MCAT BOOTCAMP

1. Preview
2. Kaplan Strategies
3. Timeline and Planning
4. Prep Options

Most Important Admissions Factor
the MCAT!!
Your MCAT score is the one way to compare all applicants
*the MCAT is also the strongest predictor of your med school performance

Application Killers
-unimpressive interview
-low MCAT score
(you want your max score possible!)

Medical school acceptance rate in 2011: 43.7%

National Average: 25
Matriculant Average: 31
(those who have been admitted to med school)

The MCAT Structure
Physical Sciences
52 questions
70 minutes
50% Gen chem
50% Physics

Verbal
40 questions
60 minutes

Biological Sciences
52 questions
70 minutes
Biology (more heavy on bio) and Ochem

MCAT Scores
percentile: score
50%: 25
75%: 30
90%: 33
*small improvements in your score translate to leap frogs in your percentile ranks

The MCAT will reward you for knowing "stuff" and knowing how to APPLY that "stuff"

Bootcamp Rules
1) you are not allowed to look at the answers
2) you will never see these questions again on the MCAT
*we care about the process to get to the right answer, so that you can replicate this same strategy on
your own

Discrete Question Chemistry
ideal gases occupy 22.4 L at STP when there is 1 mole of gas
-however the question refers to grams not moles
-which sample has fewer moles? (chlorine)

Critical Thinking Exercise
let us pretend there is no volume and no attractive forces
-we have an ideal gas
gases behave the most ideally at high volumes and high temperatures
a) the curve will flatten out, broadens the curve, closer to ratio =1
b) the molecules will be behaving less ideally, further from ratio =1

BE EFFICITIENTLY LAZY!!!

Discrete Question Biology
hypotonic environment means you have a low concentration of solute outside the cell compared to the
inside of the cell
-higher concentration of water outside the cell compared to inside the cell
-water travels down its concentration gradient, water from outside will go inside the cell
-the cell will now start to swell
-the pump will save the day!!!
-we need to put more solute outside of the cell, pump will pump net 1 ion out
-the more you pump the closer you get to an isotonic state
-pump will increase consumption of ATP to a point where it will get to an isotonic state and then
decrease back to where it started
Answer: A
why - the question states immediately

Building Passage Skills
-make sure you are reading efficiently
-you can highlight on the MCAT
-don't get bogged down in the detail
-only come back to a paragraph if a question requires it

Aufbau Principle Passage
P1 - explaining the building up priniciple
P2 - alternative explanation
*when you see however, you want to slow down and pay close attention to what is changing
P3 - explanation

Passage Skills - Questions
Question #1:
Answer: B

Question #2:
psuedo-discrete question
Answer: A

Verbal Passage
-no prior content knowledge required

P1 - traditional view of the angels and devil but more complicated

P2 - equilibrium is needed

P3 - order when we have laughter

P4 - devil and angel laughing but making different sounds

P7 - we cannot distinguish the types of laughter

Question #1
Answer: A

Question #2
Answer: B
eliminate anything that refers to the angel's laughter

Study Plan
-we have lots of free resources
-study thoroughly and take the test seriously
-set aside 4-5 months to study (300 hours)
*you cannot cram for the MCAT!!
-use practice materials and leverage computer based practice
-MCAT scores are generally accepted for 3 years from test day

What do you need to prep effectively?
1. confidence
2. expertise
3. guidance

Resources:
-70+ hours of live instruction
-130+ hours of on demand videos
-AAMC practice (8 full lengths exam and assessment package)
-MCAT Smart Reports
-Mobile-enables prep

Program Options
on demand
classroom anywhere
classroom on site
one-on-one

3 Classes
MCAT advantage
MCAT advantage plus
mcat advanced

Higher Score Guaranteed