![]() But if I could re-do my approach to studying, I would definitely start by taking a practice test, then slowly hone in on the topics I really needed to work on. I wanted to feel comfortable with all the material before I subjected myself to a test setting. ![]() What I did wrong was take a practice test a month and a half into my studying. I started studying two and a half months before my MCAT, which is actually a great time to start studying: far enough advance that studying isn’t too stressful and not too early that you spend more time checking your email than reading your prep book. That way, when you sit down for the actual MCAT, it’ll feel just like another practice exam :) Strive to finish the test far before your timer runs out. Take all of them! Multiple times! And take them seriously. The AAMC has released 9 real MCAT practice exams that you can purchase directly from the AAMC. (4) **AAMC Practice Tests** – This one’s the most important. I admit it’s kind of nerdy though people kind of gave me funny looks for flipping through them on the subway, haha. (3) Kaplan Flashcards and Quicksheet – Get them! They’re an easy way to review concepts, and I almost always had a set of flashcards with me when I was riding the T somewhere. Also, practicing with PR questions definitely gave me a little more confidence on the MCAT. If nothing else, I highly suggest getting Princeton Review’s MCAT Organic Chemistry review in many ways, I found the PR version of this book to be on par with or even slightly better than the EK orgo book. (2) Princeton Review – Because Examkrackers books are so compact, they occasionally miss a few details to supplement the Examkrackers materials, I used Princeton Review. ![]() If you end up taking the MCAT, definitely use Examkrackers to study! I found Princeton Review and Kaplan practice questions to be slightly harder than Examkrackers/AAMC questions. They were fantastic! Concise, informative, easy to understand, and complete with practice questions that were very much on the level of real MCAT questions from the AAMC (Association of American Medical Collegs). (1) Examkrackers – I didn’t get to use their “1001 Questions in…” series (I do recommend these though!), but I did use their subject prep books. That being said, I’ve tried out a wide range of test prep books/materials this summer, and I think I’ve figured out which ones work the best: This decision is totally dependent on the type of person you are! Courses are useful to some I just like independence a little too much, haha. If you’re good at self-studying, however, and have access to several prep books, you might consider saving some money and opting out of a prep course. Most people who I’ve talked to have said that test prep courses are helpful in that you have a structured environment that forces you to study and furthermore provides you with a wide range of study materials. I’ve never been a huge fun of test prep courses though, partly because I think they’re overpriced and partly because I like studying at my own pace. Quite a few of my friends have taken Kaplan and Princeton Review MCAT prep courses and have found them helpful. I know that this entry won’t be helpful to everyone out there, but hopefully, one or two of you are pre-meds and might appreciate my humble advice ) I thought I’d share some of the things I’ve learned/discovered this summer regarding MCAT prep. In retrospect, I think that if I went back and relived these past few months, I would have studied for the MCAT differently. The bio section, however, was much much harder than MCAT passages I’d seen before, which left me feeling a little bummed at the end of the test :( When I went into lab later that day though, I had a surprise waiting for me that cheered me up instantly: flowers, a card, and ice cream! My lab is the besttt. ♥ The physics, reading, and writing sections were straightforward and similar to practice tests I’d taken. The test itself was pretty difficult, though. I’m finally done done done with the MCAT, and my summer has definitely gotten a facelift :) I took the test this past Friday, and I’ve spent the last 48 hours thoroughly enjoying myself: exploring Boston, trying out my new bike, spending time with friends, and watching a ridiculous number of TV shows.
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