The Official 4/27/13 MCAT Thread

[brood910]

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This might be considered a bit early, but full-time college students need to prepare ahead of time, especially when they are doing a research and volunteering, which requires them to spend at least 30-40 hours per week...

Let's share plans, strategies, schedules, and so on to help each other to crack this exam.

 

[Mehd School]

Just did my Kaplan diagnostic. 8/7/8 for a 23.

Most people that work hard can score 10 points higher than their diagnostic, so I'm in range for my goal (12/12/10).

I was terribly rusty on verbal, and got like 2/7 right on my first passage. Destroyed the rest. PS I would have gotten around a 10 had it not been for a passage on Optics that I killed on.

Man, I hate BS. I kill orgo, but need to practice those VR type bio passages. Anyway, I was just hoping for a 17, so I'm happy. I have a friend that scored a 24 on his diagnostic and made a 37 on the real thing, so it's time to put the nose to the grindstone.

 

[3rdghost]

I'm with you guys! Going to content review passages for about a month and then start up on the practice exams.

 

[Pose]

Anybody else pretty far removed from their prereqs? My content review is going to be a lot of relearning stuff. Probably going to TRY to throw in khanacademy with the SN2ed schedule.

 

[aspiringdoc134]

Kaplan tests are not even close to AAMC FLs in terms of difficulty...you should do an AAMC diagnostic and go from there. Just some friendly advice 🙂

 

[Mehd School]

Kaplan tests are not even close to AAMC FLs in terms of difficulty...you should do an AAMC diagnostic and go from there. Just some friendly advice 🙂

You're right.

Kaplan tests are significantly more difficult than the AAMC exams. PS is much more calculation heavy, and BS is more analytical which is on par to the real exam these days. Kaplans scale is very soft, though, and that's where it gets the misrepresentation of being "easier". No one knows the scale of the diagnostic, though. What I do know is that most people that hit it hard get around 10 points higher on the real thing than they do on their diagnostic. Some people get 15 points higher, and some 5. All I know is that I'm at a good starting point and I've got a lot of work to do.

Thanks. 👍

 

[molarseeker]

Hey guys,

I am scheduled for the April 4th exam, but as soon as an April 27th date comes available im gonna snag it. I am current neuroscience major at UCLA and taking 3 upper div classes this quarter, along with working in a research lab 10 hours/week. Good luck!

 

[Mehd School]

Hey guys,

I am scheduled for the April 4th exam, but as soon as an April 27th date comes available im gonna snag it. I am current neuroscience major at UCLA and taking 3 upper div classes this quarter, along with working in a research lab 10 hours/week. Good luck!

You're going to be busy. Good luck!

I haven't scheduled my test yet ($). Going to get on it soon, as I have a feeling it will be filling up any time now.

 

[molarseeker]

You're going to be busy. Good luck!

I haven't scheduled my test yet ($). Going to get on it soon, as I have a feeling it will be filling up any time now.

Ya I'm hoping I cando it

 

[chocolateislife]

So I started December 27th to do the 4 month version of Sn2ed but I fell behind really quickly with classes. I decided to switch to the 3 month schedule which should start a few days before Jan 27th. Do you guys know which one is better to do?

 

[molarseeker]

I am starting the 3 month this weekend. That way I have leeway if I fall behind.

 

[luckyluck]

Hi All,

I am new here and I see many talking about SN2. Could someone please explain it to me what it is? Links? Thanks in advance.

 

[Pose]

It is a sticky in this forum. Called something like "breaking down the mcat: a 3 month schedule."

 

[luckyluck]

Thanks Pose.

Could someone please tell me what does the TPR Hyperlearning workbooks contain?

 

[calic]

I started the SN2 schedule this week although I've made some modifications. TBR content review was tedious and overly detailed so I switched to EK for that...much better. If anyone else out there is feeling put off (or put to sleep) by TBR I'd encourage you to think about making the leap and using TBR primarily for passages rather than content. Sooner rather than later is better too. Don't let a month pass before you realize that you haven't been absorbing as much as you should have from TBR.

I am aware that EK content is supposedly on the leaner side, and therefore will probably require supplementation here and there, but the counter point to that is that, for me anyway, EK is easier to get off the ground with. From there its a matter of polishing with passages and practice exams.

 

[Mehd School]

Calic, I felt the exact same way. 100%.

 

[gookies]

I started the SN2 schedule this week although I've made some modifications. TBR content review was tedious and overly detailed so I switched to EK for that...much better. If anyone else out there is feeling put off (or put to sleep) by TBR I'd encourage you to think about making the leap and using TBR primarily for passages rather than content. Sooner rather than later is better too. Don't let a month pass before you realize that you haven't been absorbing as much as you should have from TBR.

I am aware that EK content is supposedly on the leaner side, and therefore will probably require supplementation here and there, but the counter point to that is that, for me anyway, EK is easier to get off the ground with. From there its a matter of polishing with passages and practice exams.

That might even be more tedious. Since EK is basically a skeleton model of every concept, if you're not that good in any of it and really need a refresher/review, then it wouldn't be the way to go. You would probably waste more time going back to find concepts you don't understand using EK, rather than just using TBR and getting the details there. I'm using a blend of EK (Orgo, Bio) and TBR (Physics, Chem). I also have the AAMC topic list up while reading TBR chapters, so I know what I'm covering and checking off.

 

[calic]

You may be right, although for me studying for me has always been likely painting a house in that it requires multiple coats, and detailing comes after the basics are covered. There are many ways to skin a cat - the important thing is that the job gets done by the end of the day.

 

[LaughingMan]

Work is done--only 3 hour course this semester.

Beginning the official 3 month schedule tomorrow with a few extra days to fluff in what I lack.

Let's do this. Best of luck to everyone!

 

[Mehd School]

Starting to study for my Physics 1 block wednesday night. Going to get in the habit of hitting it hard early.

 

[chocolateislife]

same starting physics this wednesday. Im a little confused by the bio portion of the Sn2ed schedule. not really sure what passages from BR to do for each bio block. Does anyone know?

 

[LaughingMan]

Starting to study for my Physics 1 block wednesday night. Going to get in the habit of hitting it hard early.

Good luck man. Let's hope we all rape it.



Anywho, I dropped my only 3 hour course to be able to push more time in and I was wondering if anyone would recommend something on top of Sn2? If I do have free time, what would be something good to review up on topics?

I'm thinking of just trying out Chads Videos to do on spare days but looking for recommendations.


I'll be lurking and posting in here plenty--so I look forward to suffering these next 3 months with yall.

Best
LaughingMan

 

[Mehd School]

So I haven't signed up for the test yet ($$$), and I'll be damned if the 4/27 is filled up in my state. : /

I'll just have to sign up for the 5/11 (during my finals week) and pray someone drops the 4/27 seat at the deadline.

 

[Lactobacillus]

I don't have any recommendations but can tell you the SN2 schedule is more work than it looks. Granted, I don't have a plethora of time to dedicate to it, but I've found myself skimming through parts of the books and missing verbal on more days than I would like to admit.

Anywho, I dropped my only 3 hour course to be able to push more time in and I was wondering if anyone would recommend something on top of Sn2? If I do have free time, what would be something good to review up on topics?

I'm thinking of just trying out Chads Videos to do on spare days but looking for recommendations.


I'll be lurking and posting in here plenty--so I look forward to suffering these next 3 months with yall.

Best
LaughingMan

 

[Pose]

Got my books today. Starting the schedule tomorrow.

 

[triplem]

hi all. been a lurker for a long time now. finally joined. im a 4/27 hopeful. looks like all the seats are booked in california. guess the best I can do now is keep refreshing and see if someone drops? 🙁 please pm me if any of you decide to drop in california, that would be awesome.. thanks good luck studying everyone!

 

[kgpremed11]

Im gonna start taking full lengths the first of March, maybe even a little before that. I want a good solid 2 months of full length's

 

[Hemorrage]

I started the SN2 schedule this week although I've made some modifications. TBR content review was tedious and overly detailed so I switched to EK for that...much better. If anyone else out there is feeling put off (or put to sleep) by TBR I'd encourage you to think about making the leap and using TBR primarily for passages rather than content. Sooner rather than later is better too. Don't let a month pass before you realize that you haven't been absorbing as much as you should have from TBR.

I am aware that EK content is supposedly on the leaner side, and therefore will probably require supplementation here and there, but the counter point to that is that, for me anyway, EK is easier to get off the ground with. From there its a matter of polishing with passages and practice exams.

Personally I feel you're better off reading TBR and absorbing what you can rather than reading the skeleton model that EK provides. I honestly felt that I "remembered" the material from my pre-reqs but TBR made me realize I didn't know it as well as I thought. Put in the time to do TBR.. There's a reason why most people do well after using it

 

[Charles Darwin]

Im gonna start taking full lengths the first of March, maybe even a little before that. I want a good solid 2 months of full length's

Same here. By the time I start my FLs in early March, I will have gone through EK, TPR, and some of BR. Plus parts of the TPR science WB, ICC, and to top it all off. If I don't pull 11s or 12s on both the science sections, I'm going to be very disappointed.

 

[kgpremed11]

Same here. By the time I start my FLs in early March, I will have gone through EK, TPR, and some of BR. Plus parts of the TPR science WB, ICC, and to top it all off. If I don't pull 11s or 12s on both the science sections, I'm going to be very disappointed.

dude you did all that review? You should kill it!

 

[Jr MD]

Same here. By the time I start my FLs in early March, I will have gone through EK, TPR, and some of BR. Plus parts of the TPR science WB, ICC, and to top it all off. If I don't pull 11s or 12s on both the science sections, I'm going to be very disappointed.

Don't think about it like that!! You WILL score 11s or 12s!

Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch Q using SDN Mobile

 

[Charles Darwin]

Don't think about it like that!! You WILL score 11s or 12s!

Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch Q using SDN Mobile

Let's hope so!

dude you did all that review? You should kill it!

To be fair, I studied EK over the summer while I was busy so I don't remember much of it. The hardcore content review is happening now.

 

[Endure]

On board with you guys (1st post, too)! Anyone shooting for an MD/PhD here?

I've been studying since the 27th doing mostly content review in biology and general chemistry. I've almost completed the EK content review book for biology, supplementing it with TBR passages and notes from my textbook. For inorganic chemistry, though, I find EK a bit too abbreviated for my own good, so I've been using my textbook and TBR for review and EK to show me what's important.

Is anyone else worried about the time commitment, seeing as we'll be studying amidst classes, work, extracurriculars, and research?

 

[Mehd School]

So I haven't signed up for the test yet ($$$), and I'll be damned if the 4/27 is filled up in my state. : /

I'll just have to sign up for the 5/11 (during my finals week) and pray someone drops the 4/27 seat at the deadline.

I just checked again, and two more spots were opened up in my area! Huzzah!

Now I'm praying that it is still open next week when I actually have the dough to reserve it.

It will throw my whole application off if I have to take the 5/11 exam (or the 4/26 exam @8am...NOT a morning person..)

 

[calic]

Put in the time to do TBR.. There's a reason why most people do well after using it

Not trying to call you out but is there any hard evidence out there to back this up? It seems like the worship of TBR around here is as much a matter of anecdote and superstition as it actual fact.

 

[brood910]

Not trying to call you out but is there any hard evidence out there to back this up? It seems like the worship of TBR around here is as much a matter of anecdote and superstition as it actual fact.

Agreed.
However, TBR indeed "overprepares" you.
Overpreparing is never bad for MCAT.

 

[Dynamo24]

Is anyone else worried about the time commitment, seeing as we'll be studying amidst classes, work, extracurriculars, and research?

Um yes very much so. I'm doing EK w/ TBR, and Chad's Videos. We just had a baby on Dec. 30th...the time strain is stressing me out like crazy. Chad's Videos are pretty long but man have they helped me in physics/gchem tremendously. EK's physics/gen chem are way too shallow for me. I don't have the time to pour over the TBR stuff so I use them for passages and Chad's Videos to help shore any areas up. If I'm still lost I dip into the TBR on specific areas. Hopefully this will translate into increased scores because the EK 30 min exams are a b*tch. I haven't taken any FL's yet, probably start that in March. Not going to piss away 35 bucks when I don't feel prepared.

 

[Endure]

Um yes very much so. I'm doing EK w/ TBR, and Chad's Videos. We just had a baby on Dec. 30th...the time strain is stressing me out like crazy. Chad's Videos are pretty long but man have they helped me in physics/gchem tremendously. EK's physics/gen chem are way too shallow for me. I don't have the time to pour over the TBR stuff so I use them for passages and Chad's Videos to help shore any areas up. If I'm still lost I dip into the TBR on specific areas. Hopefully this will translate into increased scores because the EK 30 min exams are a b*tch. I haven't taken any FL's yet, probably start that in March. Not going to piss away 35 bucks when I don't feel prepared.

Congratulations! Boy or girl?

Completely agree. I won't be taking any FL's until March, assuming I'm comfortable with the material by then. I find that EK asks questions that can be deduced directly from the passage, whereas most of TBR's questions can be answered without referring to the passage at all. Anyone know how each compares to the actual MCAT?

I'm trying to publish my work in the lab by the end of semester, but before I do that I need to run a couple more experiments to get some n's up. I guess that's what's freaking me out most. Whether or not I have a test to study for doesn't really concern my PI (as it shouldn't).

 

[Mehd School]

Is anyone else worried about the time commitment, seeing as we'll be studying amidst classes, work, extracurriculars, and research?

I'm growing more concerned by the day. I'm taking 15 easy hours, with only about 5 of those hours needing attention. I also work 25 hours per week to support myself. I'll be doing research about 10 hours a week as well.

I'll have a big chunk of time on Mondays and Wednesdays to study. Shooting for 4 hours each day. Maybe 2 hours on Friday, and all day Sat and Sun.

Needless to say, when school starts next week I'll have to start a strict schedule and adhere to it tightly.

 

[LaughingMan]

I made the silly mistake of starting Naruto before the schedule. Blehhhhhhhhhhhh,

 

[Endure]

I'm growing more concerned by the day. I'm taking 15 easy hours, with only about 5 of those hours needing attention. I also work 25 hours per week to support myself. I'll be doing research about 10 hours a week as well.

I feel you. Last semester I tried to review, but two major conferences got in the way and I ended up putting it off. My course load this semester is also more intensive than last's.

 

[LaughingMan]

On board with you guys (1st post, too)! Anyone shooting for an MD/PhD here?

MD/MBA here!

Yall MD/PhD folk are top of the top--hats off to you sir,

 

[Mehd School]

I feel you. Last semester I tried to review, but two major conferences got in the way and I ended up putting it off. My course load this semester is also more intensive than last's.

Last semester I took 17 hours of science. 12 hours were upper level.

Needless to say, my course load will feel a little lighter this semester, as designed. 👍

 

[kgpremed11]

What do you guys think I should do here? I will be finish with content review 2/23. I am signed up for the 4/27 date and originally planned to do 2 months worth of practice test before my MCAT. However, I can switch to the 3/23 date after one month of practice test. I have FAP so I can cancel get the $100 full refund, and reschedule for another date for the same $100 (thank god for FAP🙂) There will be test dates open around my area for 3/23.

 

[Charles Darwin]

What do you guys think I should do here? I will be finish with content review 2/23. I am signed up for the 4/27 date and originally planned to do 2 months worth of practice test before my MCAT. However, I can switch to the 3/23 date after one month of practice test. I have FAP so I can cancel get the $100 full refund, and reschedule for another date for the same $100 (thank god for FAP🙂) There will be test dates open around my area for 3/23.

That's a decision only you can make. If you feel adequately prepared to hit your target score come March 23rd, go for it.

Have you taken a diagnostic yet?

 

[brood910]

That's a decision only you can make. If you feel adequately prepared to hit your target score come March 23rd, go for it.

Have you taken a diagnostic yet?

Should I take the diagnostic (AAMC #3) even bf I am completely done with the content review?

 

[kgpremed11]

Should I take the diagnostic (AAMC #3) even bf I am completely done with the content review?

no

 

[kgpremed11]

That's a decision only you can make. If you feel adequately prepared to hit your target score come March 23rd, go for it.

Have you taken a diagnostic yet?

This isn't my first time taking the MCAT. Ill take my first full length around end of FEB. Diagonistics are usless unless you're fresh out of the pre reqs or just got finished with content review.

 

[Charles Darwin]

This isn't my first time taking the MCAT. Ill take my first full length around end of FEB. Diagonistics are usless unless you're fresh out of the pre reqs or just got finished with content review.

Oh, I didn't realize you were retaking.Either way, only you truly know if you'll be ready by then.

 

[Endure]

What do you guys think I should do here? I will be finish with content review 2/23. I am signed up for the 4/27 date and originally planned to do 2 months worth of practice test before my MCAT. However, I can switch to the 3/23 date after one month of practice test. I have FAP so I can cancel get the $100 full refund, and reschedule for another date for the same $100 (thank god for FAP🙂) There will be test dates open around my area for 3/23.

I was forced to make the same decision when I reserved my seat! The way I saw it was that while preparation may be moving pretty quickly now, it may not be in the middle of the semester. Extra time, if I'm lucky enough to have any, can be used to make certain that my weaknesses have been adequately addressed.

The last thing you want to do is cram (whether you intend to or not) so that you can hasten the process.

 

[triplem]

What do you guys think I should do here? I will be finish with content review 2/23. I am signed up for the 4/27 date and originally planned to do 2 months worth of practice test before my MCAT. However, I can switch to the 3/23 date after one month of practice test. I have FAP so I can cancel get the $100 full refund, and reschedule for another date for the same $100 (thank god for FAP🙂) There will be test dates open around my area for 3/23.

do you happen to be scheduled for the test in california? 😛