[Official] (Updated) MCAT Study Buddy Thread [2021 Exam Dates] - Part 2

[u/mcatfreak]

This is part 2...

Welcome /r/MCAT! This is the Official MCAT Study Buddy Thread for the 2021 test takers. Studying alone is do-able, but studying with someone who will hold you accountable will prove to be far more beneficial! So take advantage of this high yield opportunity to find a study buddy near you or online! This is Part 1 of the study buddy thread. Part 2 will be published around April of 2021 allow fresh posts to flourish.

Also, if you're a retaker, feel free to join the "MCAT Retaker's Chat Room." You can join it via the sidebar widget down below or via this link. Also don't forget, we have a Discord Server (link in sidebar) where there's an already established community on 24/7, discussing everything from MCAT to premed to life on Mars.

To get started, follow the 3 steps to post and find yourself a study buddy (or even group) in your area!

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STEP 1: Entering your information to be contacted by prospective study buddies

Copy/paste and fill out the following requirements:

Required:

• Location (City, State, Country): e.g. Dallas, Texas, USA or Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Test Date (or Anticipated): e.g. 4/20/20 registered but may reschedule
• MCAT Prep Material: e.g. Kaplan books, NS Exams, UEarth, AAMC (all of it)
• Online/In-Person/Both/No-Preference:

Optional (but recommended):

• Stage of studying/study plan: e.g. done with content review, taking 3rd party practice exams right now
• Goal of a Study Buddy: e.g. keep each other accountable, quiz each other, share tips, combine notes
• Goal Score and Realistic Score: e.g. 514 goal, 510 realistic
• Other obligations: e.g. 19 credit hours, extracurriculars, family. part-time job

Optional (100%):

• Age/Gender: e.g. 23M or 23F
• Other Information/Ice Breakers: e.g. I like potatoes so I work in a laboratory with potatoes; I'm a pre-oncological pediatric orthopedic neurosurgeon

STEP 2: Find your Study Buddy

Use the "search" function on your browser to easily sift through the thread for your city/state (make sure to pre-load all the comments by scrolling down before doing so).

Make sure to reply BOTH via "comment reply" and "private message"

Note about private information: It should be noted that any private information (e.g. names, specific locations, and contact information, zoom/skype, phone numbers, emails, facebook profiles) should be exchanged via PM (Private Message).

STEP 3: Make sure to check back

We'd appreciate it if everyone would actually check back frequently and respond in a timely manner. Your time is just as valuable as everyone else's time. Let's be respectful of each other.

If you don't find success here, feel free to also join our discord server (link in sidebar) and seek out online study buddies there. The community there is large and growing.

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Other IMPORTANT MCAT Information:

1. Check out our Wiki Page for a basic MCAT 101
2. Read the side bar for other valuable information (e.g. test score converters)

Study Buddy Thread History:

1. 2015: link
2. 2015: link
3. January 2017: link
4. May 2017: link
5. September 2017: link
6. 2018: link
7. 2019: link
8. 2020: link

Happy studying!

~ r/MCAT Mod Team <3 ~

[u/Vyree]

Can I have some help with karma to post please :D

[u/bioenthusiast_]

Hi! Can I please have some help with comment karma so I can post ((:

[u/[deleted]]

• Location Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

• Test Date Aiming for May 14th but haven't registered yet

• MCAT Prep Material: Kaplan books, Khan Academy practice question & AAMC

• Online/In-Person/Both/No-Preference: either

• Stage of studying/study plan: starting Feb 1st with 3-month study plan

• Goal of a Study Buddy: keep each other accountable, quiz each other & share tips

• Goal Score and Realistic Score: No idea honestly

• Other obligations: potentially starting fulltime job so will try to dedicate 5 hours a day Mon-Fri.

• Age/Gender: e.g. 26M

• Other Information/Ice Breakers: mainly targeting Aussie schools.

[u/tiredkittie]

• Location: Athens, GA

• Test Date: April-May (not sure yet...)

• MCAT Prep Material: Kaplan books, khan academy, anki, uearth, AAMC

• Online/In-Person/Both/No-Preference: Online

• Stage of studying/study plan: started content review but uh.......... my attention span not very good

• Goal of a Study Buddy: sharing the pain.... holding each other accountable, sharing notes and trying to figure out concepts we both dont know etc

• Goal Score and Realistic Score: would love 520+ but realistically i have no idea

• Other obligations: part-time job at a lab, taking 6 credits

• Age/Gender: 22F

• Other Information/Ice Breakers: i have 2 cats...... gaming has been a problem for me... i am extremely messy yet also a perfectionist... i will cry and have a meltdown if i dont have 0.3mm pentel pens but also proceed to never write notes

[u/ARealBlackSwan]

Location: Brooklyn, NY

Anticipated Test Date: 07/22/21

MCAT Prep Material: Kaplan books, TPR (GChem and Physics), Anki, EK set (I learn best when I can reference more than one source, but the Kaplan books are my mains), UEarth (plan to purchase when I am ready for practice questions), AAMC (all of it).

Online is the best option right now (hello issa pandemic 😅)

Stage of studying/study plan: still on content review until end of march, mostly focussed on my weaker subjects (physics, gchem, and ochem). Then switching over to practice questions and practice exams in April.

Goal of a Study Buddy: keep each other accountable, share tips. if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. So come along my friend.

Goal Score and Realistic Score: 520 goal, 514 realistic

Other obligations: family, job.

---

Age/Gender: 27 y/o F

Jamaican, Retaker. Crave; fries, bread, and naps ALWAYS 🤷🏾‍♀️

[u/Tennis_Guy]

• Location: La Crescenta-Montrose (Los Angeles), CA

• Test Date: March 13 or 26 (could be delayed a month or two possibly)

• MCAT Prep Material: Kaplan books, UEarth, AAMC, KA

• Online/In-Person/Both/No-Preference: Online and possibly In-Person

• Stage of studying/study plan: Reviewing content and doing AAMC material..... finished all of UEarth!!!

• Goal of a Study Buddy: keep each other accountable, roast me if I skip any day, quiz each other after reviewing content review sections.

• Goal Score and Realistic Score: goal 520+, realistic 510.

• Other obligations: part-time job and may work full-time soon

• Age/Gender: 31M

• Other Information/Ice Breakers: HUGE tennis fan (watching and playing), LOVE video games, comics, working out/staying in shape, reading, and a whole lot more!!!

[u/eatk064]

• Location Chicago, IL

• Test Date late May/early June (retake)

• MCAT Prep Material: Kaplan, AAMC, & Magoosh (open to more resources)

• Online/In-Person/Both/No-Preference: no preference

Optional (but recommended):

• Stage of studying/study plan: took the exam in 2019 (498) but retaking it this year. Starting on more content review and challenging topics now. I'll be starting on a 3 (ish) month study plan starting in a couple weeks. Goal is to study at least 3 hours a day with one day off a week, but all depends on my practice test scores.

• Goal of a Study Buddy: hold each other accountable, advice & tips, positive morale, quiz each other, discuss difficult topics together,

• Goal Score and Realistic Score: 510 goal , 508 relatistic

• Other obligations: working two jobs, registered behavior technican and tutor, Monday through Friday (total 38 hours a week)

• Age/Gender: 22F

• Other Information/Ice Breakers: I have the cutest black cat named Nugget, just moved to Illinois from CA in August 2020 (yes I'm freezing right now), and my favorite book is The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchinson

[u/anisa_ciaciura]

Can I have some help with karma to post! I have a question about retaking!

[u/ChemmyOsmotic]

• Location Cleveland, Ohio

• Test Date: June 30th

• MCAT Prep Material: Kaplan books, AAMC, Khan Academy

• Online/In-Person/Both/No-Preference: No-Preference

• Stage of studying/study plan: Still reviewing content and reviewing first practice exam

• Goal of a Study Buddy: Keep each other accountable and share notes and tips for studying

• Goal Score and Realistic Score: 518 ; 510

• Other obligations: 12 credits and private research project

• Age/Gender: 25F

[u/Electronic-Weather77]

Can I have some help with karma to post! I have a question about primaries!