Taking the MCAT By: Jason Younga

First MCAT Experience Took August of 2005 Took August of 2005 Prior to my 4 th year of college Prior to my 4 th year of college Took the Kaplan Prep Course Took the Kaplan Prep Course May thru August May thru August Horrific Experience Horrific Experience I should have never taken the MCAT at this point in time I should have never taken the MCAT at this point in time

First MCAT Review Unprepared Unprepared Never took some prerequisites Never took some prerequisites Anatomy and Physiology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Physics 2 Anatomy and Physiology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Physics 2 Time Time Coaching Football and studying Coaching Football and studying

First MCAT Review Con’t What I did wrong What I did wrong Should have studied more and sooner Should have studied more and sooner Organized my time better Organized my time better Took more prereqs Took more prereqs Devoted more time Devoted more time Focused on Verbal Reasoning more Focused on Verbal Reasoning more Cut down on working hours Cut down on working hours Worked roughly 40 hours/week Worked roughly 40 hours/week

Never Ever Give Up After a disappointing first MCAT, I decided to take everything again After a disappointing first MCAT, I decided to take everything again Registered for the April MCAT Registered for the April MCAT

Preparation I took the Kaplan Prep Course again I took the Kaplan Prep Course again I took more prerequisite classes I took more prerequisite classes Anatomy and Physiology Anatomy and Physiology Biochemistry Biochemistry Genetics Genetics Immunology Immunology Lightened work and class load Lightened work and class load hours/week hours/week Classes: Immunology, Statistics, and Advance Calc Classes: Immunology, Statistics, and Advance Calc

Study Tactics START STUDYING EARLY START STUDYING EARLY Read, Rewrite, and Review Read, Rewrite, and Review Practice Test Practice Test Take as many as you can Take as many as you can Take test with other people Take test with other people Review Test out loud with other people Review Test out loud with other people Set out set time for studying Set out set time for studying

Strategy Maintain a high confidence level Maintain a high confidence level It is good to be cocky while taking the MCAT It is good to be cocky while taking the MCAT “I am going to get a 40P on the MCAT” “I am going to get a 40P on the MCAT” Think every answer I pick is correct Think every answer I pick is correct Predict answers prior to choosing an answer Predict answers prior to choosing an answer Keep moving and do not focus on previous questions and answers Keep moving and do not focus on previous questions and answers

Advice Start early and maintain a steady pace Start early and maintain a steady pace Maintain a steady pace so that you do not get burned out. You cannot cram for the MCAT Maintain a steady pace so that you do not get burned out. You cannot cram for the MCAT Know the most productive to study Know the most productive to study Study with other people Study with other people Create a schedule that is not demanding Create a schedule that is not demanding Practice as much as you can Practice as much as you can The more test you take the better you know the format The more test you take the better you know the format

Advice Con’t Do not listen to stories about the MCAT Do not listen to stories about the MCAT Especially horrific stories Especially horrific stories The MCAT is only as bad as you make it The MCAT is only as bad as you make it

GoodLuck