Just destroyed TBR ochem chapter 6

Carbs aren't my thing. Was always scared of them. I think reading kaplan over this helped cement the content. Either way, I just finished phase 1 with 1 error which i corrected myself when i reread the question again.

That said, I've been back to studying. Not as much as i'd like. I've even taken time of work but i tend to watch tv or sleep or do something else. I end up spending about 6hrs or less studying and there're some days i don't study at all.

That said, I'm doing most of the phase 1 and for the one's i've not done, i plan on completing them. I've completed bio and ochem in kaplan although lack of review a day or a week afterwards makes me feel like i was better off not reading in the first place as i've forgotten and find myself rereading. I do know that the best way i studied back in high school was to read material taught that day that night and skim through the next day. End of the week i go over the entire week. I'm starting to think i should do that. Also, I've completed the fundermental of reading in mrl and done the pretest for the introductory course but i've yet to sit down and do passage sets. I've only done 1 or 2 so far i think. 2 half sets in powerscore and 1 section test.

In terms of practice, i've done at least one subject test for each subject. since i'm pretty much done with content phase 1. I just need to go through phase 2 with 60% practice and 50% content. And verbal. Haven't signed up for a date yet but here's to making it.

JSTP recession

Coppin held a recession for their JSTP students. I do have to say that while i've seen some of the students complain, i think the school appreciates their students, they appreciate the efforts of the faculty and students and when the initiative is started, they're proud of it and go on to support it.
All in all, it was a great event and i'm happy to have been a part of it.
I did fine with my poster presentation. It's my first but i hope i'll have more to come.

Of honorable mention, they did award us. A certificate of recognition from coppin, a medallion, and an award from the Governor, yes, the governor of Maryland.

What's better, Sam walks over to tell me the guys from Hopkins wants to talk to me because they have a research opportunity for me. Fred had blurted out as i walked across that my nickname is "energy". Anyway, the man told me he thinks i'll be perfect for his lab, the "energy" was what caught his attention. Thank God for that.

I got to meet tons of people, formed new relationships and again, i'm happy to have been a part of it.

Among other news, i showed up to the prayer center this morning. It turns out theres a different door which i'd missed the first time i tried to go there. Met great people and they were all nice. Actually hanged out with them till after 11. Oh well, i need to read EK bio 3 and maybe turn in.

Pearson deserves credit

Sometime ago, I was very frustrated with myreading lab. I think i made a long exhaustive post about my frustrations. Needless today, it's been fixed. The man in charge had emailed me telling me the engineering team were working on it and it should take about 2 weeks.

I'm quite surprised at how they listened to one person fuss to make changes to their product. Most companies don't listen to hundreds of customers, let alone a single voice. I'm amazed at how the man was willing to help me when i posted on their facebook wall and communicated with me in the process about where they were and so on. I started out thinking myreadinglab was geared towards colleges and teachers but i have to say it's very independent friendly now and they do listen to their independent customers regardless of who you are.

I also like how Pearson works to improve their product. For example, when i was taking the fundamental course last year, the animation player was differnt. It has been improved. Also, there are more practice sets and more tests available for the courses. The advance course now has the lexile diagnostic. The others may have it but i'd already started those before the change so i can't tell.

That said, i finished the combined skills section in the fundermental course today, took the test for the contrast organization order module and i'll go back to reading implied main idea and outlining but first i just want to get done with this inference module. i've been working on it for a week. But i have my sanity back now. So onto work it is.

Final word is I HIGHLY recommend myreadiglab. If i said anything else prior, it was because i was frustrated with the test buttons vanishing and not being able to take the test. The program itself works! I'm still not sure how reading these little interesting passages on there increased my comprehension. Maybe it's the practice, maybe it's the strategies they teach. True but it's just amazing that when i transfer over to reading passages for standardized tests, i know the main idea and figure things out. it's amazing how my reading comprehension has increased. It really IS amazing!

TBR physics

Did the sound chapter and scored 84%. Good job. Of course, i started feeling 'crazy' and i had a headache so i left the library. Wierd thing is i went to the the shop near the african market, ended up sitting there and chatting and i ate some meat pie and also brought some home. I felt better while i was in the shop. The devil sees success up my way and is trying to keep me from studying. I couldn't even review the answers properly.
Anyway, i'm glad i've kept a chart of my scores because i see the reds disappering and i'm seeing more greens. Why did i do physics yesterday and today? it's hard to make myself get into physics and usually when i get in, i'm really in. Chemistrilly speaking, studying physics is an exothermic process that requires high activation energy. Once the reaction starts, it proceeds on it's own.

I'm going to do bio 6 cuz i feel like reading but i'll hit light and fluids tomorrow. Part of me wants to call and tell them to cancel me. The other part would rather work. I think i'll work.

CBT money.

Since i got TBR CBTs for free, i decided to move the money out of my checking. Lest it sits there and i spend it. Was going to add all of it to my emergency fund but i decided to split it 50-50 between that and AMCAS. My original plan was to mail in my check first week of march once i got the money and then when i realized it was TPW, i decided to wait till next monday. In the chance that i win, i'd pocket the money and if i didn't win, i'd send it in then in time for me to have access by april. God was gracious to me and answered my bathroom prayer in advance.

To God be the Glory

if you study, it will come

I've been working hard since friday. Part of me regrets doing nothing wednesday and thursday.

Anyway, I completed 3 chapters yesterday (would like to say today but it's midnight now). i did bio 2-4 today. I got 2 reds for 2 and 3 and all greens for chapter 4. i color code my scores. I'm really excited. 92.5% on phase 2 of bio 4. i did poorly in the phase 1 which is why i completed one extra passage to make my average for that phase not look too bad.
Anyway, i'm happy.

One wierd, but great, thing about microsoft excel: In the general sciences workbook, i usually write the phase name, the raw score and percentage and highlight with a color. Earlier today when i entered the first 2 scores, it automatically highlighted yellow and i thought it was because the cells above those 2 were highlighted yellow. When i entered the last score tonight, it automatically highlighted the light green color which isn't a regular color (custom one actually). i'm a little surprised at how it picked up the trend because i just don't enter numbers, i actually enter phrases followed by the number(score) and percentage. it's wierd it picked up the trend but i'm loving it. I just hope it realizes that any score below 60% merits a red. so far it recognizes the yellows and green.

Anyway, this is the best day i've had in terms of studying. i completed myreading lab, read a few online pages about logic ( i really need to read the Gensler book), went to the gym, watched ncis LA, surfed the net, cooked, AND reread 3 chapters in TBR and completed the required questions. SUPER!!!

Time to buckle up?

Wednesday i slept all day and all night. Thursday, i volunteered and when i got back home, i had a headache so i slept. No studying.

Friday, i went to the library in the afternoon and studied till 4:30 when they closed and then i came home and continued. Finished 2 TBR chapters plus questions. Saturday same, 2 chapters and phase 2s. I'll say i found phase 2 easier for ochem. Phase 2 for gen chem was good till i got lazy this evening so i can't focus and i did terrible on equilibrium chapters. I skipped the last question hoping to do it tomorrow or whenever.

It looks like i've decided to buckle up and keep busy. My goal was to finish phase of of bio chapters 2 and 3 but i think i may be able to push through only one chapter tonight in addition to a session of myreading lab.

NIH trip for tomorrow was cancelled. My goal is to do acid bases, hopefully finish the phase 2 bios and do a phase 2 of physics.

When i did the ochem reread with phase 2 questions, i felt confident and i still feel confident to the point of wanting to do more questions now. So, i'm thinking of setting aside an hour everyday where I'll do TPR workbook in addition to verbal.

Speaking of verbal, I need to buckle up and do the LSAT books so i can build my stamina. Since I'm doing myreading lab, i'll say i'm not being as lazy as i could be but i'm not being as hardworking as i could be either. maybe i can set the workbook for days when i off and make the verbal a daily thing as it should be.

Mistakes i'm making so far include changing answers from right to wrong, done that at least 4x today. misreading answer choices, sometimes, i say the right answer to myself and select what i think it is after skimming. Point is, i need to reach each step carefully. i've had to reason an answer out and then changed it to something else without any reason. The others have been not applying knowledge and lack of logical reasoning. i do have to say TBR questions are 70=80% logic.

Oh, and i also wasted at least 2.5hrs on the internet watching tv shows. I need to work on my weaknesses. i'm just glad i'm sitting up and doing something because i sure could be sleeping or doing something that's not of worth. I've wasted enough time already. i can't waste anymore.

myreadinglab frustrations

I spent the last 30+ minutes chatting with customer support and the first one,i can't find a word to describe since i don't want to use the word 'useless'. The second one was pretty much the same.

I hate that if you score less than 80% on just one practice test, the test feature is disabled. knowing this, i've always taken a test first prior to taking a practice test. I'm not sure what got into me but i took a practice first this evening and i score 70. I scored a 80 and a 90% on the remaining but that doesn't change anything because all you need is one sub-80 score. The rep told me that only instructors can make any changes and for self-study mode, there's nothing that can be done.


I find that VERY annoying. If someone signs up for this, they're pretty much signing up because they'd like to practice to improve. I want all the practice i can get and considering the practice is just a means for one to practice skills learned in the model, i don't see why that should be a determinant in taking the test.

I think the default feature should be the other way around. Tests should be available by default and for people enrolled instructor led courses, instructors should set the cuttoff limit for mastery.

What's even more annoying is that customer service can't reset it. If an instructor can do that in a course, why can't customer service reset for people not taking a course? People who take kaplan tests call and have the test reset so they can take it again. I'm fine with the fact that myreading lab tests can be taken once. I'm not fine with the fact that tests are disable even if your average practice result is greater than 80. The problem with this is that encourages skipping practice and going directly to tests because once the test is disabled, you're stuck and each time you log in, it tells you that you haven't completed the module. I just went back to the intermediate reading course and realized that i took the 2 tests and skipped the just 1 out 5 or 6 practice tests.

I'm not happy with this and i hope it changes. I can't be too pissed at them because i know this program is mainly for people enrolled in instructor led courses and it looks like that's the group pearson caters to. I do think however that if they were to cater to independents, they'll expand their market greatly for tehre are thousands of LSAT, MCAT and GRE takers out there who'd like to improve their comprehension. if the GMAT has a RC section, then add it to it. i think there are about 55000+ takers of the MCAT alone each year. Not sure how many people take the GRE each year but i'll bet it it's more than the MCAT.

I'm just ranting cuz i'm a little upset but then again, i know pearson caters to students with instructors so i'm in a class on my own.

Kaplan or not 2

So, i debated this since my last post and i spent the morning yesterday reading posts on SDN. I spent all evening today on SDN and lying here trying to figure out if i should sign up for this course or not.
Indecisiveness is a sin!

Anyway, i clicked on a class, got the check out page and i balked. So, i'm back to square one with hours wasted that i could've used to accomplish something else. Not sure what to do now but i'm thinking i'll go back to my study plan as discussed and take an aamc at the end of this month. Depending on how i do, i'll sign up at the extra cost.

why kaplan? because most of the people who broke 40 used it. There are some who broke 40 and only used their premiere program which i had but barely used it. i may end up buying it again. Kaplan has great resources although i was a little dubious about signing up for the class because it don't look like they update their materials. The other thing was that despite my poor prep last year, i didn't think the exam was bad.

So, work through TBR, do the TPRH workbook since i completed their bio and gen chem. I need to do their physics alongside TBR cuz i think TBR is great in gen chem and ochem, the physics has definitely improved a lot but they have a different approach. I'm starting to wonder if the EK 1001s is a waste of my time. Their explanations are lousy.
Too much going on in my head.
God i hope i made the right choice.

Kaplan or not

I've been debating whether to take the kaplan class or not. Without going into details, lets just say the major benefit from enrolling in the course will be the qbank (if i end up using it), their quizzes and the ability to practice online as opposed to doing paper stuff and self-grading.

The major con is the fee as well as the fact that i don't see the need to have the same material in a different form.

They're running a special now where you can prep for an entire year. I've an idea about how to split that with someone. But of course nothing is guaranteed.

In terms of online practice, i've and will have gold standard, TBR and AAMC. That's about 25 or so online practice. Will taking quizzes and what nots make a huge difference? I think about the fact that i practiced with nclex 3500 online so much that i was used to taking computer test when the real deal rolled around. It makes me wonder if doing practice passages online can satisfy this purpose and produce the same reward. Actually, it's an assumption i'm making. Is it flawed? i think so.

The major question is: months from now will i look back and say i should've done everything possible for this exam? or will i look back and say I'm glad i saved my money?

Now if i knew the answer to that question, i wouldn't be posting this.

Weekly check-in

I've not advanced. i'm still in week one. I need to reread ochem and physics chap 2 and then do the phase 2 to move on. I slept for 10hr yesterday, spent about 4 hrs watching tv shows and did no studying.
The idea of disconnecting my internet service popped into my mind earlier this past week and i've been contemplating it. Few buts that came up include how do i access myreading lab if i disconnect, how do i download my nytimes subscription to my kindle, how do i check stuff on SDN?

Currently, i've no solutions to the above but i'm thinking,
1. I can do myreading lab at work and if work is too busy to do that, i can go to work early, and do an hour of myreading lab there? So that'll be about 3 times a week. If not, i can go to the library one of my free days and study and do myreading lab so that will be 4 dedicated days a week. Other days, i can read stuff like norton reader and practice passages which should become a daily thing.

2. concerning my nytimes subscription, i barely log on at home to download it. i logged on friday at work and the last issue i had was from the thursday before. Point is, i barely download issues at home so that shouldn't be a huge concern. If push comes to shove, i can drive to mcdonalds and pick up a signal.

3. SDN, maybe i can use the time at work to catch up on SDN? in that case, home is dedicated for studying.


the advantages? i won't be tempted to spend time on facebook or spend time browsing aimlessly. Also, i'd be saving about $37.55 or so a month. I think that's how much i spend on gas per month. Also, i can use my free time at home to read instead of being on the computer.
Looks like i came up with lots of ideas these past few seconds. Question is when do i disconnect? Also, all work no play makes jack a dull boy. Will eliminating all shows eliminate the 'play' in my work week? I do have to argue that before the internet, people still incorporated 'play' in their work week. Maybe i could knit or something.
Sounds like a good idea.
Back to work i go.

Weekly check-in

So far, studying is average. I worked all six days this past 2 weeks compared to my usual 5 or 4 days so that has thrown a curvebal in this studying game because i was hoping to use my cancelled nights for catch-up.

Things i've done well: i've done my best to do all the phase 1 passages compared to not doing them last year and just reading content.

Things i haven't done well:
1. Haven't done anything verbal related since the 7th. Bad, bad, bad. That means i'm not sticking to schedule.
2. I spend so much time distracted, tv and daydreaming while reading that i'm taking longer to finish my readings so i end up completing just one subject matter in a 12hr period. bottom line, i need to focus and stick to the timelines i've outlined in my schedule.
3. I find myself sleeping a lot more hours than i should.

Remedies i think i should implement:
1. Do the verbal as the first task of the day (passages) and complete the general readings/myreading lab stuff just before bedtime.
2. Spend less time on the computer, cut out facebook and decrease email time. I can possibly read my email at work.
3. Sit at my desk for an 60minutes without getting up or thoughts wandering. Get up after 60 to stretch, hydrate, void and get back to business.
4. On non working days, complete 2 subjects as outlined.

I think these are a good amount of stuff to work on for now. I'm behind by 2 days or is it 3? i'm doing what i should've done on thursday today (sunday). My sleep schedule is soo messed up it's hard to figure things out. I need to stick to a sleep schedule.

Anyway, i'm doing ok so far. God help me.

BR Physics

I have to say the new book is better than the old one and i've only walked through chapter one. The last one had graphs that didn't make sense to me and tricks that didn't make sense to me.

I actually understood what i read, save for that turbo thing which i'm just a teeny little bit fuzzy on. The last time i read the old book, i didn't feel like i picked up anything. This time, i saw the stuff that's review and i learned new stuff, especially when it comes to projectiles. the book mentions equations 1.28 and 1.30 and the last equation in the chapter is 1.27. Not sure what they are talking about.

Last time i did their physics passages, i was so frustrated. When i did the first passage today, i felt frustrated. I think i had a block in thought where i just didn't know what to do about the problem and that got me frustrated. Reviewing the first problem set made me realize the questions were easy and i either wasn't thinking or reasoning well or whatever. Anyway, 2nd set of passage i had 6/7 and the last set i had 5/7. Each of the questions i had wrong was not knowing which equation to use and i think that boils down to somewhat not understanding the questions or some concepts.

I'm wondering if it's easy because i've gone through nova. Not sure. The questions reinforced certain concepts that i'd forgotten and final analysis is that i need to read critically and think when answering these questions. Think, yes, think!

BR books arrival.

Came in 12/28. Still don't get why fedex always says i'm not home when i am. The UPS guy left this place after 12:30p and the fedex guy i believe just left a note on my door at 1:00pm and probably went straight to the office. Whatever happened to knocking.

Anyway, the ochem despite it's 2012 copyright looks like the old one i have. Now, i haven't perused the book yet but just skimmed quickly through it. The physics on the other hand has undergone a good deal of a make-over. Complete make-over in terms of formatting and not much of a makeover when in terms of content. it doesn't have the phases like the rest so i'm planning on using the 25 question review as phase one and the 52 question test as phase II. What will i use for phase 3? TPR passages and kaplan.come to think of it, it works out fine.
The gen chem looks pretty much the same and it should be because the copyright is 2010 which is the exact same one i had earlier this year.

Now, i need to finish my prelimary perusal of the material before i dive into these books. Tried to bid on the GS tests tonite and i didn't win. next one is up next week. Hope i win.

Powerscore RCB

It's obvious i'm desperate. I've come to realize that logic is important when it comes to this exam. i've been a little lazy reading the logic book i got from amazon. I took a look at Powerscore's LRB and i thought it is a better choice than the logic text simply because it teaches how to take tests.

Today, i went down to UB to borrow their RCB. I was a little surprised they didn't have it on reserve. CCBC has the LRB on their reference shelves so you can't even check it out. Anyway, i read through the RCB and i like it. I've only done a little over 20 pages but so far, i feel like it's the best of EK verbal along with the Ivy Hall verbal mastery. EK offers strategies which i find here but explained more in detail in a way that i like. Ivy Hall goes into question types and tells you to read and all that but the RCB offers that and something more. It actually offers practice.
Plus it includes stuff from myreading lab. So far, it's talked about transitional phrases, active reading and context clues for meanings. I think this is the best of everything.

So, i'll use this for the rest of december, do their passage type training and see how i do when i start TPR tests. Must i add that i think i'm reading a little faster now and i'm vocalizing less. I'll post an update on how i'm doing later.

Relapsing

I made a couple purchases at my favorite retailer for shoes black friday week. then purchased another last week and today i made 4 purchases, 3 shoes and a handbag. What happened to the recovering shopaholic i knew.

The deal now is no more shoe purchases till next year. Since I didn't get time to open the box for the brown skechers boots, i'm starting to think it wouldn't be too much of a bad idea to have UPS pick it up and return it. That's something worth considering.

Must i say that i purchased all shoes and bags today at 60% off with an additional 30% off. So in essence, i purchased hundred dollar shape-ups for less than 28 bucks. In my defense, i made the purchase because the last pair of skechers i bought during the black friday sale, i paid $37.60 and i considered that a very good deal. These are 10 bucks less. The rampage bag was something i'd been eyeing for a long time, and at that discount, i just couldn't pass it up. The last shoe i purchased was a 5" lauren jones pump, would pass for a louboutin, but anyway, by adding it to the other 3 items, it came out about 24 bucks. That shoe actually costs about 110. I ended up paying 63 bucks with my card because i had a gift card balance.

I was planning on using the gift card balance for those traciela books but it turns out powerscore has the same thing for $22. I'm waiting for another gift card from chase and God help me use it for the powerscore book and nothing else.

The worst part of today, i was supposed to finish up kinematics and equilibrium. What did i do? nada. I did finish up supporting details in my reading lab.

It's december, hospitals experience low census during this time and i think with all the extra free time i'll get, i need to chanel that to finishing the TPR books instead of spending it shopping. Heaven knows i've no room for more shoes. Plus, i'm earning less, too.

There's pain in knowledge

I find it hard watching someone fight a losing battle in a movie because i know they're not going to win and i tell myself they're better off saving their energy.
I find it heartbreaking watching myself fight a battle i think i'm going to lose looking back at all the times i've failed in the past. It's quite depressing, in fact. Do i throw my hands up in the air or do i keep on fighting hoping for a miracle? What are the chances of a miracle looking at the past. But then again, do i forget about the past, realize it's a new day and keep fighting till the fight is over and i'm declared a loser. Just the thought sends tears pouring. I find it soo hard to give up. On a road where failure has popped up certain times, attaining success does not just require a miracle, it demands one. I feel like i wouldn't be surprised it i end up with Queen's result despite all the work i've put in. Sure, I might cry or hold the tears inside, but i won't be surprised. The pain in knowing the truth is that it hurts, it cuts like a knife. Ignorance surely is bliss.

Stagnant

i feel like i've slacked the entire month of july. i feel like i've done nothing. Maybe it's because i don't see much of a progress. It's pretty discouraging. I'm not sure what i'm going to do. Christ have mercy

Roller coaster ride

I took a look at the GRE stuff at BN today and ended up reading the verbal tips in TPR book instead. I thought that was helpful. Anyway, goal was to read kaplan to the aromatics, do corresponding EK and do topicals. done with 2 topicals out of 3. can't find the other one. I think i may jump on to acid bases for the remainder of the time and do the other one tomorrow. So far i've been focusion on ochem and come to think of it, i feel like there're only few questions on the subject on the exam. But anyeay, the more i practice, the more i learn and the more i realize that i learn from rationales because i get to apply rationales i learned earlier to new questions. Anyway, i still need a miracle and some icecream.

I really feel like giving up

honestly, i'm starting to think maybe i should quit and focus on the GRE for the next month and refocus on this so i take it next year. I've invested soo much time and money and the opportunity cost is not only enormous but it increases exponentially with time.
i spent my afternoon at bn and i couldn't do any physics. I feel like i need more time. Question is how much more time do i need? I've not had a life this summer thanks to studying for this. And to just throw my hands up in the air and walk away is just something i can't bring myself to do. I feel like it's one of those days when i need to hit the gym. Hopefully feel better