get to the passages and ure like waaaahahhh???
 
that chapter 5 physics is RIDICULOUS doesn't teach u jack and then u get to the passages and ure like waaaahahhh???

Yeah, chapter 5 was hard.

Today, doing chapter 7 for TBR orgo. Tomorrow chapter 9 for physics.

Weds/thurs/fri, do passage practice and review.

Goal is to finish content review by the end of next week and take the first practice exam on the 18th. Things look like they're coming together nicely, but it's going to be tough going into the post content stretch since there are still a lot of things I need to review and drill down on. Looks like the time is coming to take a couple of days off from work to hit the review and passages hard.
 
Good job man, that's exciting that your almost done with review. Some parts of me want to try as hard as possible to to finish review ASAP! I want to start practice tests! I did the Kaplan free test bio section and got a 10 (I also got a 10 2 months ago, I retook it but I had never reviewed it the first time). Last time I got 50% on ochem off pure guessing (no ochem taken in school yet) now I got 50% again but felt I had a somewhat better knowledge kinda lol
 
Good job man, that's exciting that your almost done with review. Some parts of me want to try as hard as possible to to finish review ASAP! I want to start practice tests! I did the Kaplan free test bio section and got a 10 (I also got a 10 2 months ago, I retook it but I had never reviewed it the first time). Last time I got 50% on ochem off pure guessing (no ochem taken in school yet) now I got 50% again but felt I had a somewhat better knowledge kinda lol

This is stupid but I'm already starting to worry about whether I'll be done in time.

I'm going to put aside that feeling for now, but make a note to evaluate end of feb/beginning of march.
 
EK Bio 5 30 min- 12

corresponding TBR passages phase 2= 84% (YESS!!!!! By far the highest percentage I've ever gotten)

also got an A- on my o-chem test woot :]

good day
 
any chapter over 30 pages JUST RUINSS ME

its hard to finish that chapter in one day and also to reread/relearn everything on the reread/review days within the alotted 2 days.

am i the only one???
 
Finished RATN TBR Orgo #7 last night and started Physics #9.

Going to try finishing physics on my lunch break @ work and then study for 1.5-2 hours before going to a play with the girl tonight.

She told me that she didn't mind if I studied for an hour or whatever after the play if I had something to finish up. Hoping not to have to do that.

I'm going to start reviewing at work. Maybe take like one pathway or something a day that I memorize. It's going to be supremely helpful for bio and orgo content review in the coming weeks.

any chapter over 30 pages JUST RUINSS ME

its hard to finish that chapter in one day and also to reread/relearn everything on the reread/review days within the alotted 2 days.

am i the only one???

Make like a vacuum cleaner and suck it up.

Seriously duder. Split it up into sections. Take a break halfway through, etc etc. Do you take notes while you study?
 
Finished RATN TBR Orgo #7 last night and started Physics #9.

Going to try finishing physics on my lunch break @ work and then study for 1.5-2 hours before going to a play with the girl tonight.

She told me that she didn't mind if I studied for an hour or whatever after the play if I had something to finish up. Hoping not to have to do that.

I'm going to start reviewing at work. Maybe take like one pathway or something a day that I memorize. It's going to be supremely helpful for bio and orgo content review in the coming weeks.



Make like a vacuum cleaner and suck it up.

Seriously duder. Split it up into sections. Take a break halfway through, etc etc. Do you take notes while you study?

yeah problem is for this ochem bologna i read it and highlight the first time through and the second review im taking notes

annoying thing about ochem is i feel the TBR is overkill
the max im missing on a passage ~7 Qs without reading is 2 questions
max i miss after reading 2 questions.....

and one of those questions is just WEEEIRRRD like

"What does Na2Cr2O7 react with if it turns green?"

am i the only person who found this to be a WEIRD way to ask what does Na2Cr2O7 react with?

im debating using EK as review then doing the passages in TBR.. thoughts?
 
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yeah problem is for this ochem bologna i read it and highlight the first time through and the second review im taking notes

annoying thing about ochem is i feel the TBR is overkill
the max im missing on a passage ~7 Qs without reading is 2 questions
max i miss after reading 2 questions.....

and one of those questions is just WEEEIRRRD like

"What does Na2Cr2O7 react with if it turns green?"

am i the only person who found this to be a WEIRD way to ask what does Na2Cr2O7 react with?

im debating using EK as review then doing the passages in TBR.. thoughts?

I've never tried that route re: using EK+TBR. Maybe worth a shot? I'm not sure.

I'm using TBR because I got a 10 in BS on my last exam. It was orgo heavy (~3 passages). I'm sure I would have had an 11 or 12 if I had been stronger in orgo. I'm not risking it again.

Honestly, I just missed out last time.

PS was fine with an 11. Got a 9 in VR (average 10 on aamc) because I ran out of time and got to the last passage with 3 mins left, so realistically I would have had an 11 or 12 had I finished it. BS I just described above.

So I'm not taking the risk of not studying enough this time. I'm going to be done a first run through of everything by sunday. I'll finish up on passages etc during the week and then start reviewing my notes, making concept maps/flashcards/formula sheets, and start doing the rest of the passages.

I'll add in most of the AAMC's in the last month. I'm starting to get psyched about getting this all together again.
 
I've never tried that route re: using EK+TBR. Maybe worth a shot? I'm not sure.

I'm using TBR because I got a 10 in BS on my last exam. It was orgo heavy (~3 passages). I'm sure I would have had an 11 or 12 if I had been stronger in orgo. I'm not risking it again.

Honestly, I just missed out last time.

PS was fine with an 11. Got a 9 in VR (average 10 on aamc) because I ran out of time and got to the last passage with 3 mins left, so realistically I would have had an 11 or 12 had I finished it. BS I just described above.

So I'm not taking the risk of not studying enough this time. I'm going to be done a first run through of everything by sunday. I'll finish up on passages etc during the week and then start reviewing my notes, making concept maps/flashcards/formula sheets, and start doing the rest of the passages.

I'll add in most of the AAMC's in the last month. I'm starting to get psyched about getting this all together again.

i envy you cant wait to do that....

smh what has this test done to me
 
Physics chapter 8 and 9, and gen chem chapter 8 practice passages from tbr.

80% for the first, and mid 60's for the 2nd two. Lame. Getting it there though. I like Nova's E&M the best for content. Have it out to a friend. I expect the scores to get better as I do that.

Tomorrow I'll do Gen chem 9 and orgo 7.

Friday/Sat will be reading the last 3 chapters I have left (phys/gen chem 10 and orgo 8). And that's all she wrote for content review. I'll do practice passages during the week next week and review.

Planning on AAMC 4 on the 18th. Taking the week before that to go through notes and get the formulas/content solid. Probably do some practice in there too to mix it up.

Things are coming together, and I'm going to sit down with the calendar and plan out the next two months early next week.
 
Physics chapter 8 and 9, and gen chem chapter 8 practice passages from tbr.

80% for the first, and mid 60's for the 2nd two. Lame. Getting it there though. I like Nova's E&M the best for content. Have it out to a friend. I expect the scores to get better as I do that.

Tomorrow I'll do Gen chem 9 and orgo 7.

Friday/Sat will be reading the last 3 chapters I have left (phys/gen chem 10 and orgo 8). And that's all she wrote for content review. I'll do practice passages during the week next week and review.

Planning on AAMC 4 on the 18th. Taking the week before that to go through notes and get the formulas/content solid. Probably do some practice in there too to mix it up.

Things are coming together, and I'm going to sit down with the calendar and plan out the next two months early next week.

Good luck on your practice tests yo!

TBR Chapter 5 Physics phase 2 - 13-14

TBR Chapter 6 Chem phase 2- 12

EK Chapter 6 30 min exam- 9 :/
1001 questions- 81% TBR Phase 2 passages- 65%

I want to be doing practice tests!

By the way does anyone else go SUPER overtime with Chem? I do the best in chemistry TBR but go WAY overtime! I'm talking like sometimes 12-13 min for a passage.
 
Single now for many good good good reasons.

That means my study status will actually be on track now.

Psycheeeddd!!!

I am finishing my first run through of content AND the first 1/3 of passages by thursday.

I'll do a run through of ALL my notes on content early in the week. AAMC #4 to follow sometime next week.
 
Yesterday I did 21 passages in biology total, reviewed genetics chapter again, reviewed the passages and did 3 passages in verbal. I average around 30 passages a day or 150 a week if I'm doing full time passages. For EK, it took me a week to finish the 1001 in each subject (a little slower than most).

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Holy crap man that is awesome. I haven't worked up to doing more than like 10 in a day. That time will start to come realllll soon for me.

I might just push my test back a couple of weeks to add a little bit of a buffer and allow myself some breaks/fun time so I don't burn out like crazy. I'll evaluate at the end of the month.
 
Wow just did phase 2 of the carbs chapter of Orgo and got a 6...that's after getting a 14 on phase 1 for the same chapter. Seriously what the actual f***?
 
Just been going through and reviewing my notes and taking notes on my notes in a separate notebook for funzies.

Taking first practice exam this weekend.

Yippeeee!
 
Just been going through and reviewing my notes and taking notes on my notes in a separate notebook for funzies.

Taking first practice exam this weekend.

Yippeeee!

good luck when are you planning on taking the test again i think i remember you saying somewhere early april am i right?
 
It's really really hard for me to read the TBR gen chem chapters... it gets soooooo boring. I zone out like every other sentence. am I burning out? what should i do?
 
you woke up so early? at 5am? sorry, i just so happened saw the posting time

lol nooopee just got food poisoning 3 days ago now my sleeping schedule is all messed up and i can't get it back to normal as that would require me falling another day behind...im already 2 weeks behind i sorta burnt out/got lazy/had personal things i had to attend to

oh and POMODORO bro ITS INSANE makes you so effective
 
lol nooopee just got food poisoning 3 days ago now my sleeping schedule is all messed up and i can't get it back to normal as that would require me falling another day behind...im already 2 weeks behind i sorta burnt out/got lazy/had personal things i had to attend to

So sorry to hear that. I felt behind as well. Cuz after doing the chapters I felt like I keep on forgetting them. But i find discussing questions on the forum helped me to remember so well. And i keep on checking thr forum like i used to check facebook once i got involved in some of thr threads. Lol Now my goal is to finish the content and nail ek 1001 plus make sure I know why I got question wrong. I'm on tbr books and I fine them hard to understand sometimes. They don't present a concept in the conventional way sometimes, I find it also helpful to go over the outline bare bone facts first before dive into tbr for some of the concepts that I needed it to be clarify
 
ughh just took AAMC5 and got a 4 on BS! Wth, I got 10s on 3 and 4! There was so much organic chem on there and I got it all wrong.

I heard the newer actual MCAT exams have a lot less orgo, anyone know about this?
 
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