Hello,    The question was asked last night, "where do I find the MCAT 2015 practice exams?"   Answer, with my suggestions. Your goal is to have those practice exams.  Here are the steps with obstacles to get those exams:   1. Sign up for an AAMC.org account. (You have to have an account in order to access the material) After you have... read more

Here is the thing about watching Zig Ziglar in video: "He makes me feel like a kid in the 70's." But, his principles for success ring true:   Identify the Goal (Clear, identify the target, nothing nebulous and be specific) List the Benefits  (For you, what you want, vitally important) List the Obstacles to Overcome (Anticipate in advance, things that could... read more

Hello to everyone who is just getting back into the groove for the first day of class!  I am excited for you guys and gals.   Josh Kaufman wrote The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business.  Great book to read if you are contemplating an MBA, are interested in starting your own business or have already started a business and are looking for some help.   The... read more

Happy Post-Holidays! Now that we're getting back into the swing of things, I hope to update this blog more often, so keep tuned. I've gotten some inquiries from medical school applicants seeking assistance on the application process and how to stand out from the crowd. Here are some suggestions that I can give based upon my experience as both a successful applicant and applicant interviewer... read more

Today's focus is on being an active test taker, instead of a passive test taker.     Almost everyone during MCAT prep says that "I don't know how they got this from the passage!"  Then you can point out the section the question addresses and the answer is now obvious.  How do you keep track of everything you've read in the passage?   Many of us... read more

I am excited for the semester break, but I am more excited for next semester.  Are you ready for next semester chemistry?  How well did you do last semester?     I am pleased to say -and I was very hesitant being that one of the students approached me with 5 days until their exam- that both of my students passed with flying colors last semester.   I am... read more

Factors                        SN1                                SN2                         E1                             E2 nucleophile:... read more

The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam (MCAT2015) wrote the phrase "Practice Effectively and Vigorously," under the tab "What Are the Best Ways to Practice for the MCAT Exam?   I couldn't agree more.     Do you remember when Allen Iverson said "not a game, we're in here talking about practice?"  Well, unless you "practice effectively... read more

One of the most difficult aspects of MCAT prep is the sheer amount of information you need to know. You have to start off knowing about chemistry, physics, psychology, and (of course) biology. Then they toss in the CARS passages, where they give you something to read and expect you to answer some pretty difficult questions.  It can be pretty intimidating, and even more so without a clear... read more

Hello all!   I am super excited to sign-up for The New MCAT.  I can't tutor on the new exam without taking it, so I will be on a journey to make sure that the exam is everything the committee says it is.   I will be posting different material, study questions and strategies that I find useful for preparing for this exam.  I hope this will help you to, and... read more

6 Steps to Creating a Successful MCAT Study Plan In this document we will go over the steps for how to create a successful MCAT study plan. All of the advice comes from many years of experience, working for several of the large test prep companies including Kaplan, Next Step and others, and working with hundreds of different students. 1. Start with the Official Materials, familiarize... read more

A very common question I hear from my MCAT students is that "How much math do I need to know ?" On Test Day,  no calculators allowed.  The following tips will help you all identify what math skills you’ll need.   MCAT Math: The ability to perform arithmetic calculations, including proportion, ratio, percentage, and estimation of square root. An... read more

Hey folks,  I am sure many of you have plans of going to college or finishing up that last hectic year of school.  Well with these endeavors comes not only tests and quizzes created by books and your professors/teachers, but you also have to take nation and statewide test in order to pass and/or qualify for a position in a higher learning institute.  Such tests include the SAT,... read more

A big hurdle in preparing for the MCAT is planning a strategy to deal with the stress of the exam, particularly the Verbal portion. The creators of the MCAT exam do not anticipate that the student will complete all the questions on the Verbal portion, so having a strategy to deal with the time-limited exam is vital. I show students how to plan for this stress and how to be able to overcome... read more

To reflect changes in medical education, the MCAT will have a new format.  The current format was introduced in 1991, and starting in 2015 the test will have the following 4 sections:   1) Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems, 2) Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems, 3) Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior,... read more

The article below is on changing oceans.   Scientists are struggling to find the trigger for a disease that appears to be ravaging starfish in record numbers, causing the sea creatures to lose their limbs and turn to slime in a matter of days. SAN FRANCISCO - Scientists are struggling to find the trigger for a disease that appears to be ravaging starfish in record numbers along... read more

"How is this clinically relevant?" is a question that I've heard on a daily basis now that I'm a medical student. People are concerned that what we're taught in lectures have little to NO RELEVANCE to the kinds of situations we will encounter in the clinic. Going into clinics, I've encountered the same attitude, from residents, to senior attending physicians.    Premedical... read more