I used a hybrid of Nymeria's plan and KoalaT's plan. I took more than 100 days and based it in part on the schedule in the back of one of the TBR books. I spent about one week pre-studying (as mentioned in
this thread.) I never really stuck to a schedule in the typical sense, but I kept track of how much I was getting done each week and I set weekly goals every Sunday night. In essence, my schedule was constantly in flux but I knew what I had to get done and by when.
1: I hear TBR is too in depth. Did you think so?
There are some section in the biology that got a bit convoluted, but for the most part the depth is overrated. I found they repeated some topics multiple times in different subjects, so what seemed in depth early in my studies evolved into a great way to keep material fresh in my mind by the later weeks. Looking back on it, I'd say it was the perfect depth. Make sure you take great notes on all of their shortcuts and strategies, especially when you see them in answer explanations. Those are pure gold.
2: Did you do content review from KAPLAN, and questions from TBR or both from TBR and supplemented with KAPLAN? Did you use KA for any content review or only supplement?
I stuck with TBR for science review and used them for both content and passages. The important thing is that you learn how to apply information and not just try to absorb it. What worked for me was their focus on explaining how to think quickly and systematically on questions. I did look at EK a few weeks before my test to get some more questions, but found that their explanations were not helpful. It was reassuring, though, to see that the tricks I got from TBR worked on EK and AAMC questions.
3: How long did the "Every Third Problem/Passage" take you for a chapter? How many problem are there in a chapter? How many passages?
I didn't do the "every third problem." I followed their phases, doing phase 1 right after reading the chapter. I did phase 2 a week later and then phase 3 when I finished the book. Definitely do it that way to make sure you don't forget material after you move on to a new subject. It took me on average three hours to work though the chapters and all of the questions in the chapter. Phase 1s take 35 minutes to do and an hour to review. Phases 2 and 3 take more time because they're longer. I can't recall which books had the long phase 2s and shorter phase 3s, but they are not consistent book to book.
4: How long did "Complete Second/Last Third of all Berkeley Review Problems for Chapters in Days X-X " this one seems like it be a lot of problems with a 59 problem Uword block and CARS passages! Is Nymeria a productivity god or am I overestimating the time commitment ( I plan to reserve 8hrs a day for MCAT)
I addressed that in my response to 3, but I'll add that in total I probably spent two and a half hours doing all three phases and four to five hours going over them. Do not skimp on time spent going over them.
**5: Overall was the amount of material per day manageable in <= 8 Hrs?
It will vary day to day. I tried to do four study blocks per day, each dedicated to something different (like a reading section or a phase 1.) This made it go by faster and more efficiently. I never logged hours, but I'm sure I was putting in 8 hours a day on average. Don't pay attention to the time, pay attention to what you accomplish. I made a weekly checklist on my whiteboard and it felt so wonderful to cross things off as I did them.
6: Your Overall review of the study plan/ changes you made to it.
I used the following books: Chemistry, Organic, Biology, and Physics were TBR for review and practice passages. EK and TBR for CARS. TPR and the 300-doc for P/S. I did the AAMC material once I was done nearly all of my phase 3s in TBR and all my P/S and CARS passages from TPR. I made it a point to not look back at anything and always try new questions I'd never seen before.
The plan works if you stick to it. According to my advisor I was supposed to get a 504. I ended up getting a 516 (132/122/132/130) and I contribute my success in C/P and B/B completely to TBR and AAMC materials in that order. It wasn't easy and at times I felt crushed. You have to power through the pain some days. Most days were good and I dare say some were fun. As I was doing practice FLs I started to really enjoy trying to outsmart the passages.
If you have any questions, PM me.
