The Official August 2015 MCAT Thread

[vsantav]

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Registration opens up sometime today so I thought I'd go ahead and make this thread. Anyone else taking it in August?

 

[theaiskey]

Hi guys! also writing on aug 22! officially starting my prep on may 1, just gathering all the material and setting up a study schedule before that. I plan on using kaplan 2015 + psych from princeton, as well FLs from princeton. I also have EK and BR materials from the old mcat that i will be using.

Great! I'm using the exact same materials as you do! (; well... except that after reviewing the May's thread, I'm considering to use EK FLs rather than Princeton's

 

[theaiskey]

Hey guys. August 22nd is my planned date, not too worried about spots filling up so I haven't scheduled yet (you guys are making me worried though).

I'm using mcatjelly's plan as well, one of her older plans follows the Kaplan review books which is the set I have.
Also going to use Sterling Test Prep MCAT Practice Tests: Chemical & Physical + Biological & Biochemical Foundations and/or the Princeton Review 4 FL Practice Tests books for additional FL exams I think
+ Khan material (if needed), AAMS bundle questions and FL exams (older ones I guess since there's only 1 2015 geared one).

I need more 'passages' material, any recommendations? Kaplan Review has none and I'd rather not buy the TBR books as they're quite expensive.

Is anyone using NextStep material? They have good reviews on amazon but I haven't heard much about them until this cycle.

You might want to consider getting the just the TBR Bio books, been reading great reviews about it so far

 

[GoljansRightBicep]

Great! I'm using the exact same materials as you do! (; well... except that after reviewing the May's thread, I'm considering to use EK FLs rather than Princeton's

Yeah, I'm not stoked about what I've heard about TPR's full lengths, but they came with the book so I figured I could use all the practice I could get. They certainly won't hurt, and they'll help get timing and endurance down.

 

[RittaTitta]

When are you guys going to start taking full lengths? Not sure if I should wait until the end of my content review or take one half way through my review something like that.

Many people take a preliminary FL in the beginning of studying to see where they stand, and then go from there. Seeing there's a shortage of official FLs, I would take one from a prep company that is cheap/free and mimics the real test. Then after your done with content and practice, spend the last weeks doing as many FLs as you can find. I'm saving the official AAMC FL for last.

 

[geronimo11]

Hi all,
22 Aug here too!
What practise exams are you guys doing?
And anyone working and studying at the same time? The hours are killing me...

Yep im working as a CDC public health analyst at a major airport quarantine station for the division of global migration and quarantine for the ebola outbreak....yep my hands are full....3 months should be good if you go 10 hours a day....

Also for people applying this year to DO schools.

august is NOT late its actually pretty normal. As the saying goes....if its snowing south of the mason dixon line yes then you are late, until then you are ok with average stats.....after septemberish things get tricky for DO schools since lots of rejects get notified for MD and then all of a sudden DO becomes more appealing.....so chill out if youre doing DO, 🙂

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm working too, I wake up at 6 for work and get back around 630-7 and sometimes I'm so drained after making dinner and showering etc that I can barely focus on studying and end up sleeping. I guess I have that unintentional "3 months is still far off" mind set. Hopefully I can cut back on hours soon though.
I thought about not working but it's kind of nice, it gives me structure to my day and forces me to start it early so I just need to get the hang of balancing everything.

Also, didn't realize the TPR FL's sucked, you guys have kept me from buying the book so thanks! EK Fl's it is then, can we buy those separately?

 

[geronimo11]

When are you guys going to start taking full lengths? Not sure if I should wait until the end of my content review or take one half way through my review something like that.

I think TPR has a free full length up, you could start with that. As everyones saying their FL's don't seem to be that accurate to the real test but it's better than nothing I suppose

 

[FutureSurgical]

So we all know amino acids are important, what criteria should we actually memorize?
Structure, grouping (aromatic, polar, acidic etc), polarity, hydrophobic/philic, charge, pH, their 3 letter (and one letter?) acronyms? Some of these are answered in the "grouping" category but I'm just trying to cover all my bases. Am I missing anything?

I'm looking at tables online so I have something concise to review regularly but I might just make my own since I can't seem to find one that has all the details explictly laid out.

Honestly a lot of that can be answered by just looking at the structure, once you get drawing it down.

 

[GoljansRightBicep]

Also, didn't realize the TPR FL's sucked, you guys have kept me from buying the book so thanks! EK Fl's it is then, can we buy those separately?

I just want to clarify that I haven't heard they suck, so much as they are not the best available. From all the reviews I've read (which vary significantly, FYI) it seems like the best full-lengths are AAMC followed by EK. I'm not sure where the rest fall, but for the price, I'm happy to use TPR's tests as initial fodder.

EK's full-length tests can be bought from their website for $50 a piece (yikes!).

 

[geronimo11]

I just want to clarify that I haven't heard they suck, so much as they are not the best available. From all the reviews I've read (which vary significantly, FYI) it seems like the best full-lengths are AAMC followed by EK. I'm not sure where the rest fall, but for the price, I'm happy to use TPR's tests as initial fodder.

EK's full-length tests can be bought from their website for $50 a piece (yikes!).

Thanks for the info! I didn't realize the EK ones were that much, yikes indeed. Maybe I will have to give the TPR ones a try then. Would you say their passage material for psy/soc is good? Other than a few Kaplan online passages I don't have much to study for that and it kind of worries me

 

[geronimo11]

Honestly a lot of that can be answered by just looking at the structure, once you get drawing it down.

I'm trying to work up to that but right now I'm still getting confused on some details and sometimes I end up mixing things up. I pretty much want a detailed chart more as a safety reference. I'm hoping it'll get easier once I start having to apply them more and more to passages but right now I feel like I have to sometimes constantly go back into my book to remember certain things.

I'll work on memorizing and drawing out the structures more also, thanks for the tip! I usually try drawing it in my head which is probably a mistake

 

[radian313]

I'm working too, I wake up at 6 for work and get back around 630-7 and sometimes I'm so drained after making dinner and showering etc that I can barely focus on studying and end up sleeping. I guess I have that unintentional "3 months is still far off" mind set. Hopefully I can cut back on hours soon though.
I thought about not working but it's kind of nice, it gives me structure to my day and forces me to start it early so I just need to get the hang of balancing everything.

Also, didn't realize the TPR FL's sucked, you guys have kept me from buying the book so thanks! EK Fl's it is then, can we buy those separately?

I feel you man

My schedule isnt as demanding as yours. I work only two days a week and its 1 to 9 pm so I can study late and wake up late.

Good luck to you.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[GoljansRightBicep]

Thanks for the info! I didn't realize the EK ones were that much, yikes indeed. Maybe I will have to give the TPR ones a try then. Would you say their passage material for psy/soc is good? Other than a few Kaplan online passages I don't have much to study for that and it kind of worries me

I've heard good things about TPR's Psych/Soc book, which is why I bought it (plus it comes with 3 FLs, so why not for the price). I have yet to crack it open, but I know @mcatjelly has been using is and has said good things.

If you're looking for Psych/Soc material, I know that Khan Academy has a lot for free and I've heard great things both their videos and questions. I've started on their sociology videos and I like them to at least introduce me to the topics.

Personally, here's my strategy:
1) Review AP Psych notes (I have a lot of memory tricks stored away that I want to dust the cobwebs off of, plus I learned more in this class than either of my college psych classes). This is very much a warm-up.
2) Watch all Khan academy videos on sociology, review topics that I don't fully understand with a random sociology textbook I have, then do all their questions.
3) Skim TPR, read anything I missed, do their questions. There's also this site that seems great: http://www.medschooltutors.com/mcat...e/content-category-6a-sensing-the-environment

Also, if you're having trouble memorizing the amino acids, this video helped get them stuck in my head:

 

[Ryomagoku]

I am using the old MCAT materials to study for the new one plus Kaplan review psych and socio book. I feel that TBR is a lot of info. Which books are you guys using for content review? just on the old review books, which book/company would you use to study?

 

[TexasSurgeon]

August 22 here. Retaker.

My advice:
Read a lot of books
Stay off SDN
Do a lot of questions
Time yourself but never look at the time
Review the solutions for every question you do

 

[AvacadosAtLaw]

Content review is so mind numbingly boring. I can't wait to be done with it and finally move onto to focusing on practicing passages.

 

[Pusheen]

I just took one of the TPR tests, just started content review last week. Got a 502. The fact that I haven't (yet) heard of anyone getting above a 508 or so on TPR makes me feel better about my rather mediocre score.

Has anyone else taken a FL yet?

 

[RittaTitta]

I just took one of the TPR tests, just started content review last week. Got a 502. The fact that I haven't (yet) heard of anyone getting above a 508 or so on TPR makes me feel better about my rather mediocre score.

Has anyone else taken a FL yet?

How much did you pay for the FL? I took a Kaplan before content review and got a 500, but that FL was way easier than the questions I skimmed through in the AAMC official guide and the official AAMC FL

 

[Pusheen]

How much did you pay for the FL? I took a Kaplan before content review and got a 500, but that FL was way easier than that questions I skimmed through in the AAMC official guide and the official AAMC FL

The TPR study book I got (Complete guide to MCAT 2015) had 4 full length tests included. It was like $50 on amazon

 

[RittaTitta]

The TPR study book I got (Complete guide to MCAT 2015) had 4 full length tests included. It was like $50 on amazon

I'm going to check that out. I was thinking of getting more questions with MCAT Crackers (800 questions for $49). However, TPR is way more reliable so I might go with them for the practice questions. Thanks!

 

[Pusheen]

I felt weird about the CARS on the TPR test. The questions seemed somewhat convoluted and grammatically off. I got a 12 on the old AAMC test critical reasoning section with little effort, and a 126 on this one. 😳

 

[rohara30]

Khan Academy
Exam Krackers
Berkley Review
Google and YouTube for animations (great for bio)

I do not see biochem on Khan Academy. Am I missing it?
I have Berkley Review for biochem but honestly I don't even really know if that's sufficient.

 

[mcatjelly]

I do not see biochem on Khan Academy. Am I missing it?

There's biochem all throughout both of the hard sciences sections.

I have Berkley Review for biochem but honestly I don't even really know if that's sufficient.

It's more detailed than any of the other prep book's biochem sections so it's definitely sufficient.

 

[rohara30]

Great. Thanks, Jelly.

 

[swollcat]

August 22 here. Retaker.

My advice:
Read a lot of books
Stay off SDN
Do a lot of questions
Time yourself but never look at the time
Review the solutions for every question you do

Are you also applying this cycle?

 

[Gally]

How far are you guys into content review? I started about a week ago.

 

[AvacadosAtLaw]

I'm on the second week of my content review. I hope to be done by the end of June.

 

[vsantav]

Two weeks and also hoping to be done by the end of June.

 

[Pusheen]

Are you all doing content review and then passages/practice tests?

I was planning on doing both together throughout the summer, but maybe that's not the best idea

 

[vsantav]

Are you all doing content review and then passages/practice tests?

I was planning on doing both together throughout the summer, but maybe that's not the best idea

I'm doing content review with EK, khan, and wikipedia and taking the 30 min exams for each section when I'm done with them. Once I'm through with going through every section in the EK books I'll just be doing practice.

 

[RittaTitta]

I'm currently using the Kaplan books for content review. There's a total of 12 chapters per book, for a total of 84 chapters. I'm doing 1 chapter from two different books a day. I plan to be done with content review at the end of June, and spend the rest if July and August on passage based problems/FLs

 

[lmladdno84]

1 month in. Using Kaplan's full set. Content books done so far:

CARS: Finished book
Biochem: 3/4 book done
Physics/Math: 1/2 book done (be finished this week)
Gen Chem: 1/2 book done (will be finished this week)
O-Chem: 1/3 book done
Psy/Soc: 1/2 book done
Bio: Haven't started

 

[Gally]

I wanted to integrate the in chapter practice and 30 min EK exams but I've been slacking. I'm taking a spring course and part time job. I just want to get the chapter over with usually so I can get back to studying for my spring course. Don't want to choke away an A+. I've found the in chapter problems and TBR supplement problems I've been using slow my already slow pace. I'm incredibly slow so far taking notes on each chapter already. I was shocked to learn it took me about an hour to get 15 pages of the chapter down. So it takes me about 2 hours per chapter on avg. and since I do two chapters a day it's like 4-5 hours a day. Is this normal? The only consolation is that I'll be done content review exactly two weeks from now.

 

[lmladdno84]

Taking notes in content review is a huge waste of time, IMO.

 

[Pusheen]

I have to take notes in order to remember things. I usually don't even review them, but writing stuff out makes me remember it, whereas just reading does nothing. If you're the same way, maybe try taking shorter/less notes? It helps me to draw a lot of diagrams/arrows/visual aids instead of just writing out what I'm learning.

 

[vsantav]

I also take notes because there is a lot of stuff I haven't learned such as everything biochem related and the different systems in our bodies. I'm super scared I'm going too slow. Today I spent 6 hours on the metabolism chapter in EK while also watching khan vids and searching wikipedia for stuff too.

 

[Pusheen]

I also take notes because there is a lot of stuff I haven't learned such as everything biochem related and the different systems in our bodies. I'm super scared I'm going too slow. Today I spent 6 hours on the metabolism chapter in EK while also watching khan vids and searching wikipedia for stuff too.

I think you're fine for metabolism. I literally spent an entire semester on metabolism (Biochem 2). If you haven't taken biochem at all, then you definitely need to spend time on it because it's a huge topic and seems to come up a lot in the practice passages and the practice test I've done.

 

[RittaTitta]

I don't aim to memorize/ understand everything in the Kaplan books, just the main concepts and the high-yield formulas. As long as I understand 70-80% of what I am reviewing in each book, I can always come back and review the things I am weak in when I start doing passage problems/FLs. I also cross check what I am learning with mcat-review.org, that way I know what the main concepts are since Kaplan can be detailed in some areas. Can't wait to be done with content review!

 

[TexasSurgeon]

Are you also applying this cycle?

I wish I was, but no. I decided not to apply until I got a solid MCAT score back into my hands. There's not too much rush right now so I decided it was better fro me to do other things this next year and in the gap year I graduate

 

[RittaTitta]

I wish I was, but no. I decided not to apply until I got a solid MCAT score back into my hands. There's not too much rush right now so I decided it was better fro me to do other things this next year and in the gap year I graduate

I agree, especially since applying after graduation allows less stress of traveling to interviews or having other school obligations. Plus you get some time off to work, travel, or relax!

 

[TexasSurgeon]

I agree, especially since applying after graduation allows less stress of traveling to interviews or having other school obligations. Plus you get some time off to work, travel, or relax!

Yeah exactly. Technically I am supposed to have graduated this May by the 4 year following. However, an interest in more research prompted an extra year and then the gap year so we'll see what happens 🙂. I will enjoy a year of being in the real world before hitting the books again though haha

 

[Gally]

Sounds like a typical day of studying for me lol

I also take notes because there is a lot of stuff I haven't learned such as everything biochem related and the different systems in our bodies. I'm super scared I'm going too slow. Today I spent 6 hours on the metabolism chapter in EK while also watching khan vids and searching wikipedia for stuff too.

 

[SpaceyWacey]

I'm so glad to hear that other people take notes. I've been thinking that I'm going too slow, but I feel like the material won't stick otherwise. I think I'm going to try an speed it up a little bit though, because I'm slowly falling behind about half a chapter everyday.

 

[AvacadosAtLaw]

My strategy so far for content review is to make Anki cards for all concepts and terms. I also have a notebook where I take notes on charts, formulas, or anything else that can't easily be made into a flashcard.

 

[peachesandcream1]

Yep im working as a CDC public health analyst at a major airport quarantine station for the division of global migration and quarantine for the ebola outbreak....yep my hands are full....3 months should be good if you go 10 hours a day....

Also for people applying this year to DO schools.

august is NOT late its actually pretty normal. As the saying goes....if its snowing south of the mason dixon line yes then you are late, until then you are ok with average stats.....after septemberish things get tricky for DO schools since lots of rejects get notified for MD and then all of a sudden DO becomes more appealing.....so chill out if youre doing DO, 🙂

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Woah. as in 10 hours of study a day? Not sure if thats physically possible with an 8 hour work day + commute etc!
Realistically I can squeeze an hour or 2 in the morning and 3 to 4 at night..Will have to crank it up though!

 

[peachesandcream1]

I'm using the AAMC FL (duh), 3 TPR Exams that came with my psych/soc book, 5 CARS-specific exams from Testing Solutions, and I'll likely buy the 3 EK's FLs since I've heard that they're the next best thing to the AAMC FL.

I actually quit one of my 3 (very part-time) jobs to make time for the MCAT and am living off savings to make this work. Getting into med school is priority 1 for me, not mediocre wages. But I am still finishing up my school year since I'm on the quarter system. I won't actually crank into full gear until after final exams in mid-june :/ So I totally feel you with trying to do multiple things at once.

Good luck to us eh! I am contemplating quitting at the moment..
I have taken the whole month of Aug off to study already (1-22 that is!).
But might contemplating quitting now, and freeing up July and Aug for study :/

Yes, Ill likely buy the EK ones as well! Am working through their lecture questions and they are pretty tough...
According to past takers, in terms of Question difficulty ( not necessarily close AAMC similarity )
Kaplan<TPR<EK< TBR
...Not sure where AAMC ones stand in there, as TBR is generally more difficult that AAMC

Can anyone confirm?

 

[radian313]

Woah. as in 10 hours of study a day? Not sure if thats physically possible with an 8 hour work day + commute etc!
Realistically I can squeeze an hour or 2 in the morning and 3 to 4 at night..Will have to crank it up though!

You are right its not. I have the luxAry kf studying at work during down time. Out of 8 work hours i get a solid 3 to 4 in of studying.


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[Profound]

@peachesandcream1 Isn't it the consensus that all of the material from test prep companies are harder than that of AAMC?

 

[itsallgood92]

Hey guys, Aug 22nd here as well. Just started doing some FL's and if anyone is interested here are some of my scores:

Kaplan Diagnostic: 127/125/126/125=503
Kaplan FL1: 123/123/125/126=497
Kaplan FL2: 126/125/126/122=499
TPR FL1: 127/124/126/124=501

Obviously, got a long way to go, but I'd really be interested in hearing about other people's progress, thoughts on FL difficulty, and any opinions on any effective/time-saving methods to reviewing these exams (if at all). Ideally, I'd love to go over every question and really understand the logic behind all right and wrong answers, but I feel like maybe my time would be better spent just going over marked, between two, and incorrectly POE'd questions for company FL's and just review the AAMC material more extensively. I've heard Kaplan and TPR FL's kinda suck, so I figured it'd be best to just take them with a grain of salt, focus on weak areas, and just taking as many as I can before taking the AAMC question packs and FL 3 weeks before the big day.

Best of luck studying guys!

 

[peachesandcream1]

Hey guys, Aug 22nd here as well. Just started doing some FL's and if anyone is interested here are some of my scores:

Kaplan Diagnostic: 127/125/126/125=503
Kaplan FL1: 123/123/125/126=497
Kaplan FL2: 126/125/126/122=499
TPR FL1: 127/124/126/124=501

Obviously, got a long way to go, but I'd really be interested in hearing about other people's progress, thoughts on FL difficulty, and any opinions on any effective/time-saving methods to reviewing these exams (if at all). Ideally, I'd love to go over every question and really understand the logic behind all right and wrong answers, but I feel like maybe my time would be better spent just going over marked, between two, and incorrectly POE'd questions for company FL's and just review the AAMC material more extensively. I've heard Kaplan and TPR FL's kinda suck, so I figured it'd be best to just take them with a grain of salt, focus on weak areas, and just taking as many as I can before taking the AAMC question packs and FL 3 weeks before the big day.

Best of luck studying guys!

I just did the diagnostic today too!
got 124 in all sections, except CARS ( SAD!)
Going to start a FL end of this week once I start psych/soc stuff.. havent touched it at all.

I read somewhere that you should try at least 10 FLs before hand!! I dont know if there is any point in redoing them. You might be influenced by your previous answer and get confused... but thats my opinion.

 

[vsantav]

Is it even possible to get better at CARS? Every time I do practice for it I get more discouraged...