Why study so much?

[zinciest]

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I haven't taken the MCAT yet, and I haven't taken Ochem yet either, but I still can't imagine what you study for so long. It seems like many people on this site are studying for ~25 hours a week, for a couple of months. What material is there that demands that number of hours? Isn't most of the studying devoted to polishing up on the prereq material?

I know I probably sound pretty ignorant, but I can't wrap my head around devoting that much time to refreshing on a few classes.

 

[BennieBlanco]

I haven't taken the MCAT yet, and I haven't taken Ochem yet either, but I still can't imagine what you study for so long. It seems like many people on this site are studying for ~25 hours a week, for a couple of months. What material is there that demands that number of hours? Isn't most of the studying devoted to polishing up on the prereq material?

I know I probably sound pretty ignorant, but I can't wrap my head around devoting that much time to refreshing on a few classes.

Simple answer.

Don't. If you are a science major and own your pre reqs, you probably don't need to study much.

If you can't wrap your mind around people studying hard, I find it hard to wrap my mind around you not coming the simplest of conclusions!

Everything depends on how well you know your sciences. Some people took a few pre reqs years ago, like I did. So we study more.

 

[SN2ed]

Most of that time shouldn't be spent on content review. The bulk of it is taking timed practice passages and thoroughly reviewing them. By the way, you should be taking TONS passages.

 

[J ROD]

I haven't taken the MCAT yet, and I haven't taken Ochem yet either, but I still can't imagine what you study for so long. It seems like many people on this site are studying for ~25 hours a week, for a couple of months. What material is there that demands that number of hours? Isn't most of the studying devoted to polishing up on the prereq material?

I know I probably sound pretty ignorant, but I can't wrap my head around devoting that much time to refreshing on a few classes.

depends on how much you remember from classes....

Also, you need to take alot practice passages and practice tests.

 

[rama kandra]

I still firmly believe every MCAT test taker should go through the content review fully, covering all subjects in sequence from PS/BS, at whatever pace they like. It is 4 years worth of material, from college. This time you have to see it all together, in a short form, and still need a quick refresher.

If you find your review is silly, just finish it, and then hit the practice. If not, you may find some tough spots and begin to identify the schedule you need to set, for that topic. Treat this like a investment thesis, you go over it every day to make sure it is still strong, even if you have done it a hundred times! Then, look into the spots, and weaknesses when you make your next play.

Best of luck dude/girl!

 

[zinciest]

Simple answer.

Don't. If you are a science major and own your pre reqs, you probably don't need to study much.

If you can't wrap your mind around people studying hard, I find it hard to wrap my mind around you not coming the simplest of conclusions!

Everything depends on how well you know your sciences. Some people took a few pre reqs years ago, like I did. So we study more.

I knew I'd get a curt answer like this. Like I said, I haven't taken it yet, so I haven't read about how to study for it as much as you probably have. You're right, I can't wrap my head around studying 30 hours a week to refresh memory for a few classes that you just took, but I get it for people who might not have them as fresh in their minds.

Do you know how much someone taking it between their junior and senior years typically studies for? BTW, I know there's no "typical amount," but how about for the average person who's taken it immediately after taking the pre reqs and who scores decently?

 

[zinciest]

I still firmly believe every MCAT test taker should go through the content review fully, covering all subjects in sequence from PS/BS, at whatever pace they like. It is 4 years worth of material, from college. This time you have to see it all together, in a short form, and still need a quick refresher.

If you find your review is silly, just finish it, and then hit the practice. If not, you may find some tough spots and begin to identify the schedule you need to set, for that topic. Treat this like a investment thesis, you go over it every day to make sure it is still strong, even if you have done it a hundred times! Then, look into the spots, and weaknesses when you make your next play.

Best of luck dude/girl!

Thanks!

 

[rama kandra]

I can help you dude. Alright, I have admittedly taken the MCAT after I graduated but I have a good sense of what is necessary. For starters, your Ochem class should be the final pre-req you must take, no?

If so, thats great, you can begin studying for the MCAT. I also believe you can theoretically get away with having only 1st semester of the class but teach yourself the others. But if you are trying to get the highest score and do things accordingly, youll take the class. I suggest a summer study schedule written up by the guys at ExamKrackers. They have a 10 week schedule which I am not personally using but has been valuable to many.

It will require a lot of hours to review the content that took 4 class-years to do in a fast, reasonably intelligent way. I think the nature of your quizzes and tests and finals were still Wayy too detailed for the MCAT. You will sort of have to unlearn the exotic details and focus on the minimal stuff. The books written by Princeton Review and Examkrackers are exactly that!

I'd buy at least one set of these books, cheaply if possible. Also, find a set of AAMC exams (sometimes the pdf's are floating around) and just do those but score them on paper, or something.

Several services I am considering is Berkley Review. THey have online CBT exams for us to use for 45 days. Make sure you plan your test date in that window for all those tests!

Lastly good luck. Everyone who steps into the cage with the MCAT will win, its one of those EASY bosses that only feels hard b/c you had to traverse the tough level itself!

 

[ahmcadams]

Not everyone studies as much as this forum would have you believe. If you're confident with your grasp on the material, review the higher yield concepts and use your performance on periodic full-length examinations to gauge your preparedness. If you're consistently getting the scores you want under exam-like conditions, go ahead and take the test and move on with your life.

I know people who have studied as little as 10hr / wk for a few weeks and others who have devoted a full summer towards studying nearly non-stop. The test is as much critical thinking as it is rote memorization in the end.

 

[Longshanks]

Its because even if you knew the material well, or had good grades, this is the great equalizer and the point of standardized exams, as well as being an extremely important value in your application process. Who knows if your classes were easy or difficult. Equally, whether you did great or not in your pre-req classes, this is a chance to put in a ton of effort and come out with a successful exam. If you already know the material well enough to get a 30, why slack off and only get that 30? If you're as smart as you think yourself to be, why not work hard and try to get a 35+? Part of issue too with this exam is that it tests for your ability to reason in novel situations using your basic pre-req knowledge. This takes practice, to gain experience and skill for diagnosing passages and question prompts and making your best possible selection. There are many students who do extremely well in their pre-req classes, only to fall flat on their face against the MCAT because they only know superficial knowledge or rote memorized information rather than learning how to apply their knowledge to different application.

IMHO everyone to do a full content review cycle, however if you're strong in those areas it might just take a shorter amount of time for you. The greatest amount of time will be spent doing passages, practice exams, and post-game review. Lacking in content review because you assume you're strong in given areas simply doesn't allow you to fulfill your potential and your playing to your lowest denominator rather than applying yourself to jump ahead the rest of the pack.

 

[Insulinshock]

1) It's like trying to study for ~8 cumulative finals.
2) We're all neurotic premeds determined to be the best.
3) It's our futures. I'll do whatever I have to do to ensure that I can get the best possible score I'm capable of.

gl my brotha