The Official 1/28/2011 MCAT Club!

[moosen]

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Is it too early to start this? Studying begins in one week.

 

[ChocoMoo]

Holy crappppp only a month or so left.

Anyone else feeling like there aren't enough hours in the day? When I wake up in the morning I'm like "okay I'm gonna get this and this and this done today", but by the end of the day I only did part of what I said I was gonna do 🙁. I think I overestimate how many problems and passages I can do..EK1001 is really eating up my time...I was originally planning on doing all the problems, but now I think I'm only going to use it on the topics I'm really weak in and chuck the rest. Sucks...

 

[upchurch]

Holy crappppp only a month or so left.

Anyone else feeling like there aren't enough hours in the day? When I wake up in the morning I'm like "okay I'm gonna get this and this and this done today", but by the end of the day I only did part of what I said I was gonna do 🙁. I think I overestimate how many problems and passages I can do..EK1001 is really eating up my time...I was originally planning on doing all the problems, but now I think I'm only going to use it on the topics I'm really weak in and chuck the rest. Sucks...

I gave up on EK 1001 also. I think time is better spent doing practice passages.

yep, less than a month to go 😱

 

[ChocoMoo]

Anyone else think AAMC5's PS section was a little more time consuming than usual? I usually have ~10 min at the end of the section but today I completely ran out of time and had to randomly bubble in the last set of freestanding questions. They looked like easy points too 😡 I guess I spent wayyy too much time on some of the questions...dang ittt what a waste!! 😡 😡 😡

 

[ChocoMoo]

That PS really screwed my overall score... I got 12's on AAMC3 and AAMC4, but today on AAMC5 I got a 9...

The good news is that this is a practice test..

Anyway, I hope everyone's enjoying their christmas 🙂

 

[CodeBlu]

Not to worry... AAMC5 isn't much fun.

Then again, AAMC 7,8 are supposed to be a bit wonkier. Just keep at it! It will work out in the end.


Also, while doing TBR passages this morning, one of the passages starts out...

"You have just be hired to draw up the plans for a new roller coaster at Ritalin land, a theme park for happy, hyperactive kids. Designing a roller coaster is not an easy task..."

Needless to say, I lol'ed. 😀

 

[ChocoMoo]

Last week of winter break for me. I wish I was a little bit more productive, but I'll just try to make the best out of what's left.

Planning on taking AAMC6 on Friday; goals are a 12 in PS, 10-11 in VR, 11 in BS, for an overall of around a 33-34

Todays plans: 3 timed VR passages, BR passages + EK 1001 problems on electricity and magnetism.

E&M is probably my weakest physics topic. I don't really know jack about circuits, or how to apply any of those weird rules. Hoping to turn it into a strength today!

 

[PHD To MD]

I can't seem to focus, I am all over the place. I took Exam #7 about 2 weeks ago and didn't do very well. I got a 23 (6 9 8) I am using the kaplan 2010-2010 premiere study guide to review content. I hadn't reviewed Orgo or Chem at the time before I took #7 and it shows in my analysis report. On the BS I got 7 out of 18 on orgo and 24 out of 34 on Bio. I am pretty good at verbal and had 6 8 10 10 11 12 and 9 while doing tests in the EK 101 verbal passages book. (not sure if that's accurate) But again, I hadn't touched that for 2 months before I took the exam. Wow, as I am writing this I am starting to realize what I need to do to step it up. It's like not realizing you eat too much until you start keeping a food diary. Anyway, I plan on taking another test this Friday and I am hoping my low score was due to poor preparation in orgo and chem.

Here is my plan:

Take AAMC tests every Friday until the 28th (8-11) and review the material I am struggling with.

Is this a good idea? Should I be doing something more.

 

[ChocoMoo]

Planning on doing some verbal and a crap load of passages for bio and ochem.

I can't seem to focus, I am all over the place. I took Exam #7 about 2 weeks ago and didn't do very well. I got a 23 (6 9 8) I am using the kaplan 2010-2010 premiere study guide to review content. I hadn't reviewed Orgo or Chem at the time before I took #7 and it shows in my analysis report. On the BS I got 7 out of 18 on orgo and 24 out of 34 on Bio. I am pretty good at verbal and had 6 8 10 10 11 12 and 9 while doing tests in the EK 101 verbal passages book. (not sure if that's accurate) But again, I hadn't touched that for 2 months before I took the exam. Wow, as I am writing this I am starting to realize what I need to do to step it up. It's like not realizing you eat too much until you start keeping a food diary. Anyway, I plan on taking another test this Friday and I am hoping my low score was due to poor preparation in orgo and chem.

Here is my plan:

Take AAMC tests every Friday until the 28th (8-11) and review the material I am struggling with.

Is this a good idea? Should I be doing something more.

Take your next practice test AFTER you've done the content review for ochem and gchem. Otherwise you're just wasting practice tests, IMO. Try to finish content review for those asap, since the test is a couple weeks away.

Then take a practice test and see where you still have holes. If its acids and bases then do a bunch of problems/passages until you have that down cold. Then move one to the next weakness, rinse and repeat. Practice is key.

Two weeks before the exam, if you're not getting around your goal score, then I would highly recommend you postpone your test date.

 

[romeosterp]

-

 

[stolenidentity]

When do you guys go back to school? I don't start until the 24th and I'm considering just not going to class for a week, since it is syllabus week and all, and just studying for the MCAT instead. What do you guys think? Is that overkill?

My classes start on the 5th of Jan, and I'm planning on just skating by until the MCAT is over. Just don't get dropped from any of your courses...


Good luck to you all!

 

[iLovePancakes]

Holy crappppp only a month or so left.

Anyone else feeling like there aren't enough hours in the day? When I wake up in the morning I'm like "okay I'm gonna get this and this and this done today", but by the end of the day I only did part of what I said I was gonna do 🙁. I think I overestimate how many problems and passages I can do..EK1001 is really eating up my time...I was originally planning on doing all the problems, but now I think I'm only going to use it on the topics I'm really weak in and chuck the rest. Sucks...

I can totally relate. I always plan to get wayyyy more stuff done than I am actually capable of doing in the amount of hours in a day. PS is kicking my butt with timing....

Are you guys only doing FLs now until test-day? Only going back to review the concepts you missed? I don't know how I can use this month's time efficiently to raise my score as much as possible. Suggestions?

 

[ChocoMoo]

Wow I need to stop waking up late.

Todays plans: TPR verbal passages, TPR/BR bio passages, and (if there's time) ochem BR review + passages

Are you guys only doing FLs now until test-day? Only going back to review the concepts you missed? I don't know how I can use this month's time efficiently to raise my score as much as possible. Suggestions?

This is what I'm doing. I would think that most people at this point are doing more or less the same thing. I take a FL, review it, identify weak topics (like kidney stuff), do a mini content review (skim kidney stuff in EK bio, maybe take notes or make flashcards), do practice problems/passages of the topic (TPR/BR passages), and then review the problems to see if there are still some gaps. Something like that.

 

[ChocoMoo]

When do you guys go back to school? I don't start until the 24th and I'm considering just not going to class for a week, since it is syllabus week and all, and just studying for the MCAT instead. What do you guys think? Is that overkill?

Dang, the 24th?! I go back in 4 days 🙁. If I didn't start until the 24th though, I probably wouldn't go to class for that first week...unless it was a lab or something. Going to class and seeing friends might be a good break from crazy mcat studying though.

 

[MCAT4ever]

Has anybody taken any FLs? If so, if you dont mind, could you post the scores you have been receiving?

Thanks!!! Good luck to all those studying!

 

[PHD To MD]

aamc # 7
23

 

[upchurch]

Hopefully I am going to start FL on Monday. Still finishing up phase 2 and 3 BR. I really can't wait to take a FL to see where I stand.

 

[MCAT4ever]

aamc # 7
23

what were your individual section scores?

 

[PHD To MD]

PS 6 V 9 BS 8

I didn't review chem and Orgo at that time. I took it more as a diagnostic test. I am taking AAMC 8 tomorrow, hopefully I will do a little better this time. My plan is to take a test every Friday until the test. I will post my updated score tomorrow night.

 

[ElChamaco]

I've posted some of my scores in the Jan 29th thread if anyone is interested... I've always thought we should have one thread for all of us anyway!

 

[ChocoMoo]

These TPR bio passages are hard...I feel like these require a lot more outside knowledge than BR bio passages, which I think are truly passage based. Anyone else having trouble with TPR bio or am I the only one?

 

[ElChamaco]

These TPR bio passages are hard...I feel like these require a lot more outside knowledge than BR bio passages, which I think are truly passage based. Anyone else having trouble with TPR bio or am I the only one?

Yes. They are exceedingly difficult. I did poorly on them relative to the other books but still scored 12-13 on BS on the three AAMCs I've taken so far.

I decided to use TBR for content review and then just use the AAMC FLs for practice. The bio section is like VR that necessitates background info in my opinion. You'll know where you stand when you take a FL.

 

[ChocoMoo]

Planning on taking AAMC6 on Friday; goals are a 12 in PS, 10-11 in VR, 11 in BS, for an overall of around a 33-34

I think AAMC6 was discontinued because it's includes some stuff that's not on the AAMC topic list anymore, especially with the BS section. Maybe I should have taken AAMC7 instead? Oh well..

I got a flipping 31 AGAIN..for the third time in a row 😡. PS10/VR11/BS10. This is the first time ever that my VR was higher than both the sciences though 😱 , so I'm pretty happy about that. I know I can raise PS and BS with practice (we still have a month!!!) so I hope a goal of 35 is still possible. Could have done better in PS, made some stupid mistakes -_- w/e, that's what practice tests are for. The BS section on AAMC6 was the hardest BS so far, IMO. The orgo totally killed me, and reading through some of the passages I was just like ::wow...this is boring:: I think I was losing focus towards the end because my stomach started grumbling

Anyway, planning on taking it easy for the rest of today and tomorrow. I think I may be a little burned out.

 

[KaraRee2]

is any one else feelling burned out been studying since septemeber and now i feel like cant take it anymore. I took new yrs eve and new yr day off but still feeling like i have had it with the MCAT. any tips esp since we only have like 3 weeks and i would still like to go up at least 3 points ????

 

[PHD To MD]

Holy moly, I may need to think about rescheduling. I wasn't able to take my test this weekend because the site was down then I got sick so I didn't review at all. Anyway I took AAMC #8 and made a 25 (8, 9, 8,) some improvement over the first test of 23 (6 , 9 , 8). #8 is tough, lots of time killers.

 

[jngshin]

My second time taking the test. Only now am I getting ready to SERIOUSLY study for it. So sick of it ..

Try to own it in one go. Got 32 the first time, hopefully I can get 35+ this time.

 

[PHD To MD]

My second time taking the test. Only now am I getting ready to SERIOUSLY study for it. So sick of it ..

Try to own it in one go. Got 32 the first time, hopefully I can get 35+ this time.

I'm new to this whole thing but why are you retaking? Isn't a 32 a good score. How are retakes seen by adcoms, do they just look at your last score or factor both in? Just curious.

 

[CodeBlu]

Retakes are fine as long as you improve or something. Generally if you have a solid GPA and an MCAT of about 28-29, they don't recommend a retake. The AAMC that is, by their charts of statistics of people getting score increases after a retake with a score in that range.

Is anyone else finding the phase II BR chem questions to be a little ridiculous? I'm thankful that they are, but there's just so much nitty gritty calculation etc. Whereas the phase III acid base passages are awesome. Those felt MCAT-ey to me.

 

[Mzeep]

I'm new to this whole thing but why are you retaking? Isn't a 32 a good score. How are retakes seen by adcoms, do they just look at your last score or factor both in? Just curious.

I think different schools have different ways of looking at your mcat score, I read somewhere on here that some look at your highest score in each section but I don't know the school in specific that does that. But in any case, 32 is still a good score!

 

[tcushman9]

Has anyone had a chance to take AAMC 11?

I'm interested in how it matched up to peoples other practice AAMC scores.

 

[LeoGer]

Has anyone had a chance to take AAMC 11?

I'm interested in how it matched up to peoples other practice AAMC scores.

I'm taking AAMC 11 tomorrow; I'll let you know how it goes. I've taken AAMC 3-9, Kaplan 1-6 and 10, and TBR 1 and 2. So far, AAMC's are the easiest -- I score highest with Kaplan because of their curve, but the highest percent correct with AAMC.

 

[libraryismyhome]

I'm taking AAMC 11 tomorrow; I'll let you know how it goes.

oh this is going to be interesting. Good luck!!

 

[coyfish]

Retaking from a 9/11 disaster (no pun intended). 5 points lower than my AAMC average /:. Sucks when all my hard work didn't pay off.

Verbal killed me as I was never able to get my head in the moment.

Anyway secondaries have been sent but some schools look at the jan mcat which is nice.

Hopefully I can get a 32+ this time.

Happy studying everyone 🙂. Have to do as much as I can before school on monday.

 

[LeoGer]

Has anyone had a chance to take AAMC 11?

I'm interested in how it matched up to peoples other practice AAMC scores.

Just finished. In comparison to my AAMC 9 scores:

PS: +1
VR: +2
BS: -2

AAMC 9's verbal was the lowest I've scored in two months, so no surprise on the two point jump. The physical and biological sections didn't seem more difficult, but my biological score dropped. May have been fatigue from three full-lengths this week, but I won't review it until Saturday to know what mistakes I made.

In my opinion, AAMC 11 is another great practice test -- assuming I score a 44 or better on January 28.

 

[vickpick]

Just finished. In comparison to my AAMC 9 scores:

In my opinion, AAMC 11 is another great practice test -- assuming I score a 44 or better on January 28.

I hope u meant 34, lol

 

[apc]

I haven't started doing the FLs, so just wanted to know how long it exactly takes to finish one FL. Also does anyone have enough time to go over it the same day?

 

[LeoGer]

I hope u meant 34, lol

I meant 44, but was joking. In reality, I'm just hoping to crack the double digits.

apc: I think it's important you take several practice tests before the real thing. If you skip the writing prompts it'll take four hours, five with. I don't review my tests until two days after I take them.

 

[ChocoMoo]

I'm taking a super easy course load this quarter, but I still wish I had more time to study...

Looking through my AAMC's that I've taken so far, a lot of the errors I made could have been prevented if I just thought about the question/answer choices for a little bit longer. Some of the mistakes were just dumb -_-. So, I've been doing a crap ton of problems from TPR's science workbook and BR's passages. Nothing pisses me off more than making dumb mistakes, that could have made the difference between a 10 and a 12. Not sure if it's nerves or lack of practice. But it makes me mad 😡. I hope this goes away by the time the 28th comes around...

 

[Californian]

3weeks left... (official)

 

[upchurch]

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do to increase the final 2-3 points? I am basically done with content review and have been doing practice tests scoring around 33 for AAMC and Kaplan FLs. What should I do to increase the final 2-3 points? I am aiming for a 35+ . It's really hard once you get since the difference between a 12 and a 13 is like 2 questions.

 

[CodeBlu]

Just finished AAMC #10... I didn't get to this full length when I wrote last summer, even though they say it's the best predictor of your score. I hope this is true.

I would be very happy with a ...

PS-12
VR-11
BS-11

Also, I know this has been said, but the BR physics and chem passages make me feel ****ty about myself sometimes. hahaha.

We're almost done guys!

 

[ChocoMoo]

Just finished AAMC #10... I didn't get to this full length when I wrote last summer, even though they say it's the best predictor of your score. I hope this is true.

I would be very happy with a ...

PS-12
VR-11
BS-11

Also, I know this has been said, but the BR physics and chem passages make me feel ****ty about myself sometimes. hahaha.

We're almost done guys!

A 34 on the real deal would be pretty sweet! And I totally know what you mean by the bolded

 

[ChocoMoo]

A 34 on the real deal would be pretty sweet! And I totally know what you mean by the bolded

I should also throw in TPR. I'm getting screwed over in their electrostatics passages right now. This is demoralizing 🙁

 

[CodeBlu]

I should also throw in TPR. I'm getting screwed over in their electrostatics passages right now. This is demoralizing 🙁

Demoralizing doesn't even begin to describe... hahaha

I must say though, I feel as though this test is sort of a luck of the draw based on the day you write. I know people that were scoring high 30's and walked in and got 30. Then there are the people that do OK on practice tests and then end up getting 3-4 points higher on the real deal. I personally think writing at one time of the year or another truly doesn't matter for the curve, but it does matter in the type of passages you get. For example, if you suck at orgo and get 1 organic passage instead of 3, you will do better on Bio.

The AAMC scales it accordingly, assuming the average person is comfortable with ALL the material they present. Which I know is not the case... thank you Electrostatics for taking my dignity. hahaha

 

[ChocoMoo]

Demoralizing doesn't even begin to describe... hahaha

I must say though, I feel as though this test is sort of a luck of the draw based on the day you write. I know people that were scoring high 30's and walked in and got 30. Then there are the people that do OK on practice tests and then end up getting 3-4 points higher on the real deal. I personally think writing at one time of the year or another truly doesn't matter for the curve, but it does matter in the type of passages you get. For example, if you suck at orgo and get 1 organic passage instead of 3, you will do better on Bio.

The AAMC scales it accordingly, assuming the average person is comfortable with ALL the material they present. Which I know is not the case... thank you Electrostatics for taking my dignity. hahaha

haha, yeah seriously.

I definitely agree with what you're saying about the luck factor on test day. It kind of sucks that you can study really hard for months, but if you didn't study the 'right' stuff, you can do poorly. I think this is what freaks me out the most about the MCAT - the unpredictability.

We don't have any control about what's gonna show up on the test, so I'm just trying to worry about what I DO have control over- studying every topic (both weaknesses and strengths) as much as I can.

I'm kind of starting to freak out at the mere though of what that first PS passage is gonna look like

Anyway, I'm off to photography class!

 

[ElChamaco]

Who wants to merge 1/29 and 1/28, so we can all be frantic together especially when scores come out?

I know traditionally these threads are for specific dates but the two groups share more in common than they differ. Especially considering the score release dates are the same!!!

Maybe if we kindly ask a mod to merge than we can only check one MCAT thread instead of two.

 

[vickpick]

^^ that'd be great

 

[LeoGer]

Who wants to merge 1/29 and 1/28, so we can all be frantic together especially when scores come out?

I know traditionally these threads are for specific dates but the two groups share more in common than they differ. Especially considering the score release dates are the same!!!

Maybe if we kindly ask a mod to merge than we can only check one MCAT thread instead of two.

Separate threads will allow for an easier comparison of scores.

 

[linusp]

AAMC8 was a doozy, definitely the most difficult one I've taken so far. I found it significantly harder than AAMC7. I figure the real deal is probably still tougher, but it was good to see how to handle more difficult passages.

VR is killing my overall scores. I'm scoring 10s consistently, and only once was able to break it and hit 12 (one of the earlier AAMCs, unfortunately). Not sure what to do at this point to better my VR (only 4 EK tests to go + 3 AAMCs), I think I'll just have to hope that I can maybe hit an 11 or 12 on test day if lucky, but hopefully at least get a 10 and make sure my sciences are okay.

WHY VR, WHY?!

 

[ElChamaco]

Separate threads will allow for an easier comparison of scores.

Comparison of what scores... We are all taking the same practice AAMCs and if you mean real MCAT scores, what difference does it make who you are comparing it to?

 

[ChocoMoo]

I don't think I can read the 1/29 MCAT thread anymore. Their high practice scores are making me feel sad ...