MCAT is Over!

Well, I survived the dreadful MCAT. So, how was it you ask?  Eh.  There were a few hard questions, a few easy, questions, and a whole lot in between.  I ran into two questions that asked about something I never even heard of.  The questions really don’t seem that bad… until you look at the answers.  :o) 

I sort of felt like I was on autopilot the first section of the test, but got a little more into it after my first break.  The physical science section wasn’t too bad, and the physics questions weren’t too terrible considering this is my worst section.  Verbal seemed ok and I hope it’s not one of those things where I feel good about it but do horrible.  The bio section wasn’t too bad either, but it had a lot of difficult organic chemistry on it. Organic was my stronger section, so I am hoping I pulled it off.  

After taking the real thing, I feel the same way about it as I did after taking my practice exams, so I really hope I get the same score.  I got the same score as my practice tests last year, so I am hoping for the same thing this go around.     

Three days and counting…

Until I take the MCAT for the second time.  My practice exams are closer to where I want to be, compared to last year, but I hit a plateau. According to the MCAT diagnosis, my problem is related to test taking errors.  I have a bad habit of changing my answers, like I explained in a previous post, and I am trying real hard to go with the first answer that pops into my head instead of changing it.  If I can do this my score will improve by a few points.  Don’t get me wrong, I would be happy with the score I’ve been getting, because I feel this score would get me an interview, but I would have more options if I could get it a little higher. 

After saying all that, I’m really just ready to take the damn thing and be done with it.  I am pretty much done with studying, but still doing practice problems and light review to keep things fresh in my mind. I am keeping a positive attitude about it and not letting nerves or pressure get to me.  I have a score in my head and that’s the score I keep telling myself I will get.  My favorite professor told me to think of it as an intellectual challenge, a game, and really, it sort of is.  There are tricks and traps throughout the exam, and the challenge is to find the correct answers.  The exam doesn’t test your knowledge as much as it tests your critical thinking skills, but the knowledge helps. 

The exam is at 8:00am and I have to leave by 6:30 to get to the testing center early enough to check in. I figure I will get up at 6:00 and have a little breakfast and a small cup of coffee.  I am going to bring snacks this time as last time I forgot my snack and pretty much crashed after the verbal section.  So far, I plan to bring blueberries, almonds and a banana.  I might bring something else, but haven’t decided what.  I’m also taking Friday off of work to just relax and enjoy the day.  :o)  

Let's hope it helps!

Personal Statement and More MCAT Stuff

In about two weeks the application system, AMCAS, opens and hundreds (thousands?) of neurotic premed students will be madly filling in their activities, courses taken, and of course, their personal statements.  The personal statement is probably one of the most important parts of the application.  It‘s your introduction, the “first impression” if you will, so it has to be good.  *cue the panic*    I had to go through this last year, but because I am reapplying, it almost makes it harder, because I have to rewrite the whole thing.  Why is this harder? Because I have to say pretty much the same thing I did last year, in a new and refreshing way.  *sigh*  I have been studying for the MCAT for the past two months and that is really the only thing on my mind right now, so I am not really in the writing mood – which isn’t good because there is a writing section on the MCAT.  Ha ha ha    

Even though AMCAS opens around May 9^th, applications can’t be submitted until June 1^st,  which gives me a couple weeks to write my personal statement and fill in my application. However, I won’t get my MCAT score back until June 21-22, so technically I have about a month to get everything done.  My goal is to have everything done by June 20^th so I can submit my application the moment I get my score back.  The ideal situation would have been to take the MCAT in April and get my score back in May, then submit my application on June 1^st, but that wouldn’t have given me enough time to study.   Guess I'll have to deal with a June 22nd submission date.  That's still pretty early.

Another Practice Test

I took another practice test this weekend and scored the same as last time… which is good because I have improved, but bad because I really should have scored a lot higher.  The reason I am not scoring higher, is because I pick an answer, then change it!!!  ARRRGH!   As I am reading the answers, I’ll pick one, then read them again then change it.  I need to start trusting my instincts!  This is frustrating because it’s like a little voice in my head that says ‘A’, but then another voice comes in louder and stronger and says, it is ‘B’.  It’s like subliminal messaging flashing through my mind – it’s there for a second, just enough time for me to “see” it, but not think about it, and then it’s gone.  Sort of like a knee-jerk reaction, but I don’t stick with it because I try to reason out the other answers – which are apparently wrong.  So, I need to work on trusting my instincts and stop doubting myself.  This is easier said than done though.  Sigh. 

MCAT Practice

Well I took the practice test last saturday and ... I scored higher than what I was scoring last year! Yay! I took practice test 10, which is supposed to be the hardest one according to the majority. I like the practice tests because you can review all the questions and mark why you got a question wrong. For example, I missed a few of the physics questions dealing with frequency because I forgot the simple equation and haven't reviewed it yet, so I marked that question as "not familiar with material" or something like that. It then totals up all the reasons for getting a question wrong so you have an idea of where your weaknesses are. I had quite a few material stuff, again mainly with physics (surprise, surprise) and some questions were just bad test taking. I like knowing where I stand and what I'm doing wrong. I also like knowing I am scoring better. :o). I have two moew tests
expiring next month, so I will be taking another test next sat and the sat after that. Let's hope this upward trend continues! I have more to talk about, but my computers down at the moment and posting from my phone is cool, but a pain to type on. :o)

More MCAT talk and a new practice test.

So I've been doing a lot of practice problems using The Berkeley Review (TBR) books for everything except bio, for which I use ExamKrackers. I find myself doing really well on most of the passages, but there are always one or two that I do bad on.  It seems like no matter what I do I can't break the 60-75% range.  It's rather frustrating, but  I was looking over some forums and found one that kinda made me feel a little better. I have heard that TBR passages are harder compared to the real thing, which is good I suppose, but I am still hoping that even if I can't get over the 60-75% TBR hump, I can at least get a 28-30 like BerkReview Teach says is typical.  I am taking my first full-length practice test next weekend, so I guess I'll see what sort of progress I've made since last year. And yes, it is early to take a full-length, but it expires the 23rd and I don't want to pay for it again.   

I also purchased the new full-length exam #11.  I haven't done any research on it to see what the difficulty is like.  I hear most people think that #10 is the hardest and #3, the free one, is the easiest.  If any of you have heard anything about it, let me know!

More MCAT Stuff

I was perusing through the 30+ MCAT Study Habits thread looking for some study tips/advice/anything I could find to help, and came across this post that was just what I was looking for.
 I liked this post for many reasons:
- This person’s score wasn't something ridiculously high, it was something realistically obtainable – for me.  Most of the posters have a high scores, 35+ - that’s why it’s called “30+”, but I know it is not possible for me to score that high.  I don’t have that kind of time to put towards studying.
- I think the strategy is a good one for me.  “ … a mistake I made the first time around, I focused way too much on studying content than doing practice problems.”  I think I made this same mistake.  I spent all my time reading and trying to understand the concepts, but not “practicing”. It’s kind of like I was reading a book on how to swim, but not getting in the water…so I drowned.
- I really like the idea of using the Tip Books.  I think I am going to use them along with note cards.  I’ll put the concepts I am having trouble with on the cards so I know what I need to read up on, and then the Tip Books for review.
- I also like the idea of waking up and doing a full-length verbal in the morning, followed by physical/biological review.  I just have to figure out a way to fit it in since I work 8-5.
I’m going to give these ideas a try and see where it gets me.