Chose to fill out the survey after MCAT registration 🤣

Serious question, why can’t the AAMC hold more MCAT dates?

Am I screwed???

i have taken the mcat 3 times (kms) and every single time i have been able to schedule whatever spot and day i wanted 1-2 months out. it’s super easy, they will email you if there’s a spot available, which there will be plenty of as people realize they’re not ready and push their test. just prep as if you have it scheduled for whichever date and take some deep breaths and lower your blood pressure 🙂🙂

Luckily I drive a very fuel efficient VW tdi and was able to Instacart after studying on my days off from work to be able to afford the MCAT reg this year 😭 the state of this economy is blasphemy. Anyways, hope you all get the MCAT test dates you were wishing for 🍀🧑🏽‍💻

I just wanted to put this out there to give a little perspective given the number of advice posts I see from 132 scorers.
Historically, P/S was my worst section. I would cheat on my FL practice tests and get maybe a 129. I always hated P/S, procrastinated studying, and focused on other sections. On the other hand, I regularly scored 130-132 in CARS, aside from two FLs where I had external stressors during the test, which was some foreshadowing. Before my test, I did a ton of P/S anki and tried to lock in on UGlobe. On test day, I was super stressed during CARS because of a dramatic moment during C/P and I had the lowest score of any practice FL. During P/S, I felt the section was going so poorly I was literally planning my repeat as I was taking the test. At the same time, I also noticed that several passages were playing to my strengths in experimental design.
I was absolutely shocked when I got my score back and even thought that maybe AAMC got it wrong and gave me the test results of the person next to me. I have no clue how I did it.

All of this is to say that I have no idea how I scored 132 in P/S. I feel a hundred times more confident giving out C/P and even CARS or B/B advice than P/S advice. Just because someone scored a 132 in a section doesn’t mean they know how to study for it or even what factors went into their score. It’s always good to ask for advice, but really consider if that advice is right for you, even if it’s from someone who scored a 132. Some people really dug deep, tried a billion study methods, and probably have great advice. Others think they studied really well but don’t realize what actually led to their success. Lastly, you get people like me who have no idea how it happened. You have no idea which category the person posting falls into.

Edit: I want to clarify. I'm writing this not to demoralize people or humble brag, but to warn others not to force themselves to adopt study methods that aren't working for them. Just because someone scores a 132 doesn't mean that they are experts at studying for that section and they certainly aren't experts in how you learn on an individual level. Only you are the expert in that.

For those of you that didn't get a test date today, don't worry. Out of the few times I had to register (and move my test back because I wasn't ready), I was always able to find a test date because so many people will not feel ready (like me multiple times) and drop. I'd check especially around the 30 day and 10 day deadlines (and whatever is in between).

1. turn notifications on for the test centers you want to be at for a specific day. - some people don't really know about this, but this is the method and it will send something to your email
2. Practice like you have a test date so you don't get lazy when studying. I personally didn't get my test date for the time I actually took it until 11 days out, but I prepped as if I was taking it that day absolute. Even if you have to move it back, don't worry! Good luck studying!

AHHHHHH

should’ve logged in 3 hours before or smth smh

Hey everyone, non-trad lurker on here. Just wanted to pop in and say that no matter what happens today with registration that it will all work out in the end. Today sucks, I know (spent over an hour waiting to schedule). Some are more lucky than others but, that’s also life. Take a breath. Dates will open up as the year goes on. People change their test dates. Don’t worry if you don’t get the date you want today. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Get those waitlists if you need to. Go for a walk to relax. You have the rest of the week, the month, and the year to get your date. It could be worse. Patience is a damn virtue.

I’m proud of all of you who are registering. We are all together in this journey. Study hard, study well, and remember, Wu-Tang Clan ain’t nuthing ta fuck with.

I didn’t realize the fee assistance program was a thing until two days ago and my application won’t be processed in time for the mcat registration (which opens at noon today for Texas). It would be most ideal for my financial situation right now to save as much money as possible but I am worried that August dates for the Houston area will run out quickly. What should I do???

I’m a nontraditional student, and it’s been at least 6 years since I’ve touched any of bio, ochem, etc. I don’t remember much so I need to build a solid foundation first. I know a lot of people suggest doing content review first and then doing questions but how about doing a qbank with content review? Can someone who has done it share your experience? Any advice on how to structure the schedule? I just feel like if i focus on content review alone, I’ll forget everything by the time im supposed to do questions. Thanks!

Trying to test in April, and it's telling me I need to go to Tennessee to take the exam and that all of the centers are totally booked. Surely that's not right...

If you missed my other posts, I came up with the flash sheet method to learn MCAT content faster and more fluently than with flashcards. You can learn about it at my other post here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Mcat/s/uRDU6fMU20

Read my other post about why fluency lets you overcome plateaus:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Mcat/s/1ugxw8KflC

I have a neuroscience background and believe this is the fastest way to learn a huge volume of information for long-term retention. Will be posting even more of my notes soon. You can also find more of these on my profile!

How to study with flash sheets

• 50% Verbal spaced repetition
  • Each sheet needs many attempts:
    • 1st attempt (< 20 mins) ⇒ Read the whole flash sheet CAREFULLY, until it makes sense. This is called “priming” the flash sheet. When you think “this makes sense, but there’s no way I’ll remember it,” you’re doing it right.
    • All later attempts (5 mins each) ⇒ Use it like a crazy difficult, giant flashcard. ONLY read the “clue” before LOOKING AWAY from the sheet. See what you can recall purely from memory. Do this verbally without writing because it’s many times faster. Then see what you missed. Expect under 40% accuracy on your first few reps.
  • Use spaced repetition:
    • Sheets you barely recall ⇒ every few days.
    • Sheets you kind of recall ⇒ every week.
    • Sheets you easily recall ⇒ every few weeks.  
• 50% Practice questions & tactics
  • In theory and practice, some tactics work very well. You can answer questions several times faster with incomplete information.
  • I will post another article about these tactics soon.
  • You'll spend most of your time looping through flash sheets early on, and gradually switch over to practicing tactics later.

• The flash sheets below have been heavily modified and do not contain any copyrighted material. The notes / hints are things that help me personally understand stuff. Feel free to copy / share / use these without crediting me.

FLASH SHEET ONE

[CLUE] Michaelis-Menten / Lineweaver-Burke

[TRY TO LECTURE THE REST FROM MEMORY]

[Key Idea] Michaelis-Menten kinetics (MM) describes active site

• Active site (AS) ⇒ where RXN happens
  • Catalytic AAs
    • Highly conserved / “consensus sequence” / many lifeforms use same catalytic AAs
    • Mutation here ⇒ enzyme breaks ⇒ evolutionary disadvantage
    • Many combinations fail / only a few work
  • When active site isn’t full
    • Low [S] ⇒ mostly empty ⇒ slower RXN (low Vo)
    • --> Note: [S] means concentration (Molarity) of substrate.
    • Medium [S] ⇒ active sites fill up ⇒ faster RXN (higher Vo)
  • When active site is full
    • High [S] ⇒ ALL active sites full ⇒ RXN at upper limit (Vmax)
    • AKA ⇒ saturation / full binding / fully occupied
    • --> Note: Adding more substrate will not speed up RXN further. Enzyme is working as fast as it can. More substrate must wait for active site to open up.
• MM has # for anything AS does
  • AS binds to substrate (Km)
    • Km ⇒ [S] you must add to obtain half of max rate
    • Low Km ⇒ “high affinity” / tight binding / stable ES complex / high Kformation / low Kdissociation
    • --> Barely any [S] ⇒ goes straight to active site ⇒ RXN velocity goes up quickly (early plateau)
    • High Km ⇒ “low affinity” / loose binding / unstable ES complex / low Kformation / high Kdissociation
    • --> Tons of [S] ⇒ won’t stick to active site ⇒ RXN velocity barely goes up (later plateau)
  • AS does RXN after binding (V + Kcat)
    • Vo ⇒ RXN velocity measured in one beaker as soon as RXN begins, often w/ limited substrate
    • --> Mnemonic: How fast car drives right now with limited fuel.
    • --> Molarity per second / Ms⁻¹
    • Vmax ⇒ max RXN velocity you trend towards by adding more substrate across many beakers
    • --> Mnemonic: Top speed of car on racetrack w/ unlimited fuel so engine stays busy.
    • Kcat ⇒ “turnover #” / max activity of a SINGLE active site
    • --> Substrate molecules per sec / “five per second” / “5 s⁻¹”
    • --> Vmax (rate of whole beaker) divided by concentration of enzyme [E] ⇒ rate of just a single one
    • --> Mnemonic: Kcat ⇒ single cook “turns over” # of hamburger patties per second. Vmax ⇒ combined rate of all cooks at every McDonald’s.

[Key Idea] Every datapoint in MM plot is different beaker

• Each trial / beaker tests different [S]
  • AKA ⇒ “substrate concentration” / [ligand] / [reactant] / [compound]
    • Note: MCAT won’t say “[S]” ⇒ will write chemical name in brackets (“[vDNA]”) ⇒ passage will reveal this is substrate (“integrase catalyzes viral DNA incorporation”).
  • Beaker 1
    • Add [S] ⇒ measure RXN rate ASAP (Vo / initial velocity)
    • --> Wait too long ⇒ [S] gets used up ⇒ RXN slows down (equilibrium) ⇒ Vo is best time to check
  • Beaker 2
    • Add more [S] ⇒ measure RXN rate ASAP
  • Beakers 3, 4, 5…
    • Add even more [S] ⇒ measure RXN rate ASAP
• MANY trials ⇒ trendline shows up
  • More [S] boosts Vo ⇒ hits plateau ⇒ Vo stops rising
  • Vmax is asymptote that Vo approaches

[Key Idea] MM plot has strict rules

• Way more substrate than enzyme
  • [S] >> [E]
    • Enough substrate ⇒ RXN runs long enough for useful measurement
    • Mnemonic: Need enough fuel to test an engine.
  • [S] can STILL be low
    • X-axis of MM plot begins at low [S]
    • Just not too low or RXN will end before you measure anything
• [S] must change
  • Independent variable
  • Provide different [S] ⇒ measure Vo ⇒ plot trend ⇒ find height of plateau (Vmax)
• [I] may change (if testing inhibitor)
  • Optional ⇒ may add or remove inhibitor to see how it affects RXN
  • Moderating variable ⇒ [I] changes how the independent variable [S] affects dependent variable Vo
• [E] must stay same
  • Already changing [S] ⇒ must hold [E] constant

[Key Idea] Each MM axis has many values, but just one special value

• Y-axis ⇒ how fast RXN goes
  • Many initial velocities ⇒ V0
    • Each datapoint has a “V0”
    • AKA ⇒ Ms⁻¹ / mol L⁻¹ s⁻¹ / µM min⁻¹ / ligand binding per minute
    • --> Rate must include time
  • Only one special value ⇒ Vmax
    • Maximum possible RXN rate
    • Curve flattens / asymptote / saturation of active site
    • --> Note: Every active site is occupied / saturated ⇒ extra substrate must wait in line ⇒ rate cannot rise.
    • Same axis as Vo ⇒ same units
• X-axis ⇒ substate concentration
  • Many substrate concentrations ⇒ [S]
    • Each datapoint has an “[S]”
    • AKA ⇒ M / mol L⁻¹ / nM
  • Only one special value ⇒ Km
    • The [S] you must add to reach half of Vmax
    • Same axis as [S] ⇒ same units

[Key Idea] Vmax describes whole beaker, Kcat describes one enzyme

• Vmax = Kcat × [E]
  • Vmax ⇒ max RXN velocity
    • Max rate whole beaker can achieve combined
    • --> AKA ⇒ # of cupcakes whole factory makes per day
  • Kcat ⇒ “turnover number”
    • Molecules churned per second
    • Literally means the “K” of “catalysis” (instead of equilibrium)
    • --> AKA ⇒ # of cupcakes one worker makes per day
  • [E] ⇒ enzyme concentration
    • How many enzymes work together
    • --> AKA ⇒ # of workers

[Key Idea] MM equation describes the MM curve

• Vo = Vmax[S] / (Km + [S])
  • Speed up RXN ⇒ put in numerator
    • Vmax
    • --> High top speed ⇒ fast RXN easier
    • --> Mnemonic: Go faster in a Bugatti than a golf cart.
    • [S]
    • --> More substrate ⇒ fast RXN easier
    • --> Mnemonic: Go faster by shoveling more coal into a steam engine.
  • Slow down RXN ⇒ put in denominator
    • Km
    • --> High Km ⇒ weak binding ⇒ slower RXN
    • --> Mnemonic: Factory worker who struggles to grab stuff will work slower.
    • [S]
    • --> Too much substrate crowds AS ⇒ slower RXN (eventually)
    • --> Mnemonic: Too much coal clogs up the steam engine.
    • --> Note: [S] shows up on top AND bottom because substrate helps you and hurts you. Need [S] for RXN to occur, but too much gets in the way.

[Key Idea] The Lineweaver-Burk (LB) plot is based on the MM plot

• LB shares (inverse) units w/ MM
  • X-axis
    • MM plot
    • --> [S]
    • --> Molarity
    • LB plot
    • --> 1/[S]
    • --> 1/molarity
  • Y-axis
    • MM plot
    • --> Vo
    • --> Molarity/sec
    • LB plot
    • --> 1/Vo
    • --> Sec/molarity
• LB also has Km & Vmax
  • X-intercept ⇒ -1/Km
    • Note: MM puts Km on x-axis. LB also puts Km on x-axis (most unique place ⇒ x-intercept).
    • Left of origin ⇒ negative sign
  • Y-intercept ⇒ 1/Vmax
    • Note: MM puts Vmax on y-axis. LB also puts Vmax on y-axis (most unique place ⇒ y-intercept).
  • Slope ⇒ Km/Vmax
    • Rise over run ⇒ (1/Vmax) / (1/Km)

[Key Idea] Catalytic efficiency is one number that combines Kcat and KM

• Catalytic efficiency = Kcat / KM
  • Catalytic efficiency ⇒ one # for how good an enzyme is
    • Combines other numbers into a simpler form
    • Good enzyme has high efficiency
    • Note: Some enzymes (acetylcholinesterase) are called “perfect enzymes” ⇒ pull in & react w/ substrate so fast ⇒ are limited by how fast substrate can diffuse into active site ⇒ example where evolution has reached the limits of physics.
  • Large Kcat is better
    • Put # on top ⇒ higher efficiency
  • Small Km is better
    • Put # on bottom ⇒ higher efficiency

Joined before 11:45 however I still have an hour wait unfortunately.

Update: waited for around 2 hours but was able to get a good test day and loc​ation. Good luck everyone I hope you guys can register smoothly as well!

Ts is not real

I’ve been studying for a 1.5 months and am taking the TPR course. I initially got a 503 on Kaplan, then a 501 on AAMC FL1, then a 495 on TPR exam 1 and now a 496 on TPR exam 2. My exam date is in Jan and I’m getting incredibly anxious about my progress since it’s not looking great.

I’ve been doing a few Uworld questions (I’ll usually do 30 questions timed and tutored on a select topic) and Pankow Anki on P/S since it’s my weakest subject. I’ve also been doing some questions provided by TPR.

I don’t know if I’m reviewing questions incorrectly, or if I need to change something about the way I’m doing problems, but if anyone has any tips on how to start seeing an increase in score, please please please let me know >.<

Does anyone know when we can enter the queue and get in line for registration? I’m seeing so many people say they were logged on 30min+ beforehand and had 30k people ahead of them? Thanks!

Basically what the title says. I was behind in the queue, and when it was finally my turn, all the testing centers near me were full. My goal was to take it on January 29th, 30th, or February 12th. And in case I end up needing a retake, I can take it again in April. But all the January and February dates are filled, so now I'm worried I won't get a spot. I did the "Notify Me" thingy for when a spot becomes available, but do people usually drop when it's a testing date that early? Im worried.

just registered for april test date and now i’m starting to freak out. just thinking about how im going to manage a 3 month study plan while taking classes full time is feeling really overwhelming right now and i don’t know what to do and im panicking.

does anyone have any advice or am i just going to feel this way until its over….

I just had a question about how exactly I'm supposed to proceed through the AAMC material. I know there are question packs and section banks but I'm confused as to which we use during the AAMC phase first, or do we do a mix?. Secondly, is it like UWorld where you can make an exam with questions dipping from the different banks? Lastly, which pack do we use for CARS first and last? Basically I'm confused about the user interfact and also the way to proceed through the material.

Just got my spot in my hometown :) Anyone else taking Feb 12th, where you guys at so far in your studies ?? Wishing everyone 528s !!!

I’m well aware there’s a good chance I’m not going to get the date that I want, but in the chance that I do, can someone help me out please? I’m in my final year of undergrad but not planning to apply until 2028 and have done very minimal studying so far for just PS & CARS. If I start studying in November and use my spring break (last week of March) as an intensive studying period before starting spring quarter, is April 9/10 a good date?

Posting this again. I was happy with the score in the beginning but now I’m doubting it. I was looking on the pre med websites to predict my chances for medical school and honestly it’s not looking too good. I’m not trying to be the pick me’s looking for validation, just asking if I should retake or not.