The Official August 2015 MCAT Thread

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Guys,

If you've been giddy like me and @Pusheen, I suggest you take some melatonin the night before.

I just took a 3 mg dose 20 minutes ago and I feel so relaxed and ready to sleep. Tonight will be a good night, even though I'm the only one in my bed ayyyy

No but seriously. I'll report back in the morning with my melatonin results test. I'm genuinely scared I'll wake up super drowsy tomorrow so it shall be a good experiment.

EDIT: I'm not going to suggest you take anything b/c I feel like that's not my place to say but now I just wanted to say I took it. So I guess this post is kind of useless.
 
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TexasSurgeon said:
Tonight will be a good night, even though I'm the only one in my bed ayyy
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cartoon-characters-ohhh-meme_53_paused.jpg


TexasSurgeon said:
I'm genuinely scared I'll wake up super drowsy tomorrow so it shall be a good experiment.
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I don't know. I mean this whole waking up at 6:30 **** is making me drowsy regardless....

coffeecoffeecoffeecafee
 
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TexasSurgeon said:
Guys,

If you've been giddy like me and @Pusheen, I suggest you take some melatonin the night before.

I just took a 3 mg dose 20 minutes ago and I feel so relaxed and ready to sleep. Tonight will be a good night, even though I'm the only one in my bed ayyyy
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Or you could crush a few caffeine pills and get another night of studying in.

You know you want to.
 
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So uh I've heard EK 4 is tough, but I just got a 66% on the biology section and am really worried. Took note of stuff I missed and plan to study it tomorrow.
 
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can someone explain the mechanism for gabriel synthesis.
Im looking at the EK book and I cant figure out where the CO2 groups on the compound came after the addition on NaOH, H20 with heat
 
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I am panicking, its 1:11 and i am reviewing everything. i feel like i am retaining the most right now too lol. Planning on spending 4 hours tomorrow memorizing psych/soc but not sure if its a good idea.
 
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jeep1010 said:
@TexasSurgeon do let us know how the melatonin works out! I would be down to try it too.
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Guys

[redacted].

I took a 3 mg and let it dissolve in my mouth at 9:15 last night. Between than and 9:45, it felt like I was getting progressively "heavier" so I could feel the sleep coming onto me. Fell asleep right away at 10 PM and woke straight at 6:07 AM. Right now, I'm feeling really calm and relaxed

I did end up waking randomly around 3 but I think that's bc I heard my phone. My friend takes the GRE today and texted me saying he couldn't sleep. He should have taken melatonin lololol

EDITED- removed my advice because I don't want to break SDN rules
 
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TexasSurgeon said:
Guys

Take ze Melatonin if you can. It doesn't seem to make you drowsy in the morning.

I took a 3 mg and let it dissolve in my mouth at 9:15 last night. Between than and 9:45, it felt like I was getting progressively "heavier" so I could feel the sleep coming onto me. Fell asleep right away at 10 PM and woke straight at 6:07 AM. Right now, I'm feeling really calm and relaxed

I did end up waking randomly around 3 but I think that's bc I heard my phone. My friend takes the GRE today and texted me saying he couldn't sleep. He should have taken melatonin lololol
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Okay, I wouldn't be giving medical advice on this forum. 3 mg melatonin is MUCH more than the body actually needs. Evidence shows that the average adult male only needs 150 MICROgrams, thus you are taking potentially closer to 20x the needed amount.

While melatonin is a natural substance, this should NOT be used for the first time the night before the exam without knowing how you feel the next morning. Be smart, people. Workout really hard or something, meditate, and trust you've done everything you can at this point. At this point in the game, it's about you getting to the testing center ready to perform well. Don't compromise yourself.
 
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TexasSurgeon said:
Guys

Take ze Melatonin if you can. It doesn't seem to make you drowsy in the morning.

I took a 3 mg and let it dissolve in my mouth at 9:15 last night. Between than and 9:45, it felt like I was getting progressively "heavier" so I could feel the sleep coming onto me. Fell asleep right away at 10 PM and woke straight at 6:07 AM. Right now, I'm feeling really calm and relaxed

I did end up waking randomly around 3 but I think that's bc I heard my phone. My friend takes the GRE today and texted me saying he couldn't sleep. He should have taken melatonin lololol
Click to expand...

I've always had issues with getting a good night sleep and started taking melatonin 2 weeks ago and that stuff is pure gold. It makes me a little drowsy but that also might just be waking up at 6 am.
 
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So I just realized I forgot about Kaplan High-Yield book. Would yall advise going through this the day before the test or just saying screw it
 
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Can someone please explain inducible and repressible systems for gene expression in prokaryotes? I read through the Kaplan section for it twice...but it still doesn't make much sense to me.
 
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podiatrytime said:
Can someone please explain inducible and repressible systems for gene expression in prokaryotes? I read through the Kaplan section for it twice...but it still doesn't make much sense to me.
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An example of inducible would be the lac operon. It's known as inducible because lactose is the "inducer" that bind to the repressor protein on the lac operator and prevents it from binding to said operator. Normally the cell would use glucose if available, but if glucose is absent and lactose is present, the lactose will bind to the repressor. This would cause the structural genes to be transcribed and then later translated to digest lactose.

An example of a repressible system would the Trp operon. Normally this operon is continually active but what causes it to be repressed is the W that is produced to turn it off. The W acts as a corepressor as it bind to the regular repressor and binds to the operator sequence of the operon. This blocks RNA polymerase from binding to the promotor sequence and thus prevents transcription of W.
 
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Profound said:
An example of inducible would be the lac operon. It's known as inducible because lactose is the "inducer" that bind to the repressor protein on the lac operator and prevents it from binding to said operator. Normally the cell would use glucose if available, but if glucose is absent and lactose is present, the lactose will bind to the repressor. This would cause the structural genes to be transcribed and then later translated to digest lactose.

An example of a repressible system would the Trp operon. Normally this operon is continually active but what causes it to be repressed is the W that is produced to turn it off. The W acts as a corepressor as it bind to the regular repressor and binds to the operator sequence of the operon. This blocks RNA polymerase from binding to the promotor sequence and thus prevents transcription of W.
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In the absence of a corepressor, the repressor is inactive?
 
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FOCUSandEARNit said:
Okay, I wouldn't be giving medical advice on this forum. 3 mg melatonin is MUCH more than the body actually needs. Evidence shows that the average adult male only needs 150 MICROgrams, thus you are taking potentially closer to 20x the needed amount.

While melatonin is a natural substance, this should NOT be used for the first time the night before the exam without knowing how you feel the next morning. Be smart, people. Workout really hard or something, meditate, and trust you've done everything you can at this point. At this point in the game, it's about you getting to the testing center ready to perform well. Don't compromise yourself.
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Ok I'm not here giving people advice on treatments for cancer or anything. In an earlier post I even said it's not my place to even suggest taking something like melatonin. It's actually surprising to me that melatonin is available OTC in the US. It requires a prescription in the UK/Europe and Canada.

It's not like I'm telling people here to shoot up morphine the night before to relax. Melatonin has been shown to be perfectly safe for very short term uses and with a half life of just under an hour, it's not like 3 mg is staying in your system for prolonged periods of time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin

If the mods see this, I'm really sorry if I'm violating rules-- I was only reporting how it felt for me taking it
 
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Can someone explain the lateralization of each hemisphere? I'm getting conflicting evidence when I look it up.

Left is reading, writing, speaking, and anything creative
Right is visuospatial, logic/math

Is that right and is there anything to add?
 
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Profound said:
Can someone explain the lateralization of each hemisphere? I'm getting conflicting evidence when I look it up.

Left is reading, writing, speaking, and anything creative
Right is visuospatial, logic/math

Is that right and is there anything to add?
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I just have that the left hemisphere is usually considered the "dominant" hemisphere for most people and it has more an analytic function. For example logic and math...also language production and comprehension are in this hemisphere.

Nondominant hemisphere is usually the right hemisphere. Its associated with intuition, creativity, music(?), and spatial processing.

My prep books related both hemispheres to language though. Both sides of the brain have functions that have something to do with language. But in most people, grammar and vocab are localized to the left side of the brain, but understanding the emotional content of language has to do with the right hemisphere.
 
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LakridsA said:
I just have that the left hemisphere is usually considered the "dominant" hemisphere for most people and it has more an analytic function. For example logic and math...also language production and comprehension are in this hemisphere.

Nondominant hemisphere is usually the right hemisphere. Its associated with intuition, creativity, music(?), and spatial processing.

My prep books related both hemispheres to language though. Both sides of the brain have functions that have something to do with language. But in most people, grammar and vocab are localized to the left side of the brain, but understanding the emotional content of language has to do with the right hemisphere.
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So I mixed up creativity and logic/math? Seems about right.
 
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In terms of brain lateralizaiton...

Just remember. Most everything is CONTRA-lateral. AND... most people are RIGHT handed. So if it's contralateral, you can expect the "dominant" hemisphere for the majority of people will be the LEFT hemisphere! And that includes language too. So for a right-handed individual, their dominant hemisphere is the left. This is where Broca's and Wernicke's area will be located. As well as primary/higher order auditory association areas
 
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Yeah holy crap, can't believe people are telling others to take melatonin for their first time days before their exam?!!

I would NOT try it for your first time. it makes you drowsy waking up. You SNOOZE on that stuff.

I suggest running to meijers or krogers and snagging some "Sleepy time" tea or something similar. That's does the same for me in terms of knocking me out (placebo primarily, I think), but it doesn't make me drowsy when I wake up. Rather, the complete opposite. I wake up at 5:45a and pop RIGHT out of bed.
 
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kanda1o said:
In other news.........

Aug 22nd tester here..... anyone else freaking out right now? Or confused on what they should be doing with two days left?


(I am..... so please give me advice)

THANK YOU 🙂
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I'm taking it tomorrow and I am definitely freaking out. It doesn't help that I'm in class until 5 today so I won't be able to get any decent studying done. I've been mostly reviewing psych term flash cards, going over the list of equations I feel like I need to know, and reviewing the notes on things I missed from full length tests.
 
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AvacadosAtLaw said:
I'm taking it tomorrow and I am definitely freaking out. It doesn't help that I'm in class until 5 today so I won't be able to get any decent studying done. I've been mostly reviewing psych term flash cards, going over the list of equations I feel like I need to know, and reviewing the notes on things I missed from full length tests.
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Wait.. studying the day before?!

I have alwayssss heard this is a no no! Keep your mind off the material the day before. But I feel as if going through amino acids and maybe quicksheets wouldn't hurt! As long as we get to sleep early the day before.


I just feel as if with two days left, there's not a whole lot you CAN do. Like, yeah go over everything a bunch. But in terms of dense, legitimate, studying.... I feel as if it's overrrrrrrrrrrrrr 🙁 And that's making me SO anxious for this exam on Sat!
 
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What is everyone bringing as snacks/lunch...I know this depends on preferences but was looking for good ideas. Im thinking of bringing an apple and trail mix to keep it light and a starbucks double shot espresso can if i need the caffeine boost after lunch.
 
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moesman777 said:
What is everyone bringing as snacks/lunch...I know this depends on preferences but was looking for good ideas. Im thinking of bringing an apple and trail mix to keep it light and a starbucks double shot espresso can if i need the caffeine boost after lunch.
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Nuts and fruit has been the general consensus here. And that's what I will be doing. I don't plan on eating a lot. Just a bit for that boost. Water, and maybe some sugary gatorade for the last break before the final section. I feel as if I'll need that little sugar boost right before the final lap
 
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AvacadosAtLaw said:
I'm taking it tomorrow and I am definitely freaking out. It doesn't help that I'm in class until 5 today so I won't be able to get any decent studying done. I've been mostly reviewing psych term flash cards, going over the list of equations I feel like I need to know, and reviewing the notes on things I missed from full length tests.
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To clarify this was me answering the question of what I had been doing with two days left before the test. I don't plan on doing any major studying today.
 
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kanda1o said:
Nuts and fruit has been the general consensus here. And that's what I will be doing. I don't plan on eating a lot. Just a bit for that boost. Water, and maybe some sugary gatorade for the last break before the final section. I feel as if I'll need that little sugar boost right before the final lap
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I agree with the sugary boost (maybe candy, so you don't have to pee 😛) and the brain thrives on glucose as a primary source of energy!

What are your thoughts on lunch???? Maybe a sandwich???? I'm hoping to bring something light, high in energy and won't take too much effort to digest...any suggestions??
 
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FauxBlue said:
I agree with the sugary boost (maybe candy, so you don't have to pee 😛) and the brain thrives on glucose as a primary source of energy!

What are your thoughts on lunch???? Maybe a sandwich???? I'm hoping to bring something light, high in energy and won't take too much effort to digest...any suggestions??
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I'm going to try to refrain from a sandwich. Too much actual food. I think some almonds, a trailmix granola bar, some pre-peeled clementines/cuties, and an apple would do me well. I guess it really is a personal thing. Depending on what you like to eat and more importantly feel comfortable eating.

My thing is, I don't want to spend all 30 minutes eating. Ideally, I would eat really quickly 10 minutes into the break. and have the remaining time to walk around, drink some water, and stretch.

Gosh are all just over thinking this?! Or what? Or are we just crazy? I feel crazy right now
 
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Guys, does anyone know how we could update this excel file (located in this post) could be updated? I think this was made by @mcatjelly but can't be sure?

It is an MCAT predictor where you put the 4 section test scores in and then spits out a predictor range based off of what people got on the real thing & their practice test scores.

It's a small sample size, but if we could get more people's data in there (say, from the July testers thread), we could have a better idea where we stand. I took August 5.

Anybody good at Excel? :happy::highfive:
 
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jeep1010 said:
Passage 6 of AAMC FL C/P section: Can someone explain what Ka/K0 means? or how to use it/interpret it?
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Ka/Ko would be the ratio of binding with inhibitor present/binding w/o inhibitor. That means that if the Ka/Ko is less than one, binding is reduced by the inhibitor.. smaller Ka/Ko = the stronger the inhibitor inhibits binding of CPFX
 
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