When to start studying

[premedmind]

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I will be a soph. this coming semester...and I took a practice verbal and practice bio section of the MCAT a couple weeks ago....and to be honest it was rather difficult and I took my time on the section instead of pacing myself to finish it - and did not complete the entire test but finished about 85-90% of it.

I have not taken Orgo and Physics yet (will this year).

I was wondering if I should have spent this past summer studying more intensively - probably not but just curious. The practice tests WERE difficult for me..and I am aiming to score around a 35 (Hopefully). Also, with the practice test being difficult, if I should start studying this year during classes - fit in some MCAT prep in my free time.


*Yes I searched but I would really kindly prefer a response tailored to my situation.

 

[littlealex]

YES start studying early. Plus the background knowledge will helpyou on your orgo and physics classes.

Buy a set of review books and go through it in detail by the end of summer. Take notes when you study.

If you're going for a 35+, I assume that means 12+ on each sciences. To do that, you need a very strong understanding of the sciences, and sometimes the only way to get that is through extended exposure to it. Learn the background science, learn it WELL. Then spend a year thinking about it/applying it in your classes.

 

[Rock Solid]

YES start studying early. Plus the background knowledge will helpyou on your orgo and physics classes.

Buy a set of review books and go through it in detail by the end of summer. Take notes when you study.

If you're going for a 35+, I assume that means 12+ on each sciences. To do that, you need a very strong understanding of the sciences, and sometimes the only way to get that is through extended exposure to it. Learn the background science, learn it WELL. Then spend a year thinking about it/applying it in your classes.

And while you are at it...since you are a sophomore in college...find anything and everything else you can do that will keep you from enjoying being a sophomore in college. Spend all of your time reviewing for the MCAT early so that you dont do well in your classes...dont have any extracurricular activities...dont date...dont have any sort of life. Hell man, enjoy college...study hard...play some...go out with friends...and give yourself a little bit of time to live. I promise...you will wish you would of when you are 30+ years old.

 

[premedmind]

Thanks.

Rocksolid: I understand, and I do try to live by that philosophy.

I got a lot of mixed answers on when to start studying; some say 2-3 months before the test is fine, others have been preparing since high school, which is pretty beyond me.

I just want to know if I am a little late in the game to start studying if I had difficulty on the practice tests.

 

[WHR]

IMO,the initial practice test experience doesn't really mean much since MCAT is different from the usual tests/exams of undergrads. Taking 2-3 months of the summer break dedicated to studying MCAT is more than enough. Remember that the important point of preparation is the quality of studying NOT the length of study time. Enjoy your school year (while focusing on doing well in the classes) so that you don't feel so bad about ruining your summer break with studying for the MCAT while your friends go on vacations/parties.

 

[xlr8]

the best practice to do before is reading. read subjects you dont like (maybe philosophy, economics, etc.) and really try to understand the article/passage/book. it may seem fruitless but it is the best thing to do.

the sciences is learning facts and applying them, which will be done in the 3-4 months before the test, unless you have a strong background in a science (which comes from a true interest in it, not just forcing yourself to read about it).

 

[EmiliaC]

I'm going to be a junior this year, and I'm finally done with the MCAT (practically everyone at my school takes it the summer after their sophomore year). In my case, I took my first full-length practice test last October (my sophomore year) and started a prep class that met once a week this February in preparation for the June MCAT. I kinda think my prepping was too spread out (and I was really busy the spring semester, between classes, research, and and ECs), so on the June test I didn't do as well as I wanted (I got a 32, when I wanted several points above that or more). I spent the last two months studying for up to several hours a day (though not super-super-intense until three weeks ago) and re-took last week. During this time I've been working full-time as well.

It's good that you're already thinking about the MCAT now. I would suggest that if you have all your pre-reqs done by the end of your sophomore year, you should take the MCAT next summer. If you want to start taking a prep class during the spring semester, I'd recommend waiting until March or so and doing one that meets several times a week (since I totally blew off mine since I figured I had plenty of time/other obligations came up), as well as arranging your spring semester to make your life easier - taking a light/medium course schedule, not working unless you absolutely have to, etc.

 

[premedmind]

Yeah, this kind of took my for surprise. I thought most people took the MCAT the summer between their Junior and Senior years...

For some reason I feel like I'm late in the game now and I don't have enough time to study. I'm taking orgo, calculus, and physics this coming year, and I am still debating if I should take a Gen Ed or two, considering the tough schedule.

Should I start studying all of this coming year and take the MCAT in August of next summer? (the summer between soph. and junior year). I am thinking a prep course during my spring semester would be a good time for that kind of thing, and spend the rest of my summer studying alone intensively. I am going to spend the rest of this summer reviewing my MCAT book.

I am kind of kicking myself I didn't study this summer that is almost over.

 

[axp107]

Yeah, this kind of took my for surprise. I thought most people took the MCAT the summer between their Junior and Senior years...

For some reason I feel like I'm late in the game now and I don't have enough time to study. I'm taking orgo, calculus, and physics this coming year, and I am still debating if I should take a Gen Ed or two, considering the tough schedule.

Should I start studying all of this coming year and take the MCAT in August of next summer? (the summer between soph. and junior year). I am thinking a prep course during my spring semester would be a good time for that kind of thing, and spend the rest of my summer studying alone intensively. I am going to spend the rest of this summer reviewing my MCAT book.

I am kind of kicking myself I didn't study this summer that is almost over.

Dude, relax... even if you studied this summer, I guarantee that you will have forgetten everything you studied within the next month.

You really need no more than 4 months to study for this thing. IMO, 2 months isn't enough. You need atleast 3.. if not more. Practice Verbal if you can.. but its really possible to get better at the sciences within a short period of time.... studying for this thing over a year is plain useless and inefficient. Your grades could drop.. and you won't even remember everything you study b/c its just inefficient to do 100000 things at once. Don't even touch MCAT stuff during the year... do Verbal practice if you can. Start studying as soon as finals are over before next summer, and take the August 20th test. You'll be set 👍

Hopefully, you won't have to retake and you can enjoy junior year. That's what I'm hoping to do 😀 ... Aug 20th.

 

[EmiliaC]

Yeah, seriously, relax. Enjoy the rest of your summer. You're way ahead as far as the vast majority of pre-meds go.

 

[LabMonster]

Yeah, seriously, relax. Enjoy the rest of your summer. You're way ahead as far as the vast majority of pre-meds go.

Yep. Relaxation cannot be overstressed - you'll have enough stress in Med-School.

The key is to honestly learn the core MCAT subjects. Don't just memorize and get by in biology, genetics, physics, organic, etc... Learn, don't memorize. It will take more time, but it will yield great dividends when you're not in the library 14 hours a day like your fellow pre-meds.

As far as verbal... Read. Read things that interest you. Read literature and pop-novels. If you can read and write well, then VR and the written portion will be natural for you 🙂

 

[premedmind]

Thanks for the personable responses guys. I have a magazine entitled "Science" at my bedside which I'm going to start reading, and a friend told me a magazine called "Economist" is a great read.

BTW: I took a practice MCAT verbal section, and it's definetly rough. There are something like 9 passages, (which I'm sure you all know too well), thay you must read efficiently yet thoroughly and answer a slew of in-depth questions. This is going to be fun.

The BIO section was not any easier for me, (actually it was harder).....I guess I have my work cut out for me.

 

[studiddy]

Not sure if it really helps, but the economist is good, and there is a student discount for it on their website.

 

[LabMonster]

Thanks for the personable responses guys. I have a magazine entitled "Science" at my bedside which I'm going to start reading, and a friend told me a magazine called "Economist" is a great read.

BTW: I took a practice MCAT verbal section, and it's definetly rough. There are something like 9 passages, (which I'm sure you all know too well), thay you must read efficiently yet thoroughly and answer a slew of in-depth questions. This is going to be fun.

The BIO section was not any easier for me, (actually it was harder).....I guess I have my work cut out for me.

A magazine entitled "Science"?
And you're reading the Economist... If you haven't read Harry Potter yet - do it. Pick out some classics - Treasure Island, Watership Downs, The Great Gatsby yadda, yadda...

OMG - The Economist may hurt you - it's not that good 😉

 

[studiddy]

Science is actually pretty good sometimes. As are Cell, nature, and a couple others with rather droll sounding names.
Perhaps it might be better to say that the economist is good if you have an interest in the material. I can see how one might find other things a more enjoyable use of limited time resources.
Treasure Island is good, but if I were to switch to fiction I'd probably go with 20,000 leagues or start working through war and peace like I keep telling myself I should.

 

[Summer Sweet]

BTW: I took a practice MCAT verbal section, and it's definetly rough. There are something like 9 passages, (which I'm sure you all know too well), thay you must read efficiently yet thoroughly and answer a slew of in-depth questions. This is going to be fun.

7 now, right?

The BIO section was not any easier for me, (actually it was harder).....I guess I have my work cut out for me.

Bio was hard for me too, at first. I originally planned on taking the MCAT last summer, but changed my mind after a practice test because there was a lot of stuff that I simply didn't know or never learned. I took biochem and a physiology course this past year, and it helped A LOT in terms of bio. You can study review books all you want, but being introduced to body systems or cellular processes at a slower pace in school first is extremely helpful. . So yeah, if you have time, try to take some classes in science areas you're weak at.

During undergrad, I once asked my premed advisor, "When should I start studying for the MCAT?" And of course, I was expecting some sort of timeline or number of months, but instead, she replied, "You've been studying for it for the past X years." After she explained it, it really is true. When you take your first bio class, you're already starting to learn material that's going to be covered on the MCAT, so make sure you learn it well. I was a slacker when I started college, so I really used the upper division courses to learn a lot of what I needed to know. I'll see how that goes on Tuesday 😛

 

[littlealex]

And while you are at it...since you are a sophomore in college...find anything and everything else you can do that will keep you from enjoying being a sophomore in college. Spend all of your time reviewing for the MCAT early so that you dont do well in your classes...dont have any extracurricular activities...dont date...dont have any sort of life. Hell man, enjoy college...study hard...play some...go out with friends...and give yourself a little bit of time to live. I promise...you will wish you would of when you are 30+ years old.

Oh you fool. It's called balance. Just because you started studying for the MCAT early does not mean you should neglect other aspects of your life.

There are 16 waking hours in a day, if you invest 6 hours a day during this summer to gain a foundation for the MCAT, than 1-2 hours a day for the rest of the year, a 35+ isn't difficult to achieve. Learning to focus and do work efficiently is the key.

It saddens me that your reply make it seem as if you can only focus on one thing in your life. Instead of staring blankly at the wall or watching TV for two hours a day, replace one of those hours with an intense effort at studying the MCAT.

 

[Rock Solid]

Oh you fool. It's called balance. Just because you started studying for the MCAT early does not mean you should neglect other aspects of your life.

There are 16 waking hours in a day, if you invest 6 hours a day during this summer to gain a foundation for the MCAT, than 1-2 hours a day for the rest of the year, a 35+ isn't difficult to achieve. Learning to focus and do work efficiently is the key.

It saddens me that your reply make it seem as if you can only focus on one thing in your life. Instead of staring blankly at the wall or watching TV for two hours a day, replace one of those hours with an intense effort at studying the MCAT.

Oh Little Alex....your youth is obvious. If this was a verbal reasoning passge you obviously missed that the opinion of the author (i.e. ME) was that of sarcasm. Try re-reading!