I am trying to cram med pre-reqs, studying for the MCAT, and hospital volunteer experience into one year while working fulltime as a server administrator for a somewhat large software company. My B.S. is in Comp Sci... so I have to play catch up in Bio and Chem. I hear so much about pre-med students preparing for the MCAT full-time (no job- just studying, studying, studying), I am worried I will not be able to sufficiently prepare for the MCAT to do well by the end of next summer. Am I aiming too soon to take it?
2006-10-18 07:19:47 · 5 answers · asked by AlexM138 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Standards & Testing
I prep'd for the MCAT full time. Took it Apr 2005. I finished my master's degree one semester early to devote that time to Princeton Review. I spent at least 5 hours -- but usually more -- per day to test prep and studying.
The first time I took the exam (Aug 2001), I studied over the summer and did little else. I lost 15 pounds because I stopped eating and sleeping.
MCAT prep is arduous work. Don't take the MCAT until you plan to apply. The scores are only good for 2 years (3 for some schools, 5 for a few Caribbean schools).
Prep now if you like, but make sure you have the prereqs completed first. Otherwise, you will get mauled on this exam. btw, the questions themselves are not impossible. The hardest part is the duration. It's like running the marathon with your brain. You will be physically exhausted at the end, and mentally obliterated. I babbled senselessly afterwards. Your best bet is to do full, time practice tests.
2006-10-20 12:51:56 · answer #1 · answered by Gumdrop Girl 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
General Chemistry is a big part of the Physical Section of MCAT. 30% of this section is on general chemistry and the rest is on organic chemistry, physics, biochemistry and biology. Organic chemistry is not as important as general chemistry for the new MCAT (only 15%). To best prepare for general chemistry portion, you should do a lot of problems. You can watch videos on youtube to help you understand it better (such as those of freelance teach). You can also do a lot of discreet questions. Students use a variety of Guides, and you can check for yourself what you like the best. I like Princeton Review for general chemistry and their workbook. However, you need to be aware of the fact that the chemistry questions in the new test are mostly based on medicine and biochemistry related passages. Most prep books, have not made these changes yet and have chemistry questions with chemistry passages. The more questions you will do and go over, the better you will understand chemistry on the MCAT. You can try to practice with a variety of sources such as 1001 questions from examcrackers, and Princeton Review Workbook. AAMC also sells a packet with a lot of chemistry questions.
2016-05-21 23:56:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The key may not be the time you spend studying but the quality of the study time. I would find a book or something on study techniques and they are bound to help you. Try learning things in a song form or make up something like PASS (pull, aim, squeeze, sweep). You need to be able to remember what you have studied. Take a lot of practice tests and good luck!!
2006-10-18 08:43:39 · answer #3 · answered by country girl 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i am a post-bacc student (pre med) and let me tell you studying for it is hard.... especially because you not only have to learn the material for class and do well, but you have to master it for the exam.... my recommendation would be for you to finish your classes first and then take the exam... the last thing you want to do is take it prematurely and do bad.... let me know if you want to continue talking about the mcats. and goodluck.
2006-10-18 07:25:53 · answer #4 · answered by Lin B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
google search, type this
prepare for the mcat and or
practice test for mcat
2006-10-18 07:22:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋