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How to Improve MCAT Comprehension Skills

By U.S. News & World Report

For applicants to medical schools, knowing the basic science and social science principles tested on the MCAT is only half the battle in achieving your highest possible score. Given that the MCAT tests knowledge within the context of discrete passages, being able to apply prior knowledge to new situations is crucial to success.

Comprehension skills are most overtly tested in the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills section of the exam, but are also essential to the remaining three sections of the test.

In addition to brushing up on basic biology, chemistry, physics, psychology and sociology, you must also develop the ability to glean important information from passages, interpret that information and use your interpretations to answer questions.

If you are preparing to take the MCAT, check out these strategies to develop your comprehension skills in time for your test date.

[Learn three ways to build MCAT skills in everyday life.]

1. Review question stems first: MCAT passages typically present more information than what you will be tested on. For example, a passage in the Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems section may contain a chart of experimental data, as well as several paragraphs that detail how an experiment was conducted. It may also include information about the tested hypothesis.

Rather than reading the entirety of this passage when it appears on your screen, consider scanning the related question stems before you begin reading. Devoting one minute to reviewing the question stems can help you focus your reading, priming you to identify the information that is most relevant.

This strategy may be most effective for biology-based passages, in that it prevents you from expending time and energy on attempting to remember facts that will not be tested. But it can also be used for the other MCAT sections.

Be mindful of your time when using this strategy. The idea is to become familiar with the question stems, not to thoroughly read the questions and then meticulously comb the passage for the answers.

[Sharpen critical analysis and reasoning skills for MCAT success.]

2. Determine the general principle being tested: Passages on the Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior section of the MCAT often ask test-takers to apply the foundational principles of psychology and sociology to statistical data.

Questions may require you to relate social trends and examples of psychological theories to the data or vignette that is being presented, and answering correctly hinges on your ability to distill new information down to a basic concept.

While it is all too simple to find yourself making arguments for and against each possible answer choice, approaching the passage and the questions through the test creator’s eyes may help you arrive at the best possible solution in the shortest amount of time.

Instead of agonizing over how answer A may be better than B, return to the question stem or conclusion of the passage and ask yourself what skill or fact the writer of the test wants you to demonstrate through that question or passage.

For instance, a passage that presents statistics correlating the number of words children know at age two with parental income could be interpreted as an examination of how socioeconomic class affects children’s cognitive development.

Identifying the overarching theme or task on which a passage or question rests can help to eliminate ambiguity as you look at individual answer choices.

[Learn how to prepare for the MCAT verbal reasoning section.]

3. View each passage as a vacuum: Though this may seem obvious, it is important to note: Individual passages on the MCAT are in no way conceptually linked to one another.

You might find yourself parsing the aromaticity of benzene rings in one passage and adjusting for the presence of frictional force on an incline in the next. Because our minds naturally create continuous narratives where one item logically follows the next, shifting between passages and subjects within the MCAT can be difficult.

The Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems section may pose particular problems when trying to let go of one passage when diving into the next, as this section covers an expansive amount of academic material, from general chemistry to physics.

Practice taking a moment for yourself after you complete the questions for a single passage. Use 20 or 30 seconds to regroup, take a breath and release your thoughts from the subject or questions of the previous passage.

Intentionally clearing your mind between passages can help to interrupt the process by which previous questions or topics might influence your answers in forthcoming items.

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How to Improve MCAT Comprehension Skills originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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