Why can't you start studying for the MCAT early?

[Smb8041]

Why isn't it recommended to begin studying for the MCAT more than 4 months in advanced? I'm taking the MCAT this summer and I'm really tempted to begin doing some light content review right now, over my winter break.

I always thought that the more times you expose yourself to material, the more likely it is to stick with you, and get into long-term memory rather than short-term. Is that not true for the MCAT?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[MedPR]

Why isn't it recommended to begin studying for the MCAT more than 4 months in advanced? I'm taking the MCAT this summer and I'm really tempted to begin doing some light content review right now, over my winter break.

I always thought that the more times you expose yourself to material, the more likely it is to stick with you, and get into long-term memory rather than short-term. Is that not true for the MCAT?

You might be able to get some of the basic concepts to stick with you (like PV=nRT) but the critical thinking and intuition required for the MCAT won't stick with you too long.

 

[Smb8041]

So, content review aside, how long, on average, does it take to get a good intuition for the MCAT

 

[MedPR]

So, content review aside, how long, on average, does it take to get a good intuition for the MCAT

I'd say the intuition comes from content review focused on MCAT types of questions (as opposed to just reading your textbook and trying to learn the content as you would in school), doing passages, and doing practice FLs. How long does it take to get good intuition? Well, hopefully within a month or two 🙂

 

[johnisles2011]

Dude, if you really want to do some light content review over winter break, go for it. You cannot possibly suffer negative consequences from doing this.

I completely agree that you need to do the actual prep where you develop the ability to "take an MCAT" within a certain window, but there is no harm to doing some early content review. Who knows, maybe you'll be just a little more knowledgeable having done that.

I wouldn't really bother doing practice tests or problems at this stage. Instead, I would go through some of the content you studied longest ago (freshman year bio).

 

[ridethecliche]

Nothing wrong with starting content review.

I'd stay away from passages though.
Why? Because you don't want to burn through the good ones. Yet.

 

[BKN89]

Nothing wrong with content reviewing early. If you're going to start studying content early, I suggest taking your time and taking it as slow/fast as you wish with the content. In fact, I'd go so far as to suggest that you try and actually enjoy it to some degree - understanding the stuff at it's most basic level makes it so much easier to get up to speed later on when you're on an actual rigid schedule.

 

[notbobtrustme]

Half the battle of the MCAT is understand how the test is structured and what is expected when reading a passage. That kind of knowledge fades quickly.

 

[Classof2013PreM]

Doing content review definitely won't hurt you, so go ahead and start if you have time. People generally don't recommend starting really early since there are only so many practice tests available (and they're expensive!) and you'll run out before the test date comes up.
Good luck!

 

[muhali3]

if you review early, then when it's time for your dedicated review, you won't be as enthusiastic to re-read what you've already been over. the knowledge won't be as fresh in your head and the details will fade.

 

[SN2ed]

Starting content review isn't likely to help you in the long run. You'll forget too much by the time your test is up and you'll basically have to start all over. A better use of your time would be getting out and becoming involved in research, volunteering, etc. That would give your application a nice boost and hopefully result in 1-2 strong LORs. Heck, pursuing your hobbies isn't a bad either and can also help your application. Overall, while yes, you could start studying, it probably won't help and your time is better spent elsewhere.

 

[411309]

Starting content review isn't likely to help you in the long run. You'll forget too much by the time your test is up and you'll basically have to start all over. A better use of your time would be getting out and becoming involved in research, volunteering, etc. That would give your application a nice boost and hopefully result in 1-2 strong LORs. Heck, pursuing your hobbies isn't a bad either and can also help your application. Overall, while yes, you could start studying, it probably won't help and your time is better spent elsewhere.

I have to disagree. I would only agree to this if you had a decent understanding of the content already. I had about zero understanding of any of it so I started way earlier. I can remember things like this pretty well so it usually sticks in my head for a while. Id say the earliest to go was about 6 months of studying though, excessive would be around a year, then I would have to agree with you.

 

[sc4s2cg]

So, content review aside, how long, on average, does it take to get a good intuition for the MCAT

Most people study 3-6 months ahead of the MCAT.

 

[flyhi]

Burnout. If you haven't had the content in a long time, I'd suggest starting as early as 6 months out and then start your MCAT prep 3 months out (full time). For me, they were two separate entities since it had been a reaaaalllly long time since I had the content.

 

[AlabamaPop]

The MCAT prep is divided into 2 parts:

1) Content strength
2) Test-taking strategy

Work on content review, not MCAT strategy.

I would recommend using ExamKracker's 1001 questions for each subject (except Verbal). It will help you review basic concepts for the exam...since of course the exam is really just based on basic stuff anyhow, just masked by convoluted essays.

1001 questions is ideal since there will be plenty for your early review AND still allow you to leave some questions per topic for your concentrated exam studying.

Hopefully, by then, your content foundation will be good, and then you can focus on MCAT strategy.

I said to skip on Verbal because the verbal stuff you need to leave for the concentrated 2-3 months prior to the exam, because it requires close strategy that you might lose. Plus there are less study materials for it so you will want to leave it for the very end.