For Fall semester – Preparing for the MCAT
This is the introductory letter that was sent out to a select number of students in the summer. We originally wanted this course for undergraduate students only but not enough undergrads have shown interest so postbaccs may sign up as well. At this point we are not sure the course will begin on October 2nd as it is a Jewish holiday. That will depend on the instructor's schedule. At this point students should be prepared to attend on the 2nd. I will confirm the start date on Monday! Also, if you have any LSAT, GRE or MCAT prep materials bring them with you to class. The money can be submitted to my office in 812East to Ms. Gueirrier or myself. Thanks! Mrs. Wood-Hill

            Many students, who, like you, have demonstrated academic ability in college, consider pursuing a graduate or professional degree.  It is advisable to begin now to explore graduate and professional programs, as well as possible careers, so that you can define your goals and take the steps necessary to achieve them.  There are many resources available at Hunter to help you explore your options and develop an action plan; these include Career Development Services, Pre-Professional Advising, and Academic Advising (including advising on post-graduate scholarships and fellowships).

 

            As the Director of Pre-Health Programs and the Pre-Law Advisor, we assist students planning to apply to medical or law school.  If you are considering a career in law or medicine, it is important to be aware that standardized test scores are an important factor in the admissions process for professional schools. Exam scores influence whether and where applicants will be admitted, and can also impact financial aid.  Our collective experience suggests that students do not prepare adequately or long enough for these exams so that we have decided to offer Hunter student’s innovative new support. The Office of Pre-Professional Advising has developed a series of workshops on preparing for the MCAT (medical college admission test) and the LSAT (law school admission test).  The workshops are not intended to replace an MCAT or LSAT preparation course, but rather to encourage you to get an early start on studying, prepare you to get the most out of a more intensive preparation course, and to increase the productivity of further study. 

 

            The Hunter LSAT/MCAT workshops will be offered for a nominal fee beginning in the fall 2006 semester. The first four workshops will focus on improving the reading and critical thinking skills necessary to succeed on both the LSAT and MCAT.

 

            Finally, we have observed that an important aspect of preparation for the MCAT and the LSAT is developing the ability to read and understand complex textual material.  This ability develops over time and from the effort involved in working through a variety of difficult texts.  For this reason, we strongly suggest taking some time out in the summer from popular forms of entertainment (unplug your DVD players, etc.), and plunging into some interesting books and journals.   Attached you will find a list of suggested reading that will expand your mind, enlarge your vocabulary, and improve your ability to deal with the types of material on standardized tests.  You will even find some of this reading enjoyable.

 

            Have a relaxing summer in which you read a lot, and if you are thinking about applying to law or medical school, please consider enrolling in the Hunter LSAT/MCAT workshops in the fall to get a head start on moving toward your goals. We both encourage you to contact them to discuss the workshops as well as your plans.

 

Sincerely,

                                                                                    Barbara Landress

                                                                                    Pre-Law Advisor

                                                                       

                                                                                    Lolita Wood-Hill

                                                                                    Director of Pre-Health Programs

           

  

                                                                                   

 

           

 

 

VERBAL WORKSHOP

 

Week 1

Reading

  1. Understanding the relationship between the written section and the verbal reasoning.
    1. Give an example of this from Plato’s Republic
  2. Using the format structure of the written section (i.e. selecting the argument and providing examples that are pro or con) – use this to analyze the verbal reasoning structure
  3. Exercises both in class & given for homework

 

Week 2

Critical judgements

1.      Reading a passage and learning to be a harsh critic

a.       Creating in your mind who the author is

b.      Understanding that your image of the author helps you to understand that writer’s bias

c.       Work on examples

2.      Putting together the critical judgment with the comprehension of structural format

3.      Review exercises from week before, give new examples for homework

 

Week 3

Arguments and grammar – examples in workshop & given for homework

1.      Review of grammar/placement

2.      Arguments

a.       Fallacies of distraction

b.      Appeals to Motives in place of support

c.       Changing the subject

d.      Inductive Fallacies

e.       Fallacies involving statistical syllogisms

f.        Causal Fallacies

g.       Missing the point

h.       Ambiguity

i.         Category

j.        Non-sequitor

k.      Explanation and Definition

 

 

 

Week 4

Arguments and grammar

1.      Review exercises from week before

2.      Show MCAT examples

3.      Explain the answer choices on MCATs

a.       4 to choose from

b.      2 way off

c.       1 wrong due to an argument or grammar and therefore one correct