I completed a practice test, scored a 100% and when i come back, i'm prevented from taking the test. I've been doing the test first lately and i regret not completing the test first. I actually did the practice first because the last time the question i got wrong on the test, the answer was in the first practice set i took when i came back so i figured even if i get 3 questions wrong in the practice, i'll just hit the pause button, take the test in that case, the low score doesn't prevent me from taking the test except this time, i had all the practice questions right and the test button is disabled.
Right now, it's equally frustrating and annoying. At this point, i wouldn't suggest using it for the mcat. The frustration just isn't worth it. I don't even feel like working with it again. Once again, i have a module that's not check off and this time, it's NOT because i flunked the practice. The worst part is that i need this particular module checked off. The other module that didn't get checked off, i didn't care because i passed it in the diagnostic. This one here i didn't and i can't complete the darn thing!!!
It's a good program but unless you're using it with an instructor, i wouldn't recommend. There are way too many bugs and kinks in the independent course.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
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!!!
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!!!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Philly?
I woke up just before 5p and have done nothing related to studying. That's 5 hrs wasted on my pc. Should i add the 1.5hrs from this morning when i came in and watched NCIS?
I'm definately going to get up now, take my contacts up, finish BR chem chapter 9 and questions. I need to finish the ochem book too so i may do that but i also need to sleep and get up for the clinic tomorrow morning.
I was thinking about driving to philly afterwards. The pros, i get to be without internet access so i can invest time in studying. Cons: There's a baby, there's a mom who's trying to be my matchmaker and there's also the cost of spending almost 2hrs on the road as well as driving what's her name around when i get there? will i really get time to study?
Maybe i should make tomorrow a no pc day and just work study. Sounds like a good idea. What i need is self control and perhaps, disconnecting my internet access.
I'm definately going to get up now, take my contacts up, finish BR chem chapter 9 and questions. I need to finish the ochem book too so i may do that but i also need to sleep and get up for the clinic tomorrow morning.
I was thinking about driving to philly afterwards. The pros, i get to be without internet access so i can invest time in studying. Cons: There's a baby, there's a mom who's trying to be my matchmaker and there's also the cost of spending almost 2hrs on the road as well as driving what's her name around when i get there? will i really get time to study?
Maybe i should make tomorrow a no pc day and just work study. Sounds like a good idea. What i need is self control and perhaps, disconnecting my internet access.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Self-control
What's the difference between being a shopaholic and a regular shopper? right now, my vision is blurred and i'm not objective. But, i just left Victoria's secret without buying a thing. i'd just spent $114+ there earlier and was on the verge of spending $116 more. Can i afford it? Yes. Do i need it? No. Why am i buying when i've a closet full of stuff i don't even wear? i'm a shopaholic and I can't help it. Pathetic? Very.
Lord I need big help. I feel like i need the stuff though.
Lord I need big help. I feel like i need the stuff though.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
The evil that men do
I just got news, it's unofficial, that my manager came back from vacation and they asked her to leave. I knew what goes around will come around for her but this soon? i was expecting it to happen later. We've had so many people quit on our unit it's pathetic. Staff are complaining and unhappy. Each day i pray i have a job. I was actually planning on quitting sometime this year before my evaluation.
I've been reading the book of Daniel and i was thinking about how God humbles these proud rulers. Last year, i thought Belshazzar's destruction came too soon. Looks like i'm seeing something similar manifest.
Nothing is permanent in this life. My manager was someone with great nursing skills. How to talk to people and deal with staff was a whole different issue. I feel like she worked hard and she did suck up to the administration. She was the on-call person at odd times when i'm sure no one else wanted to be on call, like during the snow emergency and on weekends. I know she put her heart into her work on the unit. I know she's saved the hospital money. She did do some unethical stuff, such as not paying people who stayed over after 7:30 to complete their work, she made us clock out after work for staff meetings and while she kept us there for 2hrs, she only paid us for 45minutes. She threatened people, she knew very well that the job market for nurses is bad and she brandished that fact around and said i'll fire you and hire someone else because i know many people who can't find a job. She was petty and flaky.
I guess there's soo much management can take. I wondered for a second if she took a minute to wonder why people were leaving our unit. But then i figured that if she's looking at it from the point of view that they're quitting because they can't do the job and i can always hire someone else, then she's likely to see herself as the major reason why people left. We've had 5 techs on nights quit, 3 on dayshift, so many nurses have quit it's not worth counting. I think the recent exodus of 5 nurses from dayshift this month, including one who's worked there for 9years did it.
Oh well, i feel relieved. Whew! exhaling....
I've been reading the book of Daniel and i was thinking about how God humbles these proud rulers. Last year, i thought Belshazzar's destruction came too soon. Looks like i'm seeing something similar manifest.
Nothing is permanent in this life. My manager was someone with great nursing skills. How to talk to people and deal with staff was a whole different issue. I feel like she worked hard and she did suck up to the administration. She was the on-call person at odd times when i'm sure no one else wanted to be on call, like during the snow emergency and on weekends. I know she put her heart into her work on the unit. I know she's saved the hospital money. She did do some unethical stuff, such as not paying people who stayed over after 7:30 to complete their work, she made us clock out after work for staff meetings and while she kept us there for 2hrs, she only paid us for 45minutes. She threatened people, she knew very well that the job market for nurses is bad and she brandished that fact around and said i'll fire you and hire someone else because i know many people who can't find a job. She was petty and flaky.
I guess there's soo much management can take. I wondered for a second if she took a minute to wonder why people were leaving our unit. But then i figured that if she's looking at it from the point of view that they're quitting because they can't do the job and i can always hire someone else, then she's likely to see herself as the major reason why people left. We've had 5 techs on nights quit, 3 on dayshift, so many nurses have quit it's not worth counting. I think the recent exodus of 5 nurses from dayshift this month, including one who's worked there for 9years did it.
Oh well, i feel relieved. Whew! exhaling....
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
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.
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.
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