When preparing to retake the MCAT, students typically hope for a 5-10 point jump or higher, but according to the AAMC most students barely improve by 2-5 points on their second attempt. Does this mean the situation is hopeless?Should you just give up on your dreams of becoming a doctor and settle for something else?Maybe […]
6 Month MCAT Study Plan
December 21, 2019 By Leave a Comment
“If you had 6 months to prepare for the MCAT, what would you do in that time?” For many students, the plan looks something like this Pick a test date ‘far enough’ in the future Get some resources without knowing much about them Study, study, study but without a strategic plan or measurable progress There’s […]
Intro to Balancing Redox Reactions
December 3, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Balancing Redox Reactions is about more than just balancing atoms. Since oxidation and reduction involve the transfer of electrons, we also have to keep an eye on atoms and charge. Introduction to Balancing Redox Reactions The first thing to master in balancing redox is how to balance atoms and charge. This video shows you a […]
Alkyne Acid Catalyzed Hydration Reaction and Mechanism
October 30, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Alkynes, like alkenes, can undergo acid-catalyzed hydration. However, since alkynes are slower to react under these conditions we prefer to use alternative reactions. This video walks you through the step by step reaction and mechanism including the final enol-keto tautomerization. (Watch on YouTube: Alkyne Hydration. Click CC for Transcription.) <– Watch Previous Video: Alkyne Reduction Hydrogenation Reaction and Mechanism […]
SN1 SN2 E1 E2 Organic Chemistry Study Guide Cheat Sheet
October 24, 2019 By 8 Comments
Substitution and Elimination reactions are potentially the most difficult topic at the Organic Chemistry 1 Level. Unlike other reactions which follow similar patterns, with the SN1/SN2/E1/E2 reactions you are faced with different circumstances for similar molecules and asked to choose a reaction pathway. The average cheat sheet gives you a ‘memorize without logic’ roadmap, which […]
A 3 Month MCAT Study Plan
October 20, 2019 By 4 Comments
“If you were retaking the MCAT and had just 3 months to prepare, what would you do?” This is a question I often hear from students who postpone their MCAT, or students who are dissatisfied with their scores and looking to retest. I was very hesitant to publish this plan given that I believe you […]
2020 MCAT Test Dates
September 17, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Taking the MCAT in 2020? The dates are finally out though registration doesn’t open until late October. Looks like once again we have 2 different testing calendars for the US and Canada with more Canadian dates later in the cycle, perhaps to accommodate the rolling admissions for hard deadlines? Most Canadian medical schools have hard deadlines. […]
Acid Base Equilibrium Organic Chemistry Practice Questions
September 12, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Ranking acids and bases are about more than just knowing which is stronger/weaker. This video walks you through a few practice questions where you’re asked to determine the position of equilibrium for acid-base reactions WITHOUT using PKA values. Instead, we’re using CARIO to determine which acids and bases are stronger and predicting the reaction direction […]
Organic Chemistry Study Hall Semester Pass
September 2, 2019 By
Is your Organic Chem Class destroying your confidence? Are you doing what you’ve always done to master other classes, but suddenly it’s not enough? Are you overwhelmed with trying to memorize page after page of reactions, reagents, mechanisms, arrows, and more? YOU ARE NOT ALONE. I get it. I’ve been there! In fact… I nearly failed Organic Chemistry! Now, you […]
Cyclohexane Ring Flip and Boat Conformation
August 22, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Cyclohexanes are most stable in the chair conformation. This requires a ring flip to interconvert between the 2 chair conformations, with some funky (boat) intermediates. This video walks you through the ring flip and boat conformations both with a model kit as well as how to draw the ring flip and boat on paper. (Watch […]
