This is a comprehensive MCAT course covering all the subject matter on the MCAT.
The point of this course is to provide you with the information and structure that you need to study and ultimately do well on the MCAT exam.
WHY take a $1,800 class when 90% of it is just to provide you with the structure. The materials can be bought separately for a fraction of the price. WHY, because if you need this structure there is no other option, until now. This will be a formal course that will provide all the structure and information that you need for less than 6% of the cost.
Format and Length
This is NOT a study group. The material will be taught and there will be time for discussion and questions.
The class will meet for two hours twice a week from the beginning of January to the beginning of April. The format will use PowerPoint and will be interactive. Each class will include a short break.
PowerPoints will be available before class to review. There will be Quizzes to help you with memorization and understanding. These quizzes are, of course, only for your benefit. It will be clear what material needs to be memorized and what needs to be understood. Quizzes will be announced or unannounced. Obviously the point is that you have the necessary information on test day, not for a class quiz, and I will structure the class to prepare you for the exam.
Time and location
The class times are planned for Sunday (in the afternoon or evening) and Thursday (in the evening). The exact times will be announced prior to the first class. I will try to accommodate everyone’s schedule. I will refund your deposit if you cannot take the class due to scheduling reasons. The location is TBA.
There is no class scheduled on the Sunday before Martin Luther King Jr. day or on Easter Sunday. No class during spring break, except a review the Sunday before classes resume.
Practice MCAT Exams
I have set up 4 time slots for practice exams. This will be a great chance to work through the material in real time. Also since everyone will be taking the same exam at the same time, it will be ideal for discussing common problems with classmates.
I am asking you to spend 4 weekends taking exams. That is a lot of time. But that is to spend 4 years in medical school, and the rest of your life as a doctor.
Review book
To the best of my knowledge, the best MCAT prep book on the market is Exam Krackers. However, my class is not affiliated with any brand or book. Material will be a compilation from different sources. I will pass out a reading guide on what sections of your prep book to read when. Since I will be covering all the material on the exam, any comprehensive prep book should work.
Cost
If you register for this course by December 19th the cost will be only $100.00
After this date the cost will increase to $150.00
The deposit is $20.00
You will have two weeks after the class begins to pay the remaining amount.
Why so cheap? I am not doing this class for the money. I am only trying to compensate for the extra books and extra time that I need to put in, beyond what I would have if I were only preparing for myself.
You will have to purchase the practice exams from AAMC. They cost $35 an exam. This is something you would want to do regardless of whether you take a prep course or not. I do not know if I there are other ways to obtain these exams. I will inform you which exam you need to have and how to purchase it from the AAMC website.
Peer Instructor
My name is Jonathan Matzkin-Bridger and I am a junior undergrad here at Michigan. I will be taking the MCAT in May 2009. This means that I am putting in all my time and effort not only for you but also to improve my own score. I will take this class seriously, just as I will (and I am sure so will you) take the MCAT exam seriously.
Since I have not yet taken the exam myself, I will formally sit down with students who have taken the exam and learn some of the finer details, like how the computer software works. I am planning on having several students come in to talk about and answer any questions regarding their experience with the exam.
Any questions or comments can be directed to my e-mail, jonmzb@umich.edu
Please put “MCAT prep course” in the subject. I have set up a filter on my e-mail so this will ensure that your e-mail does not go unnoticed.
If you are interested please notify me as soon as possible.
Get to Know Everyone
Icebreaker
Overall MCAT Strategies
No matter how well you know the material, it is not enough
Specifically discussing time and guessing strategies
Format – How to master the MCAT style
Perceptions and Problems
What have you heard about the exam?
What are you most worried about? Why?
Taking the class seriously
Prepare. Read your prep book. Go to class. Read your prep book again.
You will be grateful when you get your score
Brief overview
Going over the syllabus
Student Panel
A group of students who have taken the exam share their experiences
Questions and answers
Practice Exam I (preliminary exam) Saturday morning January 10th
This will be the exam that will let you know what you need to focus on more and what you need to focus on less.
If you do not have time for the classes or the practice exams then you may not have time for medical school. If you honestly do not have the time or do not feel it is worth your time, you may want to seriously reconsider medical school, or at least consider putting it off until you can put in the necessary preparatory time. This is not time wasted.
Week 2:
Session 2 Sunday January 11th
Grading and Reviewing Exams
Grading your exam is as important as taking it.
We will grade exams and discuss the results
This will help you determine what you need to study
Session 3 Thursday January 15th
Physics
Vectors, force, and equilibrium
Discussion and questions
Week 3: (no class over the long weekend)
Session 4 Thursday January 22nd
Physics
Simple machines, collisions, fluids, and waves
Discussion and questions
Week 4:
Session 5: Sunday January 25th
Physics
Electricity and magnetism, waves, and light
Discussion and questions
Session 6: Thursday January 29th
Chemistry
Atoms, molecules, and solutions
Discussion and questions
Week 5:
Session 7 Sunday February 1st
Chemistry
Acid and bases, electrochemistry, begin thermodynamics
Discussion and questions
Session 8 Thursday February 5th
Chemistry
Equilibrium and everything associated with it, thermodynamics
Discussion and questions
Practice Exam II Saturday February 7th
Week 6:
Session 9 Sunday February 8th
Grading and Reviewing Exams
Grading your exam is as important as taking it.
We will grade exams and discuss the results
Are you paying attention and putting in the necessary time?
Did you improve in the subjects we have covered?
Have you put in the prep time, class time, and review time?
Session 10 Thursday February 12th
Organic Chemistry
Structure, categories and reaction types
Discussion and questions
Week 7:
Session 11 Sunday February 15th
Organic Chemistry
Categories and Reaction Types
Discussion and questions
Session 12 Thursday February 19th
Organic Chemistry
Categories and reaction types, interpreting lab results
Discussion and questions
Week 8:
Spring Break!
Week 9:
Session 13 Sunday March 1st
Review
Review of the physics, chemistry, and organic chemistry we have already covered.
Discussion and questions
Session 14 Thursday March 5th
Biology
Molecular and micro biology
Discussion and questions
Week 10:
Session 15 Sunday March 8th
Biology
Genes, the cell
Discussion and questions
Session 16 Thursday March 12th
Biology
Endocrine system, digestion
Discussion and questions
Practice Exam III Saturday March 14th
Week 11:
Session 17 Sunday March 15th
Grading and Reviewing Exams
Grading your exam is as important as taking it.
We will grade exams and discuss the results
Are you paying attention and putting in the necessary time?
Did you improve in the subjects we have covered?
Have you put in the prep time, class time, and review time?
Session 18 Thursday March 19th
Biology
Cardiovascular system and muscles, bones, and evolution
Discussion and questions
Week 12:
Session 19 Sunday March 22
Writing and Verbal
How to prepare for these sections on the MCAT
Discussion and questions
Session 20 Thursday March 26th
Review
What are you having the most trouble with?
What did we cover too quickly?
What are you worried about most?
Week 13:
Session 21 Sunday March 29th
Review
Session 22 Thursday April 2nd
Review
Practice Exam IV (The final exam) Saturday April 4th
Week 14
Session 23 Sunday April 5th
Grading the exam
Grading your exam is as important as taking it.
Grade the exams and go over the topics
How do you feel about your score?
We will talk more about this next session
Session 24 Thursday April 9th
What to do now
Discuss how you feel about the exam
Consider all options, when do you want to take the exam
When do you want to go to medical school?
If you are not taking the exam right away, remember to refresh your memory
Last minute strategies before you take the MCAT
Week 15:
Sunday, no class
Session 25 Thursday April 16th
Party
For those of you who missed 3 or fewer sessions
FREE food and/or ice cream – Details TBA
