MCAT Prep

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>My daughter is a senior and is planning/hoping to take MCAT in Jan. She did a Kaplan prep course in the summer. She is currently working through the Princeton Review review books (4 in total: one for each science subjects that we got from B&N) and the Examkracker 101 verbal passage (which we heard is very good for verbal prep) along with utilizing some of the Kaplan online resources (like their practice questions, etc.) through Dec. Then, she is planning to dedicate Jan to work on all AAMC full length. We thought it was a decent plan since it will give her roughly 4 - 4.5 months of study time (including some break time during Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays) for roughly 2-3 hours each day Mon - Sat. However, after reading a number of postings on SDN, we are worried.</p>

<p>It appears that the opinion on SDN is that it is not advisable to do MCAT prep while you are in school. The 3-month (or the modified 4-month) study plan asks for a dedicated fulll day study, which is not feasible for my daughter since she is a senior (although taking a lighter load to allow time for MCAT prep). Also, it seems that the general consensus is that Kaplan prep course is useless, the Princeton Review books are not good (only the Princeton Review Hyperlearning materails is good), and that the good MCAT prep books are Berkerly Review and Examkrackers (and even for that, there are differing opinion on whether the EK prep boooks are good). Honestly, we are very confused, and my daughter is very stressed. </p>

<p>We would appreciate some feedback on ths following:</p>

<p>(1) Is a 4 or 4.5 month study plan with 2-3 hours a day dedicated MCAT study time be sufficient to fully prep for the test?</p>

<p>(2) What is your opinion on the various MCAT prep? Specifically, what is your opinion on Kaplan prep course, Princeton Review content review books (science subjects only that you can get from the bookstore, and not their Hyperlearning series)? Examkracker 101 verbal? Examkracker 1001 passages for the science subject? Is Berkerly Review a must have for MCAT Prep?</p>

<p>(3) Any other opinion/suggestion for my daughter?</p>

2

<p>I took mine in Jan. Studied during the fall semester with Princeton Review course. Used their 4 prep books, and the practice passages. Also used EK verbal 101. I wouldnt use too many resources. Choose one, stick with it, do lots of practice passages and all the AAMC practice tests. practice questions are the key thing to studying and doing well. use the winter break to do some hardcore studying. she should be fine. i ended up doing really really well in both my school courses and the mcat. social life might suffer a little bit that semester, but it’ll be worth it.</p>

3

<p>My DS is a junior, taking about 19 credits including some very tough science + lad courses. He’s also thinking of taking the MCAT in January although I tell him he’s crazy. I’m the one going crazy from now doing way too much lurking on SDN. OTOH, he’s so calm about all this that it’s making me more anxious.</p>

<p>BTW, I took a look at the recommended 3 or 4-month study timetable and that’s when I REALLY got worried. I wish he’d reconsider, but when are they supposed to take this dreaded test? DS took his SATs for college once, in March. Fortunately, he’s a pretty good test-taker.</p>

4

<p>I know I’m just one data point, but here’s what I did:</p>

<p>1) I knew nothing (literally NOTHING–not number of sections, how it was scored, what its content was, etc) about the MCAT until I sat down for my Kaplan course’s diagnostic test after a loooong day of classes, work, and homework. I got a 25. </p>

<p>2) I probably put about 70% of my possible effort into the Kaplan course, meaning I didn’t do the homework but I glanced through the readings, I skimmed the content review books, etc. I attended all classes and participated fully, and I did the recommended amount of full-length practice tests and a bunch of practice sections. My best score was a 34.</p>

<p>3) I took the test in the end of May, about a month after the course ended. During that month, I took another full-length (which was my worst ever score and totally ego-killing) and a bunch of practice sections. I got a 30 on the real thing.</p>

<p>4) I applied to a wide range of schools (13 total), picked up 4 interviews (3 top-25s and my state school), a relatively early acceptance (Dec), and then withdrew from the others.</p>

<p>5) I’m about a month into M2 year.</p>

<p>Take the following with a grain of salt and with the knowledge that 1) I am a pretty laid-back person 2) I don’t like people who are trying to stress me out and 3) I don’t know you or your daughter.</p>

<p>I think SDN is insane. I cannot stand the place, and the only reason I have an account is so I can occasionally answer questions from kids applying to my school. It is chock-full of premeds who really don’t know what they’re talking about (for the most part) in my opinion because they haven’t been there. They don’t know what med school adcoms are looking for because 1) they aren’t med school adcoms and 2) they haven’t applied themselves. And while the CC group of posters probably aren’t experts, at least they’re working off the real experiences of themselves or their child(ren). </p>

<p>I think you would be CRAZY to reconsider months of preparation and a carefully thought out and personalized preparation plan because a group of hypercompetitive dbags from who knows where thinks it’s a bad idea. </p>

<p>You will find, throughout this entire experience, that just about everyone has an opinion about what works and what doesn’t, what scores you need, where you should apply, how you should strengthen your application, what you should wear to your interview, why you were waitlisted, etc etc. Many of these opinions are just that–their opinion. At some point, you will find the clarity to wade through all that information, to smile and politely nod when someone tells you something crazy, and to just do it the way that works for you.</p>

<p>In conclusion: don’t worry about them. Do your best. And for what it’s worth, I personally think you’re headed in a fine and successful direction.</p>

5

<p>Thanks Kristin. I know I’m the anxious one in this, maybe because there’s nothing I can do. It’s all about how my son will do, how he’ll study, how he’ll balance his year. He’s also a dear kid who listens to me, so I’m the one lurking over at sdn and trying to figure out a study schedule (since there aren’t any classes near him) and the “best” prep books. So not only am NOT in control, I’m also the facilitator, which may even be worst of all.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the response, Kristin & Bigreddawgie. I appreciate the feedbacks. </p>

<p>Limabeans, I understand how you feel. I feel the same - wanting the best for our son/daughter but also know that there is nothing we can do other than trying to help them figure out the best prep strategies/study plan, etc.</p>