<p>So from reading all the posts made by bdm, brm, and ncg, the fact of the matter seems to be, the MCAT is mostly about critical thinking skills, with not so much emphasis on being able to recite bits of knowledge. Now while I dont consider myself a horrible test taker, I'd be interested to know if any of you guys (or anyone, for that matter), would care to give any ideas on how to maybe work on that. I try to read news and stuff like that daily (economist.com, and wall street journal), but besides that, I"m at a loss at what else to do. Any tips/suggestions?</p>
<p>read, read, read. The two "current events" sources you listed are good (though the WSJ isn't as big of deal if you really aren't interested in financial stuff). Read a lot of books as well, everything from classic literature (either through a class or simply on your own - pick up Cliff's note and see if you pick up on the symbolism and meaning they mention) to biographies and histories to more sciency non-fiction - some of my favorites are Guns, Germs, and Steel: The fate of human societies, Finding Darwin's God, The Selfish Gene, Sperm Wars, Radical Evolution, and The Elegant Universe. </p>
<p>The other thing is look for courses which you know will challenge you in new ways. If you're a science major, taking courses in sociology, political science or philosophy will require a very different skill set. Look for courses that are writing intensive (not just creative writing courses though). </p>
<p>You can also read many books that come from those disciplines too. Some of my favorite sociology books, that I think are useful for medical students who will be dealing with patients from all different class levels include: Savage Inequalities, Unequal Childhoods, and Nickeled and Dimed. </p>
<p>The key thing is that you can't just be a passive learner/reader, you have to about what these things are getting at, and WHY those things are important. I'm naturally someone who makes connections across disciplines but most people aren't, but I think that if you focus on and dedicate yourself to doing so, it's something that can come with practice. </p>
<p>Lastly, find people you can talk with and debate and discuss what you've read and how it matters. I know that I've been fortunate to have friends throughout my life that I can intelligently discuss things with - my oldest friend (since we were three years old) is one of the smartest guys I know who also has a ton of interests - he's been one of the biggest influences of my intellectual development b/c we talk about all kinds of crazy stuff together. I have other friends whose focus might be more limited but still significant. Lastly I usually have great conversations with my mom about all sorts of different things to and we constantly trade books to each other. Surrounding yourself with people who will challenge you is another important thing.</p>
<p>Are there fiction passages on the MCAT?
If so, are they classic literature (Charles Dickens...) or modern literature (Ernest Hemingway...)?</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure there aren't any, but you never know. The topics you get can be about anything...some of mine dealt with voter turnout, realism described by philosophers like freud, circadian rhythms, and there was one about the profession of painting. Some of the passages are very boring while some are interesting. You just have to approach them like you are really into what you are reading so you can understand the basis of the passage.</p>
<p>Sorry, no more Amy Tan passages.</p>
<p>lol Sperm Wars</p>