Blink of an Eye

And just like that summer is disappearing. I'm wrapping up my summer course this week and will be gearing up for the Fall semester which is two weeks away. The summer course was 5 weeks in duration and as you might expect it comes with advantages and disadvantages. Knocking out a course in 5 weeks is a great feeling (once it's over). The biggest warning I have for anybody taking a condensed course is to be sure you can keep up with the pace. I dodged a bullet (so to speak) with my class. It is Bio II which isn't the most difficult of my prereqs, but I had some outside distractions the last week which derailed my study schedule. Fortunately, one of our exams is dropped so it couldn't have happened at a better time. I just need to make sure I hit the review hard for the final and I should be in good shape. What I'm saying about the shortened summer schedule is that one setback in your available time (even a couple of days) can really put you behind in a course that moves at a break-neck speed.

My MCAT studying is moving at a snail's pace, but at least it's moving. I'm still on track for a spring MCAT so I'm not worried yet. However, this fall will be a true test of my time management skills.

Looming...

Organic Chemistry that is. I ordered my textbook for my Fall OChem class and it arrived today. The book is rather thick and appears uninteresting. I look forward to the challenge.

2012-2013 MSAR...disappointment

Well, my school's library recently shelved the 2012-2013 MSAR and for some reason removed the previous three editions. I eagerly grabbed the book and started thumbing through the pages to see if the MCAT and GPA stats have changed at my target schools. I was quickly disappointed when I discovered that AAMC no longer publishes the MCAT/GPA stats in the MSAR. In my opinion, the book is now nearly worthless. I guess it still has some value but I'll no longer be using it myself. I also think AAMC might offer MCAT/GPA stats in its online version if you're still looking for it.

At any rate, I had already taken a different approach to choosing my target schools and finding out info so this change in the MSAR doesn't really affect me. I put together a list of schools I'm interested in (mostly based on geography in my case) and created a spreadsheet. For each school, I created a new tab in Excel and then cut and paste the info from each school's website into its respective sheet. For me, this works better because each school seems to have slightly different requirements. Also, I found that schools' websites usually have different GPA/MCAT info than found in the MSAR books.

Chipping Away

Well, studying for the MCAT is surely an endeavor not to be taken lightly. I've started earlier than most and I'm already thankful for the early start. With work, school, volunteering, and life taking place all at the same time, it is easy to slip on the MCAT study schedule. I truly envy those that are able to dedicate a semester or summer to mainly MCAT studying. Unfortunately for me, that is not an option.

The good news is that my Gen Chem studying is going better than expected. It has been a looonnnngggg time since my Gen Chem courses so I'm essentially relearning the material through TPR's books right now. Also, I'm still on track to reach my initial goal of reviewing my primary MCAT study material before winter break.

My primary MCAT material is now:
EK Bio
EK VR 101
TPR Gen Chem
Nova's Physics
I'm not studying OChem because I haven't taken it yet, but I've started going through Organic Chemistry as a Second Language in preparation for my class in the fall.

My supplementary material that I'll use if time allows is currently:
EK Gen Chem 1001 Questions
TPR (entire set)
Then I also have Physics 3000 Problems Solved and Schaums Outlines for Algebra Physics if I feel I need more Physics problems to work through.

Thus far, Nova's Physics is probably my favorite MCAT book I'm using with VR 101 as a close second. EK Bio is brief with lots of pictures, but for whatever reason I quickly lose interest when reading it. To me it is basically like reading notes taken from a Bio lecture.

Also, I'm no longer listening to Audio Osmosis at this time. I found that I wasn't really paying attention to them very long. I might give them a go as I get closer to the MCAT but right now I'm not benefiting from the Osmosis material. Imagine listening to somebody reading you the chapter summaries from a textbook book and inserting cheesy music and corny jokes.

The MCAT Journey Begins

Well, I've amassed a collection of MCAT study material so it is time I put it to use. Although I wanted to follow the SN2ed schedule, my study plans have already taken on a life of their own. I originally was trying to stretch out the SN2ed 4-month plan to about 9 months, but I'm already off schedule. So far, my plan roughly consists of one day of Bio, one day of Gen Chem, one day of Physics, and one day of Verbal Reasoning passages per week. I haven't taken OChem yet so I can't really study the respective MCAT material. I'm trying to review at least one chapter per study day (or 2) if possible. Currently, the books I'm using are TPR Gen Chem (and a little EK Gen Chem 1001), EK Bio, Nova Physics, and EK VR 101.

Starting 9 months ahead of my planned MCAT exam date might seem early to some, but I can already tell I'll need the extra time with my busy schedule. I don't have the luxury of taking a summer off to devote to MCAT prep. Somehow, I need to balance this with school, work, volunteering, and other obligations. This Fall semester will be my biggest challenge yet. I anticipate on taking OChem I w/lab, Physics II w/lab, and Genetics while working at least 20 hours a week and volunteering when I can.

Useful Link

U.S. News has a blog with occasional med school prep tips that I stumbled upon.  Seems like a decent resource.
http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/medical-school-admissions-doctor

Score!

I'm so pleased with my latest MCAT purchase. I found an amazing price on a used set of The Princeton Review Hyperlearning (aka TPR) series through Craigslist. I paid a fraction of what people are paying on Ebay and SDN's "For Sale" thread so I can't complain.  Hopefully, with a few more "gems", my study supply will be complete other than the AAMC practice exams.  I'm also looking to purchase AAMC's MCAT book for some extra passages. 

MCAT Study Plan

If you haven't checked out SN2ed's MCAT Study Plan, I recommend you do. I plan on using a variation of this when the time comes. Actually, I've copied it into a spread sheet counting backwards from my projected MCAT test date. Also, I'm starting to build a stockpile of study material so I'm not coughing up all the book money at once. My schedule will be longer than what's recommended because of my specific situation. If it works out, I'll probably share the spreadsheet over at the SDN forum and here as well. If it doesn't work out well (aka: I bomb the MCAT), this blog will be deleted and you'll never know of my devastating failure.

Around the Bend

This fall I'm registered for Organic Chemistry I so I plan on preparing with Organic Chemistry I as a Second Language: Translating the Basic Concepts. This seems to be the most highly recommended OChem prep book so I ordered a copy of it the other day. I found it pretty cheap at BigWords.com so I hope that it will be money well spent.

I know I plugged BigWords website previously, but I've truthfully saved a lot of money buying my college textbooks through that site. I'm a nontraditional student and I've been in the shoes of the freshman wandering around the university bookstore and being struck by sticker-shock. Once I found BigWords I started saving big time! Also, when you're done with a book you can always sell it back through Amazon or Half.com and recoup some of your money.

Better to Give Than to Receive

...at least that's what my parents told me when I was a child. I never really understood it when I was really young but eventually it made sense. While stomping on the MCAT and honing your GPA is important, volunteer activities are a key component to your med school application. Finding volunteer opportunities is really quite easy, but if you need some quick online searches there are VolunteerMatch.org and UnitedWay.org to get you started.

Sounds of Studying

When at all possible, I prefer to have some background noise when studying. Usually, this means music without lyrics or some other white noise. There is a free website that plays sounds of rain that I like to use sometimes while studying called RainyMood.com. Check it out if listening to rain helps you study. Also, SimplyNoise.com generates various background noise. Be careful not to fall asleep.

General Chemistry Review - Change of Plans

Well, I've decided to put General Chemistry I as a Second Language: Mastering the Fundamental Skills back on my bookshelf for now. The book is more of a supplement to a full Gen Chem text book than it is a stand alone review book. Outside of a few errors in the answer keys, the book has been a good read and I think I'll go back to it as reference. I'm not back to square one, but I'm changing my Gen Chem review (remember this isn't my MCAT review, but prep for Organic Chem). My current plan is to read through my school's Gen Chem text over the next 3-4 weeks and then review Organic Chemistry I as a Second Language: Translating the Basic Concepts before my Organic Chem class starts this fall. Hopefully, when it comes time to review Gen Chem for the MCAT, I'm not too rusty because I've chosen not to retake Gen Chem I & II as refreshers.

General Chemistry Review

I recently began reviewing General Chemistry using General Chemistry I as a Second Language: Mastering the Fundamental Skills. The book has mostly good reviews on Amazon, but it also has a few reviews concerning errors within the book. I personally recognized a few errors early on in this book so I'm a bit disappointed to say the least. There seems to be a sparse selection of perfect Gen Chem review books out there. For now, I'll keep using this book but if the errors are too frequent, I may have to look elsewhere.

Keep in mind that I'm not using this book for MCAT review. I took Gen Chem long ago and I need to review before I take Organic Chemistry for the first time. Hopefully, this book along with Academic Earth and Khan Academy will be ample preparation.

More Free Education and MCAT Prep

Previously, I mentioned the usefulness of the widely-used Khan Academy videos as a free educational resource. Another one that I personally plan of giving a try is Academic Earth. It has fully recorded classes from some top universities. I'll be using this to brush up on a basic science course I took long ago.

Amazingly, if you have an internet connection and good self-discipline, you could become college-educated for free these days. Granted, you won't have the diploma on hand but you theoretically would have an equal educational background to someone who does. I'm not going to look up the cost of a Physics class at Yale, but I'm sure it costs a pretty penny.

To BR or Not to BR...

I have a short list in my head of what MCAT books I want to acquire by scouring various premed forums and Amazon. While most of these books are readily available, The Berkeley Review (TBR) books are only available through some less conventional channels. While I don't plan on purchasing the complete set, I will likely grab a book or two from the various subjects (e.g., Physics). The two primary methods for purchasing these books is through the TBR website or on the Student Doctor Network (SDN) forums. Keeping this in mind, if you plan on using TBR resources, I'd plan ahead because it isn't as simple as running to your local bookstore.

Change is Constant

Interesting article about potential changes to the MCAT:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/05/a-better-medical-school-admissions-test/

Out With The Old

Although I like buying my books from Amazon or Bigwords, I also make occasional stops to my local used bookstore (or better - the library). Every now then I strike gold and find books cheaper at the used bookstore than I can find online. Well, today I picked up Nova's MCAT Physics Book, 1st Edition. What I really wanted was the 2nd Edition of this book, but I couldn't pass up the cheap price. If you have a used bookstore (particularly near a college), then I highly recommend checking it out on occasion and you might save a few $$$.

An Alarming Trend For Future Med School Applicants

According to AAMC's statistics (https://www.aamc.org/download/161690/data/table17-facts2010mcatgpa99-10-web.pdf.pdf), the competitiveness of medical school admissions is showing an increasing trend (academically speaking).

From 1999-2010, the average matriculant overall GPA has increased from 3.59 to 3.67. In that same time frame, the average matriculant MCAT score has increased from 29.7 to 31.1. While this is not an astronomical jump in averages, it could indicate an even more competitive pool of competition for future med school applicants.

If this trend continues, in approximately 49 years from now, the average overall GPA of medical school applicants will be 4.0! In 49 years the average MCAT score will be 36.8!

I'm not a stats guru, but I'd think that this trend would level off at some point. I'm also curious to know why the trend continues upwards? Are students smarter or classes easier? The trend is similar for the overall applicant pool as well.

Med School Acceptance Cheat Sheet

Here's a matrix at AAMC's website I like to reference frequently showing MCAT/GPA data of last year's medical school acceptees. While this doesn't paint the whole picture of a successful application, it does provide a quick reference if you're wondering what it takes, academically speaking, to make it into med school. For instance, if you have 3.60 GPA or higher and a 30 MCAT score or higher, then theoretically you have at least a 72% chance of making into med school.
https://www.aamc.org/download/157450/data/table24-mcatgpagridall2008-10.pdf.pdf

Used Textbooks

This is not MCAT specific, but here's a great place to buy used textbooks for school. I use this site all of the time and have saved a ton of money. It makes me sick to see what the university bookstore charges students for their books. If you're looking for a book using the following link, I recommend searching by the ISBN.

Bigwords.com

My Favorite Four-Letter Word: FREE

If it's free, it's for me. In this case, I'm talking about free education. I use this site on occasion if I need topic reinforcement or if I'm just plain tired of reading. It's called Khan Academy, be sure to give it a visit:
Khan Academy

You can watch videos on all of your basic subjects and then some. I found it particularly helpful during Physics.

Oooh...The Smell of a New Book

Lilacs, Ocean Breeze, Fresh Linen...are these your favorite scents? Do they compare to the smell of a new car, a new pair of shoes (you know the smell), or as I'm experiencing right now...the smell of a new book? My new Examkrackers MCAT Biology just arrived in the mail today from Amazon. Just at first glance I can say it has colorful illustrations and practice passages. I plan on giving you my take on this book as I work through it. I bought it based on some of the reviews on Amazon. Hopefully, it is a worthwhile MCAT study tool.

4 Tips for MCAT Success (and GPA improvement)

Surely, there must be a secret to CRUSHING the MCAT. I'm positive there is a foolproof study plan and prep book out there that will guarantee success. For the right price, there undoubtedly is a course that you can attend that will put you over the top. Well, maybe some of those are snake oil, but I have 4 AMAZING TIPS FOR CRUSHING THE MCAT. Also, I'm willing to bet these will help your GPA as well.

If you're ready to improve your grade and MCAT then keep reading. If you don't want to hear 4 AMAZING TIPS FOR CRUSHING THE MCAT, then stop reading now and go see what your friends are up to on Facebook.

4 AMAZING TIPS FOR CRUSHING THE MCAT (and improving your GPA):

1) Before your prerequisite classes, read the material beforehand. To do this, pick up your class syllabus and see what your professor will be covering in the next lecture. Find your textbook, open it, and read the material before you go to class.

2) If your textbook has end-of-chapter exercise problems, do them. Some people say do all of them, but I tailor this to what the instructor covers and assigns. If the instructor assigns problems, then I do them plus any others that are similar but were not assigned.

3) Go to class. To do this, wake up, shower (optional), and go to class. You may need to print a schedule so you know when and where the class meets. If you followed Step #1, most of the class room material should be somewhat familiar to you.

4) Study at least three days before the exam. Three days is a minimum and can be adjusted based on your comfort level going into the exam. I prefer four days if time permits. An example four day schedule for an exam covering five chapters would be:

Study Day 1: Review fifth and fourth chapter (in that order). Review any exercise problems you felt were challenging when you did them during Step #2.

Study Day 2: Review third and second chapter (in that order). Review any exercise problems you felt were challenging when you did them during Step #2.

Study Day 3: Review first chapter. Review any exercise problems you felt were challenging when you did them during Step #2. Because you're only reviewing one chapter, you can also go back to any topics from the other chapters you feel you need to review.

Study Day 4 (day before exam): Do a review over all of the chapters and focus on what you feel are your problem areas.

Exam Day: DESTROY YOUR EXAM and then relax. Repeat Step #1 before the next lecture.

Obviously, this can be tweaked based on your schedule and the depth of material you need to review. I prefer studying the most recent material first and work my way backward.

Believe it or not, MANY students do not know how (or are not motivated) to study properly. This plan is not really a secret, but I know many students that think studying a few of the instructor's previous exams they grabbed from a buddy is enough to do well. If you really want to KNOW the material for the exam, then following the steps I outlined above will benefit you.

Quick anecdote (and I'm not tooting my own horn): I scored highly on an exam in one of my classes. Somehow, a fellow student found out I had a high score and asked me after class one day how I did so well. I told my classmate that I read before class, do the end-of-chapter problems, attend class, and study at least three days before the exam. My classmate looked at me with a blank stare, said "Thanks", and walked away. I'm not sure if he/she ever followed my advice or not.

"Hold on!" you say. I keep talking about improving your course exam study habits but what does this have to do with the MCAT? EVERYTHING! Personally, I don't want to be learning NEW material when I hit full-blown MCAT study mode. I want to learn it NOW, in class, at a steady pace. This way, when I begin my MCAT CRUSHING study sessions, it is more of a REVIEW than it is a LEARNING session. Catch my drift?

Moving Forward

Hopefully, you followed my advice from the last post and checked out AAMC's MCAT web page. I downloaded the .pdf files that detail each topic of the MCAT for quick reference in the future. To give you an idea of how far away I am from taking the MCAT, I'm projected to test in about 18-19 months from now. I think it is common for people to begin MCAT preparation 3-6 months out, but I want a head start. This doesn't mean I'm in full-blown study mode, but I'm doing what preparation I can now.

I'm still early in my prerequisites (Biology I, Physics I) so I don't think it would be beneficial for me to try a full practice exam (available for purchase at AAMC's website). Therefore, I'm starting with practicing the Verbal section, some basic Bio, and basic Physics.

The first MCAT book I bought was Examkrackers 101 Passages in MCAT Verbal Reasoning. It is currently ranked #2 on Amazon's Bestseller MCAT Test Guides. Also, I don't have to wait to take a class (e.g., Organic Chemistry) before I can study the topic.

This book has good reviews so hopefully it will pay off.

Another study tool I'm using is Examkrackers MCAT Audio Osmosis.


It has mixed reviews on Amazon and I just started listening to it so I can't make an honest assessment at this point. I have listened to some of the basic Biology review so far because I just finished my Bio I course. As you'll see in the reviews, the sound effects and jokes are cheesy, but I do like the fact I can listen to this while in the car or out on a walk or jog. Beware, there are errors listed in an Amazon review and I think you can find another list of errors on the Examkrackers website. I haven't looked at the Bio practice exams yet but I feel like the Audio Osmosis might be light on the details, but it does seem to be convenient form of review nonetheless.

The Goal - MCAT Destruction

Okay, CRUSHING the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) might sound overzealous but this is the attitude I must have going forward. I'll take you on my journey to grabbing the MCAT by the horns and wrestling it to the ground. I don't have a magic formula but I do have the work ethic and determination to nail this thing.

So, let's get started with Step 1: Get Started.
Sounds simple but is it? Should I start preparing for the MCAT today? Or wait until tomorrow when I have more time? Better yet, next week will be a great time to start. WRONG! A hard fact is you NEVER have more time in life. Your life's clock is ticking right now so stop waiting and start NOW!

Get moving by going to AAMC's (Association of American Medical Colleges) website and checking out their list of topics covered in the MCAT.

The fours topics are:
- Physical Sciences
- Verbal Reasoning
- Biological Sciences
- Writing Prompts

As of this posting, the link with detailed topic coverage at AAMC is:
https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/preparing/

A great resource for starters is AAMC's MSAR book:


The book is usually available at the library or your school's premed advisor's office if you have one at your school. Or at AAMC's website. It is a good reference to see what the average MCAT scores of students accept to the various medical schools.

Great! You're still with me so get your game face on and enjoy the ride.