How I WISH I studied for the MCAT! (+ COMPLETE MCAT STUDY PLAN!)

[@ShaunAndersen]

Hey guys! As requested, here is my video on my entire AMCAS Application (Grades, MCAT Score, Experiences, etc.): kzbin.info/www/bejne/iommlHmPgb1roLM

[@fruitystar6085]

plz add subtitles....

[@bhavishyanarravula5771]

Please add subtitles

[@soniapardo5839]

this is the first MCAT prep video I've watched that didn't depress me. lol no offense to anyone else (it's me, really). thank YOU!

[@ShaunAndersen]

Lmao thank you so much!! xD That was actually my goal of this video! Too many MCAT videos instill fear and hopelessness haha!

[@smileydimples7152]

Mood

[@random2009ish]

It’s so weird how the universe works. This video popped up on my recommendations and I can’t thank you enough. I have been stressing over this exam and struggling trying to store all the info possible. Thank you for trying to help some us become one day amazing physicians

[@ShaunAndersen]

I am so happy that you found this at the perfect time! Always remember that the MCAT is just one part of the application process and does not determine completely your ability to be a good doctor! Keep on working hard and following your passion :) keep me updated on your MCAT journey!

[@random2009ish]

Shaun Andersen, Medical School Applicant Will do! Thank you again

[@mikesmithyes967]

This is the best MCAT prep video ever!!! Your channel is going to keep growing! Be patient and keep grinding!

[@ShaunAndersen]

That means a lot to me man 🙏 I just want to help others out! It's such a grind but it can better if we all help each other out!

[@natashaosborne4]

I’m super nervous about preparing properly for the MCAT. After watching your video I feel like I have a better understanding of what I need to do now. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[@ShaunAndersen]

So happy this helped you out, Natasha! :) Hopefully these resources work well for you! Keep me updated on your studying!

[@aamnaimran8964]

Hi Shaun! Thank you so much for your honest and informational video! I am an RN and on my way studying for the MCAT, and your break downs on how you would study has helped me form my future studying schedules!

[@ShaunAndersen]

Hey Aamna! You're so welcome; I am glad you found this helpful! It is awesome that you are an RN going to med school! I am sure you will do great on your MCAT!! :) Good luck!

[@gift3743]

I have so much anxiety for the MCAT, and I don't even plan on taking it until fall 2021. My worry is that I won't be able to get the classes I need done in time, and how to study for it. You absolutely helped conquer that second concern of mine, and I will definitely be sharing this with any person I know who's planning on taking the MCAT!! You are an absolute godsend!!

[@ShaunAndersen]

Ahhhh you totally got this! :D You have a year to study and I am sure you will feel extremely confident by then! Good luck! :)

[@masmoore8456]

Hello Shaun, I plan to take the MCAT May 2021. I had ZERO idea on how to plan for studying for it. However, I will be following your method and the four phases. I start phase 1 this week. I will let you know how successful your method was in a couple of months :)

[@ShaunAndersen]

Yoooo you got this!! I am sure you will do AMAZING! Especially since you are studying this far out!

[@marlashuman3373]

Thank you so much! I'm in applying to post-bacc pre med programs and you made me so excited to study for the MCAT! I feel super inspired. Thank you so much for all the knowledge and resources you shared. Sharing your experience was is so valuable. Thank you again! And Congrats about your matriculation!

[@ShaunAndersen]

Hey Marla! :D I am so happy you felt inspired! Good luck on your MCAT studying!! :) Thanks a ton!

[@elysekeller8933]

Thank-you for taking the time to make this video. It means a lot!

[@ShaunAndersen]

Of course! :) I just wanted to give my 2-cents about the exam and share some potentially useful resources! I hope it helps!

[@ayahshere]

like everyone else commented, this is the best MCAT prep video I’ve come across. I really appreciate all the tips since I’m studying for the MCAT now! thanks!!

[@ShaunAndersen]

Thanks so much!! :D I am so glad you found this helpful!

[@ThePeanutGiant]

I’m about a year away from even taking the MCAT, but because of my brother know a ton of docs. Every single one of them swear by UWorld. Definitely seems like it’s worth the money.

[@MrDanonduty]

Thank you very much Shaun, I am very pleased that I found your channel, this is the first MCAT video I found where you actually explain what are good strategies for studying specifically rather than only what resources are optimal, Thank you!!

[@ShaunAndersen]

Hey I am so glad to hear that! :) I tried to be concise and honest about what worked/didn't work for me and what EXACTLY I would have done differently! Good luck on your studying!

[@smilegirl101]

Thank you! This is very helpful, I work full-time so incorporating this to my schedule is what I’m planning on doing. Thank you for sharing!

[@ShaunAndersen]

Let me know how it works for you! :) Working Full Time is hard so I commend you for balancing both!

[@danielmccammon7299]

I have been stressing exactly HOW I was going to study for the MCAT and you really gave me peace of mind. Thanks Shaun! Huge help my man!

[@ShaunAndersen]

Yooo no problem Daniel! :D I am so stoked that this video made you feel better! I am sure you are going to rock this exam! 🤘

[@nettesthebest]

This is the MOST helpful video I've seen (not to mention it was posted on my birthday lol). I have exactly 10 weeks before my exam and I've changed my study schedule twice because I felt like I was spending too much time on content review. Thanks for the tips!

[@ShaunAndersen]

I'm so glad you found this helpful!! :) Good luck on your exam- I know you will do great!

[@VyvienneEaux]

Making Anki cards is an active studying method, even if you didn't use them. But reading a textbook, on the other hand, does little to engage with the material and you end up forgetting.

[@ShaunAndersen]

This is very true!

[@PHILLYMEDIC69]

anki makes me depressed. im not using anki lmao

[@angelusvastator1297]

Quizlet is way better.

[@MedicalDucktor]

Thank you for this video, it was more than just get books and study like everyone else says. Thank you for the resources and helping me feel so much better.

[@ShaunAndersen]

That's the goal! :D I am so happy it is making you feel better. Keep me updated with your studying and let me know how I can help in any other ways!

[@mattshetayh8430]

Currently following this study plan, I’m 3 months out and love the insight from your video!

[@bengalschampion1344]

Thanks so much! this is the best studying video that I have seen for the mcat so far

[@ShaunAndersen]

Thank you so much! I really hope it helps!!

[@morafaelpr]

No cap, following the videos advice to the fullest... thanks man

[@ShaunAndersen]

Good luck man! :) You got this!

[@translucentheart27]

This has me so motivated to start studying - I really didn’t know where to start and what to prioritize but you helped out a ton! Thank you Shaun! 🤩

[@ShaunAndersen]

That makes me so happy!! :) You are going to do AMAZING!!

[@jdean1134]

Your desk set up is soothing

[@ShaunAndersen]

haha thanks! :D That was the whole goal- to make a soothing study space that I enjoy!

[@blaakcoffee]

Best I’ve ever seen!!!👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

[@RK-kt1qk]

Thanks for making my life easier. I was on the verge of giving up on applying to med school this year because I need to retake my mcat. I studied in a timeline instead of phases the first round. I hope know how helpful your video is!

[@ShaunAndersen]

Don't give up! I am so glad you're giving it another shot. I am sure you will do amazing this time around! Let me now if you need anything!

[@RK-kt1qk]

Shaun Andersen, ADMITTED Medical Student! I will. Thanks!

[@ZyncKC]

Appreciate your sincere insight man. This came up at exactly the right time that I needed to listen to something like this.

[@ShaunAndersen]

Glad I could help :D Good luck on your studying!!

[@rozygcf6611]

Hello fellow future colleague! I really, really wish you the best of luck in med school. I bet you're gonna get a great residency in the future. I agree with pretty much everything up until phase 4; I ended up doing 2 full lengths the week before my test and it really helped with my stamina. I guess it depends on your personality.

[@ShaunAndersen]

If you have extra practice exams left over and aren't feeling burnt out a week or so before the exam, definitely go for it! :D Especially since stamina is so important! Thanks for the wishes- can't wait to be physicians some day! :)

[@TheArtsyCrafty]

Shaun you're so sweet! Thank you for all the advice!

[@ShaunAndersen]

You’re so welcome!! :)

[@shakitahopkins881]

Thanks for this video! Very helpful. I like how you grouped everything in phases. I never thought about that! Great idea.

[@ShaunAndersen]

I think phases is just more realistic than counting time! You never always know how much time things will take but you always know how much you need to get done!

[@shakitahopkins881]

@@ShaunAndersen I am a non traditional student. I have been out of school since Dec.2015. I am now studying for the MCAT but I found out that I need a huge refresher on a lot of it. Do you have any tips ..if you feel like you are starting from scratch?

[@sogazelle]

you are so cool!...best advice for MCAT studying! Congrats on your acceptance.

[@ShaunAndersen]

Thank you so much! :D

[@patrickk5030]

Shaun, love this video man. Appreciate you putting it out there! I’m beginning my MCAT prep now and this really helped. Thank you!

[@ShaunAndersen]

I really appreciate the kind words, Patrick! :D Let me know how your studying goes! I'm sure you're going to do great!

[@mariahslittlelamb8049]

You're the best. I love you for making this.

[@ShaunAndersen]

& I love you for watching this 🥺

[@itsmeashlib4394]

This is probably the best MCAT prep video I’ve watched. Thank you for your advice and I know the medical field is very happy to have you. 😊 Best wishes. 💗

[@ShaunAndersen]

That was seriously one of the nicest comments ever! Thank you so much :D I really appreciate it! Best of luck on your MCAT. Keep me updated and let me know if you need anything at all!

[@abigailward8970]

The fact that you can do so well and still search for ways you could’ve done better...

[@toktok9999]

alpha male

[@nicolesamuel2888]

this was an AMAZING video. straight to the point and great information. truly truly thank you so much for this!!

[@elissada5620]

Thanks for this video Shaun!! I'm studying for the MCAT now (taking in early August) and I feel sososo overwhelmed, but this really helped :)

[@ShaunAndersen]

Hey Hao!! :) I am so glad you found this helpful! You are going to do great!! :) Good luck and keep me updated!

[@oyindamolalawal3292]

Hey have you taken it🥺🥺 if you haven’t you got this, I’m cheering for u

[@daniellepierre3992]

Beginning my studying process. Thank you so much for this video and insight!

[@ShaunAndersen]

You freaking got this!!!

[@kennethgreco7761]

Great resources here. Thanks! MCAT is in May for me!

[@ShaunAndersen]

May gives you tons of time! Good luck on your studying :D

[@David-vu1xq]

Lol making your own anki cards and then actually doing them is key to an amazing score. I scored 99th percentile in c/p, b/b, and p/s from this. Anki is so incredibly effective for memorizing content

[@ShaunAndersen]

Oh yeah if you do the cards they are definitely much more useful! Admittedly, I was terrible about doing my own cards!

[@ShaunAndersen]

Just uploaded a follow-up video for you guys! 16 Helpful MCAT Study Resources! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGOVh4JmepKka68

[@alexismarie8481]

how many hours a day did you study?

[@ShaunAndersen]

Anywhere from 4-8 depending on the day! Just go at your own pace and don't burn yourself out!

[@randomgirl679]

@@ShaunAndersen 8 hrs is enough 😮 Coz for neet min. Requirement is 12 to 15 hrs. So how can u crack an exam harder than neet in just 8 hrs. Ur truly a genius man

[@randomgirl679]

@Jεssιcα Dүян but why are u repeating.....

[@randomgirl679]

@Jεssιcα Dүян but u said were topper

[@katyadikov665]

This was so incredibly helpful and concise! Thank you so much!

[@ShaunAndersen]

Thank you so much! I hope it helps :D Good luck on your exam!

[@lukemolitor8896]

Thank you so much for this video/resources. I'm starting phase 1 right now and I'm going to use your advice to land a great score.

[@ShaunAndersen]

Awesome man! I really think that breaking the study process into "Phases" rather than "Amount of Hours" really makes it more digestible and goal-directed. I'll be posting a few more MCAT-related videos over the next few weeks. When are you planning on taking it? I would love to hear about how you score!

[@lukemolitor8896]

@@ShaunAndersen Planning on taking it in February-ish, I will definitely report back my score. What did you do for your clinical experiences prior to med school? Did you work in a hospital? Thanks

[@ShaunAndersen]

@@lukemolitor8896 Hey sorry for the late response! For clinical experiences, I did a lot scribing in the Emergency Room as well as in Psychiatry and Oncology! Scribing really is one of the best and quickest ways of getting clinical experience!

[@lukemolitor8896]

@@ShaunAndersen Thanks for the response! I've heard lots of pre-meds talk about scribing and I recently just got hired as one so looks like I'm on the right path! Thanks!

[@cindyosei3691]

I concur. This is the BEST WAY

[@ShaunAndersen]

Definitely worth checking out other videos though to get more ideas! :D But I am glad you like the plan!!

[@MCATBros]

Glad you liked our Khan Academy notes that we created. Latest editions are available at: facebook.com/groups/mcatbros Lower cost books can be found at: facebook.com/groups/premedforsale Before buying AAMC materials - see if you qualify for AAMC fee assistance program. For Kaplan the edition year doesn't really matter and they are fairly the same - so a good way to save $$.

[@JasonVaysberg]

Such a great video! I subscribed.

[@ShaunAndersen]

Thanks so much! :D

[@babylucifer1161]

I may only be a senior in high school and my long pre-med journey hasn't started yet , but I wanted to take the time to give you my appreciation on your wonderful videos. Thank you for sharing your personal experiences and mistake so we can learn from them. This world need more people like you sir. Thank you again for being a helpful person to society.

[@ShaunAndersen]

That is so sweet! :) Thank you so much! You are going to do amazing in your pre-med journey! :D

[@danielgalvez8118]

This was very helpful, thank you!!

[@Loveduhmusic]

You got a new subscriber I hope to see more study guide videos. Keep up the videos👍

[@ShaunAndersen]

I appreciate it so much! :D I will definitely make more study-related videos!

[@ZahraA-ys6yn]

This was really helpful! Just subscribed & thank you!

[@ShaunAndersen]

I appreciate it so much!! :) Good luck on your MCAT!

[@NA-ro3if]

Excellent video! I have seen so many MCAT videos and study methods, but by far, loved yours the most. Quick, to the point, and honest. I will be following your format. Couple questions: Do you think doing content review will do much, or should I dive into practice problems? I know that sounds weird, but I been hearing from a couple people that they aren’t doing content review, since they learn everything from the practice questions (I’m talking over 2000 questions). What’s your intake on this? Second question, what score did you get on your last FL AAMC test? Congrats on your acceptance! Please make more videos, and take us on your journey through medical school as well!

[@ShaunAndersen]

Hey there! I'm really happy you like this format! Like I said in the video, it is definitely something I wish I had done vs. what I did which was spending 2-3 months on content review. So, to answer your question, content review is importing in terms of refreshing your memory on some topics, but your will prepare best by doing practice questions since they really put you in the mindset of taking MCAT-style questions. Depending on your timeline, like the video states, do maybe a 1 month of nondistressful content review, then dive right into a TON of practice questions like AAMC, U-World, etc. That was my biggest regret that I did not do! Also, my last FL score was a 508. Again, do a bunch of practice problems so you don't end up like me! haha And thank you so much! I started this KZbin channel as a way to show people that applying to Med School isn't as scary as people think it is and you don't have to be some crazy super-genius to get in! I am really excited to take you all on my medical school journey and share my experiences and everything I learn! :)

[@hijabzia]

Hey shaun i am also preparing for mdcat/mcat thanks for this complete guide..

[@ShaunAndersen]

You're so welcome!! :)

[@wynsday]

can you do a video on how you did your AMCAS application? deciding which medical schools to apply to? how you got research/internships/clinical/shadowing? personal statement? so many questions 😂

[@ShaunAndersen]

Absolutely! :D I will work on those videos over the next couple weeks especially since a lot of you are applying this year!

[@crayrow]

thank you!! this was very very helpful :)

[@ShaunAndersen]

You're so welcome! :) I hope you were able to get some value out of this!

[@ninasharifi5829]

THANK YOU KING!!!!!

[@ShaunAndersen]

YOU'RE WELCOME QUEEN!!!!!

[@cobra2966]

Why am I watching this even though I already took the MCAT lol

[@Xxtherealest]

dav vad How did you do?

[@ShaunAndersen]

Haha the MCAT never leaves people! It's been 7 months since I took it and honestly I still think about it sometimes :p

[@cobra2966]

@@Xxtherealest I did well! Happy and grateful I don't have to retake

[@cobra2966]

@@ShaunAndersen yeah whenever people bring it up it's like a short wave of stress followed by a wave of relief and telling myself it's over

[@ShaunAndersen]

The crazy part is how fast the time goes! I remember thinking how I could not wait for the exam to be over and now I am more than 7 months out. Feels like it was just yesterday!

[@lindseysmith6204]

Only a first-year in college, and I'm already nervous haha. Thanks for all this info, though!

[@ShaunAndersen]

Haha never too soon to start preparing I suppose! Just pay really good attention in your classes so you remember it all when MCAT time comes around!

[@StoryoftheEye]

Great video!~ x

[@davidsoto4394]

Excellent advice.

[@ShaunAndersen]

Glad it was helpful!

[@brittanyapuzza7097]

You’re awesome! Thank you!

[@ShaunAndersen]

Thank you so much Brittany! :) I hope this helped!

[@DrRyno]

Hey! It's me from the other video. I'm upset I didn't watch this before because I literally just made 1000 Anki cards for Orgo, Bio, and Inorganic chem :( ... But I am doing problems in special books to get me ready for this test in two months, so I will defo take your advice on that. Thank you for letting my know this video existed :)

[@ShaunAndersen]

Hey! :D I am glad you found this video! Hopefully it was helpful. Don't worry too much- maybe the cards you made will still help you out! I am sure that you will do great either way! :D

[@DrRyno]

Shaun Andersen, MS1 Ahhh thank you! Good luck to you as well

[@elguapo8245]

Hey Shaun I love this video bro. I suffer from anxiety and getting overwhelmed if I don’t have structure. Your video was to the point and is very structured so I’ve decided to try out your plan. I have all the Kaplan Books and I’m going to register for UWorld and purchase AAMC materials once I finish content review. I also messaged you a question on Instagram but in case you don’t see it I was wondering if you have like an excel doc of your mcat study schedule? I’m looking for a template mainly for content review. As in a schedule of when to read the kaplan books/ how to alternate between books

[@ShaunAndersen]

Hey there! I am so glad you found this video helpful! I am sure you are going to do great on your exam :D I honestly do not have a formal schedule document :/ I kinda just studied at my leisure with the idea of doing 2-3 chapters of content review per day

[@sallyvonrohan]

Hey the link for the psyche/soc khan academy document doesn't seem to work (says the dropbox is not available). Do you know where else I could find it?

[@ShaunAndersen]

Hey there! For the KA Psych/Soc PDF, I linked this reddit post: kzbin.info?v=EMMPpstjoUk&event=video_description&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reddit.com%2Fr%2FMCATBros%2Fcomments%2Fe59gyi%2Fnew_dropbox_link_for_the_khan_academy_notes_and%2F&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVE2SDh6LTBqcVJKVk5wMmt3ajBzUl81TzhpUXxBQ3Jtc0tuU1lEU3h0dmhzc0wxRVNXNWlWMHVNMnR6am9oeXlzVVhRMnl5b1QwQkxRMnpEYkd2ZDllakE2U2VKYW1wTU9XT1F5RkdYVFhMSmVFdVQ4UVl4bnhubFRIV21EOGxyZUZNcUViTlRJOXJ5Q0NMV0pCZw%3D%3D

[@sallyvonrohan]

@@ShaunAndersen Thank you!

[@sarahshaban906]

This is such a fantastic video! Thank you for your great explanations. Could you just clarify how much time you spent on each phase vs. how much time you wished you spent? Thanks!

[@ShaunAndersen]

Thanks so much Sarah! :) Basically, I spent like 3 months on content review, 1 month on practice questions, and 1 month on exams (roughly). I wish I had just spent 1 month on content review, 2 months on practice questions, and 2 months on practice exams!

[@nella10123]

Wow!! This helped me so much, I was so confused on where/how to start studying for the MCAT but this truly helped! Also quick question, how long should each phase of studying be? I'm taking the MCAT in January of 2021!

[@ShaunAndersen]

That is good to hear! :) When it comes to length, I wouldn't set yourself too many deadlines and would mainly base it on how long you have until the exam. However, a rough outline I would say is 1 month of content review, 2 months of practice questions, and 2 months of practice exams!

[@scottnglsh]

You’re the man.

[@ShaunAndersen]

Thanks Scott! :) Best of luck on your studying!

[@hasandelgado7237]

I saw your computer set up, and i am glad I clicked on ur video bravo

[@ShaunAndersen]

My computer station is my life xD I spend so much time at it!

[@syeduzma2454]

Thank you sir

[@ShaunAndersen]

You’re very welcome! 🙌🏻

[@MSTP03]

Thank you for this.

[@ShaunAndersen]

You're very welcome! :D

[@nicolepaulson8438]

@7:37 "the Kaplan exams were really hard and definitely not as hard as the actual exam" confused me.. are you saying that the Kaplan practice exams are harder than the actual MCAT exam? or the other way around?

[@ShaunAndersen]

I'm so sorry! What I meant was that they were a little harder than the actual exam and not as similar to the actual exam as the AAMC ones were!

[@nicolepaulson8438]

Shaun Andersen, ADMITTED Medical Student! Thanks so much for clarifying!

[@suhailaljafari6294]

I am studying engineering lol, I dont even know why I am watching some mcat prep tips. Maybe it is a sign that I should peruse medicine after I finish my computer engineering degree XD.

[@ShaunAndersen]

DO IT!! Join the dark side >:)

[@sharmilys2210]

I planned to do it just last week. but so many processes that I really couldn't get. Should I go a pre-med when I have an ug degree? .

[@venivenu5286]

Hi. Can u plz make a video talking about mcat for international students??

[@ShaunAndersen]

Honestly I do not know a whole lot about international students taking the MCAT but I will do some research and do my best to share some information! :)

[@danielleayoub487]

Finally, a video that isnt super long and doesn't cause me extreme anxiety. Thank you so much for this! I have a question though, since you mentioned you studied from January till May, were you studying for the exam during the academic school year? Or are you out of college and could spend most days studying solely for the mcat? I'm having a hard time trying to figure out how i'm going to study for this exam while also in school next semester full time lol.

[@kerenvargas6682]

So instead of reading the psych/soc kaplan book you would replace it for the 300 page KA pdf? Also how do you get they the content review so quickly (like a month). Feels like irl take me foreve r to finish!

[@ShaunAndersen]

^^ Exactly. + I know a month is tough so maybe try at least a month and a half. Just remember not to spend too much time with note taking and whatnot when you go through the content. Acknowledge what you know, and pay attention to what you don't know. Move on to practice quests to target your weaknesses, then come back and review!

[@kerenvargas6682]

Shaun Andersen, ADMITTED Medical Student! That’s a good point. A month and a half was my original plan as well 😁 thanks again! You are awesome

[@mattymin10]

i tried taking the Princeton review course this may ..it was overwhelming and I quit 1 month into it. Im trying to reevaulate and see what my next steps are ..whether it be look at other career choices or take anotHER STAB AT MCAT STUDYING but in a better way

[@ShaunAndersen]

Sorry to hear about the review course :/ I know they can be a bit tough. Glad you are trying again though!

[@annepino6435]

Just subscribed bc this was one of the most clear and to the point MCAT study vids! ive had to change my way of studying a couple times now but this is SO helpful. 1 question: how long would you suggest doing uworld & aamc, i planned on dedicating a month but you said you wish you had longer, would you say 6 weeks? im worred about running out of material! Thanks & congrats on your acceptance!!

[@ShaunAndersen]

6 weeks would be just fine! I would have done 2-3 if I could have! You can never truly run out of material with the amount of access we have to the internet and whatnot! Thank you so much for subscribing! :) Keep me updated on your journey!

[@jessicajawhar1984]

Thanks for this awesome video! What helped keep you motivated and focused throughout your study plan? What did you do to keep yourself from getting discouraged from your bad results or not completing the amount of work you wanted to get done? Were you taking classes while studying? How did you balance that?

[@ShaunAndersen]

Honestly, getting discouraged was a common occurrence throughout the entire process! There were tons of days where I felt really motivated to study and then there were other days where I really just dreaded it and felt really unproductive. Honestly, the best thing you can do for yourself is to prioritize quality of life over studying for this exam. The exam is obviously pretty important but nothing is worth making yourself feel terrible about what you are doing. If I found that I was being unproductive or really just did not want to study, I just completely stopped studying for the day. I would just do whatever I wanted and needed to do to feel refreshed and then I would come back in the evening or the next morning to do some more studying. If you give yourself enough time to start preparing for this exam, you'll find that you can really afford to take a lot of breaks and downtime! While studying for the exam, I took only 2 courses (Biochemistry and Anatomy) to really shrink my courseload but keep it relevant to the MCAT. At the same time I was still scribing a couple shifts a week as well. It was easier to balance once I made my MCAT studying more "goal-directed" vs. "time-directed"! Set a couple, realistic study goals for the day/week but then keep your quality of life and other commitments as priorities as well!

[@yusraisrar6778]

I'm a fresh candidate and am gonna preparing MDCAT... I hope I'll feel it helpful

[@ShaunAndersen]

You got this!! :D

[@yusraisrar6778]

Almost :)

[@antoniochavez1836]

Hey Shaun, Congrats on your acceptance! I really appreciate all of the advice you're giving out! I was wondering if you could clarify how much time you think we should allot for Phase 2 (if we're planning on using the MCAT Prep question bank and the UWorld questions as well, thanks again so much!

[@ShaunAndersen]

I think that 2-3 months would be a good amount of time! 🙌🏻

[@antoniochavez1836]

@@ShaunAndersen Wow thanks man! I really appreciate you doing all of this and spreading your ~wisdom~ lol, Keep up the good work and best of luck on your endeavors!

[@ShaunAndersen]

@@antoniochavez1836 Thanks man! :D Good luck on your studying! Keep me updated and let me know if you need anything!

[@victoriakierstyn9942]

thanks

[@ShaunAndersen]

Of course! :)

[@mindytee9816]

This is basically all the best Reddit advice in one video. Thank you so much.

[@ShaunAndersen]

You're so welcome! I got so many of my resources from Reddit and wish I had found r/MCAT before I started studying!

[@titilopeayobami578]

Thank you!

[@samueltadesse118]

I appreciate you for sharing your experiences and for being really insightful man. I have the kaplan 7-book set and am using anki pre-made cards for all kaplan chapters. would you recommend taking detailed notes on kaplan chapters or just reading passively and trying to build memory through practicing anki daily . I feel as if I am wasting a lot of time on content review and want to make sure that I study effectively to get my target score.

[@ShaunAndersen]

Hey Samuel thanks for the support! I would just read passively and pay more attention to any topics that you really do not feel like you know well at all. One of the points I try to make in this video is to cut back on Content Review/spending weeks making notes and ANKI cards. I wish that, when I was burnt out from content review, I had just moved on to practice questions like 2 months earlier. I think that practicing questions, getting them wrong, looking up the content to find the correct answers and reasoning is truly what makes content stick in your mind. Content review is so broad and it is unreasonable to expect yourself to memorize everything!

[@shizzahassan2413]

This is amazing, thank you so much! Definitely one of the best MCAT advice videos on here. One question - did you supplement your content review with premade cards for other subjects besides P/S?

[@kelseylane3602]

Can you place a like to your google sheet? I want to see how you set it up!

[@ShaunAndersen]

I can definitely post the link once I am home however I did make a video about it on my channel! :D

[@kimberlymeyer9549]

Hi Shaun!! Congrats on your acceptance! I am just starting to study for the MCAT I will be taking in late September, and I'm doing it on my own so this was so helpful. I'm really curious though as to the breakdown of weeks for each phase...how long did you spend doing content review compared to when you started just doing practice questions/tests?? This would be so helpful if you were able to answer!!

[@ShaunAndersen]

Hey Kimberly! I would recommend spending 4-6 weeks on content review, 8-12 weeks of practice questions, then 5-8 weeks of practice exams! The more practice questions and exams you can do, the better! :D

[@esfandiarnajafizadeh1430]

I have a question, anki uses spaced repetition and active recall. When you say you wasted so much time on making anki cards, was it because you didn’t study them or if was just an un effective way to study based on your own study habits? Because i have never heard anyone say “get used to passively studying.”

[@ShaunAndersen]

It was a little bit of both. Honestly, I love ANKI. I think it is an amazing resource for spaced repetition and active recall. I will 100% be using ANKI when I start Medical School because I used it for the MCAT Psych/Soc PDF cards and made cards successfully for some of my undergraduate classes including Biochemistry and Anatomy which really did help. ANKI is great. The point I was making in the video (and again this is just a personal opinion) was that during content review, you are going through roughly 80+ chapters of material. There is so much of it ranging from General Chemistry to Sociology. One of the point I tried making in this video was that spending so much time on content review is not that efficient because 1) it would be extremely difficult to actually memorize everything even with ANKI and 2) only a small percentage of the material actually will show up on the MCAT in a questioning style where active recall has a huge benefit. Because of the wording style of the MCAT questions, a lot of the answers really are found in the paragraph text. As long as you have some background knowledge, you mainly just rely on passage analysis while taking the exam. Because of this, it truly was not very efficient for me to have made 3000-4000 ANKI cards because the changes of them coming up specifically during my exam were very low. ANKI is great when you know it is important to practice the active recall, but the MCAT question style just didn't make sense to do this. It was very apparent to me at the end of my studying that I truly just lacked doing more practice questions and exams. Once you do those, you can review the higher-yield topics. This would have been a better use of my time than the hours/days I spent making my ANKI cards. I think it would have been more wasted time if I actually did the cards. Again though, this is just my personal thoughts from my experience! I know everyone learns differently and maybe some people are just going to be using ANKI more effectively than me. However, for the rote memorization involved in undergrad and, soon, Medical School, I will absolutely 100% be using ANKI! I hope this helped clarify! :o

[@esfandiarnajafizadeh1430]

It sure did clarify the questions and thank you so much for the time and effort you put in typing the answer. So as a student who is planning on taking the MCAT next summer, just reading the text and taking notes is enough? Like courses such as biology i think you can not really take notes, since a lot of is just memorization but for courses such as chemistry and physics you kind of can take notes. I am just asking all of this because, active recall is something that i am starting to use in my daily studies but for something like the MCAT I don’t really know how to study it. Sorry for the long passage

[@atlantic7949]

Every student is different

[@ShaunAndersen]

I totally agree!

[@tayt5512]

Great video! I was just wondering if you had any thoughts on the Jack Westin course? You mentioned the daily questions, but do you have any information about how helpful the actual course is? Thanks so much! :)

[@ShaunAndersen]

I actually do not know a whole lot about the course :o I just did the daily practice CARS. I don't know if I would do the course unless you have practiced JW CARS, done all of the UWorld CARS, and completed all the AAMC CARS. If you have exhausted all CARS practice resources without improvement in your CARS scores, then possibly consider but I can't really recommend it since I did not buy it :/ But maybe if you have a lot of time, it's not too expensive, and you want a headstart on CARS question tips before practicing AAMC and UWorld, then it might be worth it!

[@arlenismendez1611]

how much time should I spend on content review? I've started with bio/biochem, gen chem and psych/soc and I feel like I am not being very efficient. I plan on taking the exam spring 2021... idk what I am doing lol .. what would your advice be on content review?

[@ShaunAndersen]

You have a lot of time. It would be worth going to practice questions to see where your gaps are! Use UWorld!

[@arlenismendez1611]

Shaun Andersen, MS1 thank you 😊 I checked the website out & signed up for a free trial... seems to be going well so far!

[@nahuelfernandez4190]

Hey Shaun! What timeline would you suggest for each phase for a 4 month study plan? Keep up the great work.

[@ShaunAndersen]

I would say probably no more than 1 month for content review, 1.5 months for practice question banks, and 1.5 months for practice exams + review!

[@eloram8360]

Hi! I'm a freshman, and I'm thinking about starting to study some for the MCAT this Summer! This was the first video I watched to inform myself about the MCAT, because I don't know much about it yet. Thanks for all the information! Any advice on what to study as a freshman? (I have only taken chem 1, bio 1, and I took AP psych in high school so I am limited in what I can study for right now)

[@ShaunAndersen]

Honestly, I would not focus tooo much on studying for the MCAT right now! I would mainly focus on doing really well and learning well in your pre-reqs and MCAT-related courses because it will significantly help when you start studying for the MCAT!

[@eloram8360]

@@ShaunAndersen Thank you! I'll keep that in mind!

[@poojashel]

Is there any way you can post the link for the Khan Academy pdfs again please? It doesn't seem to be working anymore. Thank you so much! This was really helpful!

[@ShaunAndersen]

www.reddit.com/r/MCATBros/comments/e59gyi/new_dropbox_link_for_the_khan_academy_notes_and/

[@ShaunAndersen]

I will also edit the description! Thank you!

[@serinapenrod5939]

How long should each phase be? I was thinking by month, to begin with, but not everybody studies for the same period of time. Do I just divide the months I want to study by the number of phases, or should I devote more time to some phases rather than others? Thanks! I really want to be a dermatologist or sports medicine physician, so your channel helps motivate me to do well in undergrad!

[@carlampp68]

Great video and thank you for sharing all the information. How do I do the google sheets? I took the AAMC Sample Test and I am ready to review the answers, I just don't have an idea how to figure out what material I need to study (questions I missed) and material that I already know.

[@ShaunAndersen]

Hey Carla! :) I actually posted a video on my channel regarding the use of Google Sheets so let me know if that helps you at all or if I can help more! Basically, you use it to organize questions and topics you get wrong/need to brush up on and review it with a color-coordination to show you the level of difficulty/time it is taking to understand the material! Check out the video and reach out to me if you need additional assistance :D

[@Queenfan1996]

Great video. Should I use the 100 page condensed pdf to learn psych/soc or start with the 300 page one? I haven't taken any psych or sociology

[@ShaunAndersen]

I would start with the 300 page one while learning it and doing the anki cards! Then, towards the end and closer to the exam, just read through the 100 page one! :)

[@mariyamshah110]

i just have one confusion ppl said MDCAT is all about concepts then can u plz tell how can someone able to retain that concept in their minds for long term memory without cramming or memorizing and if it's about taking both together then how can someone manage to learn 6 books in 2 months....literally being fresher i don't have any idea how to crack this nut

[@ShaunAndersen]

A lot of the concepts are "big picture" and you tend to remember them throughout undergrad with some refreshing needed when doing content review!

[@joyun20]

Do you recommend taking notes while reading the Kaplan books?

[@ShaunAndersen]

I personally do not unless you are planning to actually come back to really read through your notes! Otherwise, it just takes away time

[@joyun20]

Shaun Andersen, MS1 okay, thank you :)

[@pharmacistjourney804]

Hey Shaun, Do you have a specific schedule I can follow? I am a non traditional student trying to test this summer

[@jummie5349]

When reading through the kaplan books would you recommend taking notes or just passively reading? I don't want to waste time taking notes if it could be something I won't have time to look back on

[@ShaunAndersen]

It really depends on how much you truly think you are going to read back over your notes. Personally, I think passive reading was enough. If you REALLY do not know something, it will come up when you are doing practice questions and exams. It really depends on your study style, retention abilities, and plan. If you aren't going to use your notes (just like I did not use my ANKI cards), then what is the point, ya know?

[@brahamyassin1882]

Would you please send the anki cards ?

[@vincenthiep-vo4818]

For the Jack Westin CARS, did you take them for Sociology and Psychology?

[@ShaunAndersen]

I just did them for morning CARS practice :D I used the KA Notes and ANKI Cards for psych/soc!

[@vincenthiep-vo4818]

@@ShaunAndersen Awesome! My test date is April 1st and have been basically following a schedule like yours! But I'll have to add into my routine of CARS everyday to benefit myself. Great informational video btw!

[@ShaunAndersen]

@@vincenthiep-vo4818 Sounds like a good plan man! I definitely regret not doing more CARS practice before my exam so if you are already adding it into your study regimen I am sure you are going to do great!