MCAT PREP
11:44 AM
Today marks my last day of freedom before I divulge into studying for the
I know there are so many different opinions on how to prepare the MCAT, and I've debated them all. I always had the idea that I would take a prep course from one of the major test prep companies, but a reality check, I realized that I can't afford a $1500+ prep course out of pocket and honestly I shouldn't have to pay that much to prep for a test. Don't get me wrong, I know plenty of doctors and students that have taken a course and it worked perfectly for them, but I know just as many people who have studied for the MCAT without a course and also did just fine. The MCAT itself cost $300 and if you're eligible for Fee Assistance $115 (tip: if you think you may be eligible for the Fee Assistance Program, apply before buying any MCAT materials and before registering for the test!). The test itself is relatively expensive and medical school is expensive, so if you believe you have the discipline an motivation, maybe consider saving some money and self-study. But if feel like you need the discipline of a course and need the accountability of peers, instructors and your bank account, a prep course may be for you!
In the past I haven't been extremely self-disciplined, but I only plan to take this test once (fingers crossed), and it's an important part of my future, so I'm going to try my darndest to stay focused. With that said, I've decided to give myself 5-6 months to study so I can pace myself and adjust my strategy accordingly if I feel like I'm not progressing.
Knowledge and Confidence through practice is how I'm approaching the MCAT. To make sure that I have proper knowledge of the material covered on the exam, I'm spending 3 months of pure content review since it's been a while since I've taken basic biology and general chemistry. Then I'll spend the last 3 months practicing using practice passages and practice full-length exams so I get comfortable with knowledge assessment and recall.
Below is the study schedule I planned out for myself and hopefully by the time January rolls around, I'll be ready to kick the Medical College Admissions Test in the ass!
Let me know if you guys have any questions or suggestions and I'll update closer to my test date!
MCAT STUDY SCHEDULE
Approx MCAT Date: January 2017
MCAT study start day: July 2016
Length of Study: 5-6 Months
Overview:
3 months of General Content Review
-
Note Taking using Kaplan Subject Review Books
-
Khan MCAT Academy Videos
-
Kaplan Online Videos
3 months of Questions and Passages:
-
1.5 months purely doing questions and passages
without notes
o
Each day will consist of 6 Passages and Qs
-
3 CARS passages a day for 2 months
-
Last 1.5 months of Full Length exams until test
date (8 FL, once a week with review in between)
Materials Using:
AAMC Sample Test
AAMC Practice Exam (scored)
Kaplan Complete 7 set Subject Review
AAMC CARS Question Pack Volume 1 (120 Qs)
AAMC Online Practice Questions (120 Qs…30 Qs per section)
AAMC Official MCAT Section Bank (100 Qs)
AAMC Official MCAT Guide 120 Sample Questions
3 Kaplan Full Length Tests
1 Princeton Review Full Length Test
Next Step Diagnostic Test
Next Step Full Length Exams (1-4) for $99
Gold Standard Practice Diagnostic
Kaplan Practice Test (Diagnostic Purposes)
July
-
Week 2:
o
SUNDAY: LAST DAY OF FREEDOM BEFORE MCAT GRIND
o
MONDAY: Read Kaplan Biology Chp. 1(The Cell) and
General Chemistry Chp 1 (Atomic Structure)
o
TUESDAY: Take End of Chp 1 Questions and Review
o
WEDNESAY: Read Chp 2 of Biology and General
Chemistry
o
THURSDAY: Take End of Chp 2 Questions and Review
o
FRIDAY: AAMC Mini-Test ((http://offers.aamc.org/hs-fs/hub/259636/file-2239561794-pdf/MCAT_MiniTest_ebook.pdf)
o
SATURDAY: Kaplan Online Practice Test
(Diagnostic Purposes)
-
Week 3:
o
SUNDAY: Chp 3 of Biology and General Chemistry
o
MONDAY: End of Chp 3 Questions and Review
o
TUESDAY: Chp 4 of Biology and General Chemistry
o
WEDNESAY: End of Chp 4 Questions and Review
o
THURSDAY: Chp 5 of Biology and General Chemistry
o
FRIDAY: End of Chapter 5 Biology and General Chemistry
Questions and Review
o
SATURDAY: Review Chapters 1-5 notes and watch
Khan Academy Videos and Questions from library book (biology)
-
Week 4:
o
SUNDAY: Chp 6/7 from Biology and General
Chemistry
o
MONDAY: End of Chp 6/ 7 Questions and Review
o
TUESDAY: Chp 8 of Biology and General Chemistry
o
WEDNESAY: End of Chp 8 Questions and Review
o
THURSDAY: Chp 9 of Biology and General Chemistry
o
FRIDAY: End of Chp 9 Questions
o
SATURDAY: Review Chps 6-9 notes and Chp 10 of
Biology and General Chemistry
August
-
Week 1:
o
SUNDAY: End of Chp 10 Questions
o
MONDAY: Chp 11 of Biology and General Chemistry
o
TUESDAY: End of Chp 11 Questions and Review
o
WEDNESAY: Chp 12 of Biology of Chemistry
o
THURSDAY: End of Chp 12 Questions and End of
Biology and General Chemistry books
o
FRIDAY: Chp 1 of Behavioral and Biochemistry
o
SATURDAY: Chp 1 End of Chp Questions of
Behavioral and Biochemistry
-
Week 2:
o
SUNDAY: Chp 2 of Behavioral and Biochemistry
o
MONDAY: End of Chp 2 Questions
o
TUESDAY: Chp 3 of Behavioral and Biochemistry
o
WEDNESAY
o
THURSDAY:
Chp 4 of Behavioral and Biochemistry
o
FRIDAY
o
SATURDAY: Chp 5 of Behavioral and Biochemistry
-
-
Week 3:
o
SUNDAY
o
MONDAY: Chp 6 of Behavioral and Biochemistry
o
TUESDAY
o
WEDNESDAY: Chp 7 of Behavioral and Biochemistry
o
THURSDAY
o
FRIDAY: Chp 8 of Behavioral and Biochemistry
o
SATURDAY
-
-
Week 4:
o
SUNDAY: Chp 9 of Behavioral and Biochemistry
o
MONDAY
o
TUESDAY: Chp 10 of Behavioral and Biochemistry
o
WEDNESAY
o
THURSDAY: Chp 11 of Behavioral and Biochemistry
o
FRIDAY
o
SATURDAY: Finish Behavioral Sciences and
Biochemistry Books
September
-
Week 1:
o
SUNDAY
o
MONDAY: Start Organic and Physics Books, Chp 1
o
TUESDAY
o
WEDNESAY: Chp 2 of Organic and Physics
o
THURSDAY
o
FRIDAY Chp 3 of Organic and Physics
o
SATURDAY
-
-
Week 2:
o
SUNDAY : Chp 4 of Organic and Physics
o
MONDAY
o
TUESDAY: Chp 5 of Organic and Physics
o
WEDNESAY
o
THURSDAY: Chp 6 of Organic and Physics
o
FRIDAY
o
SATURDAY: Chp 7 of Organic and Physics
-
Week 3:
o
SUNDAY
o
MONDAY: Chp 8 of Organic and Physics
o
TUESDAY
o
WEDNESDAY: Chp 9 of Organic and Physics
o
THURSDAY
o
FRIDAY: Chp 10 of Organic and Physics
o
SATURDAY
-
-
Week 4:
o
SUNDAY: Chp 11 of Organic and Physics
o
MONDAY
o
TUESDAY: Chp 12 of Organic and Physics
o
WEDNESAY: End of Chp 12 Review of Organic
Chemistry and Physics
o
THURSDAY: Read Official Guide Bio/Biochem
Section and Sample Questions
o
FRIDAY: Read Chemical and Physical Section and
Sample Questions
o
SATURDAY: Read Psych and Social Section and
Sample Questions
-
End of Content Review
October
-
Start Passage Questions and Section Bank Questions
-
Week 1:
o
SUNDAY: Read Official Guide CARS section and
sample Questions
o
MONDAY: 4 Passages per Section from Khan Academy
and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
TUESDAY:
4 Passages per Section from Khan Academy and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
WEDNESAY:4 Passages per Section from Khan
Academy and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
THURSDAY: 4 Passages per Section from Khan
Academy and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
FRIDAY: 4 Passages per Section from Khan Academy
and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
SATURDAY: 4 Passages per Section from Khan
Academy and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
-
Week 2:
o
SUNDAY: 4 Passages per Section from Khan Academy
and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
MONDAY: 4 Passages per Section from Khan Academy
and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
TUESDAY:
4 Passages per Section from Khan Academy and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
WEDNESAY:4 Passages per Section from Khan
Academy and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
THURSDAY: 4 Passages per Section from Khan
Academy and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
FRIDAY: 4 Passages per Section from Khan Academy
and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
SATURDAY: 4 Passages per Section from Khan
Academy and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
-
Week 3:
o
SUNDAY: 4 Passages per Section from Khan Academy
and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
MONDAY: 4 Passages per Section from Khan Academy
and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
TUESDAY:
4 Passages per Section from Khan Academy and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
WEDNESAY:4 Passages per Section from Khan
Academy and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
THURSDAY: 4 Passages per Section from Khan
Academy and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
FRIDAY: 4 Passages per Section from Khan Academy
and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
SATURDAY: 4 Passages per Section from Khan
Academy and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
-
Week 4:
o
SUNDAY: 4 Passages per Section from Khan Academy
and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
MONDAY: 4 Passages per Section from Khan Academy
and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
TUESDAY:
4 Passages per Section from Khan Academy and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
WEDNESAY:4 Passages per Section from Khan
Academy and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
THURSDAY: 4 Passages per Section from Khan
Academy and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
FRIDAY: 4 Passages per Section from Khan Academy
and 2 AAMC CARS Passages
o
SATURDAY: Take Next Step Diagnostic Exam and
Review
November
-
Week 1:
o
SUNDAY: 10 Bio/Biochem Section Qs from Online
Questions from AAMC
o
MONDAY: 10 Bio/Biochem Passages Section Qs from
Online Questions from AAMC
o
TUESDAY: Finish last 10 Bio/Biochem Section Qs
from Online Questions from AAMC
o
WEDNESAY: 10 Bio/ physical Section Qs from
Online Questions from AAMC
o
THURSDAY: 10 Bio/ physical Section Qs from
Online Questions from AAMC
o
FRIDAY: Finish Bio/ physical Section Qs from
Online Questions from AAMC
o
SATURDAY: 10 Psych and Social Section Qs from
Online Questions from AAMC
-
Week 2:
o
SUNDAY:10 Psych and Social Section Qs from
Online Questions from AAMC
o
MONDAY: Finish Psych and Social Section Qs from
Online Questions from AAMC
o
TUESDAY: 10 CARS Section Qs from Online
Questions from AAMC
o
WEDNESAY: 10 CARS Section Qs from Online
Questions from AAMC
o
THURSDAY: Finish CARS Section Qs from Online
Questions from AAMC
o
FRIDAY: 50 Question from Section Bank from AAMC
o
SATURDAY: Finish other 50 Questions from Section
Bank from AAMC
-
Week 3:
o
SUNDAY: Next Step Full Length Exam #1 under
testing conditions and Review
-
Week 4:
o
SUNDAY: Next Step Full Length Exam #2 under
testing conditions and Review
December
-
Week 1:
o
SUNDAY: Kaplan
Full Length Exam #1under testing conditions and Review
-
Week 2:
o
SUNDAY: Kaplan Full Length Exam #2 under testing
conditions and Review
-
Week 3:
o
SUNDAY: Kaplan Full Length Exam #3 under testing
conditions and Review
-
Week 4:
o
SUNDAY: Princeton Full Length Exam #4 under
testing conditions and Review
January- Test Date
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Week 1:
o
SUNDAY: Next Step Full Length Exam #3
-
Week 2:
o
SUNDAY: Next Step Full Length Exam#4 and Review
-
Week 3:
o
SUNDAY: AAMC Practice Test and Review
-
Week 4:
o
SUNDAY: Sample Test (scored), Review Questions
from Sample Test
o
MONDAY: Review Week Areas and answer Questions
o
TUESDAY: Review Weak Areas and answer Questions
o
WEDNEDSAY: Review if needed
o
THURSDAY: NO STUDYING
o
FRIDAY: NO STUDYING
o
SATURDAY: MCAT EXAM!
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