The Official August 2015 MCAT Thread

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I wish my local library was open till 11 PM on weekends too =/. Time to go home and pick up on my studying ahah.
 
What all have you been doing? I started out just reading the EK lectures, then I decided to start taking notes on each one. It's tedious, but I think just reading the chapters without taking notes is dangerous. Easier to go back and look when I need a piece of info. But it's burn-out fuel.

To begin with I spent way too much time planning my attack on this MCAT beast. Then I got frustrated with EK Physics questions and decided I was going to watch Khan videos instead, until I realized their inefficiency and went back to taking notes from EK. I did all of the content review for Psych from Khan, however.

I've also been following the outline, which is probably another huge waste of time since EK seems to cover all concepts anyway but in a more logical order (except for Psych of course).
 
To begin with I spent way too much time planning my attack on this MCAT beast. Then I got frustrated with EK Physics questions and decided I was going to watch Khan videos instead, until I realized their inefficiency and went back to taking notes from EK. I did all of the content review for Psych from Khan, however.

I've also been following the outline, which is probably another huge waste of time since EK seems to cover all concepts anyway but in a more logical order (except for Psych of course).
What's inefficient about watching Khan videos? I've thought about hair doing those + questions for the rest of my content review.
 
I'm just so confused on how to study now too since I'm done with content review. I don't feel as motivated, ugh.

I lose motivation every day too. But I have this really simple process I go through to get myself ready.

I start by drinking 12 cups of coffee (or the equivalent in caffeine pills/energy drinks), slapping myself across the face, and watching this:

Then I run 4 miles in 10min. Drink 2gals H2O. Eat a mango. Pace the floor for 8hrs thinking. Sit down and read some Dostoevsky/Hemingway. Watch like 20 episodes of House MD. By this time it is 2am, and here's the weird part: I find that only when I have done all of the previous steps, time stops for me. I can somehow read and understand at a level that surpasses all human comprehension. Consequently, all my FLs thus far have been in the 600s - I received this score after carefully consulting with prep companies when their inferior scoring scale failed to accurately represent my superior performance. But the point is, once I do all of that, I can read all prep books and fully retain all info within 1hr. I go to bed 3:30am, wake up 4am, and repeat.

I will be releasing my study schedule soon, complete with pretty pictures and highlighting. Be on the lookout for that. Future sticky material.

TL;DR/"say something relevant": @Dreamstoo Haven't you done well on your FLs so far? I wouldn't be too worried either, if I were you. Reeelaaaaax, man/girl/thing. Other than Kaplan, have you taken AAMC yet? Or are you still waiting on that?
 
What's inefficient about watching Khan videos? I've thought about hair doing those + questions for the rest of my content review.

Some topics are redundant (how about 30 min explanation of Punnet Squares), many times the videos go into extreme details, and it is not immediately clear what it is I need to take notes on. But most importantly, it seems that the videos were not specifically crafted for MCAT, but rather pieced together from their other video collections (for nursing NCLEX, science classes, etc). I do intend on doing the practice passages from them.
 
Hey all! I wanted to join the thread after lurking for a while. Taking the exam on Aug. 6 (40 days :dead:).

I've been studying low-key since the end of May, real content review/some scattered passages since the beginning of June. My content review has been making a giant OneNote notebook of the content outline and filling it in using the Kaplan books and supplementing with Khan videos. I still have to memorize the physics formulas and get in some good practice, and learn all of psych/soc. Haven't really touched orgo either (my big weakness) so I'll have to figure that out too.

I took my first practice exam today, TPR 1. 125/128/128/126 = 507. Feeling okay but not great about it, especially at that CARS. And I missed all the C/P reading comprehension questions, lol. Anyway, just gotta keep working harder and harder! Plan until D-Day: wrap up content review, do the AAMC FL, do passages from Khan/TPR Science WB, do TPR/TBR FLs.

Hope you all are making your desired progress! 😉

Edit: Anyone know how realistic TPR scores are? Apparently a lot of people getting low 500s on the Kaplan FLs ended >90th percentile on the real thing, but I don't have any Kaplan tests to take...
0jH0eW3.png
 
I lose motivation every day too. But I have this really simple process I go through to get myself ready.

I start by drinking 12 cups of coffee (or the equivalent in caffeine pills/energy drinks), slapping myself across the face, and watching this:

Then I run 4 miles in 10min. Drink 2gals H2O. Eat a mango. Pace the floor for 8hrs thinking. Sit down and read some Dostoevsky/Hemingway. Watch like 20 episodes of House MD. By this time it is 2am, and here's the weird part: I find that only when I have done all of the previous steps, time stops for me. I can somehow read and understand at a level that surpasses all human comprehension. Consequently, all my FLs thus far have been in the 600s - I received this score after carefully consulting with prep companies when their inferior scoring scale failed to accurately represent my superior performance. But the point is, once I do all of that, I can read all prep books and fully retain all info within 1hr. I go to bed 3:30am, wake up 4am, and repeat.

I will be releasing my study schedule soon, complete with pretty pictures and highlighting. Be on the lookout for that. Future sticky material.

TL;DR/"say something relevant": @Dreamstoo Haven't you done well on your FLs so far? I wouldn't be too worried either, if I were you. Reeelaaaaax, man/girl/thing. Other than Kaplan, have you taken AAMC yet? Or are you still waiting on that?


Lol I haven't even touched Kaplan. My TPR tests have ranged mostly from 495-498 besides one FL that was about 3-4 points lower.
 
Hey all! I wanted to join the thread after lurking for a while. Taking the exam on Aug. 6 (40 days :dead:).

I've been studying low-key since the end of May, real content review/some scattered passages since the beginning of June. My content review has been making a giant OneNote notebook of the content outline and filling it in using the Kaplan books and supplementing with Khan videos. I still have to memorize the physics formulas and get in some good practice, and learn all of psych/soc. Haven't really touched orgo either (my big weakness) so I'll have to figure that out too.

I took my first practice exam today, TPR 1. 125/128/128/126 = 507. Feeling okay but not great about it, especially at that CARS. And I missed all the C/P reading comprehension questions, lol. Anyway, just gotta keep working harder and harder! Plan until D-Day: wrap up content review, do the AAMC FL, do passages from Khan/TPR Science WB, do TPR/TBR FLs.

Hope you all are making your desired progress! 😉

Edit: Anyone know how realistic TPR scores are? Apparently a lot of people getting low 500s on the Kaplan FLs ended >90th percentile on the real thing, but I don't have any Kaplan tests to take...
0jH0eW3.png
You're honestly good, if you want a comparison these have been my scores so far (Kaplan and TPR). I've been barely breaking 500's on Kaplan, but on TPR I'm scoring a couple points higher. Btw I'm extremely jealous of that CARS score. I've only managed to score it once on Kaplan, but I think TPR CARS is definitely harder...Any tips?

Kaplan Diagnostic 127 125 126 125 503
Kaplan FL 1 123 123 125 126 497
TPR Course Test 1 127 124 126 124 501
Kaplan FL 2 126 125 126 122 499
Kaplan FL 8 125 125 124 125 499
TPR Course Test 2 128 124 127 127 506
Kaplan FL 3 125 128 125 124 502
TPR Course Test 3 124 125 127 126 502
Kaplan FL 5 125 123 126 127 501
 
You're honestly good, if you want a comparison these have been my scores so far (Kaplan and TPR). I've been barely breaking 500's on Kaplan, but on TPR I'm scoring a couple points higher. Btw I'm extremely jealous of that CARS score. I've only managed to score it once on Kaplan, but I think TPR CARS is definitely harder...Any tips?

Kaplan Diagnostic 127 125 126 125 503
Kaplan FL 1 123 123 125 126 497
TPR Course Test 1 127 124 126 124 501
Kaplan FL 2 126 125 126 122 499
Kaplan FL 8 125 125 124 125 499
TPR Course Test 2 128 124 127 127 506
Kaplan FL 3 125 128 125 124 502
TPR Course Test 3 124 125 127 126 502
Kaplan FL 5 125 123 126 127 501

Thanks so much for your help! This gives me a good idea of "conversion factor", looks like Kaplan is noticeably tougher. It looks like your average is heading up, congratulations! You've certainly done a lot of tests. In case you or anyone else hasn't seen this yet, there's a master spreadsheet that people are filling out with their official score vs. practice scores.

As for CARS, I haven't done anything for it...I believe the remnants of SAT verbal are carrying me through, haha. I don't passage map, but I am a vigorous highlighter: main points, transition phases ("however"), any special terms, people's names, even tough vocab. For maybe one or two really hard passages, I'll rewrite tricky parts in my own words to help them make sense. I think some part of doing well is practice, since you get to know the general structure of passages and you can predict where they are going. I am looking to improve my score, so if I don't see it go up naturally in two or three more tests, I'll start looking for some strategy.
 
Thanks so much for your help! This gives me a good idea of "conversion factor", looks like Kaplan is noticeably tougher. It looks like your average is heading up, congratulations! You've certainly done a lot of tests. In case you or anyone else hasn't seen this yet, there's a master spreadsheet that people are filling out with their official score vs. practice scores.

As for CARS, I haven't done anything for it...I believe the remnants of SAT verbal are carrying me through, haha. I don't passage map, but I am a vigorous highlighter: main points, transition phases ("however"), any special terms, people's names, even tough vocab. For maybe one or two really hard passages, I'll rewrite tricky parts in my own words to help them make sense. I think some part of doing well is practice, since you get to know the general structure of passages and you can predict where they are going. I am looking to improve my score, so if I don't see it go up naturally in two or three more tests, I'll start looking for some strategy.

yup! For studying, I've pretty much just been using Full length exams to drive my content review and uncover weak areas. I actually haven't opened a review book in weeks, so I'll probably start doing that soon to actually confront the concepts that are hindering my score and just re-cram all the material in.

From the looks of it, it sounds like you got CARS on lock, but just as a heads up I believe there's been an addition to the highlight function on the real exam where you have to press "accept" every time you want to highlight a section, so that might actually slow you down on the real thing. As for myself, I think my main problem is just my timing...which is a huge concern because I've heard the passages on test day are longer. The only one time I actually managed to score that 128 on Kaplan, I finished with 3min to spare, so I might just have to start pushing the pace.
 
Some topics are redundant (how about 30 min explanation of Punnet Squares), many times the videos go into extreme details, and it is not immediately clear what it is I need to take notes on. But most importantly, it seems that the videos were not specifically crafted for MCAT, but rather pieced together from their other video collections (for nursing NCLEX, science classes, etc). I do intend on doing the practice passages from them.
Omg, watching the videos is so much better than reading lectures from my EK books all day. I've used KA pretty extensively for physics and chemistry and I seem to retain the info better in this format.
 
When should I start the AAMC question packs?
Their CARS pack was the first verbal practice I started with. For the rest of the packs, I have been working on timed passages (3 at a time with a set of discrete, I time myself) as I complete those topics in my content review. It reinforces my understanding and allows me to verify that I don't need to spend more time on that particular content. I thought that would be a better idea than wasting passages I haven't reviewed content for yet. The day before I want to work on them I'll just go through and press "check solution" to an individual question to see the topic and check if I have gone over that yet.
 
Just a question. Why is everyone considering themselves behind on the material if they're just finishing content review? I expect to finish during the first week of August. There are barely any practice tests around, so I'll still have 1 week before the MCAT to do nothing.
 
Just a question. Why is everyone considering themselves behind on the material if they're just finishing content review? I expect to finish during the first week of August. There are barely any practice tests around, so I'll still have 1 week before the MCAT to do nothing.

There are plenty of practice tests out there (Kaplan, TPR, Next Step, etc). They may not be AAMC official but its still something to practice passage strategy on. I finished content review last week and I'll be doing nothing but practice passages and tests for the next six weeks.
 
Yea, honestly my first full length was really draining. I would take a few practice tests from test prep companies just to practice testing for 7 hours.
 
Just a question. Why is everyone considering themselves behind on the material if they're just finishing content review? I expect to finish during the first week of August. There are barely any practice tests around, so I'll still have 1 week before the MCAT to do nothing.
I thought there were >36 practice exams.
 
502 on TPR Course Test 5. Had to pause a lot. At the beginning mostly because of pretty loud distractions outside, leafblower, construction, and a few other things (lol). Added like 3 minutes extra in CARs due to it. Computer crashed halfway through chem/physics, had to give myself 5 minutes extra. Thought I did horrible in the B/Biochem section. Started pausing in Psych/Soc because I felt discouraged. I think overall, I gave myself extra 30 minutes due to distractions/feeling distraught after bio.

It's pretty funny how sociology topics are always listed as my weaknesses, lolz.

B/Biochem had about 2-3 really brutal passages for me. One of them was so convoluted, I just chose the best looking answer for all 4, ended up getting 3/4 LOL. I used the passage barely b/c I only had 6 mins left.

CARs felt harder than last time but I significantly did better.

C/P wasn't too bad. Some really bizarre choice of topics by TPR though.
 
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Thought I'd join in after reading through this thread a little! I'm signed up for the August 6th MCAT and just took my first TPR FL test today... Got a 501 (123, 126, 126, 126) so I have a looot of room for improvement, although it could be worse. The 123 in chemical/physical science is really obnoxious though ha.

Just wondering if it gets much easier to sit for the test for that long? Haha because man was that painful, especially during the last section!!
 
@Charri22 I hope so. I could feel myself slipping during the last section.

Took Kaplan FL 1 today. Got a 502 - 125, 125, 127, 125. Need to work on everything haha
 
@Charri22 I hope so. I could feel myself slipping during the last section.

Took Kaplan FL 1 today. Got a 502 - 125, 125, 127, 125. Need to work on everything haha

Honestly, even in like the second half of bio I could start to feel my brain wandering significantly. I just majorly started using outside knowledge to answer the questions instead of the passages because I was getting so bored. I'm sure it'll get easier, right?.. Haha! And anyways, with the extra pressure of the real thing, we'll probably just be super-focused naturally. I'm not as worried about raising my other sections about 2 points before August 6th, I just need to figure out how to make my first section jump 4-5 points which will prove interesting!! I'm jealous of your 125 in that section, I would be much happier with a 125 in that section than a 123 for my first test!!
 
Honestly, even in like the second half of bio I could start to feel my brain wandering significantly. I just majorly started using outside knowledge to answer the questions instead of the passages because I was getting so bored. I'm sure it'll get easier, right?.. Haha! And anyways, with the extra pressure of the real thing, we'll probably just be super-focused naturally. I'm not as worried about raising my other sections about 2 points before August 6th, I just need to figure out how to make my first section jump 4-5 points which will prove interesting!! I'm jealous of your 125 in that section, I would be much happier with a 125 in that section than a 123 for my first test!!

I would say it is one of the easiest section to improve in! Look over your practice test and review all the content you missed before your next test and I guarantee you'll see a jump. Nailing the first section will really provide you with a confidence boost for the rest of the test as well. Not that I did that great either but I know that's how I'm approaching it to improve in all sections.
 
I feel I'm better at AAMC PS from the old test then the TPR tests. I remember having timing issues with a few of the AAMC FLs for PS.

AAMC PS seems much more straightforward than some of the TPR passages I find myself reading/answering the questions.
 
How many FL do you guys think should be taken at the minimum? and how much time/weeks should be set aside for taking them?

I'm behind on content review, and am not sure when to just stop and move on to full lengths if it ends up taking me much longer.
 
How many FL do you guys think should be taken at the minimum? and how much time/weeks should be set aside for taking them?

I'm behind on content review, and am not sure when to just stop and move on to full lengths if it ends up taking me much longer.

Different strokes for different folks. I would recommend doing an FL very soon to see if you are comfortable with the pacing, can maintain energy, etc. If you feel you have the testing mechanics down, I think one FL per week, mixed with some standalone passages would be a good jumping off point. As you go along, you can judge for yourself if you're getting more benefit out of FLs+review vs. straight content review. But I would highly recommend doing simulating a complete test soon; you don't want to feel blindsided later in July.
 
How's everyone doing? Test date is coming up, keep up the hard work guys!

Anyone also following MCAT jelly schedule (with TBR and Khan passages) and/or NS + GS practice tests?

Remember, our score is not sealed it. What we put it in this, comes out. This test is atleast a good chuck knowing things cold (even memorizing things so you have them down cold on quick recollection IMO is VERY useful although it's often understated)
 
How's everyone doing? Test date is coming up, keep up the hard work guys!

Anyone also following MCAT jelly schedule (with TBR and Khan passages) and/or NS + GS practice tests?

Remember, our score is not sealed it. What we put it in this, comes out. This test is atleast a good chuck knowing things cold (even memorizing things so you have them down cold on quick recollection IMO is VERY useful although it's often understated)

This is my first post on here.

Thanks for the encouragement/advice 🙂

I think freak out has finally started to hit me since it is July and we have a little over a month. Aug 5th test taker here. Not my first time through the MCAT but my first time on the new one. I minored in psych so that is going pretty well considering I am not done with content on that yet. CARS is killing me since I decided to try a new strategy - Kaplan Mapping but I am not really finishing on time which has me worried. I used to use the EK strategy but I scored lower on the real thing that I did in practice. Bio and Chem are consistently high. But I have only taking 2 full lengths so far, using all Next Step and then the real AAMC one.
 
This is my first post on here.

Thanks for the encouragement/advice 🙂

I think freak out has finally started to hit me since it is July and we have a little over a month. Aug 5th test taker here. Not my first time through the MCAT but my first time on the new one. I minored in psych so that is going pretty well considering I am not done with content on that yet. CARS is killing me since I decided to try a new strategy - Kaplan Mapping but I am not really finishing on time which has me worried. I used to use the EK strategy but I scored lower on the real thing that I did in practice. Bio and Chem are consistently high. But I have only taking 2 full lengths so far, using all Next Step and then the real AAMC one.
Thta's wonderful. Do share your score breakdown.


What's your plan for the upcoming weeks?
 
Thta's wonderful. Do share your score breakdown.


What's your plan for the upcoming weeks?

NS Diagnostic - 128/124/126/125 (503)
NS Full Length 1 - 127/125/128/126 (506)
NS Full Length 2- 128/123/127/126 (504)

Did that last one today, I ran out of time on CARS and it stung. I know 126 is not stellar for psych but I am calling it pretty good as a start.

I plan to wrap up with the rest of content in the next week and a bit then take the AAMC Full length when I am done with content then do the rest of the NS full lengths so basically I started doing a full length every week since last week on Wednesday since the real test date is Wednesday. Then when I am done with content, just keep doing practice on weaknesses until the real deal. My weakest point is on my test taking strategy so I am hoping to keep working on practice as well as I found that consistently reviewing content throughout prep helps me remember so just keep doing that until real deal.
 
So who all taking it Aug 5/6 is applying for 2016? Seems the score will be released Sept. 8 which doesn't seem too late... Has anyone spoken to admissions about receiving a score in September?
 
So My MCAT date is August 21st....Is getting my scores in late september too late to apply for this cycle?
 
Hello guys.

I'm allocating 24 days for bio, biochem, and psyc. Basically, I'll finish 1 bio/biochem chapter per day and try to read a psyc chapter (i already took most of the psyc/sociology material in a course last semester).

Anyway, I wanted to ask how you studied bio. There's just so much information, and memorizing every single detail is practically impossible, even if I had a year to do it. Any tips?
 
NS Diagnostic - 128/124/126/125 (503)
NS Full Length 1 - 127/125/128/126 (506)
NS Full Length 2- 128/123/127/126 (504)

Did that last one today, I ran out of time on CARS and it stung. I know 126 is not stellar for psych but I am calling it pretty good as a start.
l.

That's awesome. Solid scores, keep it up!!

When's your test again? 8/4?

What are you using for passages? tbr? tphr?
 
I'm looking for someone doing a practice test next week? Ideally NS 1 or GS - 1? Maybe we can do the same practice test and share results/discuss things we missed, etc. TEST BUDDY!!!
 
Anyone going to be buying the TBR FLs? Debating between those and EK. I already have 10 from TPR, so I don't want to buy both TBR and EK...time is running short, eek! :dead:
 
You guys think I'd be at any disadvantage in this application cycle taking the MCAT on the 6th? I'm retaking a 29 from January and am backing myself to improve at least a couple of points worth. I'll have secondaries submitted before then.
 
You guys think I'd be at any disadvantage in this application cycle taking the MCAT on the 6th? I'm retaking a 29 from January and am backing myself to improve at least a couple of points worth. I'll have secondaries submitted before then.

From my understanding, you will certainly be at a disadvantage for MD schools. However, don't read that to mean that you don't stand a chance at getting in. I would still give it a shot pending the strength of your entire application (heck, I am: my test is on the same date as you and I'm applying).

For DO schools you shouldn't be at a disadvantage.
 
Anyone going to be buying the TBR FLs? Debating between those and EK. I already have 10 from TPR, so I don't want to buy both TBR and EK...time is running short, eek! :dead:

Heard EK has been the best in comparability to AAMC style. I think 10TPR and all 4 EK FLs should be plenty especially if you're taking this exam in august
 
That's awesome. Solid scores, keep it up!!

When's your test again? 8/4?

What are you using for passages? tbr? tphr?

Thank you! My test is on the 5th. and I am using EK material for all my passages, the 30 minute exams are super tough but it is really helpful especially for integrating the material as the new MCAT is supposed to and using a lot of research based passages. I also have NEXT STEP books as well but I am only using the CARS because their other books are straightforward and not really integrating the material sort of like EK 101 so I only use them if I am consistently struggling with one topic.
 
longtime lurker, aug 21 test date. Has anyone started taking the AAMC Question Packs yet? I just started and they seem weirdly easy, I'm wondering if that means I'm doing well with my prep or (more likely) they just aren't that representative of the real test. I've taken Bio 1 and Chem so far and scored about 90% both times. Anyone else have experience with them?
 
longtime lurker, aug 21 test date. Has anyone started taking the AAMC Question Packs yet? I just started and they seem weirdly easy, I'm wondering if that means I'm doing well with my prep or (more likely) they just aren't that representative of the real test. I've taken Bio 1 and Chem so far and scored about 90% both times. Anyone else have experience with them?

Another (longtime might be an understatement: see join date vs posts LOL) low activity member here, I believe the Question Packs are questions from AAMC exams for the previous MCAT, so they are likely not representative of the new one. However, they are a testament to your strong content knowledge.
 
Are doing all the KA passages worth it? I'm a little lost on how to continue studying for this exam, and I'm starting to burn out. Don't know if I should just keep doing practice exams, or just chill and switch to Khan and AAMC stuff now.
 
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