The Official 3/23/13 MCAT Thread

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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?
 
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Jr MD said:
UGHHHH ive done about 40 passages from TPRH and EK...some passages I win..some I lose...its demoralizing man...🙁
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Same here, I'm on my 19th passage on tprh. By the way, since you've been doing both tprh and ek, what is the difference like? I've only done 3 passages from ek so far and I think tprh may be slightly easier. Do you agree?
 
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Dark Ace said:
Same here, I'm on my 19th passage on tprh. By the way, since you've been doing both tprh and ek, what is the difference like? I've only done 3 passages from ek so far and I think tprh may be slightly easier. Do you agree?
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If I had to choose I would say that EK is tougher..I'm sucking at those. I pulled off a 6/7 on TPRH twice...but then again its been pretty much equal...I usually get 3/6 or 4/7 on both 🙁

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So I'm still reading about spectroscopy ...seems easy once I get the hang of these functional groups but it looks like a lot of memorizing...what did those that read the section think??

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Jr MD said:
So I'm still reading about spectroscopy ...seems easy once I get the hang of these functional groups but it looks like a lot of memorizing...what did those that read the section think??

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There definitely is a lot of memorization. I had forgotten almost all spectroscopy before reading the chapter. However, I remember that you could really rely on process of elimination in that section's passages.
 
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On that note, I made up a spectroscopy mnemonic that some of you guys might find helpful!

Almost All Values Are A little Arbitrary

It's for the H-NMR shift values (ppm) in ascending order: alpha, alkoxy, vinyl, arene, aldehyde, acid.

You're on your own for the numbers! 😛


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gettheleadout said:
On that note, I made up a spectroscopy mnemonic that some of you guys might find helpful!

Almost All Values Are A little Arbitrary

It's for the H-NMR shift values (ppm) in ascending order: alpha, alkoxy, vinyl, arene, aldehyde, acid.

You're on your own for the numbers! 😛


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Click to expand...

I think you'd be given info like H-NMR shift values if you're asked to use them!! Unfortunately for those of us who loved spectroscopy, there's not much to it on the MCAT 🙁
 
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Jepstein30 said:
I think you'd be given info like H-NMR shift values if you're asked to use them!! Unfortunately for those of us who loved spectroscopy, there's not much to it on the MCAT 🙁
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TBR says to know them. :shrug:

It also says know the basic four ranges for C-NMR and the four common values for IR.


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Maybe we should make a 3/23/13 thread list of what everyone's memorizing as far as non-equation stuff goes?

Would anyone be down to do that?

Remember guys, our scores aren't curved/scaled against each other, so there's no downside to working together. 🙂

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You definitely don't need to know c nmr. My new version of tbr doesn't list any values for it and says it won't be tested. I think it would definitely be smart to memorize common ir and nmr values though.
 
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gettheleadout said:
Maybe we should make a 3/23/13 thread list of what everyone's memorizing as far as non-equation stuff goes?

Would anyone be down to do that?

Remember guys, our scores aren't curved/scaled against each other, so there's no downside to working together. 🙂

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I'm most definitely down...there's a lot we can all do together honestly lol
 
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I'm curious why they took it out, I've got 2010 TBR Organic and the AAMC content outlines haven't changed since 2003 I believe... In any case C-NMR is still IN the AAMC outline, though knowing values may be overkill it's literally just four even intervals of 50 ppm ranges.


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I took AAMC 3 today after about 2 months of content review and got a 29 (10/9/10). I was hoping to get higher, but this MCAT thing is harder than I anticipated. I need to improve my timing on PS, as I didn't even attempt the last 5 discretes. And those humanities passages on verbal are terrible, why can't the author just tell you what he means straight up.

Kinda confused on how to make a study plan for these next 2.5 months. I've reviewed all the content, and am still a long way from my target score of 35. I've already done about 1/3 of the BR passages for Physics and GenChem. I did EK for BIO and Ochem with the in class exams. Ima get the TPRH workbooks for some extra passages. Anybody else in a similar position?
 
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Hey all, I have the AAMC outlines, the latest one Is from 2009. Cnmr is not under spectroscopy, hnmr definitely is though. Btw, I think it's a great idea to pile content together.
 
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Shams al Deen said:
I took AAMC 3 today after about 2 months of content review and got a 29 (10/9/10). I was hoping to get higher, but this MCAT thing is harder than I anticipated. I need to improve my timing on PS, as I didn't even attempt the last 5 discretes. And those humanities passages on verbal are terrible, why can't the author just tell you what he means straight up.

Kinda confused on how to make a study plan for these next 2.5 months. I've reviewed all the content, and am still a long way from my target score of 35. I've already done about 1/3 of the BR passages for Physics and GenChem. I did EK for BIO and Ochem with the in class exams. Ima get the TPRH workbooks for some extra passages. Anybody else in a similar position?
Click to expand...


I'll be taking AAMC 3 on sunday so maybe i'll have something to compare by then. I'm looking forward to it haha
 
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Shams al Deen said:
I took AAMC 3 today after about 2 months of content review and got a 29 (10/9/10). I was hoping to get higher, but this MCAT thing is harder than I anticipated. I need to improve my timing on PS, as I didn't even attempt the last 5 discretes. And those humanities passages on verbal are terrible, why can't the author just tell you what he means straight up.

Kinda confused on how to make a study plan for these next 2.5 months. I've reviewed all the content, and am still a long way from my target score of 35. I've already done about 1/3 of the BR passages for Physics and GenChem. I did EK for BIO and Ochem with the in class exams. Ima get the TPRH workbooks for some extra passages. Anybody else in a similar position?
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I think you need to give yourself more credit! I think that a score of 10 in the sciences shows that you pretty much have your content down. I think you need to more so focus on practicing and I think your time and accuracy will improve. With a 29 now, If you continue to work hard I think your goal is feasible 🙂. I began my studies 2 weeks ago. I took AAMC 3 as a diagnostic and got a 23 before my content review. I got a 25 on a Kaplan a week later. Now, I have been studying my content. I hope to take another practice test in the next 3 weeks. So, dont worry you are doing good, keep up the practice.
 
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Kimicurtis is so positive!! I love it! Haha

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gettheleadout said:
Maybe we should make a 3/23/13 thread list of what everyone's memorizing as far as non-equation stuff goes?

Would anyone be down to do that?

Remember guys, our scores aren't curved/scaled against each other, so there's no downside to working together. 🙂

Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile
Click to expand...


Well I guess I'll start. Intensity = 1/distance^2 equation is really important. Also, some things that I can think of off the top of my head:

* clonal deletion: thymus kills T-cells that attacks own body tissues to prevent autoimmune diseases
* vitamin D in kidney -> stimulate Ca2+ absorption in kidney and gut; vitamin K in gut flora
* reason why RBC lack nucleus is because only then can it navigate the narrow capillaries
* cystic fibrosis is autosomal recessive
* color blind is X-linked recessive
* pathway: renin secreted by kidney in response to low blood pressure -> release of angiotensin -> ACE makes it into angiotensin II in lungs -> stimulates aldosterone release from adrenal cortex
* adrenal cortex derived from mesoderm whereas adrenal medulla is from ectoderm (because it has nerves)
* pathway: contraction of respiratory diaphragm -> diaphragm move downward -> increase volume of thoracic cavity -> increase in volume causes intrapleural pressure (pressue in the closed space between outside of lungs and inside of thoracic wall) to decrease -> lungs expand and intra-alveolar pressure decreases below P(atm) and air flows into flows; all this is called negative pressure breathing
* primary oocytes arrested in prophase I from birth till puberty; secondary oocytes arrested in metaphase II until fertilization
* in muscle contraction, everything changes except length of the thick (myosin) filaments, also called the A band.
 
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hi everyone! I just need some advice....I'm a retaker and I've been reviewing content and doing passages this winter break. I learned most of the stuff over summer and forgot a lot of PS but not too much I think. And Bio, I plan on just tackling the TPRH SW. Can I ask what you guys recommend would be a good mcat study schedule from now till March? I'm also taking 4 classes and volunteering and tutoring. Do you think 1hr/day for weekdays and 4hrs/weekend day is good enough?

I used all the AAMCs and TBR CBTS, but I also have access to all the TPR CBT tests and their online content. Like I noticed they also have drill passages and more practice stuff, if I run out of materials (highly doubt).

Thanks!
 
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gettheleadout said:
Maybe we should make a 3/23/13 thread list of what everyone's memorizing as far as non-equation stuff goes?

Would anyone be down to do that?

Remember guys, our scores aren't curved/scaled against each other, so there's no downside to working together. 🙂

Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile
Click to expand...

Yes. Sounds good. Maybe this can be in the mcat forum rather than the study group post, since more than one study group can benefit from it.

For me, so far I'm memorizing solubility rules, (not memorizing VSEPR f-that 😛 are you guys? ), random facts like Iodine (I2) is a solid normally, and the polyatomic ions. This of course, reflects where I am in content review.

osprey099 said:
Well I guess I'll start.....*snip*.
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Thank you osprey 🙂

argama said:
hi everyone! I just need some advice....I'm a retaker and I've been reviewing content and doing passages this winter break. I learned most of the stuff over summer and forgot a lot of PS but not too much I think. And Bio, I plan on just tackling the TPRH SW. Can I ask what you guys recommend would be a good mcat study schedule from now till March? I'm also taking 4 classes and volunteering and tutoring. Do you think 1hr/day for weekdays and 4hrs/weekend day is good enough?

I used all the AAMCs and TBR CBTS, but I also have access to all the TPR CBT tests and their online content. Like I noticed they also have drill passages and more practice stuff, if I run out of materials (highly doubt).

Thanks!
Click to expand...

hi argama, i'm not a retaker but i'm in a similar situation, spent the summer studying pretty hard then laid off a bit for the fall. I would gloss over things you are sure you remember and that are your strengths, but definitely work practice problems for them, just allocate less time for them. then spend all of your time on what you need to improve on based on your score. It's hard to say what time/week is good because it is subjective and based on the person. But I am studying a lot more than what you are listing. I also am a slow learner for this stuff 😛

what i would do is take sn2ed's schedule and snip out your strengths, and add a day or two for the weaknesses in content review, then spend the remaining time on practice tests.
 
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osprey099 said:
snipped
Click to expand...

Great stuff here. 👍

argama said:
Can I ask what you guys recommend would be a good mcat study schedule from now till March? I'm also taking 4 classes and volunteering and tutoring. Do you think 1hr/day for weekdays and 4hrs/weekend day is good enough?
Click to expand...

Hello! Like NED said, I would just work your study schedule around the SN2ED's 3 month study schedule.

NuttyEngDude said:
Yes. Sounds good. Maybe this can be in the mcat forum rather than the study group post, since more than one study group can benefit from it.

For me, so far I'm memorizing solubility rules, (not memorizing VSEPR f-that 😛 are you guys? ), random facts like Iodine (I2) is a solid normally, and the polyatomic ions. This of course, reflects where I am in content review.
Click to expand...

I did thermochemistry this week and to add onto your list:

Br2 & Hg are liquids at room temperature (standard STATE condition)
Al solid at room temperature (standard STATE condition).
 
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Does anyone know if the AAMC SAP is just a collection of the questions from retired MCATs AAMC 1, 2, and 6?
 
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Dumb question lol but How does one get an AAMC FL?? 🙂

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My girlfriend goes back to school on Sunday and I'm spending Friday night with physics discreets 🙁

164 down, ~300 to go. Yay for PR Hyperlearning Sci Workbook 😴
 
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I realized that the EK Chapters and BR chapters are witche...even TPRH books. Tbr starts with physiology and EK and tprh start with biological molecules. Lipids proteins and such. Any opinion to why tbr starts different? What I did was start with the second br bio book. This is also based on the fact that I just took human physiology....hope it doesn't mess me up :/

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Entadus said:
My girlfriend goes back to school on Sunday and I'm spending Friday night with physics discreets 🙁

164 down, ~300 to go. Yay for PR Hyperlearning Sci Workbook 😴
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i admire your dedication but you should go hang out with your girl, lol.

Jr MD said:
I realized that the EK Chapters and BR chapters are witche...even TPRH books. Tbr starts with physiology and EK and tprh start with biological molecules. Lipids proteins and such. Any opinion to why tbr starts different? What I did was start with the second br bio book. This is also based on the fact that I just took human physiology....hope it doesn't mess me up :/

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it wont mess you up. also, if you dont know about this post already check it out:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=937656
 
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Jr MD said:
I realized that the EK Chapters and BR chapters are witche...even TPRH books. Tbr starts with physiology and EK and tprh start with biological molecules. Lipids proteins and such. Any opinion to why tbr starts different? What I did was start with the second br bio book. This is also based on the fact that I just took human physiology....hope it doesn't mess me up :/

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Yeah I started with the second book too since sn2 recommends it as such. Br has a macro to micro approach which is very unusual since the micro section lays the groundwork to understand the higher biological levels. Perhaps it has something to do with reviewing content vs learning it for the first time.

By the way for those of you haven't already seen it, sn2 matched up ek bio with br in this post; http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8092170&postcount=3
 
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Dark Ace said:
nice... I wish I could double up on chapters like that. 😳
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i've been through this material before though not the problems. I only double up if i feel it is a topic i know pretty well. conversely, I spent 4 days on optics 😳

I will not be doubling up on most of the biological sciences and o-chem chapters.
 
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I feel like BR might be arranged that way because in the actual BR course they do organic before biology since some bio passages require in depth organic knowledge.
 
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slz1900 said:
I feel like BR might be arranged that way because in the actual BR course they do organic before biology since some bio passages require in depth organic knowledge.
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hmmm... makes sense and that's probably a much better way of doing it.
 
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NuttyEngDude said:
i've been through this material before though not the problems. I only double up if i feel it is a topic i know pretty well. conversely, I spent 4 days on optics 😳

I will not be doubling up on most of the biological sciences and o-chem chapters.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean dude! Something about optics is that unlike the rest of physics I've used absolutely zero percent of it in my career as an engineer. Last time I saw optics was 13 years ago in Science Olympiad, senior year of high school!
 
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Captain Sisko said:
I know what you mean dude! Something about optics is that unlike the rest of physics I've used absolutely zero percent of it in my career as an engineer. Last time I saw optics was 13 years ago in Science Olympiad, senior year of high school!
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Wow... that means you are like 31(?) years old!
 
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Captain Sisko said:
I know what you mean dude! Something about optics is that unlike the rest of physics I've used absolutely zero percent of it in my career as an engineer. Last time I saw optics was 13 years ago in Science Olympiad, senior year of high school!
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conceptually not difficult but annoying to miss these questions because you cant remember when to use a minus sign or because you forget which one is the converging vs diverging lens.

osprey099 said:
I finished those two chapters yesterday. So tiring.. gl 🙂
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thank you. 🙂 today is physics 8 & 9 -- electrostatics, emag and circuits -- this one might take longer than just a day but i will try.

slz1900 said:
I've passed the halfway point with content review 😀
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👍 i hope to be there in a week... maybe
 
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Equilibrium today...i was really good at this when i took gen chem but ....i had a calculator :/...i really suck at math which is making me scared ;(

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Jr MD said:
Lol anything will do. order of magnitude its everywhere! And fractions...i hate fractions

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Ah, if it's a fraction thing then that sounds like a more fundamental comfort level with math. Would that be an accurate assessment? For orders of magnitude my intuitive response is to say just separate the mantissa and the exponent and just deal with the exponent, but I'm not sure how much use that explanation is to you lol...
 
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gettheleadout said:
Ah, if it's a fraction thing then that sounds like a more fundamental comfort level with math. Would that be an accurate assessment? For orders of magnitude my intuitive response is to say just separate the mantissa and the exponent and just deal with the exponent, but I'm not sure how much use that explanation is to you lol...
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Yea fractions has been an enemy since high school lol

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