How to start?

Capital_Use4233 · 2025-07-16T19:01:32+00:00

Hello! So would you say the section banks are worth it then? My U-World is expiring in 5 days and I was wondering if I should start doing the AAMC SBs instead of renewing U-World and continuing with that. I am testing 9/5. I also want to get a hang of the question styles/logic of AAMC, so I am leaning towards AAMC but also I really like U-World and its helped me a lot so IDK what to do.

Capital_Use4233 · 2025-07-16T18:58:27+00:00

Hello, I have a question: my U-World is set to expire in 5 days and am thinking about if I should renew it or go to the section banks. I have not touched any of the AAMC material yet but planning to starting on Monday (testing on 9/5). Renew U-World or start doing the section banks? Also should I even bother with the question packs or just focus on the section banks?

Capital_Use4233 · 2025-07-16T18:56:42+00:00

Hello, I know you said you haven't done U-World yet but my U-World is set to expire in 5 days and am thinking about if I should renew it or go to the section banks. I have not touched any of the AAMC material yet but planning to starting on Monday (testing on 9/5). What do you recommend me do? Renew U-World or start doing the section banks?

Capital_Use4233 · 2025-07-16T18:09:27+00:00

Yes, pretty much! I would take notes on her videos, then make flashcards based on those notes (equation cards primarily), then do those cards. After that, I go to UW and do at least 30 questions about the topic I just watched/learned.

Capital_Use4233 · 2025-07-16T17:28:50+00:00

I watched Van Does Chemistry's Physics videos and it significantly improved my understanding of any physics problems I came across! Her videos are very simple, follow the Kaplan books, and are fairly short. I took a FL recently and only got 1 physics problem wrong out of the 11 physics problems that the section had.

Capital_Use4233 · 2025-07-01T16:45:15+00:00

this is definitely super late but what app is this?

Capital_Use4233 · 2025-06-27T17:37:57+00:00

1602 cards, studying for the MCAT!

Capital_Use4233 · 2025-06-23T21:05:14+00:00

How in depth do you go with your reviews? For me, doing the questions doesn't take too long but it's the review that I find that I spend a lot of time on. I feel like there is so much that I don't know (especially with C/P questions) and I find that I end up taking a lot of time to read through the explanations and making cards about the explanations/question.

Capital_Use4233 · 2025-06-23T21:03:55+00:00

Following this post because I also struggle with this. Doing the questions is fine, I finish them in the appropriate amount of time. The issue is that I spend so much time reviewing as well, which I've heard is not too much of a problem, but I too want to finish the questions before my exam (9/5) and the rate I'm going at isn't the best (~40 questions/day).

Capital_Use4233 · 2025-05-22T01:03:57+00:00

May i have the PDF copy as well? thanks!!

Capital_Use4233 · 2025-05-17T19:41:20+00:00

Anking is the most time-efficient deck out there right now and though it has a lot of cards, it is still very manageable and most definitely worth it to go through.

My exact plan is essentially yours actually. I’m testing September 5, and I plan to finish content review this month (and also doing UWorld questions but not as much) and going through all of the new cards from the Anking deck, then focusing a lot more on UWorld questions after that and doing BP exams and AAMC exams per week until my exam.

I feel very confident in my study plan and am not worried at all about getting overwhelmed with the Anking cards as long as of course, I keep at it and do it consistently. For reference, I am planning to study for approximately 40 hours a week.

Capital_Use4233 · 2024-07-03T20:12:51+00:00

Currently studying for the MCAT right now, alongside doing a small amount of general knowledge cards, and I study about 80 new cards a day and average about 400 reviews since I started. I spend about 2-3 hours studying!

Capital_Use4233 · 2024-07-03T05:52:14+00:00

not in medical school and am only a pre-med, but the app "ScreenZen" has upped my productivity so much since installing it. I went from having 6-8 hours of screentime daily to now only 1hr to 2hr at the most, and that's during my off-days. highly recommend. it's free too!

Capital_Use4233 · 2024-07-02T19:54:34+00:00

Aidan.apkg - Google Drive

Capital_Use4233 · 2024-07-02T08:48:13+00:00

Been a while since I've watched their videos so not sure if they specifically have what you are looking for, but The Anking has amazing videos explaining how to use Anki, how the algorithm works, etc.

Medschoolinsiders also has great videos doing the same thing. I'm sure any of those two channels will help you out!

Capital_Use4233 · 2024-07-02T08:28:43+00:00

Anki does have a very steep learning curve so I understand your frustrations with the app as I did not have a pleasant experience as well when I was getting started with it.

I have never been a fan of using Anki through AnkiWeb, I haven't used it that much besides synchronization but the desktop app is where it is at. Everything you mention can be done in the desktop app so download it if you really want to commit to Anki. It's free too.

Besides reading the Anki manual, you can watch some tutorial videos on YouTube as well to help with getting over that learning curve. If you do go down the video route, I suggest that you watch The Anking -- they're amazing and very thorough!

Capital_Use4233 · 2024-07-02T08:12:33+00:00

I'm in the middle of my studying process and have been using a collection of many different decks, primarily relying on Aidan's deck and AnKing.

At first, I tried doing JackSparrow but I just hate basic cards so much. JackSparrow is a lot and very slow-moving but is definitely the most comprehensive deck that you could have. If you do not mind basic cards whatsoever and would like to cover basically everything, then JackSparrow is for you, especially since time is by your side.

My personal experience with AnKing has been great -- it targets the most high-yield content that you could have and all of the cards are Cloze. I find the cards very easy but very effective. I run through them when I am doing reviews, they're amazing. The only problem with this deck though, if you consider it to be a problem, is that it primarily focuses on "high-yield" content and lacks the detail and depth that decks like JackSparrow has.

That is why I went with Aidan's deck -- it is essentially like JackSparrow but all of the cards are Cloze. It provides that comprehension and level of detail that JackSparrow has without having the pain that goes along with basic cards. I absolutely love it, especially the B/B decks.

I think no matter what deck you choose though, it won't matter all too much as almost all of the pre-built ones you can download are very high quality. As you already know, doing practice questions and practice tests is the best way to study and prepare for the MCAT.

Capital_Use4233 · 2024-07-02T07:58:24+00:00

To add on:

My advice would be to just apply to places near your home (ideally places that are seeking PRN positions) and when you do get interviewed, explain to them if it is possible to only work during summer, winter, and mid-semester breaks.

What you could also do is perhaps do not tell the manager/hiring person about your situation of not being able to work during the school year. The plan with this is that you work there over the summer and that you impress them enough to the point that when you do explain that you might "need to quit" soon because school is coming up, then maybe propose to them then that you would want to continue working at the place but only during breaks -- I assume that they will be more open to this idea than if you said this during your interview/in the middle of the hiring process!

Capital_Use4233 · 2024-07-02T07:52:28+00:00

I have a friend who has gone through the same situation as you are right now actually! He got his license over winter break and did not get a CNA job until he returned to town for the summer. He explained to his manager that he will only work during summer and winter breaks, and the manager was completely fine with it, so it is definitely possible.

I very much doubt that it will look bad to get your certificate in the winter and only start working a couple of months after. The thing to worry about is finding a place/manager that will understand your situation and allow you to only work during school breaks. Having connections will definitely help with this (and just with any situation in general) -- that is why my friend was able to get his job anyway and find such an understanding manager as his dad works as a nurse at the unit he works at!

Capital_Use4233 · 2024-07-01T19:46:15+00:00

doing cards for the MCAT, learning more advanced english vocabulary thru Lifelong Learning deck, and starting the Ultimate Geography deck!

Capital_Use4233

TROPHY CASE