Sounds like you’ve got a good plan going, Shannon! Keep up the good work. From what I understand, the format, timing, etc. takes some getting used to. So hang in there. 
I’m still on content review, wrestling with physics. I like TPR physics SO much more than EK physics, though. It’s just more detailed, which is what I personally need for this subject. (On the other hand, I found EK bio to be great.)
The last two weeks, my lab supervisor was on vacation, so I put in a LOT of extra hours, meaning MCAT study time was on the low end. But when my supervisor came back, she gave me a wonderful gift - this whole week off to study! Now I just have to put it to good use.
I’m hoping to finish up content review in about a week, then hit practice questions hard (I own the EK 1,001 series, and checked out some other MCAT question books from the library). After practice questions, then on to full-length tests.
I think one of the things I’m struggling with a bit is balancing MCAT study with the rest of the application process - getting my LORs in, working on my application (essays, work/activities), etc. There is just so much to do, and it’s not like you can put it all off until after the MCAT. (My LOR writers would just love it if I asked them to write me letters within a week, wouldn’t they?!)
With all that said, back to MCAT physics for me …
A week off is awesome! It will go by fast. Spring Break flew by for me and while I did accomplish a fair amount of MCAT stuff, it wasn’t as much as I had hoped I would get to. So it goes. Struggling with time is always going to be an issue because there just is never enough of it.
My 3rd Full length did not go as well as I had hoped. I went down overall from the first two. I finally got my PS score up, but both VR and BS went down a little. It was odd and disappointing, but I’ve reviewed the test and understand what I did wrong and what I did right a bit better so hopefully that will help me go up in scores consistently. My VR practice is still all over the place. Just when I think I’m getting better at it, I will do a few passage and get a 70% overall. However, VR is all about skills so I just have to keep practicing. I have done well in it before, but I just cannot do well consistently. So, once again, I am hoping for a consistent upswing.
Today I am exactly one month away from my MCAT. I just want to get it over with it already! Lots more practice tests to do, though.
Best of luck on getting everything you want accomplished this week, Lorien! Enjoy the MCAT physics review! 
Like you, Shannon, I have not accomplished everything I had planned to so far, but I still have a few days left in the week.
As for the physics review, it’s funny (and a bit frustrating) - some of what I’m struggling with most is the MATH. And I’m really good at math! (A’s in all the calc classes I took.) I think part of it is that I’m rushing a bit too much and making careless mistakes. And then all the negative exponents in electricity/magnetism … I know the rules for working with negative exponents very well, but again, I found myself making stupid mistakes, being off my one factor of 10, and then choosing the incorrect answer choice. So I’ve got to work on that a bit. Although that’s easier to fix than not understanding the physics concepts, I think!
As my mom is fond of saying, “Keep calm and carry on …”
date for the MCAT?
I was planning to go stag
Just started my months of FLs after 2 months of content review and passages. Today was AAMC3
P11/V11/B12
A good first showing but I definitely need to work on my test endurance. I can do passages all day long but the 4 hour ordeal is draining in a very different way.
Also, earplugs. Verbal took a beating (I think) because it got hella noisy mid-way through for 20 mins and it threw me off more than I thought.
I thought the 4 hours was bad enough - now prepping for Step II COMLEX which, like Step 1, is 8 hours. Going to do a lot more long passage prep this time around.
Kate
AAMC4
P12/V13/B11 (36)
Looking like a possible trend. Even though I scored higher this one actually was very good b/c it pointed out a couple of easier content areas to hammer out for more possible easy points (microbio among others).
I also make some adjustments on my test-taking “ritual” including how I use my breaks.
Feeling great for 4/27 (today).
- dnelsen Said:
P11/V11/B12
A good first showing but I definitely need to work on my test endurance. I can do passages all day long but the 4 hour ordeal is draining in a very different way.
Also, earplugs. Verbal took a beating (I think) because it got hella noisy mid-way through for 20 mins and it threw me off more than I thought.
I was up January 26th this year! And I’m still alive to tell about it.
I focused my study on the EK series and the EK 101 passages. In the last month, I alternated studying from the books with practice exams from AAMC.
I did all but one of the AAMC practice exams. I was even doing practice exams at Disney World in January! I would find a spot with wifi and a plug. One day a woman came up to me and said she thought my computer was stressing me out!
But it was all worth it! Practice exam scores ranged from 31-35, but on the real MCAT … 38!!!
I hope this is encouraging for those of you coming down home stretch. Keep up the studying! 
Wow, that’s a great score! Congratulations. And thanks for the encouragement.
AAMC5
P11/V11/B11
I know this will sounds insane but I was disappointed by this score. Mostly because of the sheer amount of “unforced errors” I committed in the physical and biological sciences. Rookie mistakes like mis-reading the passage or committing a careless math. Verbal was fine except for the Picasso passage where I think I got 3/7 which was apparently normal for this test from what I reading elsewhere.
At the end of the day, I am still in the range I need to be but I’m still feeling deflated.
Anyway hopefully my next one will be better! 3 weeks out!
- dnelsen Said:
P12/V13/B11 (36)
Looking like a possible trend. Even though I scored higher this one actually was very good b/c it pointed out a couple of easier content areas to hammer out for more possible easy points (microbio among others).
I also make some adjustments on my test-taking "ritual" including how I use my breaks.
Feeling great for 4/27 (today).
- dnelsen Said:
P11/V11/B12
A good first showing but I definitely need to work on my test endurance. I can do passages all day long but the 4 hour ordeal is draining in a very different way.
Also, earplugs. Verbal took a beating (I think) because it got hella noisy mid-way through for 20 mins and it threw me off more than I thought.
Hey all. Well, MCAT FUD has set in for me BIG TIME! I have taken seven practice tests (4 Kaplans and 3 AAMCs) thus far and I’m not seeing the nice upward trend I had hoped for. I am so frustrated and just cannot figure out what I’m doing wrong. I try to dissect my exams and point out any trends with my test taking but I just don’t see anything that I can actually work to improve on. I don’t seem to be lacking majorly in any content areas. I do need to hone my electrochemistry and nuclear decay more though. Both of those subjects were never covered in my regular courses (except for half life, but that is straightforward) and w/o that initial introduction it made the Kaplan review brand new to me on those subjects and so less of it really sunk in. Otherwise, I cannot waste my time trying to delve any deeper into content. I imagine molecular genetics/bio and enzymes are probably tested more heavily now so I had focused somewhat on making sure I have a decent foundation there, but really they could throw anything at us in this area. I took cell bio last semester and it was extremely detailed stuff and it would not be worth it to go back to that. I just have to hope my foundation in the subject will allow me to succeed on anything wacky they throw at us on test day.
I am visually awful at certain physics stuff, so it takes more time than I would like on certain things. The right hand rule crap never sunk in for me. A simple concept, but I always seem to get those wrong! It’s maddening, but again, I cannot spend too much time on this one area. So, I’m at a loss. I realize that my scores on practice tests will only require me to get maybe 2-3 questions more correct in any one section to boost up a point in any one section, but I cannot seem to get over the hump. I made the mistake of reading MCAT threads at SDN and I swear everyone is scoring 35’s and 36’s consistently on practice tests and am, well, not. I have an excellent sGPA (4.0) and feel I have a good enough grasp on most of the concepts but clearly I am lacking in the MCAT test taking strategies. Do I just suck at these standardized test questions? To be honest, I am not doing horribly, but my average is a 30 meaning, of course, that I have had scores just under and barely over 30. This just doesn’t seem competitive enough and the real deal will likely be a heck of a lot harder than these practice tests so I’m concerned I won’t break 30.
I feel I have a lot going for me in my application. My premed advisor says thus far I am “rock solid” but it all comes down to the MCAT in the end. She even said that it is such a major piece of the puzzle that it is hard to really say just how “rock solid” my ap will be w/o having that MCAT to complete the picture. It’s hard to swallow, actually, because I do feel I have everything going for me, but if I don’t do excellent on the MCAT my “rock solid” ap is just not “rock solid” anymore and then what? I think that I would probably get in somewhere with my stats, but I cannot move across the country (possibly not even the state!) so clearly all my eggs are in one (maybe 2) baskets here. I know that is far from advisable and most premeds apply to 14 schools on average, but I am not most premeds. I want to succeed no matter what, but I have also gone the extra mile a lot because I have to put all my eggs in one basket and I feel I have to make myself very attractive (not just sort of attractive) to one school in particular. I am so worried it’s all going to fall apart at the last minute.
The stress is also NOT helping in my current classes, either. I am still maintaining A’s in all my classes (thank god I was blessed with an ease of understanding ochem), but I am behind in Physics and have a second exam on April 15th that I fear I will end up cramming for which I don’t like to do. My ochem lab is really keeping me busy, too, with lab reports each week that always take hours to do and end up being at least 6 pages. However, my major concern is the MCAT, of course. I have worked way too hard for this to come apart at the 11th hour! I work hard, get excellent grades, am raising a 4.5 year old, volunteer, work, have clinical experience, etc. and now I just have to get a solid MCAT score, but I just don’t know what to do anymore to improve my trend on practice tests. I emailed my Kaplan instructor several days ago (I took an online Kap course) asking for suggestions, but I have yet to hear back which frustrates me as well. I hope I am not being written off as another neurotic premed. I know a lot of this is FUD and I know many will tell me to relax and take a deep breath, but I have done all that and now I have to get down to business. How is everyone coping? Anyone else finding their practice test scores stagnating? Any suggestions? Anyone have any inspiration on how they beat their average on the real thing and any ideas on why? Test taking strategies, etc.? Or just general encouragement would be welcome, too, but please no one tell me to relax!
Thanks OPMers!
Shannon,
Which AAMC tests have you taken? As your date approaches (I think you’re the last April weekend?), you should be focusing in on the later AAMC FL’s, #8 and later. Those were the more difficult ones, and IMO, most like the real thing.
I was in a similar situation with the Physics material, I don’t think we covered three chapters/topics in class that were on the MCAT. My recommendation would be to spend a day or two filling in those gaps (electrochem, etc) with Khan, Freelance-teach, and EK 1001. I remember watching some of those lessons from the very top, just to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
It does sound like you’re doing just fine, though. I think the rule of thumb is that if you haven’t scored at least as high as your target, than you may want to consider postponing. However, with a 4.0 sGPA, and an MCAT 30 or higher (as you mentioned your avg was), I think you’ll be looking pretty good overall! Good luck!
(and do yourself a favor…do stay off of SDN…)
Hey, olderguy! I have thus far taken AAMC 3, 4, and 5 (the “easier”, older ones). Next on the docket is #7. I have scored my highest (31) on both 3 & 4. I have also taken Kaplan full lengths 1,2,3, and 5 (skipped Kaplan 4 as I heard it was harder and I wasn’t in the mood for another potential score drop-but I will take it eventually). Anyway, my Kaplan Full lengths have not been budging. I got a 29 on the first one which was took before we finished up the last 3rd of the class so I was feeling pretty good about that at the time thinking that getting up to a 30+ after content review was not a far off idea at all. However, then I scored a 28 on Kaplan 2 (after content review was done) which just made me super unhappy, then a 30 on Kaplan 3 and a 30 on Kaplan 5. My Kaplan average is just over 29 and my AAMC is just over 30. Both together is just .25 point shy of 30. So, my target is 31-32 now. It was higher early on, but about halfway through Kaplan, I lowered it after to having a heart to heart with myself over the level of pressure I put on myself and deciding that aiming for a 31-32 is totally okay. Yes, I always hope and strive to do better, but I had to take a look at all I have accomplished thus far and realize that with my experience and gpa and all I have done and all the odds I’ve faced in my life that I can live with a 31-32 MCAT! So, I am a little shy of my goal about 3 weeks out. Plus, the practice tests are only going to get harder so I’m worried. I really don’t want to postpone. I have 20 days until test day and I don’t think I will be that much more prepared if I hold off until say, May 18th. My finals week is that week and I feel that would be overkill. I don’t want to push it off anymore than mid-May. Unless, of course, something happens that forces my hand, but I’m trying not to let negative, worse case scenarios enter my head right now. I am stressing myself out enough as it is.
I have a massive amount going on, no doubt, but that is no excuse. I feel like I should totally be holding my own against these younger typical premeds scoring in the mid 30’s. I go to school with some of these types and it blows my mind that some of them are scoring so high. Not that SDN is indicative of much, but I overhear stuff at school, too, and I wonder how it is that some of these students are getting these scores? I am in class with them and it makes no sense. Is there some standardized test trick book I’m missing out on? Clearly I am lacking somewhere but I’m at a loss to figure it out. I think I may have to do some additional dissecting of these practice test and see if I can figure out a trend. My weakest score is PS across the board. I have a hard time getting to a 10. Lots of 9’s though! Nothing less than a 9 in PS actually. VR has ranged from 9-12 but has mostly gone upward. I don’t think I’ve dipped below a 10 in VR since early on. BS has been relatively solid, but not as high as I had hoped or expected. I think I got one 12 in BS otherwise it has been mainly 10-11. I’d be fine with that on the real thing, I guess, but I really hoped to score very strongly in BS and the fact that I’m just hovering around a 10 is disappointing. If I put my highest scores into a hat, 10 PS, 12 VR, 12 BS, now that would be nice. Clearly, I can pull it off in any one section so it is clear that this is possible. Positive thinking!
From what I hear, it is harder to make gains in the 30’s than in the 20’s and the strategies I am researching aren’t much to write home about. Basically everyone says to either practice, practice, practice or go over each test with a fine toothed comb. I’ve done both. I have taken 7 practice tests and numerous Kaplan section and topical tests and I have gone over my practice tests. Perhaps I need to go through them even more.
I have been using Chad’s videos for the weak areas of mine (nuclear decay & electrochemistry mostly) so I’ll have to do a focused test on those concepts and see if it’s sinking in yet. Otherwise, I am keeping content review to a relative minimum. Flash cards here and there, looking things up when they pop into my head, etc. but otherwise it’s just tests, passages, etc.
Argh! I can’t wait for this leg of the journey to be OVER! A maddening roller coaster ride isn’t it? A taste of med school for sure, but at least then I won’t be dealing with magnetism, right hand rules, and circuits! Thanks for putting up with my long winded neurotic MCAT rants y’all! I have it together pretty well, but when I’m feeling the squeeze, it’s nice to know I can come on here and let it out! Let’s face it, us OPMs take on A LOT! I think we all deserve a little neurotic rant every now and again!
AAMC#8
P13/V11/B13 (37)
Fairly large spike after #5. I think I’ve patched a fair amount of content holes since I started FLs. Biology section had a lot of organic which is my strong point and probably contributed to my high score.
2.5 weeks out and 4 more AAMCs FLs left!
- dnelsen Said:
P11/V11/B11
I know this will sounds insane but I was disappointed by this score. Mostly because of the sheer amount of "unforced errors" I committed in the physical and biological sciences. Rookie mistakes like mis-reading the passage or committing a careless math. Verbal was fine except for the Picasso passage where I think I got 3/7 which was apparently normal for this test from what I reading elsewhere.
At the end of the day, I am still in the range I need to be but I'm still feeling deflated.
Anyway hopefully my next one will be better! 3 weeks out!
- dnelsen Said:
P12/V13/B11 (36)
Looking like a possible trend. Even though I scored higher this one actually was very good b/c it pointed out a couple of easier content areas to hammer out for more possible easy points (microbio among others).
I also make some adjustments on my test-taking "ritual" including how I use my breaks.
Feeling great for 4/27 (today).
- dnelsen Said:
P11/V11/B12
A good first showing but I definitely need to work on my test endurance. I can do passages all day long but the 4 hour ordeal is draining in a very different way.
Also, earplugs. Verbal took a beating (I think) because it got hella noisy mid-way through for 20 mins and it threw me off more than I thought.
Well, dnelsen, thanks for reinforcing my lack of confidence and generally feeling that I’m performing far below my abilities! lol.
But, seriously, congrats on such excellent practice scores and NOT being in the position I’m in with the MCAT 2.5 weeks away.
Best of luck to you to continue this success on the real thing!
After you crack a 30+ score I don’t think the goal should be to focus on improving since it’s so difficult to do from a statistical perspective.
IMHO, the goal should be to MAINTAIN that 30+ level of performance until you take the exam.
And add me to the Sept.12 test date, I’ll be pulling up the rear! 
Well, it is what it is, I guess. I have more than my fair share on my plate right now, but when has that ever not been the case? Most of us OPMs are used to being busy so I hate to use that as an excuse because it just doesn’t seem right. It irks me that I can run circles around my traditional classmates in class and I yet I can barely crack a 30 on the MCAT. Most of my mistakes are test taking issues, not necessarily content. But, I don’t have much time in general. I have a full course load and all classes are science (Neuroscience, Orgo II, Orgo II lab including at least 6 page lab reports each week, and Physics II with homework and quizzes weekly, yadda, yadda, yadda. Yawn, right?), plus I’m juggling the MCAT prep and motherhood, volunteering, work, etc. Same game, different semester, really, but throwing the MCAT into the mix makes me feel just shy of crazy some days. However, I was fully aware that things would be more crazy than usual this semester. I am very proud of where I am and how much I have accomplished and I can live with a 30 MCAT, but I really think I am capable of better, so I’m dissappointed in myself. The do-it-all gal in me is shaking her head, but the zen side of me is patting my back for having gotten this far. Plus, it’s not over yet!
All that being said, I do understand that it may not be statistically in my favor to try to improve on a 30 average, but truthfully, I am not going to stop trying. I have chosen many right answers in my practice tests, but changed them. This appears to be one of my biggest issues. I can usually narrow it down to 2 quite well, but then I often pick correctly and change it. It’s frustrating. Anyway, I will stop clogging up this discussion with my MCAT therapy.
Glad to hear you’re signed up for the MCAT, pathdr!!! Best of luck!
Shanport, it wasn’t my intention to discourage you in any way. We should all strive to score the highest we can.
It’s simply that the SDNish attitude of if you don’t score 30+ you shouldn’t get accepted into med school is just not true. A “33” score is the 10th percentile and surely most med students accepted to med school score lower than that.
Oh, I didn’t take your comments as discouraging at all, pathdr2b, so no worries! My neuroses are all my own. You do make a good point, though, about what seems to be statistically true for making gains in the 30’s (whether low or mid or high 30’s). I completely agree also that there are way too many others out there who act as if a 30 is just really horrible (and god forbid anything less than 30) and not med school worthy. It’s ridiculous. We all know that, yes, the MCAT and gpa is a big component, but there is so much an applicant brings to the table than just the numbers. Some immature, “resume padders”, may get a rude awakening when they don’t get that acceptance they hoped for despite having a “good” MCAT.
I will strive to score the highest I can, of course, but I need to lighten up on myself, too, and try not to fall prey to those “others” with short sighted ideas about what makes a good med school candidate. I should think my credentials thus far will get me far so long as I don’t completely tank the MCAT which I don’t think will happen. My stress is of my own making mostly, as usual. I beat myself up for not being one of those “high” MCAT practice test scorers, but I am sure I’ll be okay in the end!
My MCAT date is almost exactly 6 weeks out. I’m still plugging some content holes - my orgo class barely scratched the surface of carbonyl chemistry, so I’m really struggling with that. I’ve come to to the conclusion that for me, the EK content books just weren’t the most helpful. I actually just ordered TPR’s orgo book, which I hope to plow through (just on my weak areas) by the end of the weekend. My focus right now is practice questions, and full lengths before long.
Like you, Shannon, I feel as though I have a great application … everything BUT a great MCAT score at this point. Fantastic GPA all around, consistent volunteer work, excellent research experience, wonderful LORs, etc. Heck, my essays are even already in decent shape (which is less of a hassle for me than most, given my background as a journalist ). It’s just this darn MCAT. And 6 weeks … 6 weeks … time is ticking … ticking …
Then last week, I received the most wonderful, blessed gift. One of the best EVER in my life. Literally. It cost nothing to the giver, in terms of money, but makes all the difference in the world to me. My lab supervisor told me to take off as much time as I need to study for the MCAT. 
This was completely a surprise to me; I did not ask to take time off. At all. Granted, I will still have freelance work to do, but for the next 6 weeks, my life will be focused on the MCAT. As much as I can stand, that is! Not that this guarantees me a great score (I would really like a 35+, as 35 is the average for those accepted MD/PhD), but it gives me a fighting chance. I am so incredibly relieved (and thankful) right now, just for TIME. It is such a precious thing.
I’m thinking about ALL of you on a daily basis, as we work toward our MCAT goals!