fluorescein Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 I've registered to write the MCAT in mid-August... everyone I know who plans to write the MCAT is taking prep classes. Essentially, my problem is that I have about $50 in the bank. haha. I have all of the ExamKrackers books (you'd best not ask how I got those ), but thats really all that I have. Is there a chance that I can do decently well without actually taking prep classes or buying a bunch of materials? If so, how? Tips and advice please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1234 Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 The course itself is a waste of money and time. Get the Princeton Review books, EK 101 Passages and EK Verbal, get all the practice tests off AAMC (share the cost with a friend). Study on your own - the course just goes through the book. To have a good chance of doing well, you need the above tools. Can it be done? I did it and scored pretty okay (39Q). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smile Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Yes, you can do great. Study smart from your EK books, and then do plenty of practice tests. I would purchase all the official AAMC tests from aamc.org. I believe it's about ~$125 for access to all 8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smile Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 The course itself is a waste of money and time. Get the Princeton Review books, EK 101 Passages and EK Verbal, get all the practice tests off AAMC (share the cost with a friend). Study on your own - the course just goes through the book. Can it be done? I did it and scored pretty okay (39Q). 1234 is clearly very talented. I wouldn't go as far as saying courses are a waste of money for everybody. If you're not proficient in self-studying, then a course is a good alternative. I believe courses are about $1500. If you consider the cost of Princeton Review/Kaplan books ($100), EK101 ($30), EK Verbal ($15), and all the official AAMC tests ($125), you're at about $270. So I guess the cost of all the online resources, classroom time, and access to the teachers is about $1200. That being said, I too didn't use a course and I still did well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jochi1543 Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 I have all of the ExamKrackers books (you'd best not ask how I got those Pirate Bay? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
token Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 EK and the AAMC practice tests are seriously all you need....Maybe the EK 1001 books if you're weak on science. I was considering taking a course and am SO GLAD I didn't waste my money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluorescein Posted June 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 The course itself is a waste of money and time. Get the Princeton Review books, EK 101 Passages and EK Verbal, get all the practice tests off AAMC (share the cost with a friend). Study on your own - the course just goes through the book. To have a good chance of doing well, you need the above tools. Can it be done? I did it and scored pretty okay (39Q). Hahaha yes, thats a "pretty okay" score:p. I'll look into the princeton review books and the aamc practice tests, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluorescein Posted June 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Pirate Bay? Haha shhh . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluorescein Posted June 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 EK and the AAMC practice tests are seriously all you need....Maybe the EK 1001 books if you're weak on science. I was considering taking a course and am SO GLAD I didn't waste my money. Wasn't even aware of the existance of the EK 1001 books, haha thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
token Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 Wasn't even aware of the existance of the EK 1001 books, haha thanks! They should be available from the same, er, source. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluorescein Posted June 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 They should be available from the same, er, source. Sadly I can't find them . haha. I guess theres always ebay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oak Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 I've registered to write the MCAT in mid-August... everyone I know who plans to write the MCAT is taking prep classes. Essentially, my problem is that I have about $50 in the bank. haha. I have all of the ExamKrackers books (you'd best not ask how I got those ), but thats really all that I have. Is there a chance that I can do decently well without actually taking prep classes or buying a bunch of materials? If so, how? Tips and advice please? I did alright (35Q) for spending $150 in study materials. I used the EK verbal book and the big kaplan book. These and some AAMC exams are more than sufficient in my mind. Prep classes are overrated. If anything, they contribute to the test taker's mental confidence. "Well, I DID spend $2500 in preparation for the exam, so I should be at least as prepared as the guy sitting next to me". As far as the content goes, I don't think there's anything the prep classes teach that you can't learn by yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oak Posted June 2, 2009 Report Share Posted June 2, 2009 The course itself is a waste of money and time. Get the Princeton Review books, EK 101 Passages and EK Verbal, get all the practice tests off AAMC (share the cost with a friend). Study on your own - the course just goes through the book. To have a good chance of doing well, you need the above tools. Can it be done? I did it and scored pretty okay (39Q). Totally agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluorescein Posted June 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 I did alright (35Q) for spending $150 in study materials. I used the EK verbal book and the big kaplan book. These and some AAMC exams are more than sufficient in my mind. Prep classes are overrated. If anything, they contribute to the test taker's mental confidence. "Well, I DID spend $2500 in preparation for the exam, so I should be at least as prepared as the guy sitting next to me". As far as the content goes, I don't think there's anything the prep classes teach that you can't learn by yourself. What Kaplan book did you use? I have all of the section quizzes and the full length tests, but I've heard that they're a bit sketchy compared to the actual exam. haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ldnk Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 Try your local library. Someone possibly donated a prep-book or two. I know that the London library system had Biehl's MCAT Physics book (an older edition) and the most recent MCAT 45 from Kaplan. Also, your course notes/any textbooks you kept from those courses are more in depth than any MCAT prep book. Print off the MCAT Essential Materials stuff and you have more than enough resources at your hands from Undergraduate Biology/Chem/Physics/Orgo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluorescein Posted June 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 Try your local library. Someone possibly donated a prep-book or two. I know that the London library system had Biehl's MCAT Physics book (an older edition) and the most recent MCAT 45 from Kaplan. Also, your course notes/any textbooks you kept from those courses are more in depth than any MCAT prep book. Print off the MCAT Essential Materials stuff and you have more than enough resources at your hands from Undergraduate Biology/Chem/Physics/Orgo. I will certainly run to the library today, you never know! haha. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmorelan Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 I will certainly run to the library today, you never know! haha. Thanks! got a premed club at your university? Waterloo has one and between them and the career centre there are several MCAT prep books etc avaiable for sign out. I think I will ultimately be donating my books there once some friends use them this summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oak Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 What Kaplan book did you use? I have all of the section quizzes and the full length tests, but I've heard that they're a bit sketchy compared to the actual exam. haha. I used the "Kaplan Premier Program" book. Their tests are a bit different from the actual one, and a bit harder, but in the end it's still worth your time doing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 got a premed club at your university? Waterloo has one and between them and the career centre there are several MCAT prep books etc avaiable for sign out. I think I will ultimately be donating my books there once some friends use them this summer. Haha! Sounds like a plan....but don't donate those books yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jochi1543 Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 Yeah, the public libraries here in Calgary all have MCAT prep books. The downside is that the waiting lists are ridiculous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmorelan Posted June 3, 2009 Report Share Posted June 3, 2009 Haha! Sounds like a plan....but don't donate those books yet thats the summer part, they are waiting for you at any time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
covarubious Posted June 6, 2009 Report Share Posted June 6, 2009 did you also get the audio osmosis recordings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluorescein Posted June 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2009 did you also get the audio osmosis recordings? i got those a few days ago, have you used them/did you find them helpful? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
covarubious Posted June 16, 2009 Report Share Posted June 16, 2009 i got those a few days ago, have you used them/did you find them helpful? didn't write yet ... the jokes are sooo bad lol but they axplain things clearly and go into detail about tips on how to write the mcat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ontariostudent Posted June 16, 2009 Report Share Posted June 16, 2009 The jokes might be bad but that's how they get the point across. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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