Rating: Summary: Great way to SUPPLEMENT your studying! Review: I would not recommend "studying" straight from these audio CD's, though it can be done. Instead, it is very helpful to REVIEW the topics you're uncomfortable with. I listened to them in the car, in my lab job, before bed. They offer great flexibility to one's studying and the jokes help you relax a bit and not be so tense. The topics are covered with depth and help you become more INTUITIVE with the science. Because the audio CD's go closely with the Examcrackers books, it feels like you can supplement a "lecture" with the great books. These guys are the best hands down on MCAT materials and have an online message board to answer any questions (very quickly too).
Rating: Summary: Great way to SUPPLEMENT your studying! Review: I would not recommend "studying" straight from these audio CD's, though it can be done. Instead, it is very helpful to REVIEW the topics you're uncomfortable with. I listened to them in the car, in my lab job, before bed. They offer great flexibility to one's studying and the jokes help you relax a bit and not be so tense. The topics are covered with depth and help you become more INTUITIVE with the science. Because the audio CD's go closely with the Examcrackers books, it feels like you can supplement a "lecture" with the great books. These guys are the best hands down on MCAT materials and have an online message board to answer any questions (very quickly too).
Rating: Summary: Flawed Review: I would not recommend Audio Osmosis to anyone, unless you have a lot of time wasted everyday (commuting or whatever) to listen to these CD's. I have not try the other audio programs, and I probably will because the Audio Osmosis CD's are basically the EXAM Kracker books read to you. They add a little bit more information once in a while, leave out some.
But, their humor is horrendous. I have only listened to one CD and haven't heard any of the anti-female stuff that one reviewere mentioned, but their jokes suck. Suck elephant balls suck. It is so not funny. It's so bad that you can't believe it's that bad. I think it might actually take away from learning sometimes. And the sound effects suck too. I really feel bad for these guys, they might be making a decent amount of money off the MCAT's but whatever partners they have, man or women, must suffer through their humor. So, don't expect it to be funny like they advertise.
If you don't have a lot of time to listen on your hands, than do not buy this series. I would probably try out the other Audio series or even better try out the video series. I have ordered the video series and they are due to arrive on Oct 10th, so in late october, I will review those for you. I have also bought their books, their books are not so bad, but I"m trying to learn from them, and it is definitely meant to be review and you cannot learn well directly from them. So make sure you have a good textbook handy besides you if you don't understand the concept well. The exam kracker books, like most of the other books, do not give enough practice for each concept.
Alright, that's all.
Be well.
Rating: Summary: Good way to organize/pace your review... Review: I'm satisfied with my 35, and I give these CDs a fair bit of the credit. I'd recommend, as another reviewer has, taking notes the first time through. It is a bit time consuming to do that, but you'll engage another learning modality. I think such an approach really helps drive home concepts later while listening over and over...and porta-lecture is the true beauty/benefit of AO CDs.Yes, the humor and sound effects are goofy and sometimes get carried away, but generally they are welcome breathers. I'd second the call for a revision that maybe shortens some of the longer comedy bits. But after a few listens, you'll know when to hit the ">>" button. I just can't see paying $1,000 for such a class, given resources like the AO CDs, the plethora of study books (by various companies including Kaplan), your textbooks and notes, and cold AAMC exams (be sure you self-administer, timed, several of these!!). AO CDs are broken into topical lectures so you can create a very efficient schedule of study and there is website where questions can be posted to the lecturers. Just be sure to listen frequently and actively for 3 months; don't take "osmosis" literally, you need to think...Good luck!
Rating: Summary: Very Useful Review: Jordan and Jon made me think about the science the way it appears on the real MCAT. I don't know why everyone says that they're not funny. I thought they were hysterical for the most part. I hope they come out with an Audio Osmosis USMLE. By the way, some people say they are using these CDs without using books. I wouldn't go that far. I used the Examkrackers books and thought they were good too.
Rating: Summary: A good idea, but... Review: The audio osmosis concept is good. It is a great way to study for the MCAT, I also like the way this series focuses on WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW for the MCAT. Unfortunately, the jokes are often dumb and annoying and occasionally sexist and offensive. The authors clearly pander to the frat boy mentality, and don't seem to think that any women would actually be interested in medical school.
Rating: Summary: Great preparation Review: The cds offered insightful advice both on how to approach individual subjects and the MCAT as a whole.
Rating: Summary: Excellent of prep for MCAT Review: These 12 CDs are excellent for prep for MCAT. Because of these CDs, my score went from a 22 (6v, 7ps, 9bs) to a 26 (7v,9ps,10bs). This may not seem like its that good of an improvement, but I did almost no other studying besides listening to these CDs. The physics and gem chem sections are the best because they explain the subjects conceptually, which helps enormously on the real mcat. Very highly recommended.
Rating: Summary: More useful and cheaper than prep class Review: These cds are great. I spent $1300 on a MCAT prep course and these cds are much more useful then the prep class material. I have actually stopped going to the prep class and just use this material and I feel like I am making more progress than I was while I was going to class. If I had known about examkrackers before I signed up for the course I would have just bought these cds and saved [a lot of money].
Rating: Summary: Excellent prep, but not very funny. Review: These guys were great. They covered everything that was on my MCAT in April. They discuss the science concept rather than give lectures. They aren't nearly as funny as they think they are, but I have to admit that I did laugh occasionally. Anyway, their jokes and sound effects definitely helped me remember the material. And there is no way that I would have listened to 13 hours of straight lecture. If you really think 5 hours is better than 13 hours, and dry and boring is better than interesting, then I suggest Audio Learn instead. Unfortunately, I tried Audio Learn before I found Audio Osmosis.
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