SDN Members don't see this ad.I noticed that some people are claiming they wrote this guide to scam people out of money. Let me make this clear, I have not and will not be selling anything related to this guide. If you see a poster trying to sell books saying they wrote this schedule, do NOT buy from them. They are attempting to take your money away on false pretenses. Additionally, this guide has only been posted on SDN. I have not posted this guide anywhere else. Furthermore, SDN is the sole MCAT/medical forum I visit and the only forum where I use the screen name SN2ed. I never imagined this thread would be popular enough to warrant this kind of attention.
To begin with, check out these two threads:
Why Diagnostics are Worthless: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=557231
MCAT and a Heavy School Workload Don’t Mix: Stop rushing to take the MCAT:http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=602186
Can I accomplish this schedule with a part-time job or school?
Probably not. I highly recommend you devote 3 months to the MCAT. There may be a few that could follow this schedule and work part-time, but chances are it would not end well. You are FAR more likely to burn out if you try to study for the MCAT using this schedule and go to school or take a part/full-time job. That said, it's not entirely impossible. Think of it like an unfavorable reaction. Whether one can force the reaction to proceed depends on the person. Most could not pull it off.
Furthermore, I've yet to see a valid reason for students (ie. not non-trads) to not take the MCAT in the summer.
Will following this guide guarantee me a +30?
Sadly, there are no guarantees on the MCAT. I certainly hope it helps you, but I can’t say whether or not you’ll hit your target score.
Should I take the MCAT before finishing my pre-reqs?
There’s no point in doing so. You have to take them anyway. Hence, you might as well go into the test with your pre-reqs completed. Yes, this includes the English pre-req.
Remember to check out the third and fourth post FAQ.
Anything else before I start?
CONFIDENCE. Through all of the troubles and hardships you'll face, approach everything with confidence. You must constantly attack this test. The MCAT is merely a stepping stone on your journey.
Also, this is just a guide I made up. It is my opinion on what a study schedule should resemble. I’m sure there will be people that disagree with parts of this schedule or the whole thing. This schedule can easily be adjusted for 4 months instead of 3. I don’t suggest starting heavy studying 5 months+ from your test date. Keep it to 3-4 months. If you start too soon, it will be a waste of time and resources.
Remember to use the search function on these forums. Tons of questions have already been asked and answered.
Please keep the questions to this strategy.
Lastly, please give credit to me, SN2ed, if you post this elsewhere. I put a ton of work into it.
Materials:
- Berkeley Review (BR) General Chemistry
- BR Organic Chemistry
- BR Physics
- Examkrackers (EK) Biology for non-detailed approach OR The Princeton Review Hyperlearning (TPR) Biology/BR Biology for a detailed approach (In the schedule, I will use EK Bio because most prefer a non-detailed approach)
- EK 1001 series
- EK Verbal 101
- TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook or Berkeley Review Verbal
- AAMC Full Length (FL) #3-10
You can pick up the BR books from their website: http://www.berkeley-review.com/TBR/home-study.html
Also, check out the For Sale section on here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=230 All of the above, except for the AAMC FLs show up from time to time. I’ve regularly seen a complete BR set go for under $100 on there. Whenever you buy used, MAKE SURE THE PASSAGES ARE UNMARKED.
To buy the AAMC FLs: http://www.e-mcat.com/
Bare Minimum Set-up:
$245 for AAMC FLs (http://www.e-mcat.com/)
$180 for BR Physics, O-chem, Gen Chem (http://www.berkeley-review.com/TBR/home-study.html)
$26 for EK Verbal 101 (http://www.amazon.com/Examkrackers-M...3226173&sr=8-2)
$26 EK Bio 1001 (http://www.amazon.com/Examkrackers-1...3226173&sr=8-5)
$30 EK Bio (http://www.amazon.com/Examkrackers-M...3226173&sr=8-9)
Prices vary on TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook, search the For Sale forum on here for copies. They regularly show up.
Total = $507 + TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook
Set-up with EK 1001:
$18 EK Physics 1001 (http://www.amazon.com/Examkrackers-1...3483527&sr=1-4)
$20 EK O-Chem 1001 (http://www.amazon.com/Examkrackers-1...3483527&sr=1-2)
$19 EK Chem (http://www.amazon.com/Examkrackers-1...3483527&sr=1-3)
Total = $564 + TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook
Possible Book Replacements:
EK Bio + EK Bio 1001 may be swapped for BR Bio. The reason behind is that recent MCAT test takers have noted that BR's bio passages are closer to the real thing than EK Bio 1001. In fact, if more and more people post similar responses, I may end up switching the two anyway.
A more expensive choice would be to get EK Bio for content review AND BR Bio for the practice passages. This combo is a great way to go.
If you're having a hard time finding the TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook, BR is an okay replacement. Well, there's not much of a choice left.
TPRH is a great choice for content review, however, you still need the BR books, EK 101 Verbal, and either EK Bio 1001 or BR Bio. TPRH does not have enough practice passages, though the Workbooks are still great resources.
About the EK 1001 series:
It is a good idea to get the complete EK 1001 series. I thought they really helped me nail down my understanding of the various topics. Through using the physics especially, I found that I didn't understand some things as well as I would like. Furthermore, for whatever reason, they helped me visualize the problem in my head and made the equations intuitive to use. Too many people neglect their basic understanding which could be bolstered by EK 1001. They think they have a strong grasp, yet when those fundumentals are tested, one's weaknesses become more apparent. Plus, doing more timed practice problems is always a good thing.
The only negative for the non-bio and VR practice books is that they aren't in the right format (unless you think of them as tons of discretes). However, it is significantly easier to spot your content weaknesses with EK 1001 because they aren't passages. You don't have to worry about if you messed up due to a failure to synthesize multiple ideas or the passage was worded strangely. When you mess up on EK 1001, you know it's due to a content weakness. Lastly, this problem would be alleviated by the BR books and EK content books containing practice passages. There are also the practice tests that you will be taking.
I suggest you get the above material 1-2 months in advance. You don’t want to be missing your materials when you’re about to start this schedule. Also, older content review books are usually okay, just don’t go too far back (past 5 years old).
Lastly, sign up for your MCAT as soon as possible. Seats fill up months in advance.
Timing:
- ALWAYS complete your practice problems under TIMED conditions
- For BR passages: 6-7 minutes per passage, work towards 6 minutes
- For the EK 30-minute exams….well 30 minutes
- EK 1001, except Bio series: 30 seconds to 1 minute per question
- EK 1001 Bio: 6 minutes per passage + 30 seconds to 1 minute per discrete, work towards less time
- EK Verbal 101/TPR Verbal: 6-7 minutes per passage, work towards 6 minutes
- AAMC FLs: Use their timing
Notes:
- Do NOT retake old practice material
- Thoroughly review ALL of your practice problems. Review your problems the day AFTER you took them. If there’s a break day, review your problems on the day after your break.
- Remember to round like crazy for any math problem
- Always use process of elimination with your answer choices
- Before you begin this schedule, count the number of verbal practice passages (101 from EK + however many in the TPR Hyperlearning Verbal Workbook). Divide the number of passages by 67 (total days - the number of break days AND FL days). That number is the number of verbal passages you should be taking per day. I’m hoping that number breaks down to at least 3 passages per day. Ideally, you should take 4-5 verbal passages per assigned day. You do NOT take verbal passages on break days OR FL days.
- If you don’t want to get the EK 1001 series, spread out the second 1/3 of BR practice passages over 2 days. However, EK 1001 Bio is a must buy and you should do those problems. Again, I recommend you get all of the EK 1001 series.
- If your practice test score is not within your target range after 4 tests, you should consider delaying. If you delay, go over your weaknesses again and complete an in-depth analysis of what went wrong.
- If you have enough money, you could adjust the schedule to fit in more practice tests. I didn’t include that many to keep the cost down.
- If your test is in the morning and you're not a morning person, start getting used to waking up early when you start taking practice tests.
- Try to practice under as realistic as possible conditions when you take your practice tests. In other words: wake up early enough to be able to drive to your center; eat a meal you would eat before a test; follow the proper timing; and if you're really into it, you could even drive around for about the same time it would take you to get to your test center.
- Thanks to BlitzSleep for reminding me about the importance of confidence
- Written by SN2ed
General Guidelines for Reviewing:
- Go over EVERY question. Both the ones you got right and the ones you got wrong.
- Reviewing should take 2-3 times longer than taking the timed practice problems.
- If your tests are fluctuating, it is due to the different topics on the various tests. In other words, you have some glaring weaknesses that when targeted, nail you, badly. You have to find out what those weaknesses are because they are evident by your scores. Do NOT dismiss any wrong answer as a "stupid mistake." You made that error for a reason. Go over your tests again.
- You might want to consider making a log for all of your post test results where you work through the questions below. Doing so, you'll be able to easily notice trends.
Some things to go over when reviewing:
1. Why did you get the question wrong? Why did you get the question right?
2. What question types get you?
3. How is your mindset when facing a particular passage?
4. Are you stressed for time?
5. Where are your mistakes happening the most? Are they front loaded? Are they at the end? All over?
6. What was your thought process for both the questions you got right and the ones you got wrong?
7. For verbal, what was the author's mindset and main idea?
8. Did you eliminate all of the answer choices you could from first glance?
ex. You know an answer should be a positive number so you cross out all of the negative number answer choices.
9. What content areas are you weak in?
10. How can you improve so you don't make the same mistake again?
Hat Trick:
Get a hat and write every single MCAT PS and BS topic onto a piece of paper. Then, when you're ready to practice PS, put all the PS topics into the hat. Draw two or three pieces of paper and connect the topics together. In addition to connecting them, come up with what a passage might look like and what kind of questions you might get. If you can't do this, go back and review each of the three sections. Rinse and repeat.
The hat trick days are important because they aid you in synthesizing the various topics together. On the MCAT, you utilize this skill for every passage because MCAT passages combine topics. Furthermore, you may also discover content weaknesses that you will need to go over.
PS Topic List: http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/pr...g/pstopics.pdf
BS Topic List: http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/pr...g/bstopics.pdf
Page to get topic lists if you don’t want to directly download the pdf: http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/pr...gstudyplan.htm
Verbal Help:
Check out Vihsadas’s verbal guide and the other guides found in the MCAT Guide sticky
Vihsadas’s Guide: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/show...2&postcount=96
MCAT Guide Sticky: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=602154
Arithmetic Tricks:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/show...ic+Tips+Tricks
__________________
Why Diagnostic Tests are Worthless:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=557231
Breaking Down the MCAT: A 3 Month MCAT Study Schedule: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/show...68#post8092168
Last edited by SN2ed; 01-11-2010 at 10:38 AM.
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Old 05-01-2009, 02:14 AM #2
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The Day by Day
- Give yourself 4 buffer days before beginning this schedule just in case you need them.
- Another reminder: You are supposed to take some verbal passages every day except break days and FL days.
Day 1: BR Physics Chapter #1 + Every third passage of the corresponding passages for this chapter (i.e. go through 1, 4, 7, 10 for first 1/3 and 2, 5, 8 for the second 1/3 on Day 8). 1/3 of corresponding passages = 1/3 from now on.
Day 2: BR Gen Chem Chapter #1 + 1/3
Day 3: BR O-Chem Chapter #1 + 1/3
Day 4: EK Biology Chapter #1 + the corresponding problems in chapter and chapter exam (both of these will be abbreviated by putting 30 Min)
Day 5: BR Physics Chapter #2 + 1/3
Day 6: Re-read chapters and work through corresponding EK 1001 sections for the chapters you worked through. For instance, BR O-Chem chapter #1 goes over Organic Structure & Bonding; hence, complete the Molecular Structure in the EK 1001 O-Chem. The topics probably won’t match all the time, but go with the best fit. Also, only do every third problem/passage in the EK 1001s. From now on, this day’s work will be abbreviated: “Re-read chapters + EK 1001”
Day 7: Break
Day 8: Complete second 1/3 of BR passages for the previous 4 BR chapters. I’m going to shorten this to: “Complete second 1/3 of BR passages”
Day 9: BR Gen Chem Chapter #2 + 1/3
Day 10: BR O-Chem Chapter #2 + 1/3
Day 11: EK Bio Chapter #2 + 30 Min
Day 12: BR Physics Chapter #3 + 1/3
Day 13: BR Gen Chem Chapter #3 + 1/3
Day 14: Break
Day 15: Re-read chapters + EK 1001
Day 16: Complete second 1/3 of BR passages
Day 17: BR O-Chem Chapter #3 + 1/3
Day 18: EK Bio Chapter #3 + 30 Min
Day 19: BR Physics Chapter #4 + 1/3
Day 20: BR Gen Chem Chapter #4 + 1/3
Day 21: Break
Day 22: BR O-Chem Chapter #4 + 1/3
Day 23: Re-read chapters + EK 1001
Day 24: Complete second 1/3 of BR passages
Day 25: EK Bio Chapter #4 + 30 Min
Day 26: BR Physics Chapter #5 + 1/3
Day 27: BR Gen Chem Chapter #5 + 1/3
Day 28: Break
Day 29: BR O-Chem Chapter #5 + 1/3
Day 30: EK Bio Chapter #5 + 30 Min
Day 31: Re-read chapters + EK 1001
Day 32: Complete second 1/3 of BR passages
Day 33: BR Physics Chapter #6 + 1/3
Day 34: BR Gen Chem Chapter #6 + 1/3
Day 35: Break
Day 36: BR O-Chem Chapter #6 + 1/3
Day 37: EK Bio Chapter #6 + 30 Min
Day 38: BR Physics Chapter #7 + 1/3
Day 39: Re-read chapters + EK 1001
Day 40: Complete second 1/3 of BR passages
Day 41: BR Gen Chem Chapter #7 + 1/3
Day 42: Break
Day 43: BR O-Chem Chapter #7 + 1/3
Day 44: EK Bio Chapter #7 + 30 Min
Day 45: BR Physics Chapter #8 + 1/3
Day 46: BR Gen Chem Chapter #8 + 1/3
Day 47: Re-read chapters + EK 1001
Day 48: Complete second 1/3 of BR passages
Day 49: Break
Day 50: EK Bio Chapter #8 + 30 Min
Day 51: BR Physics Chapter #9 + 1/3
Day 52: BR Gen Chem Chapter #9 + 1/3
Day 54: BR Physics Chapter #10 + 1/3
Day 55: Break
Day 56: BR Gen Chem Chapter #10 + 1/3
Day 57: BR O-Chem Chapter #8 + 1/3
Day 58: Re-read chapters + EK 1001
Day 59: Complete second 1/3 of BR passages
Day 60: Break
Day 61: Hat Trick for 2-3 hours. For all of the following days, excluding break days, spend about 30 minutes on the Hat Trick. If it really helps you, spend more time on it. It might be slow at first, but you’ll get the hang of it.
Day 62: Last 1/3 of BR passages for Chapter 1 + Second 1/3 of EK 1001 Bio Chapter 1
Day 63: Last 1/3 of BR passages for Chapter 1 + Second 1/3 of EK 1001 Bio Chapter 1
- From now on, I will abbreviate the last 1/3 of BR and second 1/3 of EK 1001 Bio as 1/3. I will include the chapters to cover.
Day 64: AAMC FL #3
Day 65: Review FL per guidelines + 1/3 Chapter 2
Day 66: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 2
Day 67: Break
Day 68: 1/3 Chapter 3
Day 69: 1/3 Chapter 3
Day 70: Break
Day 71: AAMC #4
Day 72: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 4
Day 73: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 4
Day 74: AAMC #5
Day 75: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 5
Day 76: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 5
Day 77: Break
Day 78: AAMC FL #6
Day 79: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 6
Day 80: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 6
Day 81: AAMC #7
Day 82: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 7
Day 83: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 7
Day 84: Break
Day 85: Break
Day 86: AAMC #8
Day 87: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 8
Day 88: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 8
Day 89: AAMC #9
Day 90: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 9
Day 91: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 9
Day 92: Break
Day 93: AAMC #10
Day 94: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 10
Day 95: Review FL + 1/3 Chapter 10
Day 96: Break
MCAT
4 Month Variation
The first 61 days are the same. This schedule is less intense than the 3 month variation because it spreads out the practice problems in the third month rather than the FL month. If you choose this route, make sure you recalculate the number of verbal passages per day. Also, it might be a good idea to get additional verbal material (ie get both TPR Hyperlearning verbal and BR verbal on top of EK 101).
Day 62: Last 1/3 of BR passages for Chapters 1 + Second 1/3 of EK 1001 Bio Chapters 1
Day 63: Last 1/3 of BR passages for Chapters 1 + Second 1/3 of EK 1001 Bio Chapters 1
- From now on, I will abbreviate the last 1/3 of BR and second 1/3 of EK 1001 Bio as 1/3. I will include the chapters to cover.
- If you don’t have enough time to finish this week’s amount, finish it up with the next review section under AAMC FL #4. This first couple review sections are intense, but the next ones aren’t as bad and they get even better once you finish BR O-Chem. The main goal is to finish it up before your test date.
Day 64: 1/3 Chapter 2
Day 65: 1/3 Chapter 2
Day 66: 1/3 Chapter 3
Day 67: 1/3 Chapter 3
Day 68: Hat Trick all day long
Day 69: Break
Day 70: 1/3 Chapter 4
Day 71: 1/3 Chapter 4
Day 72: 1/3 Chapter 5
Day 73: 1/3 Chapter 5
Day 74: 1/3 Chapter 6
Day 75: 1/3 Chapter 6
Day 76: Hat Trick all day long
Day 77: Break
Day 78: 1/3 Chapter 7
Day 79: 1/3 Chapter 7
Day 80: 1/3 Chapter 8
Day 81: 1/3 Chapter 8
Day 82: 1/3 Chapter 9
Day 83: 1/3 Chapter 9
Day 84: Hat Trick all day long
Day 85: Break
Day 86: 1/3 Chapter 10
Day 87: 1/3 Chapter 10
Day 88: Hat Trick all day long
Day 89: Break
Day 90: Break
Day 91: AAMC FL #3
Day 92: Review FL per guidelines
Day 93: Review FL
Day 94: AAMC FL #4
Day 95: Review FL
Day 96: Review FL
Day 97: Break
Day 98: AAMC FL #5
Day 99: Review FL
Day 100: Review FL
Day 101: AAMC FL #6
Day 102: Review FL
Day 103: Review FL
Day 104: Break
Day 105: Break
Day 106: AAMC FL #7
Day 107: Review FL
Day 108: Review FL
Day 109: AAMC #8
Day 110: Review FL
Day 111: Review FL
Day 112: Break
Day 113: AAMC #9
Day 114: Review FL
Day 115: Review FL
Day 116: AAMC #10
Day 117: Review FL
Day 118: Review FL
Day 119: Break
MCAT
Written by SN2ed
Last edited by SN2ed; 01-18-2010 at 02:26 PM.
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Old 05-01-2009, 02:14 AM #3
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Random Questions
When should I start studying/When should I take the MCAT?
You can choose your 3-4 month window to study after you've completed your pre-reqs. In your pre-reqs, gain mastery of the material; don't aim merely for an A. Spending the time to master the material in your pre-reqs will pay off when you study for the MCAT.
Most people take the MCAT in either the summer of their junior year in college or the summer after they graduate. I don't suggest you take the MCAT earlier then your junior year because you run the risk of having your MCAT expire. Furthermore, the additional classes you have in the meantime may aid you on the MCAT. That said, the bottom line is to take the MCAT when you're ready.
Are there any classes that will help me for the MCAT?
Outside of your pre-reqs, you don't really need anything else. That said, some classes may give you a slight edge or help you. The classes typically considered the most helpful are:
1. Genetics
2. Anatomy and Physiology
3. Biochemistry
Should I buy the Official Guide to the MCAT Exam published by the AAMC?
I don't suggest you buy it separately. However, since you will be buying AAMC practice tests and/or the MSAR, you might as well get the bundle where you can get the Guide + Practice test or Guide + MSAR at a reduced price. If you get the guide, I suggest you save the problems in it for last. For now, the practice problems in the guide offer the most accurate representation of the current MCAT.
For the hat trick, how specific are the topics you write down supposed to be? For example, is it better to write "electron structure," or go more in-depth and write each of the numbered topics (ie. orbital structure, ground state, etc)?
It's really up to you and how you want to utilize the Hat Trick. A good starting point would be writing down all of the bolded topics. Then, when you're doing the Hat Trick, you should think about each topic more in-depth. Remember, you're trying to think up an MCAT style passage. In other words, the passage won't be simple; it will involve some of the complexities of each topic.
Should I retake FL X?
I don't suggest it for a few reasons. First, your score will be inflated. This alone negates the predictive power of the test. If you don't need it to gauge where you are, fine, retake them. For instance, you could simply be going over the problems again to, as others have mentioned, understand the thinking behind it. However, if you are using it as a practice FL, don't.
One of the most important aspects of a FL is that it's material you've never seen before. It forces you to quickly analyze an unknown passage, tap into your knowledge, and answer questions you've never seen. If you knew exactly what was going to be on the test, it would take away from the somewhat frantic experience of getting that weird passage. It also makes you more relaxed overall because you know what's coming. Unfortunately, you will not have the luxury of either on the test. You will have to deal with weird passages. You will have to get out of your comfort zone of knowing what's ahead.
Then, you get into the timing issues which you MUST get down before the test. When you have prior knowledge of the material, you miss the chance at gaining more experience with the clock. Too many people underestimate the effect of the timer. Again, you have to get used to it and retaking problems won't help.
Think of the whole thing like sports practice. Sure, you go over some standard plays again and again to get a feel for them. However, to practice for a real game, you have a scrimmage match or an exhibition game. The other team doesn't tell you what plays they're going to run. If they did, it would eliminate the usefulness of the scrimmage or exhibition game.
I've already taken the AAMC FLs, are there other practice tests you recommend?
Both Gold Standard and Berkeley Review offer solid practice tests. GS FLs are a great value since you can typically get all 10 GS FLs for around $100. The caveat for Gold Standard is that you should expect your score to be roughly 2 points lower than normal. Berkeley Review has better FLs, but they're more expensive and the archaic ordering system means you run the risk of not having your practice tests when you need them due to the 45 day access limit. Still, if you order your test a couple weeks before you need them, BR is a good option if you're willing to pay more. Unfortunately, neither test is great in verbal, though BR is decent.
Why do you review previous days passages instead of reviewing the same day?
There are a couple reasons why I advise reviewing passages the day after. First, it helps to go over the material again, especially in regards to the sciences. Secondly, directly after you take a set of practice problems, you aren't in the best mind frame to then analyze said problems. Your mind is too focused on what you completed and is unable to grasp the big picture. You need that day for your thoughts to settle in order to approach the analysis with the right mindset. It's similar to how you may make a decision one day. Then the next day, you realize that it wasn't the best choice. Yet, on the day you made your choice, you would have probably found justification for it rather than actually analyzing its pros and cons.
Another example would be with proof-reading your own papers. Right after you write your paper, when you proof-read it, you'll probably miss plenty of mistakes. However, checking it the next day allows you to approach the paper with a clear mind and find more mistakes.
Why rotate subjects?
I think rotating subjects is better for a couple reasons. First, it keeps material from the different areas fresh. Often times, concepts in one chapter build upon another. It also lessens the chance of forgetting what you've already studied. By studying all of one area and then moving on, you lack exposure to that topic for the remainder of your content review which leads to forgetting that area. Lastly, rotating subjects fosters connections between the different topics. One of the biggest aspects of the MCAT is connecting various topics together in any given passage. By rotating, you can easily begin to see connections as you complete content review from different areas. If you were only studying one subject, such connections would not be as evident.
I have more than 4 months until my test, is there anything you suggest?
There are two things you might want to consider. First, aim for mastery of the material in all of your pre-reqs. Don't go simply for the A. Know the material cold. Next, is reading various materials. Here's my suggested reading list:
Wall Street Journal
New Yorker
Economist
Random science journals
Good source for philosophy/humanities work which people tend to struggle with:
Moral Issues in Global Perspectives: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...condition=used
Buy the book used; it's much cheaper.
Remember to read the boring articles as well as the interesting ones. Chances are your MCAT verbal passages won't be the most exciting read.
Why is Kaplan's verbal bad?
Kaplan is bad in verbal because it doesn't stress the same things as the actual MCAT. For the MCAT, the main idea and author's point of view/opinion are the keys to success. Conversely, Kaplan focuses more on the detail oriented questions which are easy to teach; the kind of questions which make you go back over the passage to find the minute detail being tested. On the MCAT, going back to the passages will kill your timing. Furthermore, you rarely receive such questions and when you do get them, they can typically be answered with the main idea or author's opinion.
Why are so many of your recommended books from BR?
For now, they stand as the best combination of content review and practice material. What makes BR stand out over the easily available Kaplan, TPR (ie not TPR Hyperlearning), and EK books is the depth of their explanations and TONS of practice passages. There are literally around 100 passages in each of their practice books which is far and away more than their competitors. The key to the MCAT is taking tons of timed practice passages. Furthermore, they are actually trying to update their books beyond random errata. On the negative side, BR's website and ordering system are horrible. We're talking about early internet, looks like a fake website, bad. Still, the quality of their books makes the painful ordering worth it. Just remember to order your books well in advance and you shouldn't have any problems.
Last edited by SN2ed; 01-17-2010 at 05:46 PM.
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Old 05-01-2009, 02:15 AM #4
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Why study linearly? Why not focus on your weak areas before your strengths?
First off, I think this question underscores the importance of doing well in one’s pre-reqs to reduce the number of weakness to as few as possible. Remember, do not merely go for the A; aim for mastery of the material. Working hard in your pre-reqs will boost your GPA and pay off when you study for the MCAT.
One of the reasons test prep companies, and most schedules, go in chapter order is due to companies developing schedules for a group of people and not the individual. Rather than create a schedule per student, which would take up quite a bit of time, they make a generic schedule. Sure, they could make a diagnostic to try and pin-point weaknesses, gather the data, and make a schedule per student, yet I doubt they would want to invest their resources like that. Even creating a program to accomplish that task would cost money they probably aren’t willing to spend. Furthermore, well, you probably know how I feel about diagnostics judging by my sig.
Money is a factor in a test prep company avoiding personalized schedules; however, it is not the only reason to take chapters in order. Additionally, money would not explain why other schedules recommend going linearly. When looking at all of the various content review books, you might notice something. Translational motion is almost always the first topic in Physics. You might be thinking, “Why is that?” There are few reasons which come to mind. First, as opposed to electricity or fluids, translational motion is a relatively easy topic for most students. Secondly, it isn’t hard to create complex problems/passages based on this simple area. Lastly, translational motion serves as a great time to introduce the basic math skills and tricks needed for the MCAT. What I’m getting at here is that there are good reasons why subjects are ordered in content review books.
The content of one chapter will frequently build from the preceding chapter. Let’s take another look at Physics for an example. One starts with translational motion. The next subject is typically forces which is a form of translational motion. Then, there’s work which advances the topic of forces and applies force by distance. As you can see, each chapter uses the basis of another to present the material in a logical order. Think of it like pyramid. You start with translational motion and then add the bricks of force and work.
Another rationale for a linear schedule is that it must instill the skills necessary to apply knowledge early on. In order to do this, a schedule must start in areas that are strong for the vast majority of students. Beginning with a tough subject does not lay the foundation for application of knowledge because the student is struggling with the content itself. In fact, application of knowledge is the most important factor in MCAT success. Merely knowing the content inside-and-out does not cut it which is why you may see students that ace their classes, but do badly on the MCAT.
Next, there is the topic of confidence. I cannot stress enough the how vital confidence is for this test. Without it, you might as well not take the MCAT. Jumping straight into weak areas destroys one’s confidence. They start questioning whether they actually have the brains to take on the MCAT. Thus, you don’t want to start a schedule by slamming the individual right away. You want to guide the student and help them gain some momentum before tackling their trouble spots.
Also, by placing all of your weaknesses up front, you naturally start studying those topics first. You might be thinking, “Yeah that’s the point.” The problem here is that you may forget those topics by the time your test rolls around. You may even try to subconsciously erase your memory since focusing on all of your weaknesses at once was probably not an enjoyable experience. That’s not to say studying for the MCAT is fun, but you get the picture. Additionally, you might spend too much time on your weaknesses and neglect areas that should be your strengths and end up with more weaknesses.
Finally, there seems to be a misconception that studying linearly means you don’t focus on your weak areas. If you are properly reviewing, you shouldn’t be breezing by your weaknesses. You should read and re-read the chapter as you pound the practice problems. When you thoroughly review your practice problems, if you find you missed a problem purely based on content, you have to go over the topic again. Considering that this might mean you review the chapter several times, you can see how one might spend quite a bit of time on their weaknesses. You would also hit your weaknesses again whenever the topic comes up on a practice FL.
In closing, the above are my reasons for opting for a linear study schedule and why test prep companies may favor them as well.
Last edited by SN2ed; 09-01-2009 at 04:16 PM.
