reasoning skills i – mcat and math xavier mcat review course david j. gerberry assistant professor...
DESCRIPTION
1.Set a schedule for studying and stick to it. 2.Keep a running formula/fact sheet while you study – If you need something that’s not on the list, add it. – If you need something that is on the list, tally how many times you needed it. A 2 +B 2 = C 2 sin(0) = 0 sin(30 degrees) = ½ H 2 O = water Strategy that works (for me... at least)TRANSCRIPT
Reasoning Skills i – MCAT and Math
Xavier MCAT Review Course
David J. Gerberry
Assistant Professor of Mathematicswww.cs.xavier.edu/~david.gerberry
[email protected]: 513 745-4254Office: Hinkle 111
• My experience with the MCAT– 0, nada, zilch,
• Experience with high-stakes exams– ACT: didn’t study– Actuarial Exam: studied fairly hard and passed– GRE (Graduate Record Exam): didn’t study– PhD Qualifying Exams: • studied my @$$ off and passed all 4 on the first try
Introduction to the MCAT
1. Set a schedule for studying and stick to it.
2. Keep a running formula/fact sheet while you study– If you need something that’s not on the list, add it.– If you need something that is on the list, tally how many
times you needed it.• A2+B2 = C2
• sin(0) = 0• sin(30 degrees) = ½• H2O = water
Strategy that works (for me... at least)
• Completely out of character for me• Schedule manages psychological burden– Study early
• Get the ball rolling, builds confidence, keep ball rolling– Procrastinate...
• Feel guilty, feel stressed• Idea of beginning to study feels more overwhelming• Procrastinate more... feel more guilt and stress....
• This course establishes the schedule– Stick to it and don’t prioritize other things
Schedule
What kind of schedule• Preparing for football season opener (Sept 1)
• Preparing for MCAT
June - July August Week before Game Day before gameLifting weights, conditioning
2-a-day practices• Lots of hitting• 6 hours a day• Some scrimmage but
mostly drills
More focus on plays/strategies for upcoming game• Less hitting• More game-like
scenarios
Run through• No pads,• No hitting• Fine-tuning & getting
timing• CONFIDENCE
Early 3 months before Week before Game Day or two beforeGetting in shape• Taking regular
courses• Learning Biology,
Chemistry, Physics, etc.
Beat ourselves up• Learning material• Tackling tough, hard,
questions• Some practice exams• THIS COURSE
More focus on test-taking strategy• Shortcuts/tricks• Which problems to
skip• Which to spend time
on• Lots of practice
exams• Reviewing areas that
need work
“Run through”• Main goal:
CONFIDENCE• Only look at questions
you have done before• Light fine-tuning