Hey everyone. Anyone else studying for this bad boy currently? When are you taking it? Anyone in the July 8th boat? Woo Woo. Good luck to all preparing.

I'm in..........for the umpteenth time, lol!!!
Haven't set a date yet though, probably shooting for a May/June timeframe, which means I have to register next month!

THIS time I'm using TBR with EK bio and so far so good, when I manage to study. I'll be on a regular study schedule starting next month.

yes, I haven't officially signed up yet... but I plan on taking it in a few months.

I feel so overwhelmed with deciding which review books to buy. a family member wants to buy them as a gift, but I don't know which to choose... SDN has a 3 months review schedule books from all diff. companies, or I could go with on review (PR, Kaplan, etc.) i don't think I'll be taking a review course or anything..

any recs for whether to piece together the best books from diff. series or just sick with one series?

As of now, I'm using Exam Krackers 1001 Questions just to go over content review and get in the habit of seeing the various topics in multiple choice question format. (Amazon has these at lower prices) Once that's done, I'll move on to AAMC exams. I feel really overwhelmed when I go to the bookstore and there are so many ways to prep that I feel if I'm not getting the "right" one then I'm missing out and not studying EVERYthing. Once I got that out of my head, I just looked through the books to see if my level of understanding clicked with the way they presented the material. So, for me, I'm just focusing on the best way to go over all the content before timing myself and taking full length exams. After content, maybe then is a good time to do passages and eventually lead up to the full lengths.

I haven't tried TBR, but I will look into that.

As for your question about sticking to one series, I don't think it matters so long as you squeeze in somewhere the AAMC practice exams. I'm no expert since I'm currently doing the process right now, but that's just how I'm thinking of it. Hope that helps.

I'm taking it! I'm currently using EK 1001 and EK comprehensive package. EK 1001 is awesome! It's been a long time since I've taken classes and the books have helped a lot.

I decided to get any early start and begin with Physics. Yuk!!!

So far though, I like TBR's approach and I'm hoping it yields HIGH results!!!! Actually, I'll settle for getting back what I put in, LOL!!!

I am planning on taking it on July 8th, but an swamped with other coursework so I may push it back till August. I have an email in to someone from admissions to see if this could really harm my application process. I am sort of wigging out about the whole thing and feel really underprepared. How many hours a day and for how many weeks did you really put in to study before hand? any tips would be wonderful

hey sleepless. dont wig out! its hard, but recent coursework will help to prepare you. I cant say how many hours you need to prepare. for me, it had been a few years since i had some of the classes, so i needed to study more than someone who had the material more recently.

i used examkrackers to review. i did not like their workbooks, but i did like their textbooks/review books. in addition, you should do ALL of the practice tests you can on the official MCAT website. one of them is free and the rest are $35 each. very much worth it. try one of the practice tests to get a feel for how prepared you are. and dont worry if you dont do well, it may take some time to get used to the format of the test. pay attention to your practice score. if you cant score above a 25 after you have done a few, then i might push back the MCAT or figure out what the problem is (just one area?, or need to change study habits?). i felt comfortable once i was above a 30, but always assume you'll do worse on the real thing.

talk to an admissions person, but im pretty sure taking the MCAT in august would be a huge disadvantage.
if you're shooting for harvard or some other very competitive med school, then you might want to wait to take the MCAT and apply next cycle. if you have a less competitive school in mind and you know them well, they know you well, maybe you can talk to them and see what they're willing to accept. good luck!

I begun my prep this month trying to use EK Lecture books and their 1001 series. I scored an 8 in Physical Sciences in 2006 and a 5 in Physical Sciences in 2010. Go figure! So I am really really trying to concentrate on my Physical Sciences score especially Physics. However, I keep hearing that the Berkeley Review books are great for physical sciences but they are so hard to get...and my budget is kinda low. Hopefully I can afford to get some at the end of this month. I would still have the entire month of July to study with them.

Test date: July 29th

Wanted to save my AAMC exams until July. I have 4-8.

Perhaps I will purchase 9 and 10 in July.

TBR books are the best I've seen and I've tried them all!

Well until I am able to get those TBR books...looks like I am going to have to go back to the Gen. Chem. textbook and use online videos for Physics.

I took EK Lecture 3 In-Class Exam in Chemistry and my feelings were seriously hurt!!!!!!

I can't wait until I am able to get Berkeley Review...but I sure hope they are very readable and as good as everyone proclaims them to be.

Definitely feeling much better! I know I can do it...I just have to stay strong and be persistent.

Stay encouraged fellow MCAT Takers!