non traditional student study help

[ljill8526]

Any advice for a PharmD who after 5 years post grad is going to go back to school? I have all my prereqs done (of course), so all I have to do is take the MCAT. The problem is that all my basic science classes were about 10-12 yrs ago. I don't know where to start (or end for that matter) as far as studying goes. I don't want to take the test until next Spring (Juneish 2011), so I should have plenty of time...of course I do work fulltime however. Any ideas? I have ordered the videos, have MCAT university, the GS book and some EK books are on their way...

[mcat_premed3832]

Sounds like you are in an excellent position. You have what most students don't have: enough time to get ready and all the right prep materials. When the time comes, you will need AAMC and GS FL's (full length practice tests) but you are fine for now.

Your objective is to start and end with the AAMC. They invented the test and of course their materials are, in general, an accurate reflection of the real test.

To remove yourself from the rumor mill and studying nonsense for nothing, get the Official AAMC Guide, only study subjects iterated in that guide (The GS sticks to the guide; Examkrackers is very good but you'll see in some areas they deviate from the guide).

Slowly work your way through the questions in the guide while doing your content review in the same subject. Start with the subject you like least. Also so the online Q and A that comes with the GS book.

So basically: content review with problem solving. Problem solving from the AAMC supplemented with GS and Examkrackers.

You know when you are going to take the real MCAT so after 1-2 months, you'll know if you are pacing yourself properly.

Always take high density notes ("Gold Notes"). One chapter should transmit into one page of notes. This prevents you from ever returning to the books for studying. Review your Gold Notes weekly - always from the beginning. You'll get faster as you go along and you won't have to re-study subjects.

You will be able to pace your Fl's to one per week will a whole day to review your performance in detail (making more Gold Notes). Scores will fluctuate but, overall, should improve over time.

Then you ace the MCAT!



PS: the following will derail you: using outdated or poorly constructed prep material that will have you chasing details that don't show up on the MCAT; not studying; not properly reviewing your FLs.