Podcasts about examkrackers

The medical school interview process is filled with fear and doubt. Take a listen to hear 5 common questions and learn how to answer them so you're prepared. Links:https://medicalschoolhq.net/pmy-232-struggling-to-choose-a-specialty-he-started-podcasting/ (Full Episode Blog Post) http://www.undifferentiatedmedicalstudent.com/ (The Undifferentiated Medical Student) may be heard on https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-undifferentiated-medical-student/id1173721448?mt=2 (iTunes), http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/ian-drummond/the-undifferentiated-medical-student (Stitcher), and https://player.fm/series/the-undifferentiated-medical-student (Google Play). http://mededmedia.com/ (MedEd Media Network) https://www.aamc.org/cim/ (Careers in Medicine – AAMC) https://www.extension.harvard.edu/ (Harvard University Extension School) https://www.examkrackers.com/ (Examkrackers) https://www.khanacademy.org/ (Khan Academy) https://case.edu/medicine/ (Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine) https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/applying-medical-school-process/applying-medical-school-amcas/ (AMCAS) http://www.aacom.org/become-a-doctor/applying (AACOMAS) ryan@medicalschoolhq.net

Advice for the MCAT from an MCAT expert [Show Summary] The MCAT is one really tough exam, and must be approached with careful and deliberate preparation. In this episode, Megan Galvin, National Director of the MCAT for Examkrackers for the last 12 years, takes you through everything from how much time you need to prep, to the way you should prep, and how you know when you are ready to take the MCAT. Megan Galvin of Examkrackers lays out her tips for crushing the MCAT [Show Notes] Our guest today is Megan Galvin, who since 2007 has served as the National Director of the MCAT for Examkrackers, one of the most respected MCAT prep companies around. There are few people who know more about the MCAT and prepping for it than Megan. I’m rather embarrassed to admit that it’s been around 5 years since Megan was last on Admissions Straight Talk, but I’m very happy she can join us today. Megan, we last spoke a little over 5 years ago way back at episode 47, which aired on March 27, 2014. How has MCAT prep evolved since the introduction of what was then something very new and scary: MCAT 15, which is now old hat. [2:29] Overall it is a much better test and students are earning much higher scores. I absolutely feel it is hitting a lot of areas students will do well in, so I am very excited about it. Students are scoring 35-45% higher than prior to 15, which allows me to work with them with much more ease. A range of 508-512 is what I am seeing now. Let’s turn to the MCAT itself and how Examkrackers recommends that students prepare for it. When should pre-meds plan to take the MCAT? [4:20] I like to talk to students around sophomore year so they can anticipate what is on the horizon. When all pre-reqs are completed that is an indicator they are ready and should start preparing. If there are students who don’t want to take a gap year then definitely they should take the test in their junior year. Every student is different, but what I do is offer an assessment of each person coming in, which gives me an opportunity to talk about their individual circumstances. I see students who are freshmen at conferences all the time, which is great, but earlier on with freshmen/sophomores, I advise them to do really well in their classes, get a strong GPA, take on leadership roles, in the summer do shadowing/scribe work and build their resume. After pre-reqs are complete, then focus on the MCAT. How much time should students allow for MCAT prep? [9:01] A normal student needs between 10-14 weeks that is exclusively for test prep, so 5-6 days a week and 3-4 hours a day. I don’t believe it should be all content for several weeks and then start doing practice exams – you should be doing the practice exams throughout. We do a diagnostic with students when they start because they need to know how the language of the test feels, and when they have a meltdown or a brain freeze. I have people do 2-4 chapters of reading a week in order to retain content. I also have them do 30 minute mini practice exams and then review to understand what they get wrong, and then do full length practice exams every other weekend. I also want students to do several different chapters each day – don’t focus on just one topic. OK. Let’s say I’ve taken a course and studied or prepared on my own. How do I know I’m ready? [13:06] Trusting your gut is really important. The full length practice exams don’t lie, so while I am working with a student I talk to them about what their strategy should be after taking some diagnostics. A lot of times students think they are going to miraculously do better, and that just doesn’t happen. There are also many students who come to me and say, “I’m taking it in May, and then will be taking it again in July,” so they want me to enable them to take the exam again. I tell them, “Take it one time. Do you want to carry the stress and anxiety into a second exam?” Aim for one time, and if you are not ready, do not do it yet. https://blog.

Examkrackers Janis Stott joined me to talk about the common misconceptions she sees from students about the MCAT. We also talk about EKs new MCAT Hotline. Links: Full Episode Blog Post Examkrackers Examkrackers Hotline

Session 11 Your questions, answered here on the OldPreMeds Podcast. Ryan and Rich again dive into the forums over at OldPreMeds.org where they pull a question and deliver the answers right on to you. Today, they discuss about the best resource for studying for the MCAT, what you need to do, and some things you need to consider to find your best resource. OldPreMeds Question of the Week: Looking at retaking the MCAT with a 19 on the old exam and trying to avoid going to the Caribbean. What is the most useful resource for studying for the MCAT? Here are the insights from Ryan & Rich MCAT used to be a 3-part exam: Biological sciences Physical sciences Verbal Reasoning In 2015, MCAT now covers 4 sections: Chemical and physical foundations for systems Critical analysis and reasoning Biological and biochemical foundations Psychosocial and biologic foundations of behavior What you need to do for the MCAT: Have a preparation plan. The courses you take as an undergrad are not enough preparation, Understand how the exam works. Understand the strategies for reading and answering the questions. Practice, practice, practice. It's not just knowing the content or how to approach the exams, but it's having a head game to take the exam. Don't take the exam until you're ready to do so. Get started with the AAMC exams (the closest thing as the real exam as possible.) Get another set of exams with one of the providers. "How Many Practice MCAT Exams Should I Take?" Rich's rule of thumb is to do 4-6 practice exams under realistic conditions in getting scores you're comfortable with before you take the actual exam. "Which MCAT Prep Company Should I Use?" Look at your finances. It could cost $2,000-$3,000 to take a course. You may self-study (if you have good habits and can be disciplined) and get retail books provided by an MCAT prep companies  such as Kaplan, Examkrackers, Princeton Review. Live classroom or live online? That's your personal preference. Which of the courses of these companies are going to work for you? Kaplan stresses the most amount of strategy to take an exam. Princeton Review is a content-heavy course. Examkrackers offers online and in-classroom classes but there are mixed reviews about their classrooms. Free online resources like the Khan Academy (a few years ago, they hooked up with AAMC to run a contest and funding for people to rate MCAT prep materials for their system) Things to consider here when choosing your resources: Your learning style Your discipline in studying Your financial considerations Understand where you are in the process and how are you going to be able to schedule all these things Major takeaway from this episode Rich personally believes that everyone should be in some sort of formal course (online or classroom). If you're thinking about investing a couple hundred thousand dollars of debt to go to med school, then $2,500 to pay for a prep class is not that expensive. Links and Other Resources Check out AAMC’s MCAT 2015 practice test. Test prep companies: Kaplan Princeton Review Examkrackers Khan Academy If you have questions you want answered here on the OldPremeds Podcast, go to oldpremeds.org and register for an account. Go into the forums and ask a question. Go to medicalschoolhq.net/mcat for a ton of great MCAT information. Listen to our first episode at OPMPodcast.com/1 to find out more about who we are. Also check out the Premed Years Podcast at www.medicalschoolhq.net. Find us on iTunes and go to opmpodcast.com/itunes and leave us a rating and review. Check out MedEdMedia.com for all the shows that we produce including The Premed Years and the OldPreMeds Podcast. We will soon be launching a medical school podcast as well so stay tuned! Email Dr. Ryan Gray at ryan@medicalschoolhq.net or connect with him on Twitter @medicalschoolhq.

In today’s episode, Ryan talks with Ryan Nguyen, a 1st year medical student at Western University College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific. He now blogs at WhiteCoatDO.com., a premed blog that provides a wealth of information about the admissions process. Links and Other Resources: Full Episode Blog Post WhiteCoatDO.com PracticalPremed.com http://calnewport.com/blog/ (Study Hacks) mdjourney.com Examkrackers books Kaplan MCAT Course Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy If you need any help with the medical school interview, go to medschoolinterviewbook.com. Sign up and you will receive parts of the book so you can help shape the future of the book. This book will include over 500 questions that may be asked during interview day as well as real-life questions, answers, and feedback from all of the mock interviews Ryan has been doing with students. Are you a nontraditional student? Go check out oldpremeds.org. For more great content, check out www.mededmedia.com for more of the shows produced by the Medical School Headquarters including the OldPremeds Podcast and watch out for more shows in the future! Free MCAT Gift: Free 30+ page guide with tips to help you maximize your MCAT score and which includes discount codes for MCAT prep as well. Hang out with us over a medicalschoolhq.net/group. Click join and we’ll add you up to our private Facebook group. Share your successes and miseries with the rest of us. Check out our partner magazine, www.premedlife.com to learn more about awesome premed information. Next Step Test Prep: Get one-on-one tutoring for the MCAT and maximize your score. Get $50 off their tutoring program when you mention that you heard about this on the podcast or through the MSHQ website. Check out their 10-full length practice tests and save 10% using the code “MSHQ”. Listen to our podcast for free at iTunes: medicalschoolhq.net/itunes and leave us a review there! Email Ryan at ryan@medicalschoolhq.net or connect with him on Twitter @medicalschoolhq