Question for those that have Taken the GRE, LSAT, MCAT

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03-30-2006, 03:38 AM
vqc

Question for those that have Taken the GRE, LSAT, MCAT

What books did u use to study with?

For the LSATs I was going over
"The PowerScore LSAT Logic Games Bible"
and I am looking for some good overall prep books (CHARDRIAN SAVE ME, someone point Chard this way)

I am about to finish my 2nd year of college this year and the more I think about what I want to do, the more confused I get. I wont have a problem taking any of these tests and I just want to have an idea as to wat they will all be like.

So does anyone who has taken the GRE or LSAT or MCAT have any recommendations for prep books?

Thank you!
03-30-2006, 10:32 AM
flomo

Don't bother with the MCAT unless you really want to be an MD/DO.
4 years undergrad
4 years med school
3-8 years residency and fellowship
minimum 11 years to be a family practice doctor(Becker)

just something to think about

Good Luck!

if that didn't discourage you from medicine then nothing will
03-30-2006, 04:31 PM
donkbee

I took the MCAT last summer and used Kaplan's book. Do you want it? I have a shitload of past exams too if you want. I didn't take a course, don't bother with one, it's a waste of money. I self-studied for the entire thing and kicked ass in it, proving that a course is sooo unnecessary :D
03-30-2006, 04:44 PM
chardrian

Re: Question for those that have Taken the GRE, LSAT, MCAT

Quote:

Originally Posted by vqc

What books did u use to study with?

For the LSATs I was going over
"The PowerScore LSAT Logic Games Bible"
and I am looking for some good overall prep books (CHARDRIAN SAVE ME, someone point Chard this way)

I am about to finish my 2nd year of college this year and the more I think about what I want to do, the more confused I get. I wont have a problem taking any of these tests and I just want to have an idea as to wat they will all be like.

So does anyone who has taken the GRE or LSAT or MCAT have any recommendations for prep books?

Thank you!

I didn't use any prep books for the LSAT.

I believe the company (or shall I say monopoly) that actually oversees the exam also sells old LSATs with answers and maybe even one book with the answers and short discussions explaining WHY each answer is correct.

I just got those, and took a whole bunch of old LSATs.

The best study method for any standardized test is simply to take as many actual old ones of them as you can.

Regarding MCAT stuff, my wife did buy a bunch of books - I can look into that if you want when I get home.

If you want to chat more in depth - hit me up on MSN tonight.
03-30-2006, 04:50 PM
a500lbgorilla

Asians auto ace these tests so you're cool.
03-31-2006, 03:04 AM
vqc

Quote:

Originally Posted by a500lbgorilla

Asians auto ace these tests so you're cool.

I wish.

Ill be on MSN once i get back to school next monday.
Thank you guys.
03-31-2006, 04:52 AM
DaNutsInYoEye

Re: Question for those that have Taken the GRE, LSAT, MCAT

Quote:

Originally Posted by chardrian

The best study method for any standardized test is simply to take as many actual old ones of them as you can.

I've heard from several people that Exam Krackers has a good series of books for the MCAT. When I was preparing for it though I just got as many old exams and practice tests I could find. You can buy the actual tests from previous years and I would definately recommend doing that. I remember one book I had had 5-6 full length tests with answers and a brief explanation of them. I know you can also purchase practice tests with solutions directly through the AAMC website.

As with most standardized tests, there is a certain "style" to the questions and passages. The more familiar you are with how things will be presented and how they ask things, the better off you'll be. Being a good test taker can be almost as important as the actual knowledge you have.
03-31-2006, 05:44 AM
vqc

Re: Question for those that have Taken the GRE, LSAT, MCAT

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaNutsInYoEye

Quote:

Originally Posted by chardrian

The best study method for any standardized test is simply to take as many actual old ones of them as you can.

I've heard from several people that Exam Krackers has a good series of books for the MCAT. When I was preparing for it though I just got as many old exams and practice tests I could find. You can buy the actual tests from previous years and I would definately recommend doing that. I remember one book I had had 5-6 full length tests with answers and a brief explanation of them. I know you can also purchase practice tests with solutions directly through the AAMC website.

As with most standardized tests, there is a certain "style" to the questions and passages. The more familiar you are with how things will be presented and how they ask things, the better off you'll be. Being a good test taker can be almost as important as the actual knowledge you have.

THank you, I will keep this in mind.

I have more test taking skills than actual knowledge =), so standardized tests work out well for me.
03-31-2006, 01:41 PM
donkbee

Re: Question for those that have Taken the GRE, LSAT, MCAT

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaNutsInYoEye

I know you can also purchase practice tests with solutions directly through the AAMC website.

Except you definitely shouldn't do this because Courtie will give them to you free if you're nice to her ;-)

Exam Kracker's books are pretty. I only glanced through them, didn't actually use them, but I hear they're good.

A note about the Kaplan practice exams: they are WAY harder than the AAMC exams. In other words, the actual MCAT is way easier than any Kaplan practice test.
04-04-2006, 10:57 PM
DeusX

Quote:

Originally Posted by courtiebee

I took the MCAT last summer and used Kaplan's book. Do you want it? I have a shitload of past exams too if you want. I didn't take a course, don't bother with one, it's a waste of money. I self-studied for the entire thing and kicked ass in it, proving that a course is sooo unnecessary :D

+1
Kaplan = waste of 1K
I didn't take it but studied from the book. Notes are good, tests are few. Try a couple actual AAMCs like DaNuts was saying. Ultimately, the biggest thing is pacing yourself for it - actually make sure you sit under the real test conditions (at least a few times) or your gonna run out of gas...really...don't cheat yourself or you'll end up with a 4 on a section like a mate of mine got.

As for what flomo said....sad but true lol. Mind you, for me at least there's only 2 years of classes once you get in med, the rest is all on the wards...
But yeah, you're not earning a decent wage until you make those 11 years!
04-05-2006, 12:37 PM
chardrian

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeusX

As for what flomo said....sad but true lol. Mind you, for me at least there's only 2 years of classes once you get in med, the rest is all on the wards...
But yeah, you're not earning a decent wage until you make those 11 years!

That's a crock. Four of those years vqc is doing regardless - he's already in undergrad and it doesn't sound like he is dropping out. So he's looking at four more years of school and 3+ years for residency. Residents, however, are paid. They aren't paid well, but they are paid. And after residency you are looking at 6 figures easy. My wife is in her third year - I am hoping to retire once she starts bringing home teh bacon.
04-05-2006, 01:34 PM
flomo

I was only trying to help.

Anyone take all 3 tests?
He asked for help on 3 different tests. If he narrows down to taking 2 tests, he will have more time for poker, FTR and his avatar.

chard
your wife a 3rd year student or 3rd year resident?
my wife is also in medicine and she only took the MCAT because that is what she wanted to do with her life. She took the MCAT last cetury and we are still at least 3years from the bacon.
04-05-2006, 01:40 PM
donkbee

Bleh, definitely narrow it down. These exams are expensive. MCAT cost me 200 USD, and I'm not even gonna apply to med school. I took it because I thought I wanted to, and then I realized I didn't want to anymore after I registered. So bye bye $200 :(
04-05-2006, 04:02 PM
chardrian

Quote:

Originally Posted by flomo

I was only trying to help.

Anyone take all 3 tests?
He asked for help on 3 different tests. If he narrows down to taking 2 tests, he will have more time for poker, FTR and his avatar.

chard
your wife a 3rd year student or 3rd year resident?
my wife is also in medicine and she only took the MCAT because that is what she wanted to do with her life. She took the MCAT last cetury and we are still at least 3years from the bacon.

I wasn't upset. You are right it is definitely a commitment - my wife works way more than I do and she is paying to work that hard.

My wife is a 3rd year student. You are 3yrs away from the big big bacon - but most residents are making 40k a year, which to the average American is not a pittance... but I understand that most residents are also well in the 6 figures of debt after med school.
04-05-2006, 04:50 PM
pizzatron

I took the GRE and it was all about vocab. Just search the web for lists of GRE vocab words, it helped my verbal score quite a bit.

Besides that, taking a bunch of old exams is always a sound strategy. I don't know about MCAT/LSAT though...
04-05-2006, 10:30 PM
DeusX

Quote:

Originally Posted by chardrian

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeusX

As for what flomo said....sad but true lol. Mind you, for me at least there's only 2 years of classes once you get in med, the rest is all on the wards...
But yeah, you're not earning a decent wage until you make those 11 years!

That's a crock. Four of those years vqc is doing regardless - he's already in undergrad and it doesn't sound like he is dropping out. So he's looking at four more years of school and 3+ years for residency. Residents, however, are paid. They aren't paid well, but they are paid. And after residency you are looking at 6 figures easy. My wife is in her third year - I am hoping to retire once she starts bringing home teh bacon.

My point was that if you're going in it for the money or prestige etc, its not worth it (I'm certainly not suggesting vcq is). Med school is expensive, and when you're a resident, your not making a huge wage for what you do (in terms of hours and what you put in from the start). Its a commitment to a long road ahead and some people I know made that commitment from the start with an attitude of "med or bust" (probably in it for the wrong reasons too!). One of my friends is stuck with a degree in science that isn't useful to him in what he wants to do now. He continually says to me "why oh why did I take bcem instead of business?". If you're gonna do science anyways then great. Just my 2 cents...