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[I]
> Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2002 12:19:47 -0400
>
> Well sir, your work on your website is quite impressive, alot of hours must
> have been sent replying to emails, you're a good man. My question is simple
> and it's aimed directly at you... say, hypothetically speaking, you are
> accepted to Jefferson, Dartmouth, University of Mich, and Georgetown... where
> do you go and why??? chris
Well Chris,
I'd do a lot of research about each of the schools. I'd check
out on-line
med school ranks, residency acceptance rates, clinical opportunities,
the
curriculum, school costs, living expenses, places to live and
to play. I'd
even find a way to talk with some of the medical students at
the schools
when I went up on an interview--not the ones they want me to
talk to, the
ones having lunch at one of the hangouts near the school--the
ones with the
medical student IDs.
Then I'd go to Georgetown, cause I really like D.C.
Best,
-Rich
[II]
> Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2002 11:03:21 EDT
> Subject: When should I start preparing for the MCAT?
>
> Hi my name is Annie. I am a sophmore in college and I recently bought the
> Kplan prebook and thought it would be a good idea to start studing it no even
> though I havn't taken some of the courses that the book covers yet, but I
> thought that I could maybe create an out line of the subjects in the book and
> then use it during my course work at school. Do you think this is a good idea
> or should I wait. Also do you have any other ideas about how I can prepare?
>
> Thank you for your time,
>
> Annie
Hi Annie,
I have an idea, learn as much about the MCAT as you can--now.
Unfortunately,
the tests in the Kaplan book do not resemble the MCAT, but Kaplan
does do a
good job covering the subject matter on the MCAT. What you may
want to do is
to order practice test IV or V or VI from the AAMC website. Look
it over a
bit and then find an intelligent and articulate person who has
already taken
the MCAT. Don't be concerned with the subject matter on the test,
instead
ask them about how the information on the test is presented,
and how the
questions are asked.
What you should discover is that the MCAT is unlike any other
test you are
likely to have seen, in that the test is like a game of hide
and seek, and
that 50% of the information presented is never needed to answer
a question.
The MCAT is a "find the needle in the haystack" test.
The majority of the
questions do not ask you to solve a problem as you are use to
doing on
"normal" tests, instead the MCAT tests your ability
to think conceptually.
Instead of asking "how much?" the MCAT asks "why?"
In order to answer why,
you must find one or two needles in the passage and combine them
with a
needle in your memory to conceptually arrive at an answer, and
frequently a
reason for that answer.
Now all this can't make perfect sense yet, but the sooner
it does the
better. Once you start to understand what the MCAT is like you
can begin to
prepare for it. When you study a subject that's on the MCAT don't
just study
for the "A", study to understand why things work the
way they do. Instead of
thinking in the linear manner in which the course is taught,
think globally.
Make connections that span multiple chapters. Look for needles
in haystacks,
and when you find them, think about what they mean and why they
are there.
Summary: Find out as much as you can about the MCAT now.
Best,
-Rich
[III]
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 20:44:14 +0000
I do realize that I have a speed reading
problem. It is hard for me to
finish reading section on a standardized test in the given amount
of time.
Any advice on that. I still got three yrs to go before I take
MCAT.
Hi,
While there are a lot of "stupid verbal reasoning tricks"
floating around,
the truth is that reading comprehension is not "reading"
at all, instead it
is very quick skimming, followed by reading the question, and
then
re-skimming the passage, and then using the process of elimination
on the
answer key, and then looking at your timer to decide how long
you should
spend on this particular question before moving on.
The best way to get good at verbal is to take as many high
quality timed
verbal reasoning sub-tests as possible. Specific "tricks"
work best for
specific individuals, if some don't work for you, don't waste
time on them.
Most importantly, never consider verbal reasoning to be a reading
test, it
is instead an extreme game of hide and seek with the game clock
set to five
minutes past completely unreasonable.
Good luck!
-Rich
|
AAMC 2003 UPDATE: Are timers allowed for the MCAT? Due to advancing technology and the wide spread availability of digital image capturing equipment, no timers are allowed for the MCAT, except wristwatches (and we prefer analog watches). Rich: Bring a simple watch with a count down timer, not a chronometer--count up timer. To avoid beep - O - interruptus, set your watch for one hour more than the allotted time. OR... Take all your practice MCAT tests using an analog watch as a timer. As each section of the MCAT begins adjust the watch so that it will read 12:00 when time expires for that section. Use the same approach on the actual test. |
[IV] From a local student in Miami, FL
> Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 20:57:59 -0500
>
> Hey Rich -
>
> I was planning on taking the MCAT in April, but I will be taking Orgo 2 during
> the summer.
>
> Some people have been telling me that since the format for the MCAT is
> changing, that it would be ok to take it in April still.
>
> What do you suggest?
>
> Where can I get info regarding what will be covered on the new MCAT?
>
> Please let me know ASAP, cause I would like to sign up for a class!
>
> Thanks - M
Hey M,
If you are taking Orgo 2 in summer you should NOT take the MCAT till summer.
There is limited info posted about the new MCAT format at
http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/start.htm;
see also STUDENT MANUAL for
topics on the old MCAT. Most other sources of information about
the new MCAT
are speculative and cannot be trusted. The bottom line is that
the changes
to the test are expected to be minor and should not greatly effect
the way
one prepares for this exam. Also, the AAMC should have reformatted
practice
tests soon that reflect the changes to the MCAT.
Best,
-Rich
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