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?

 

[NuttyEngDude]

I am! I'm just trying my best to stay away from this site for my own sanity and to avoid overall procrastination as well...30 days to go!!! almost there!!!

not a bad strategy at all

 

[Entadus]

30 days!! Can't wait to be done!


AAMC 7 later today!!

 

[PlasmodiumVivax]

Did some TPRH verbal for test 4 and Kaplan's PS section test 5.

Both violated me, those first two verbal passages were insane. And in the section test, it had of the most convoluted passages I have ever seen. I reread it 5 times and it still didn't make sense.

The Horror.... the horror

 

[Albein]

Did 3 more verbal passages and got 14/18. This is definitely improvement, but I'm skeptical and attributing it to easy passages -____-
Why can't I enjoy the small victories? *scumbag brain*

 

[Jepstein30]

Taking the test 4/27 or 5/11 (just joining in here)

Right now am about 40% through content review. Have been doing 2 chapters of a subject in two days with practice passages and then after all 8 chapters, 2 days of review of those chapters with more practice passages.

Verbal sprinkled in as I can (especially on review days). Last verbal I took was EK 4 and got a 36/40.. I keep making 2-3 stupid mistakes on verbal and then EK always has 1-2 answers that I just flat out disagree with.

How did everyone do on their TBR or TPRH practice percentage wise? For the most part, I'm in the mid-80%s. Lower 90%s for strong subjects and in the 70%s for really weak ones (a few high 60s as well). I think that is okay but would like to hit a consistent 80-90%.

 

[Entadus]

AAMC 7

14p / 13v / 12b = 39

One question away from a 13 in Bio (and a 40 overall!)

My laptop battery ran out with 20 minutes to go in the B.S. section. Should have brought my charger.... Had to go home to finish the test. Meh

I don't think it negatively affected my score, it was just a hard section. Screw it I'll check where I went wrong tomorrow. Too tired to focus on the experiments any more...

EDIT: (only a 12 in bio??? Looks like Entadus is human after all! Bastard gunner got what he deserves!)

 

[NuttyEngDude]

haha good job entadus

 

[Albein]

I should be done with content review and reviewing the 1/3 by Saturday, Sunday latest. At that point, I'm going to make a bio passage. I'll put it up as soon as I can.

 

[Albein]

AAMC 7

14p / 13v / 12b = 39

One question away from a 13 in Bio (and a 40 overall!)

My laptop battery ran out with 20 minutes to go in the B.S. section. Should have brought my charger.... Had to go home to finish the test. Meh

I don't think it negatively affected my score, it was just a hard section. Screw it I'll check where I went wrong tomorrow. Too tired to focus on the experiments any more...

EDIT: (only a 12 in bio??? Looks like Entadus is human after all! Bastard gunner got what he deserves!)

Good job man, keep it going.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

I should be done with content review and reviewing the 1/3 by Saturday, Sunday latest. At that point, I'm going to make a bio passage. I'll put it up as soon as I can.

👍


thanks man. I wish i could do the same but i have no time to make passages now, it's continual crunch mode & stress it seems hehe

 

[Jr MD]

AAMC 7

14p / 13v / 12b = 39

One question away from a 13 in Bio (and a 40 overall!)

My laptop battery ran out with 20 minutes to go in the B.S. section. Should have brought my charger.... Had to go home to finish the test. Meh

I don't think it negatively affected my score, it was just a hard section. Screw it I'll check where I went wrong tomorrow. Too tired to focus on the experiments any more...

EDIT: (only a 12 in bio??? Looks like Entadus is human after all! Bastard gunner got what he deserves!)

Damn. Good **** entadus trying to get on your level!

Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch Q using SDN Mobile

 

[tibetanowl]

Taking my first AAMC FL on Sunday....SO SO SO scared :cry:

 

[Albein]

👍


thanks man. I wish i could do the same but i have no time to make passages now, it's continual crunch mode & stress it seems hehe

Yeah I'll be there soon. Going to start with BR exams Monday. I'm worried that if I score in low to mid 20s, I'm going to have a breakdown because I'll feel all this has been for nothing.

 

[Captain Sisko]

AAMC 7

14p / 13v / 12b = 39

One question away from a 13 in Bio (and a 40 overall!)

My laptop battery ran out with 20 minutes to go in the B.S. section. Should have brought my charger.... Had to go home to finish the test. Meh

I don't think it negatively affected my score, it was just a hard section. Screw it I'll check where I went wrong tomorrow. Too tired to focus on the experiments any more...

EDIT: (only a 12 in bio??? Looks like Entadus is human after all! Bastard gunner got what he deserves!)

awesome job! i need to figure out how to consistently break 11 on verbal. and how to stop getting killed at ps. not sure what I'm taking this weekend. maybe 10.

 

[Jr MD]

So verbal is the only thing i feel is holding me back. I heard of something called verbal virtuoso. Anybody got a take on this?

Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch Q using SDN Mobile

 

[Albein]

Just went through the content outline for PS and BS and that is easily top 5 worst decision I've made in my life.

 

[carboxylase]

EDIT: Figured it out.

 

[Jr MD]

I feel the same easy about the Calvin cycle...do we need that?

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[slz1900]

Just went through the content outline for PS and BS and that is easily top 5 worst decision I've made in my life.

lol yep, they make it look pretty scary, but all you really need is a passing familiarity with everything on there. You don't need to master it inside and out.

 

[carboxylase]

I feel the same easy about the Calvin cycle...do we need that?

Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch Q using SDN Mobile

I haven't encountered anything about the Calvin cycle yet.

 

[Entadus]

I absolutely cannot make myself learn ANYTHING about fungi. It's one of those topics where my brain says "nope, forget this".

A few questions have shown up in AAMC's and in TPRHL so far and I'm like 1/4.

I guess you're not a FUN GUY 😛

I feel the same easy about the Calvin cycle...do we need that?

Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch Q using SDN Mobile

Calvin cycle is plants! Forget it.... just know the BASICS of photosynthesis...

 

[NuttyEngDude]

So verbal is the only thing i feel is holding me back. I heard of something called verbal virtuoso. Anybody got a take on this?

No idea, and no one I know has used this.

I feel the same easy about the Calvin cycle...do we need that?

Calvin cycle is plants! Forget it.... just know the BASICS of photosynthesis...

Eh? I dont see anything about photosynthesis or the calvin cycle in the aamc outline 😕

 

[Entadus]

I'm not talking about MCAT here, Nutty... Everyone should know what photosynthesis is! Didn't we learn that in grade school? 😛

 

[NuttyEngDude]

Curious, on those days you guys did the discretes after you finished content reviw, did you do anything other than discretes?

 

[NuttyEngDude]

I'm not talking about MCAT here, Nutty... Everyone should know what photosynthesis is! Didn't we learn that in grade school? 😛

lol... for the next 29 days, there is nothing outside of mcat 😛

 

[Forkit]

I'm not talking about MCAT here, Nutty... Everyone should know what photosynthesis is! Didn't we learn that in grade school? 😛

Hey Entadus, your Bio score is awesome! Definitely my weakest link. Mind sharing what books you used for content review and passage practices? Thank you, and sorry if you posted that information before....don't have to read through 26 pages in this thread 😀

 

[osprey099]

Just finished AAMC 8. I am a retaker so I have already been exposed to the AAMC exams last summer. However, I plan on doing AAMC 9, 10, and 11 before I use the Kaplan FLs as my actual score indicators.

AAMC 8: 12PS, 10V, 13BS

not quite on your level yet entadus..😛

 

[Entadus]

Just finished AAMC 8. I am a retaker so I have already been exposed to the AAMC exams last summer. However, I plan on doing AAMC 9, 10, and 11 before I use the Kaplan FLs as my actual score indicators.

AAMC 8: 12PS, 10V, 13BS

not quite on your level yet entadus..😛

Nicely done anyway!! I haven't taken #8 yet, I would kill for a 13 in BS!! 👍

Hey Entadus, your Bio score is awesome! Definitely my weakest link. Mind sharing what books you used for content review and passage practices? Thank you, and sorry if you posted that information before....don't have to read through 26 pages in this thread 😀

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=13678358&postcount=1158

Curious, on those days you guys did the discretes after you finished content reviw, did you do anything other than discretes?

I like to watch bio videos online, and stay on top of my verbal passages. Otherwise, the main thing to focus on is reviewing any questions you missed or felt shaky on, and strengthening those areas.

 

[Entadus]

I didn't get to review my test today. 🙁 Somehow my cold has returned. Actually I felt it yesterday but stubbornly persisted in taking the exam. I was coughing the whole time and now I think maybe I should have rested instead (instead of spending hours intently concentrating and drinking coffee😳 ). I rested all day today and thankfully my tutoring work got canceled. 😴

Take care of yourselves, everybody. Listen to your body, and you'll have a better chance of keeping yourself from getting run-down.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

feel better !

 

[slz1900]

AAMC 5

32: 11 BS 10 VR 11 PS

Did anyone else find verbal super hard on this one?

 

[PlasmodiumVivax]

Woke up sick today, almost found a spot for the mcat near where I live but it was taken instantly. I'm more motivated today now to own it up!!

Finished a TBR Molecular Bio diagnostic and got 46/52 🙂, now planning to do a Kaplan BS sectional and verbal. Almost done with TPRH SW as well, hopefully I wreck shop tonight!

 

[NuttyEngDude]

i have a slight headache, I know it's you guys getting me sick! Especially Entadus, he deserves most blame 😛

About half way through the physics discretes for the TPR workbook, I had no idea there were so many physics discretes. Goal is to finish these today. I've already uncovered some holes in my prep from it........

 

[Albein]

Those EK 1001 are a pain. I'm hoping to get done with the reviewing passages for last 5-6 chapters I did, do the 2/3 of passages, review them and do my first exam Monday or Tuesday. Reviewing is a lot more work than it seems especially when those passages do a number on you.

 

[timeturner]

AAMC 5

32: 11 BS 10 VR 11 PS

Did anyone else find verbal super hard on this one?

Took AAMC 5 today:

35 PS 12, VR 13, BS 10

I have never scored this low on BS...past lowest score was 12 but I blame it on the cold that I have.
Did anyone else find this BS section different than usual?

Never ever scored this high in VR, previous highest was a 10 on AAMC 4....so, cool. It felt easy also. But I'm not sure. I did spend a great part of all last week trying to bring up my verbal and I think I neglected my sciences.

Normal range, 12 for PS. Could have been better, could have been worse. Overall I felt it was fine. Made some stupid mistakes as usual but I'm content with a 12 although 13 would have been better.

 

[Albein]

another useless day. i think i need to cut out boxing training from my saturdays because i come home wiped out and cant focus no matter how hard i try. i was able to review metabolic pathways and moved on to circuits and while re-reading the chapter realized that nothing was sticking. are those of you taking 3/23 taking break days or just powering straight through? hope everyone is having a more productive day than i am. i honestly can't wait to just start taking practice tests.

 

[timeturner]

i'm most certainl taking break days but on my study days i go for 10+ hours of intense studying and on other days i just do a few passages and review a few things at a time

 

[slz1900]

Took AAMC 5 today:

35 PS 12, VR 13, BS 10

I have never scored this low on BS...past lowest score was 12 but I blame it on the cold that I have.
Did anyone else find this BS section different than usual?

Never ever scored this high in VR, previous highest was a 10 on AAMC 4....so, cool. It felt easy also. But I'm not sure. I did spend a great part of all last week trying to bring up my verbal and I think I neglected my sciences.

Normal range, 12 for PS. Could have been better, could have been worse. Overall I felt it was fine. Made some stupid mistakes as usual but I'm content with a 12 although 13 would have been better.

Haha, weird. I thought BS was easier than 4, and verbal was super hard. I'd agree PS was average. Was that your best score yet?

 

[timeturner]

across sections 13 13 13 but not at the same time haha but hopefully...
i was falling asleep during bio because i woke up too early plus have a cold and possibly fever at the time, so that might be why. but i am pretty weak on the topics they addressed. i am much better on biological systems and diseases.

 

[dellian101]

took aamc 3 and 4. 29 an 28 respectively. pretty pathetic considering i finished all of my reviews. the only questions i get wrong are experiment based, not so much the concept.

so discouraged 🙁

 

[timeturner]

don't be discouraged! you just need to get used to the question types, and now that you know what you need to work on you have a whole month to target your weaknesses and improve your score

 

[Forkit]

don't be discouraged! you just need to get used to the question types, and now that you know what you need to work on you have a whole month to target your weaknesses and improve your score

This is excellent advice! I absolutely agree. Dellian101, don't get discouraged, thoroughly analyze your mistakes so that it happening again will be highly unlikely. Based on your mistakes, either hammer down any content review you are lacking in, or work on improving your test taking strategies if your mistakes are not because of lack of knowledge in the topic of questions you got incorrect. Practice makes perfect, as long as you make sure you learn from your mistakes. Good luck!

 

[Captain Sisko]

was going to study today, but instead got sidetracked doing wedding stuff, outdoors maintenance, and taxes. time flies. anyway. aamc 10 tomorrow morning. we'll see how that goes. everyone else having a fun weekend?

 

[NuttyEngDude]

good work timeturner!

hang in there delian! I'm on my dinner break... so tired, but going to get back to it in about an hour.

 

[argama]

Took a TPR 3

got 10/6/11 🙁 Stupid VR. And I swear I would get higher on that PS, i thought it was easy >__< Well I guess 12 wrong does make a 10...

 

[NuttyEngDude]

was going to study today, but instead got sidetracked doing wedding stuff, outdoors maintenance, and taxes. time flies. anyway. aamc 10 tomorrow morning. we'll see how that goes. everyone else having a fun weekend?

fun weeked? hahaha no! 😛 and its going to be like this for a while..... oh well. but it will be all the sweeter when we finish.

 

[dellian101]

thanks for the motivation guys! i think my content is strong (except o.chem....)

I answer content-based questions correctly. it is the experiment based questions that I struggle with...

 

[timeturner]

CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS TO BE OVER. it's saturday night.

 

[Captain Sisko]

fun weeked? hahaha no! 😛 and its going to be like this for a while..... oh well. but it will be all the sweeter when we finish.

sweet like a bulleit mint julep...

yeah I'm off to bed

 

[Chalupa Batman]

WOOT!! WE ARE ALMOST DONE PEOPLE!!!
so close to getting our normal/fun lives back

on a side note is anyone else getting pretty buff?
all I have been doing for the past 2 months is studying while throwing in an hour of working out each day. finally benched some 45 plates today!