The Official 3/23/13 MCAT Thread

[Redpancreas]

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Figured I'd start this one out. I'll be registering for the MCAT first thing tomorrow. Who else is taking it on this date? How do you all plan on studying over the school year?

 

[balla121]

I have been trying to do 2 chapters of sn2ed's plan each day so I can finish majority of content review before school starts again. Anyone else trying this? I'm on my 4th day of 2 chapters/day and its not bad. Can anyone that has crammed similarly give me some insight on how effective it is?

 

[Redpancreas]

I have been trying to do 2 chapters of sn2ed's plan each day so I can finish majority of content review before school starts again. Anyone else trying this? I'm on my 4th day of 2 chapters/day and its not bad. Can anyone that has crammed similarly give me some insight on how effective it is?

This was my initial goal but it didn't work and I burnt out. Now it's just one. I figure practice is better than content review as a retaker anyways. It might be different for other though. The dedication of some of you continues to amaze me. 👍

 

[balla121]

This was my initial goal but it didn't work and I burnt out. Now it's just one. I figure practice is better than content review as a retaker anyways. It might be different for other though. The dedication of some of you continues to amaze me. 👍

Haha it helps that it is freezing outside and nothing else to do in town, might as well be productive 😀

also, is anyone else having as much trouble on verbal as I am? I typically get around 5/7 finishing around 7-7:30 each time. There will be passages where I will absolutely have no idea what is goin on and get 3/7 and taking 8-8:30 mins. Any tips?

 

[gettheleadout]

Haha it helps that it is freezing outside and nothing else to do in town, might as well be productive 😀

also, is anyone else having as much trouble on verbal as I am? I typically get around 5/7 finishing around 7-7:30 each time. There will be passages where I will absolutely have no idea what is goin on and get 3/7 and taking 8-8:30 mins. Any tips?

I'm pretty consistently missing between 0-1 per passage and coming in under 7 min. every time now. Hopefully in the next 150+ passages I can start missing 0 more often. 😀 Verbal has always been one of my strengths though.

What material is covered in the passages that get you? Do those passages not interest you? Are they just harder passages, as in none of the questions are "gimme" questions? Is it taking you longer to read the passage or to answer the questions, causing you to go over time? Is there any sort of pattern to the questions you're missing on those hard passages?

 

[balla121]

I'm pretty consistently missing between 0-1 per passage and coming in under 7 min. every time now. Hopefully in the next 150+ passages I can start missing 0 more often. 😀 Verbal has always been one of my strengths though.

What material is covered in the passages that get you? Do those passages not interest you? Are they just harder passages, as in none of the questions are "gimme" questions? Is it taking you longer to read the passage or to answer the questions, causing you to go over time? Is there any sort of pattern to the questions you're missing on those hard passages?

I feel like most of your questions apply to the harder passages. In harder passages I am usually lost halfway through 2nd paragraph and then after that I'm screwed. I just can't seem to get a grasp on some of the denser passages. On the other hand, passages where I understand the background message, everything seems to be a giveme lol I guess I just need to read my butt off next few months

 

[mr chievous]

I'm pretty consistently missing between 0-1 per passage and coming in under 7 min. every time now. Hopefully in the next 150+ passages I can start missing 0 more often. 😀 Verbal has always been one of my strengths though.

What material is covered in the passages that get you? Do those passages not interest you? Are they just harder passages, as in none of the questions are "gimme" questions? Is it taking you longer to read the passage or to answer the questions, causing you to go over time? Is there any sort of pattern to the questions you're missing on those hard passages?

For me, it's the uninteresting passages that kill me. got a 12/6/12 on my last FL. Sigh...

 

[gettheleadout]

For me, it's the uninteresting passages that kill me. got a 12/6/12 on my last FL. Sigh...

Dang man, I'm not sure what to tell you. The only things I've encountered (and not in VR) that I can't focus on reading are things that are outright unintelligible, like research methodology in an unfamiliar field. And heck, in that case it's mostly cause I have no idea what half the words they're using even mean...


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[NuttyEngDude]

I have been trying to do 2 chapters of sn2ed's plan each day so I can finish majority of content review before school starts again. Anyone else trying this? I'm on my 4th day of 2 chapters/day and its not bad. Can anyone that has crammed similarly give me some insight on how effective it is?

I did this last summer and realized afterwards that I didnt retain "newer" information very well, or I glossed over stuff I shouldn't have. If you are working the end of chapter problems, exercises, etc with no problems then you are probably OK. Everyone is different and when you start working practice tests, you will find out what holes you have.

 

[whoknows87]

I"ve only done Physics Chapter 1 so far , few things have occupied my time , I usually do chapter +Chads videos then try and do passages overkill ?

 

[Jr MD]

I did this last summer and realized afterwards that I didnt retain "newer" information very well, or I glossed over stuff I shouldn't have. If you are working the end of chapter problems, exercises, etc with no problems then you are probably OK. Everyone is different and when you start working practice tests, you will find out what holes you have.

What I'm doing is cutting it in half because I felt like its toooo much especially when I start classes next semester...it also allows me to finish earlier and enjoy my break...after I do half I find passages in TPRH Science workbook and do 4 passages over the subject...then I listen to audio osmosis while I'm chilling...what do y'all think of that???

 

[balla121]

What I'm doing is cutting it in half because I felt like its toooo much especially when I start classes next semester...it also allows me to finish earlier and enjoy my break...after I do half I find passages in TPRH Science workbook and do 4 passages over the subject...then I listen to audio osmosis while I'm chilling...what do y'all think of that???

It doesn't sound bad. I think the reason the "3 month schedule" is so long is that you are constantly reviewing older material so you are always on top of everything. If can do your own thing without forgetting anything, it looks like a great idea.

 

[Shams al Deen]

I'm nearly done with content review and just wanted to see where I was at. So I did examkrackers simulated exam 1H and got completely destroyed. I got a 25 (9/8/8), and its just so demoralizing. I thougt I was in pretty good shape getting like 75-80% on tbr and 12s on EK bio 30min exams. Anybody taken that EK exam 1H before, was it predictive of your aamc scores at all? It's that paper exam that came with the EK complete study package. Lol I was aiming for a 35 too.

 

[gettheleadout]

I'm nearly done with content review and just wanted to see where I was at. So I did examkrackers simulated exam 1H and got completely destroyed. I got a 25 (9/8/8), and its just so demoralizing. I thougt I was in pretty good shape getting like 75-80% on tbr and 12s on EK bio 30min exams. Anybody taken that EK exam 1H before, was it predictive of your aamc scores at all? It's that paper exam that came with the EK complete study package. Lol I was aiming for a 35 too.

I wouldn't get your confidence hurt until you take AAMC 3.


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[asecondtolife]

Haha it helps that it is freezing outside and nothing else to do in town, might as well be productive 😀

also, is anyone else having as much trouble on verbal as I am? I typically get around 5/7 finishing around 7-7:30 each time. There will be passages where I will absolutely have no idea what is goin on and get 3/7 and taking 8-8:30 mins. Any tips?

I think heavy post evaluation might help you figure out what's going on, but in the end (I hope) it comes down to practice. D: My only tip for those hard passages is to not overthink it - it's easy to drown in obscure philosophy details but in the end just remember you only need the main point. I think that's where practice comes in too - you start developing an intuition for the right answer even when you're not really sure what they're asking.

 

[Economics]

Intuition is probably the thing that is getting me the most right now. Content review can only get you so far. I am consistently averaging 26-27, so those extra couple questions which are intuitive and actual content will help bump me up those 3 points I need. The problem is just getting to that point.

 

[gettheleadout]

Woo hoo MCAT studying at 4 in the morning!

My sleep schedule is so screwed haha

 

[PhysioG318]

Seems like everybody is coming along Great with content review! I am as well surprisingly😊 I feel like I am avoiding my friends by not hanging out with them but I know MCAT is my weakness being a re-taker. So I have to get a killer score this time around. I keep reminding myself that if I do really well that maybe this time around next year I will have a Med School Acceptance already! That keeps me going!😊 GOOD LUCK Everyone!!!

 

[balla121]

I'm starting to skip around in the books now that theres only a week left of break before school starts. Really wanna touch the harder topics that I'm not comfortable with. Finishing BR Physics book 2 today 😀 and hopefully I can get in 2 chapters of BR Bio Keep it up guys!

 

[Entadus]

Last chapter of PR Bio today... Reproductive system! 😍

It's amazing how much stronger I feel in bio after completing this review book.

January = time to crack open the hyper-learning science workbook!

Good luck and have fun, all. 🙂

 

[kimicurtis]

Would anyone be interested in being my skype MCAT motivation buddy? Ideally I want to have a discussion atleast once a week with an individual to exchange mutual support and possibly discuss some MCAT topics. PM me if interested! Good luck guys, you all seem to be doing great!

 

[Albein]

following Sn2ed's schedule, fell behind a little but finally caught up today. i noticed not to get caught up if you miss some questions especially in Orgo and Gen chem because some of those passages throw in questions that are coming up in the next chapter. Surprisingly, Im not doing so well on some of the bio passages which is weird because that's always been my strong point. i've read that some people are doing 2 chapters a day and idk how you guys manage that. I read the chapter and highlight some points and then read it again while outlining and then move to the questions. That usually takes me 6 hours and I burn out after; i cant imagine doing that for 2 chapters. if you can do it, more power to you.
does anyone else feel they are forgetting things as they move on? i notice myself trying to remember past chapters and it feels like i haven't learned or retained anything.

 

[whoknows87]

Yeah I'm finding it sometimes a bit too much to do content + Passages same day, Gen Chem is goign well for me, it's the Physics I'm watching Chads videos for every single topic, TBR is too dense I feel I feel like skipping a few things/questions hopefully that doesn't come back to bite me

 

[Jr MD]

Yeah I'm finding it sometimes a bit too much to do content + Passages same day, Gen Chem is goign well for me, it's the Physics I'm watching Chads videos for every single topic, TBR is too dense I feel I feel like skipping a few things/questions hopefully that doesn't come back to bite me

That's exactly why I split the chapters in two...it made it longer but it'll be better for me...quality over quantity!!! I find that I remember things a lot better than when I was doing them all in one day...I also have more time in the day to relax 🙂

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[Jr MD]

So I was doing ochen EK and they said that N8 was sp3 hybridized. I know this is wrong..I'm really confident it is..what do you all think??

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[Shams al Deen]

^ Lone pair on the N isn't drawn in but that'd make it sp3

 

[Entadus]

There is partial sp2 character on it from the Amide resonance. Definitely not sp3 (PEPTIDE BONDS ARE PLANAR)

 

[Dark Ace]

Just joining the party here ... How are you guys studying for the BS section?

I started TBR and I feel that the bio is really similar to VR. The questions aren't so detailed but rely heavily on the passages. Is it a good idea to mostly practice the passages and review content from old notes etc.?

 

[Jr MD]

There is partial sp2 character on it from the Amide resonance. Definitely not sp3 (PEPTIDE BONDS ARE PLANAR)

My thoughts exactly!! EK CHEM Kinda angered me there's like 5 wrong questions in that section

 

[gettheleadout]

There is partial sp2 character on it from the Amide resonance. Definitely not sp3 (PEPTIDE BONDS ARE PLANAR)

Interesting, the sp3 form is obviously more stable, thus accounting for 60% of the resonance hybrid, yet the observed planarity of peptide bonds means it must be sp2, since there's always some electron density in the PO orbital. I kind of think its a bad question, since if you're going to pigeonhole it as sp2, in what orbital is the electron density from the resonating lone pair? It's not a discrete hybridization because it can't be, so why call it one?


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Edit: Ooh, more interesting: Apparently any resonating atom is defined to be sp2 by convention, so that it can have an open p orbital for the pi electrons (http://www.chem.ucla.edu/harding/ec_tutorials/tutorial18.pdf) BUT, as one would expect, this doesn't make a lot of sense and is just a conventional work around for the fact that the model is incomplete (http://chm233.asu.edu/notes/resonance/S2.html).

So, the answer can't be sp3, and by convention is sp2, even though that is a technically incomplete answer.

 

[gettheleadout]

Currently doing the dreaded TBR Equilibrium chapter...

 

[asecondtolife]

Interesting, the sp3 form is obviously more stable, thus accounting for 60% of the resonance hybrid, yet the observed planarity of peptide bonds means it must be sp2, since there's always some electron density in the PO orbital. I kind of think its a bad question, since if you're going to pigeonhole it as sp2, in what orbital is the electron density from the resonating lone pair? It's not a discrete hybridization because it can't be, so why call it one?


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Edit: Ooh, more interesting: Apparently any resonating atom is defined to be sp2 by convention, so that it can have an open p orbital for the pi electrons (http://www.chem.ucla.edu/harding/ec_tutorials/tutorial18.pdf) BUT, as one would expect, this doesn't make a lot of sense and is just a conventional work around for the fact that the model is incomplete (http://chm233.asu.edu/notes/resonance/S2.html).

So, the answer can't be sp3, and by convention is sp2, even though that is a technically incomplete answer.

TPR Ochem states amides are sp2 - my professor taught that they were "sp3 with sp2 character" so now I'm thoroughly confused 😳 nitrogen compounds are always the worst imo haha!

 

[Jr MD]

Currently doing the dreaded TBR Equilibrium chapter...

Yucckkk lol tell us how.it goes!!

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[Jr MD]

Its Friday!! Im on my break day but I'm gonna use this time to catch up and do some VR passages...how's every one else doing???

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[slz1900]

Anyone else finding it really hard to get motivated on review days? Every other day I'm super motivated to study, but reviewing is so boring. I also feel like the EK1001 questions are kind of a waste of time.

 

[slz1900]

Its Friday!! Im on my break day but I'm gonna use this time to catch up and do some VR passages...how's every one else doing???

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Haha, I can't bring myself to take a break day either. I always find myself googling stuff or reading over the passages I've done.

 

[Jr MD]

Anyone else finding it really hard to get motivated on review days? Every other day I'm super motivated to study, but reviewing is so boring. I also feel like the EK1001 questions are kind of a waste of time.

Same here...some of the answers are wrong too..but keep pushin forward...🙂

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[kgpremed11]

When are you guy starting back to school. 1/7 for me. Studying for the MCAT during break is manageable, but when the semester starts lot of this and none of this 😴 and a lot of days feeling like this 🙁

 

[Jr MD]

When are you guy starting back to school. 1/7 for me. Studying for the MCAT during break is manageable, but when the semester starts lot of this and none of this 😴 and a lot of days feeling like this 🙁

Jan 14 for me..and I knoooowwww🙁 that's how my last semester was...this junior year has been hell! But I'm glad I'm a member of this site cause we can suffer together! Wooo! Here's to suffering!:beer:

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[Shams al Deen]

Anyone else finding it really hard to get motivated on review days? Every other day I'm super motivated to study, but reviewing is so boring. I also feel like the EK1001 questions are kind of a waste of time.

Ya same here, review days and ochem days are terrible for me. After I take a practice passage and grade it my natural instinct is to not want to ever see those questions again. I really don't do the post game stuff nearly as much as I should, it's too boring.

 

[Dark Ace]

Ya same here, review days and ochem days are terrible for me. After I take a practice passage and grade it my natural instinct is to not want to ever see those questions again. I really don't do the post game stuff nearly as much as I should, it's too boring.

Aren't review days supposed to start when you take FLs?

 

[slz1900]

Aren't review days supposed to start when you take FLs?

With sn2ed's schedule you've got 1 review day a week when you do the EK 30 min bio exam, reread the chapters, and do ek1001 questions.

 

[MD2be2012]

Studying have been slow lately but will start buckling down this week starting with a practice exam.

How's everyone's studying coming along? how many hours a day are you guys putting in? anyone taken any practice exam yet?

 

[kimicurtis]

When are you guy starting back to school. 1/7 for me. Studying for the MCAT during break is manageable, but when the semester starts lot of this and none of this 😴 and a lot of days feeling like this 🙁

I start this date too. I'm not doing enough as it is now. This semester is gonna be a struggle. 17 credits plus 15 hours in the lab and EC's. Well, if I am not doing that great in MCAT I'm going to have to skip a couple classes :/

 

[kimicurtis]

Studying have been slow lately but will start buckling down this week starting with a practice exam.

How's everyone's studying coming along? how many hours a day are you guys putting in? anyone taken any practice exam yet?

Right now it's honestly not that great. I will have reviewed 5 chapter concepts by the end of this week. I have 1 week left of no class, I'm going to have to go hard to catch up. On the bright side I have been reviewing my passages and have flashcards with chapter summaries that I carry around with me on the train, I also read them everytime I have a minute. I think this is really helping my retention.

My first practice test(before review) was 23 7/9/7 it was AAMC 3. A week later I took Kaplan 2 and got 25 8/9/8. I know I have a long way to go but I'm trying to stay positive!

I did about 4-8 hours this week. But, had like 3 break days 🙁 christmas.... I'm leaving NY tomorrow and going to my aunts house in MD. This coming week I'm doing a minimum of 8 hours.

Just had my coffee, I am pumped! 🙂

 

[Dark Ace]

Right now it's honestly not that great. I will have reviewed 5 chapter concepts by the end of this week. I have 1 week left of no class, I'm going to have to go hard to catch up. On the bright side I have been reviewing my passages and have flashcards with chapter summaries that I carry around with me on the train, I also read them everytime I have a minute. I think this is really helping my retention.

My first practice test(before review) was 23 7/9/7 it was AAMC 3. A week later I took Kaplan 2 and got 25 8/9/8. I know I have a long way to go but I'm trying to stay positive!

I did about 4-8 hours this week. But, had like 3 break days 🙁 christmas.... I'm leaving NY tomorrow and going to my aunts house in MD. This coming week I'm doing a minimum of 8 hours.

Just had my coffee, I am pumped! 🙂

For a diagnostic, your verbal is pretty good 👍

 

[kimicurtis]

For a diagnostic, your verbal is pretty good 👍

Thanks, I really hope I can bring it up to a 12 by time my test rolls around. I hope that's not unreasonable. If I get an 11, I'll be okay.

 

[ash0515]

Hi guys! I just signed up for this date as well 🙂 I'm a retaker, so my main goal this time around is to improve my verbal score!

 

[gettheleadout]

TBR Equilibrium wasn't as bad (yet) as people said. Yeah it's math-y and some of the in-text examples were hard, but the passages I did weren't bad. At least, no worse than usual TBR.


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[slz1900]

TBR Equilibrium wasn't as bad (yet) as people said. Yeah it's math-y and some of the in-text examples were hard, but the passages I did weren't bad. At least, no worse than usual TBR.


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The passages were pretty variable. I did well on the 1st third but got rocked on the second third of that chapter.

 

[gettheleadout]

The passages were pretty variable. I did well on the 1st third but got rocked on the second third of that chapter.

Well I'm not doing the phases or whatever they're called, those recommended divisions of the passages. I'm just taking every third.


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