Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society

University of Texas at Austin Kappa Upsilon Chapter

02/26/18

● 3rd general meeting of Spring 2018!

● Next meeting is 03/05!

Welcome!

Meeting Dates● All meetings are 6 - 7 pm in WAG 420● 01/29 - First Meeting & Icebreakers● 02/12 - Valentine’s Social● 02/26 - Avilasha’s MCAT Presentation● 03/05 - TBA● 03/26 - Princeton Review MCAT Strategy Session● 04/09 - TBA● 04/23 - Last Meeting/Elections/Induction

¡Hola! Greetings from the Valley!(A Few of Lindsay’s Birb Photos)

The President and Volunteer Coordinator (at least) willbe available for the ‘18-’19 year!

● Anyone can run!● Positions last for one full year (Fall & Spring) & are a time commitment● Those who have not held a position within TriBeta yet are most encouraged to

run! We would love for you to get experience as an officer for your grad school applications & résumés!

● Feel free to talk to any of us about our positions & think about whether or not it will be a good fit for you (and be mindful when registering for classes!)

Elections!

Membership Requirements (Point System)Status Meetings Socials Fundraiser Volunteer

(HOURS)Research Freebies

Actives (Honors & Associates)

4 2 2 5 Lab or 2 Up to 2

Pledges (Honors & Associates)

5 3 3 6 Lab or 3 Up to 2

Actives (Meeting Conflicts)

— 3 3 6 Lab or 3 Up to 2

Pledges (Meeting Conflicts)

— 4 4 7 Lab or 4 Up to 2

Honors Membership

● Open to all 13 Biology Majors, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Neuroscience, and Public Health majors with a 3.0 GPA who have completed Genetics (BIO 325)

● One time due of $100● Eligible for publication in BIOS, The Princeton Review

discount, and national scholarships● Eligible to run for and hold office● Receive honor cords upon graduation● Please turn in your dues by the 4th General Meeting!

● No major, GPA, or course requirements● One time due of $80● Eligible for publication in BIOS, The Princeton Review

discount, committee positions and national scholarships● Cannot run for an officer position or receive honor cords● After completing Genetics (BIO 325), you may upgrade to an

Honors Membership for $25● Please turn in your dues by the 4th General Meeting!

Associate Membership

● The enduring Impact of Poverty on Children: Development of Brain Structure and Function○ Monday, February 26th 12-1PM @SEA 4.244

● Health Professions Fair○ Wednesday, February 28th 2018 10:00AM-2:00PM @Texas Union Ballroom

● Science Under the Stars○ Thursday, March 8th 7:00-7:45 PM @Brackenridge Field Laboratory

● Neuroscience Seminar Series○ Monday, March 5th 3-4PM @NHB 1.720

● A&P Seminar○ Thursday, March 8th 3:30-5:00 PM @WEL 2.122

● Be on the lookout for any biology related seminars on campus (flyers in WEL, BIO, PAI)- more events will be posted on our facebook page!

Research Credit Opportunities!

● SHIRTS!

○ $15-17 for Comfort Colors

○ $5 for older shirts

○ One fundraising point

○ New shirt (ORDERED)!

● 2/26 Cold Cookie Company profit share

○ Right after our meeting!

○ One fundraising and one social point for attending

Fundraising Opportunities

● Explore UT○ Saturday, March 3rd 11 am - 5 pm with hourly shifts○ Social and Volunteering credit per hour○ If you want to volunteer, but not with us, sign up here

● WORK AT THE CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK. TAKE A PIC AND FILL OUT THE FORM

○ Sign up here: https://www.centraltexasfoodbank.org/get-involved/volunteer ○ It is booked for groups BUT you can go as an individual!○ FIll out the form on hornslink and take a pic at the event

● Longhorn Lights Out!! Occurs on Fridays at the CLA at 6 PM. Here’s a link. Please take a pic at the event and fill out the form on HornsLink.

● Come help Trash to Treasure hold our first sale of the semester by assisting customers, reorganizing tables, and hanging clothes! Please take a pic at the event and fill out the form on HornsLink. It happens Tuesday Feb 27th. Location TBA? Here’s the to sign-up and for more information: link.

Volunteering Events

● We will promptly end at 4:40pm. Make sure the area is clean. Break down the tables and chairs and drop

them at the corner of 24th & Speedway or Speedway in front of the East Mall, whichever is closer.

● Wear an organization, College of Natural Sciences OR UT T-shirt. PLEASE DO NOT WEAR PREVIOUS EXPLORE

UT T-SHIRTS

● All volunteers must have an Explore UT lanyard name badge. Lanyards will be available at the Tribeta table.

● We encourage you to utilize social media throughout the day with #ExploreUT.

● In the event of a weather call, your program will be moved to the SAC Ballroom or the NHB 24th Street

Patio (refer to attached program summary). Be on the lookout from me on Thursday or Friday if rain is

looking likely.

● LINK TO SHIFT SIGN-UP :

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xppoEGi2WpOqY8Xo6FTYFCK6Cvdxt8n4FbUCZtbgP10/edit?usp

=sharing

EXPLORE UT

● St. David’s Medical Center will accept applications for their Summer 2018 College Volunteer Program from February 26th - March 26th

● The program is designed specifically for pre-health students● The time commitment is 3 - 4 hours per week● Volunteer in various locations in the hospital● Leadership opportunities

Fill out an online application: https://stdavids.com/connect-with-us/volunteering/st-davids-medical-center/

Email Avi (fgb59hbu@gmail.com) if you have any questions!

Clinical Volunteering Opportunity

Last time...

Valentine’s Day Social!

...Today...

● Cold Cookie Company Profit Share!○ Monday, February 26th 7pm ○ Join us for ice cream and cookies ○ Earn one social point and one

fundraising point

Social Opportunities

MCAT 101

There is no one way to study for or approach the MCAT. Everyone has different learning styles and strengths/weaknesses so keep in mind that I’m just saying the things that I did which may or may not work for you so just do what you think is best for you.

Disclaimer

● BIO 315H/325H● CH 301/302● CH 204L● CH 320M/302N● CH 220C● PSY 301● SOC 302● H S 301● PHY 302K● BCH 369

Classes I Took Before the MCAT

● Khan Academy MCAT○ TONS of practice passages and videos○ Great for self-studying psych/soc

● AAMC Official Study Materials○ Worth the price (I think it’s like $250?)

● Princeton Review Book Set○ Gives a little more detail than you need to know so try not to get overwhelmed○ TPR lets you buy a ton of practice tests but their scores were severely deflated

● TPR, Kaplan, and NextStep all offer at least one free practice test● Newspaper and research articles

○ Remember, the MCAT is mostly passage-based

Good Resources

● Not that different from how you study for your classes in college○ Study groups are good if you study better with other people

● Repetition of concepts and information is essential for long-term retention● Understanding of the concepts >>>>> memorization of details● Make sure you have at least 1 day off a week● Take numerous breaks

Studying for the MCAT

● Fundamentally, this issue boils down to how disciplined and motivated you are● If you need regular homework assignments and reminders to study and would like a

instructor of whom you can ask questions, then definitely take a prep course● If you are self-motivated/disciplined enough to study on your own, consider just

buying the materials and not the course● Remember, you would rather spend the extra money on a course in the short-run than

have to deal with issues like retaking the MCAT or having to apply late

To Prep Course or To Not Prep Course?

● Follow @AAMC_MCAT on Twitter (even though they don’t follow back :’( )● Registration opens months before your exam● Two separate registrations: one for January - May (I think it’s May) and one for June -

September● Registration is a mess because the day it opens, the AAMC doesn’t really give out the

time before then and will just send a tweet out when it opens (it was like at 6:20 AM in the morning and there was already a wait to register when I logged in)

● The MCAT is not offered all months so make sure you check the testing calendar● Seats for the MCAT go FAST so try to register ASAP● At the same time, DO NOT take the MCAT if you don’t feel ready - wait to register or

reschedule your exam if you don’t feel ready

Register for the MCAT

● Have a plan for what to do after you finish the MCAT● Something that helped me was promising myself some reward after completing the

MCAT● If studying during the semester, allow yourself multiple break days on weeks where

you have lots of tests (don’t focus so much on the MCAT that your GPA suffers)● Don’t spend all day studying● Don’t get discouraged - my first practice test score was a 493

Staying Motivated

● The best thing you can do for practice is practice tests● I took 12 practice tests● Towards the end of my studying, I was completing 1 practice test a week● Make sure you thoroughly review your practice tests the day after● Initially, you may find it difficult to take the whole thing in one sitting so work on

your endurance (for my first practice tests, I could only do 1 or two sections at a time)

● As you get closer to your test, try to simulate the real testing conditions○ Start them at 8:00 AM○ Follow the allotted timing and breaks

Practice Tests

● Dress kind of warmly because they made me take off my sweater and I was freezing● Monitor your water intake because they won’t let you use the restroom in the middle

of a section● Try to get a good night’s sleep before (easier said than done)● Bring food that’s easy to eat and that you want to eat - if you’re stressed, you may

find it difficult to eat properly● The real MCAT is much harder than any practice test by any company● Timing is an issue

○ I would complete my practice tests with 30 - 45 minutes left per section but on the actual MCAT, I finished some sections with only seconds left

The Day Of

● I took the MCAT on 1/20 and it was the hardest test I’ve taken in my entire life● I wanted to void my exam because I thought I was going to get like a 500● I felt dead afterwards● BUT TRUST ME, YOU WILL BE FINE!!!● I am not good with standardized tests but I did ok so I know that y’all can too● Even if you do not score well, the first time, you can always retake it and it is not the

end of the world

The MCAT Hurts...