*"Official" 2013 USABO*

Test Preparation AP Sciences
61

<p>O.o NSQ REPLIED TO ME!! :DDDDD
Anyways,
@NSQ: I did get to visit her but apparently, the prof. I am in contact with decided that maybe I shouldn’t do research… -_- I was really upset by this, because I didn’t expect such a rejection (I kind of did before she said I could help out, but…)
She said I could continue writing reports on stem cells (that’s currently what she’s focusing on), but I don’t think I can have hands-on lab research, because apparently she’s never had a high school student before, and all the undergrads, grads, and post-docs have some appointment paperwork and internship or something… Then she was saying how lab safety is a huge concern.
^ Basically what she said through email.</p>

<p>There’s pretty much no other universities nearby except for that place… what should I do??</p>

<p>I feel fortunate that she even considered me, but I may not be able to do research in my high school years…</p>

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<p>Oh, and NSQ I apologize for writing so much… he. he. I’m just overreacting probably… :confused:
Also, your notes are amazing! I’m using them while I’m reading Campbell :D</p>

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<p>@NSQ
I missed the semifinal cutoff by one last year as a freshman. I really want to make finals this year. do you have any tips for those few odd questions n the open exam that aren’t from C&R?</p>

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<p>@NSQ
I am studying from campbell 6th do you think it is okay to study from or is it too old for the test?</p>

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<p>does anyone have any old semis?</p>

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<p>@bill2507733: That’s so cool! I’m going to be a freshman next year, do you think you could give me some advice?</p>

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<p>C & R does not cover skeletal system??? Is there another textbook we should refer to or it is not important?</p>

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<p>Hi guys! Count me in. I might be a rising senior but I’m interested in participating in the Bio Olympiad :). I have the Campbell Book, 7th ed., AP and SAT II Bio stuff, and tons of MCAT material at my disposal. Let’s do this :D.</p>

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<p>IceQube: How useful are the MCAT material? Where do you get those?</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>Most of the questions are slightly above AP level; some are actually at AP level. Some of them I purchased; most of them were given to me by a friend who no longer has any need for them :).</p>

<p>I like the MCAT material because it is condensed. Sure, I could just try to memorize the Campbell book, but that’s going to be incredibly difficult and incredibly boring. The MCAT materials are just review books; the authors condense the material, and there are frequent quizzes, which keep me on my toes (as opposed to the Campbell book, in which there are a measly 10 questions per chapter).</p>

<p>I’ll probably go through the Campbell book eventually, but not before getting a solid foundation laid with the MCAT books.</p>

<p>I also have this incredible MCAT book with “1001 questions” … THAT’LL be useful (I hope) for the Bio Olympiad :D.</p>

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<p>@opinion, there are two pages on the skeletal system in chapter 49, sensory and motor mechanisms (page 1065 if your using the 7th edition like I am) :D.</p>

<p>also, does anyone have any tips on pronouncing some of the taxonomy (otherwise sounding it out)? I feel that I’m probably butchering all of the terms and I don’t want to say it wrong when/if I have a chance to actually use them.</p>

<p>one last thing @NSQ: by the 90% Cambells + 50% Raven’s (sorry to keep bringing this up in this thread because its probably not the best reference point and its been asked multiple times), is this a standard to get into semis, or finals? </p>

<p>thanks everyone!</p>

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<p>Hey, do you guys think that the six edition of C&R is current enough?
Are you guys taking notes from C&R?
I have read through it 1 time and I am taking notes now on my second run though it.</p>

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<p>When is the open exam administered?</p>

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<p>The opens are sometime in Feb. Check the CEE website for the calender.</p>

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<p>Why are you guys ignoring me? :frowning: I am a biology-person too.</p>

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<p>^ I think we’re all ignoring each other :smiley:
Btw, I don’t have 6th edition, but I’ve heard it’s perfectly fine.
I have 9th edition, but I’m only on ch.20 (reading through 1st time)</p>

<p>This thread is quite lonely… BUMP!</p>

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<p>MathGuy777: Is there a difference in the study guides for 8th and 9 th editions? Does 9th edition have a different set of questions?</p>

<p>Since molecular Biology is changing so fast, I think it is safer to use 8th edition, instead of 6th edition. Now that 9th edition has been released, 8th edition of C & R is available for a very cheap price on Amazon.</p>

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<p>First: two things.</p>

<p>1) Don’t take my words as gospel. I don’t actually know much about how Open and Semi exams go; I try to contribute good questions, but I don’t know if they’ll get used or not.</p>

<p>2) Don’t stake everything on USABO. </p>

<p>That said:</p>

<p>@Mathguy:</p>

<p>Contact another prof. This is normal - I know people who literally emailed a dozen profs. Don’t just spam, email a couple at a time, actually figure out what they’re doing, email the ones that are doing things you’re interested in, and pick a lab that isn’t doing something too expensive.</p>

<p>@Opinion:</p>

<p>I’m not CEE. I don’t know why the prizes are how they are.</p>

<p>@AspiringBioGod</p>

<p>1) You’ve just asked a really sticky question. There’s no real good divide between biotic and abiotic. I’d consider all organic molecules abiotic; I know some who consider DNA biotic.</p>

<p>2) According to wikipedia (which is pretty good when it comes to nonpolitical scientific articles) lactase is a type of beta-galactosidase. Beta-galctosidases work on beta-galactosides (of which lactose is one). [Beta-galactosidase</a> - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Β-galactosidase]Beta-galactosidase”>β-Galactosidase - Wikipedia)</p>

<p>3) <a href=“http://www.ibo-info.org/pdf/IBO-Guide.pdf[/url]”>www.ibo-info.org/pdf/IBO-Guide.pdf</a> is an out-of date version of the IBO/USABO guide. </p>

<p>4) Everything is important to know.</p>

<p>5) 90% Cambells + 50% Raven was an off-the cuff remark about priorities. It won’t guarantee you anything.</p>

<p>@bill2507733</p>

<p>Try Raven’s Biology of Plants first?</p>

<p>@starchow</p>

<p>According to blueroses, 6th is decent. I don’t know, I’ve never read it.</p>

<p>@Opinion:</p>

<p>Use wikipedia? I dunno, I have a med school A&P book but it’s really really detailed and kind of overkill.</p>

<p>@IceQube</p>

<p>MCAT material is probably pretty useful.</p>

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<p>@NSQ: I checked out the A & P textbook you mentioned. I agree, it is an overkill for USABO. </p>

<p>Wikipedia is a good idea, thanks!</p>

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<p>Thanks for answering my questions NSQ! :smiley:
Sorry about the question on finals, I guess the cutoff changes based on the type of competition there is year to year. Probably my best bet is to study all i can :P</p>

<p>Is it alright if I ask one question more?

  1. If theres cation exchange, is there some sort of mechanism for the uptake of anions? I didnt find any mention in campbells about this, but I’m just beginning raven’s plants (is there any elaboration on this?)</p>

<p>@everyone: Does anyone think that MCAT seems a little easy for USABO? It seems a little bit harder than AP level, but not all that bad…maybe Im underestimating the MCAT? I’ve skimmed a prep book and done part of a practice test, so have I just not done enough to fully understand the difficulty of the MCAT?</p>