The Official August 7, 2014 MCAT Thread

[Thoroughbred_Med]

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107 days out! Who all is signed up to obliterate the MCAT August 7th?

I know it's a bit early but I searched and could not find another August 7th, 2014 MCAT thread! I am hoping that we can keep each other motivated this summer while studying...

I am starting a slightly modified SN2ed schedule May 7th.... slightly modified due to my incredible weakness with physics. I am not taking physics 2 before the MCAT and therefore will be self-teaching it.

Looking forward to hearing from some of y'all!

 

[waywin22]

Should we wait to do the TBR passages after finishing all the content review or do them as we are going through each chapter?

Well I am supplementing EK Chapters with the TBR passages. I usually do 1/3 passages after reading the TBR content. However, I usually understand the concepts of each section. If I don't understand the concept I would watch a video over it. Chad,Khan Academy and Freelancer is pretty good. Then at the end of the week I would do another 1/3 passage for all of the chapters.

 

[waywin22]

What topics is everyone struggling with? Just recently started looking at Physics. I think I'll focus on using NOVA Physics even though I have TBR. NOVA seems more interesting to read, and previous reviews seem really positive. I have an older edition (like 2005). I don'think it has changed since then. Atleast I hope not.

Not sure about the physics. I recently graduated and physics II is still pretty fresh. Mostly, the concepts I will have to look over again for physics I because all we did was discrete 🙁

 

[waywin22]

Has anybody been using EK 101 and so how are you doing on them?

 

[ciestar]

Just out of curiousity...
When did you all start studying and about how far into your content review are you all? I honestly feel hopelessly behind at this point. I started around April 11th and I'm maybe 1/4 of the way through 🙁

 

[waywin22]

Just out of curiousity...
When did you all start studying and about how far into your content review are you all? I honestly feel hopelessly behind at this point. I started around April 11th and I'm maybe 1/4 of the way through 🙁

I started in mid May, don't be discourage you still have plenty of time.

 

[Shipley231]

Should we wait to do the TBR passages after finishing all the content review or do them as we are going through each chapter?

Entirely up to you. I think most people elect to do some of the passages after reviewing the content in order to cement some of the details, and they save some of the passages for after content review to brush up on all of the topics.

What topics is everyone struggling with? Just recently started looking at Physics. I think I'll focus on using NOVA Physics even though I have TBR. NOVA seems more interesting to read, and previous reviews seem really positive. I have an older edition (like 2005). I don'think it has changed since then. Atleast I hope not.

I struggled hard with the first bio section, and subsequently switched over from EK/TBR bio to TPRH bio. I think it still gives good detail without murdering me on the passages. The solubility section was tough, acids and bases always suck for me, and I haven't been doing any o-chem passages until I learn more, so I'm sure that won't be a good time for me either.

 

[Shipley231]

Has anybody been using EK 101 and so how are you doing on them?

I started off scoring very low, ranging from 40%-70%, and after almost a month of practice I've improved to consistently getting 70%-85% right. Haven't really been taking the passages as tests so I don't have a 1-15 score for you.

 

[moop]

Should we wait to do the TBR passages after finishing all the content review or do them as we are going through each chapter?

As you go through. Content review is useless (i.e., passive studying is not effective for MCAT) unless you practice with passages. Always practice with passages.

 

[moop]

I started off scoring very low, ranging from 40%-70%, and after almost a month of practice I've improved to consistently getting 70%-85% right. Haven't really been taking the passages as tests so I don't have a 1-15 score for you.

Also guys make sure you time everything you're taking! Anyone can sit with 3 TBR passages for an hour and hit >80%. That doesn't show jack. Even if you're not in FL territory yet, timing is important. Time your passages as you would for the actual MCAT. 7-8 minutes for each passage, tops.

 

[moop]

Just out of curiousity...
When did you all start studying and about how far into your content review are you all? I honestly feel hopelessly behind at this point. I started around April 11th and I'm maybe 1/4 of the way through 🙁

Quick reminder: don't fall into the trap of too much content review and not enough passage practice that many people fall into. There's always going to be a "oh I don't know that topic too well" moment, but that doesn't quite justify more than 1.5-2 months of content review that may or may not be effective but will make you feel burned out and work counter effectively. Smarter, not harder.

 

[ciestar]

Quick reminder: don't fall into the trap of too much content review and not enough passage practice that many people fall into. There's always going to be a "oh I don't know that topic too well" moment, but that doesn't quite justify more than 1.5-2 months of content review that may or may not be effective but will make you feel burned out and work counter effectively. Smarter, not harder.

I'm following the TPR course plan that literally has hundreds of passages. There's like 20 per gen chem chapter. That's where the time comes from. It takes a few hours tops to read the chapter but what I spend forever on is these section based passages that go along with each chapter.

 

[moop]

I'm following the TPR course plan that literally has hundreds of passages. There's like 20 per gen chem chapter. That's where the time comes from. It takes a few hours tops to read the chapter but what I spend forever on is these section based passages that go along with each chapter.

Oh right, I remember those from the online thing. I stopped doing those because they got annoying lol. Eh I wouldn't do each and every single one; it just seems too low-yield to be worth all that time. Maybe do like half of it?

 

[Shipley231]

Also guys make sure you time everything you're taking! Anyone can sit with 3 TBR passages for an hour and hit >80%. That doesn't show jack. Even if you're not in FL territory yet, timing is important. Time your passages as you would for the actual MCAT. 7-8 minutes for each passage, tops.

Yep! I've been timing myself. I noticed that I started to get into a bad habit of taking too much time to read and also going back through the passage to verify my answer on a question I was pretty sure of my answer to begin with. I've gotten better at attacking the passages in a more timely manner and going with my gut on the questions that I'm fairly certain of, only going back through the passage on those that I really don't know the answer. Been keeping it around 6:30-8:00 for the most part, with the occasional passage going into 9 minutes.

 

[Thoroughbred_Med]

Quick reminder: don't fall into the trap of too much content review and not enough passage practice that many people fall into. There's always going to be a "oh I don't know that topic too well" moment, but that doesn't quite justify more than 1.5-2 months of content review that may or may not be effective but will make you feel burned out and work counter effectively. Smarter, not harder.

+1

I could not agree more!
I fell into that trap my first week of SN2ed. I know forces like the back of my head but I was still taking my precious time reading through the chapter when I should've been hammering passages instead.

 

[Wasted Energy]

Update:

I started studying two weeks ago using EK's 10-week study method. I've been putting in ~ 2 hours a day so far and have finished the first couple of chapters in each of the review books. I also bought the Nova Physics e-book for 10 bucks off of Amazon, but have only completed the first chapter.

I took AAMC 3 today as a pseudo-diagnostic (because of the two weeks of content review) and scored a 26 (7PS, 11VR, 8BS). I have no idea if that's good/bad based on where I'm currently at with content review.

To answer waywin 22, I've taken two of the exams in the EK 101 Verbal. I've found some of the solutions to be a little convoluted, but it's practice nonetheless.

I foresee my biggest problem being general chemistry. I need to find a cheap and reliable resource for practice passages.

 

[Shipley231]

Update:

I started studying two weeks ago using EK's 10-week study method. I've been putting in ~ 2 hours a day so far and have finished the first couple of chapters in each of the review books. I also bought the Nova Physics e-book for 10 bucks off of Amazon, but have only completed the first chapter.

I took AAMC 3 today as a pseudo-diagnostic (because of the two weeks of content review) and scored a 26 (7PS, 11VR, 8BS). I have no idea if that's good/bad based on where I'm currently at with content review.

To answer waywin 22, I've taken two of the exams in the EK 101 Verbal. I've found some of the solutions to be a little convoluted, but it's practice nonetheless.

I foresee my biggest problem being general chemistry. I need to find a cheap and reliable resource for practice passages.

I think thats a pretty good score for only being a couple of weeks into content review. The verbal is bang on, and that leads me to think that you won't have much trouble raising the other two scores. I've been wanting to do a diagnostic for myself but am apprehensive to use an AAMC test before I'm done with content review, which unfortunately seems like it won't be for another month.

 

[Wasted Energy]

I've been wanting to do a diagnostic for myself but am apprehensive to use an AAMC test before I'm done with content review, which unfortunately seems like it won't be for another month.

Yeah, I went back and forth on whether or not to take it. I guess my curiosity got the best of me. Honestly though, I felt like it was important for me to get acclimated to the actual test (AAMC style, format, CBT) before getting too far in my prep. I don't know, I guess I just felt like I didn't really know what I was dealing with until I took the practice test. The test definitely seems a little less mysterious now .

 

[ciestar]

Oh right, I remember those from the online thing. I stopped doing those because they got annoying lol. Eh I wouldn't do each and every single one; it just seems too low-yield to be worth all that time. Maybe do like half of it?

I've stopped doing everything lol and I've been very selective with the SWB passages and not doing them all at once.

 

[moop]

I've stopped doing everything lol and I've been very selective with the SWB passages and not doing them all at once.

I liked the repetition in SWB, though. It's on the same topic but rarely will it test the same thing over and over and over again. Hits all the right spots under each topic and high-yield imo.

 

[ciestar]

I liked the repetition in SWB, though. It's on the same topic but rarely will it test the same thing over and over and over again. Hits all the right spots under each topic and high-yield imo.

I save many of them for later if I need them. Like with the second gen chem chapter there was about 20 of them, didn't want to use them all at once.

 

[waywin22]

Anybody else struggling with verbal? I have TPR hyperlearning verbal book and EK 101. Should I use TPR more for my verbal and EK for timing?

 

[moop]

Anybody else struggling with verbal? I have TPR hyperlearning verbal book and EK 101. Should I use TPR more for my verbal and EK for timing?

You want to save the TPRH for later in your prep because it is more similar to the real thing.

 

[mspeedwagon]

Just signed up for Aug 7. Will start review this weekend. Studied for the MCAT previously with Kaplan (took and re-took their class to no avail... started at a 23 and while my Kaplan test score went up, no such luck with the AAMC tests). I am using BR this go around and will likely attend Scott Roberts classes here in NYC. I'm working on applying this cycle (nearly have my AMCAS complete and going to slowly start working on my AACOMAS app).

 

[Czarcasm]

*Slams head on desk*.... must....get...sleep. I started my molecular genetics class this week and it's intense. Already sucked out 2 days of review. Constantly trying to keep up. Test every week, comprehensive finale. Kill me now please. Save me from my misery.

To top it all off, just finished entering a billion and one classes in AMCAS. That was fun.

 

[ciestar]

are the EK 30 minute exams good to use or do they suck? I'm trying to gauge what I should actually use for bio.

 

[Wasted Energy]

are the EK 30 minute exams good to use or do they suck? I'm trying to gauge what I should actually use for bio.

I actually just finished an EK 30 minute exam. I'm not sure if I'm terrible at bio or if the exams are just difficult, either way I'm hitting ~ 8 on most of them so far.

EDIT: Although, now that I think about it I got an 8 on the BS section of AAMC 3 (see my earlier post #168), so they may be fairly indicative of the real thing.

 

[Czarcasm]

are the EK 30 minute exams good to use or do they suck? I'm trying to gauge what I should actually use for bio.

If you have TPRH SW, do the Bio passages. From other threads, it seems like that's the most indicative of the current MCAT.

 

[ciestar]

I got what equates to an 11 and a 12 on two different EK chapters (based on their scale).

Also working on SWB and got a 70% with three passages, but I was just curious. Might need to do more SWB then? I legitimately have about 18 passages in total to practice this material (microbiology) but that's obviously excessive.

 

[Wasted Energy]

I got what equates to an 11 and a 12 on two different EK chapters (based on their scale).

That's much better than I have been doing (9,7,8 on the first three chapters). Are you using EK only for content in bio?

 

[ciestar]

That's much better than I have been doing (9,7,8 on the first three chapters). Are you using EK only for content in bio?

I am. But I have TBR and TPR bio if I need extra details.

 

[R35]

I've switched from TBR to TPR. I've decided to use the Science Workbook instead of TBR's passages, as well. Would I be missing anything crucial in eliminating TBR? I would supplement by incorporating TBR's passages, but matching them to TPR's chapters would be too time-consuming.

Anybody using only one resource?

 

[moop]

I've switched from TBR to TPR. I've decided to use the Science Workbook instead of TBR's passages, as well. Would I be missing anything crucial in eliminating TBR? I would supplement by incorporating TBR's passages, but matching them to TPR's chapters would be too time-consuming.

Anybody using only one resource?

No. Skip if you don't have time

 

[StuDoc*Mùn*Man]

Had a little lapse/break/laziness over this Labor Day weekend. Just got some serious catching up started (not finished). Just giving the update and wanted to wish you all with classes this summer the best of luck.

Remember that Rome wasn't built in a day.
“Perseverance, secret of all triumphs.”
Victor Hugo

Grind!

 

[Czarcasm]

Trying so hard to get through Physics content, but the damn thing is so complex. I found studying for General Chemistry more straightforward. For Physics, you really have to understand each nuance and it's a little bit sneakier in the way they can test you. How many people have actually tripped up on a question asking about the velocity in circular motion? We know the magnitude remains constant, but the direction changes. So speed is constant and velocity is not, because there's a changing acceleration. Even though I know this, I still have the tendency to accidentally say velocity is constant. I seriously despise Physics with a passion.

 

[clairephillips]

Trying so hard to get through Physics content, but the damn thing is so complex. I found studying for General Chemistry more straightforward. For Physics, you really have to understand each nuance and it's a little bit sneakier in the way they can test you. How many people have actually tripped up on a question asking about the velocity in circular motion? We know the magnitude remains constant, but the direction changes. So speed is constant and velocity is not, because there's a changing acceleration. Even though I know this, I still have the tendency to accidentally say velocity is constant. I seriously despise Physics with a passion.

That is one of the things you should put on your Anki flashcards then. That way, you have to tell yourself that on a regular basis until it really sinks in.

 

[ciestar]

I agree. Eff physics lol

The velocity thing in UCM is one thing I actually know. Most everything else...not so much.

 

[moop]

I seriously despise Physics with a passion.

I agree. Eff physics lol

Hate to be a preacher, but you gotta learn to not harbor strong dislike of a subject if you ever want a chance of doing well in it. Unconsciously, if you dislike it a lot, your brain will just repel the information instead of retain it. Greet it as an acquaintance if you can't quite see it as a friend, and I guarantee things will start sticking and clicking to make sense.

 

[clairephillips]

Moop, I absolutely agree with that. The best thing I can say is that the one basic science I DIDN'T make an A in (I did make B's in upper level Bio though), was Geology. I detested Geology, which I was required to take for my teaching program, and because of this, I never studied. I just hated it too much. I have a 3.8 GPA but Geology was horrid. Thank God we don't need THAT for the MCAT.

 

[ciestar]

Physics has been a struggle for me since day one. I've never fully understood it and after years (started in hs) of feeling like this...well. :/

 

[Czarcasm]

Hate to be a preacher, but you gotta learn to not harbor strong dislike of a subject if you ever want a chance of doing well in it. Unconsciously, if you dislike it a lot, your brain will just repel the information instead of retain it. Greet it as an acquaintance if you can't quite see it as a friend, and I guarantee things will start sticking and clicking to make sense.

I totally agree with you. It's not so much the learning that bugs me though. I'm naturally interested in the material. It's the little mistakes that bug me. Like I know it, but just carelessness causes me to miss some questions. It seems almost unavoidable. I guess with practice, I'll begin to catch my mistakes before they happen.

 

[Czarcasm]

So I'm pretty much done with Physics content review now and plan on hitting practice passages until June 10th. Won't start until June 2 tho because I have a test monday (le sigh). Debating if I should do all of NOVA and then TPRH SW (my priority), but not sure if I'll have time to do both. I'm also debating whether I should do TBR passages, but from experience, I felt like they were a little too hard and made me lose confidence rather than improve my understanding. I think I'll save TBR GC and PS for first two weeks of July, if I have time.

For those of you using TBR, are you guys learning more from their explanations to passages or from the content itself? Do you feel it's helping you?

 

[Thoroughbred_Med]

So I'm pretty much done with Physics content review now and plan on hitting practice passages until June 10th. Won't start until June 2 tho because I have a test monday (le sigh). Debating if I should do all of NOVA and then TPRH SW (my priority), but not sure if I'll have time to do both. I'm also debating whether I should do TBR passages, but from experience, I felt like they were a little too hard and made me lose confidence rather than improve my understanding. I think I'll save TBR GC and PS for first two weeks of July, if I have time.

For those of you using TBR, are you guys learning more from their explanations to passages or from the content itself? Do you feel it's helping you?

I learn more from working their extremely hard passages. They mix all the concepts together for questions in such a dynamic way that it really makes you know your stuff. Their explanations are usually fantastic for me. So yes, I do feel like it is helping me.

BUT, like you said, it can dampen your confidence majorly... I jump out of my seat when I get 6/7 right on their physics. lol
So what do I do when I get down? Hit up EK 1001 questions! No they are not passage questions, and yes they are much easier than what you will see, but they really hammer the key concepts in my head better than TBR, initially.

 

[Czarcasm]

I learn more from working their extremely hard passages. They mix all the concepts together for questions in such a dynamic way that it really makes you know your stuff. Their explanations are usually fantastic for me. So yes, I do feel like it is helping me.

BUT, like you said, it can dampen your confidence majorly... I jump out of my seat when I get 6/7 right on their physics. lol
So what do I do when I get down? Hit up EK 1001 questions! No they are not passage questions, and yes they are much easier than what you will see, but they really hammer the key concepts in my head better than TBR, initially.

I did most of EK 1001 Physics my first take in 2011 and found so many mistakes, and many of the problems were either too easy or way too difficult to be realistic for the exam. I guess it doesn't hurt much to do some again though.

 

[Thoroughbred_Med]

I did most of EK 1001 Physics my first take in 2011 and found so many mistakes, and many of the problems were either too easy or way too difficult to be realistic for the exam. I guess it doesn't hurt much to do some again though.

I gotcha. Well in that case, have you got your hands on TPRH SW? Their physics discretes may even be a better option than EK 1001!

 

[Czarcasm]

I gotcha. Well in that case, have you got your hands on TPRH SW? Their physics discretes may even be a better option than EK 1001!

Yeah. I'm so indecisive, lol. I think I'm just gonna very quickly go through NOVA. It seems like it breaks down the concepts really well, and I googled some info about it and everyone who used it said really great things. Then I'll try to cram as much TPRH SW as possible before June 10th. Hope that's enough. I'll let you guys know how things go.

 

[Shipley231]

Enjoying my break day today! Went bowling, watched a movie and slept in like a champ this morning. How is everyone else doing?

 

[moop]

Enjoying my break day today! Went bowling, watched a movie and slept in like a champ this morning. How is everyone else doing?

Played pool until my feet gave out last night at the bar. Watching hotties bend over tables is cool until you realize how much they suck and are just there for the booze + prospect of sex. Slept in after a week of work waking up at 8 bleh. Not bad!

Edit: OH this is the MCAT thread...sorry I thought this was c/o 2019 lolololol

 

[clairephillips]

Hey guys! I need a pick-me-up. I have one more week of grading and administering final exams and then I am free to work my *** off on the MCAT, so just to gauge my progress and see where I'm starting, I took my first full length since beginning to study. I took Berkeley Review #1 and scored a (6/12/8)26. Before I started, I had a (5/9/9) on AAMC #3. I felt like BR1 BS had a TON of o chem (which I last had 13 years ago and am reteaching myself - I did feel better about the O Chem stuff I had gone over on the exam) and very little of the molecular biology stuff I'm best at. I'm not that far along in content review (I've done the first 3 chapters in each subject and the first 4 in Biology of TPR) and I didn't see too much of the stuff I have been studying on any of it. I'm happy with my verbal, but I know that is the least accurate section of all of them. I'm intimidated and stressed, knowing I have only two months to get my score up to the 30 I'm wanting. Is anybody else where I am? Is this still possible?

 

[Wasted Energy]

Hey guys! I need a pick-me-up. I have one more week of grading and administering final exams and then I am free to work my *** off on the MCAT, so just to gauge my progress and see where I'm starting, I took my first full length since beginning to study. I took Berkeley Review #1 and scored a (6/12/8)26. Before I started, I had a (5/9/9) on AAMC #3. I felt like BR1 BS had a TON of o chem (which I last had 13 years ago and am reteaching myself - I did feel better about the O Chem stuff I had gone over on the exam) and very little of the molecular biology stuff I'm best at. I'm not that far along in content review (I've done the first 3 chapters in each subject and the first 4 in Biology of TPR) and I didn't see too much of the stuff I have been studying on any of it. I'm happy with my verbal, but I know that is the least accurate section of all of them. I'm intimidated and stressed, knowing I have only two months to get my score up to the 30 I'm wanting. Is anybody else where I am? Is this still possible?

I think you and I are probably in fairly similar places, you got a 26 on BR1, I got a 26 on AAMC 3 (which I took about a week into content reveiw). After spending an unreasonable amount of time in the 30+ thread, I've gotten the impression that the most significant score improvements come when you're done with content review and begin to take full lengths.

I've even come across a couple of very successful posters who spent VERY little time on content review and spent months completing and reviewing full lengths. Although for someone such as yourself (prereqs were taken years ago) this strategy would undoubtedly end badly; I think that it nevertheless demonstrates that quantitative improvements will become more evident when you begin taking FL practice tests.

 

[sg808]

Just finished today with watching all of Chad's videos for physics......I srsly to need to pick up speed with content review....i am so slow. 🙁