MCAT Study Tips

MCAT Study Tips

1. UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS TEST

Doing well on this test is important! It is not the only factor that determines a successful application to medical school, but it is a very important part of the application. Doing well on this test isnNot only for securing admission, but for securing admission and increasing potential for scholarships.   The cost of any MCAT prep course, qbank, or resource you purchase is an investment into your future. This is not the time to be economical. Paying $2000 for a live Kaplan class, could secure you the score that results in a full scholarship to medical school! It is well worth it.

 

2. KNOW WHATS ON THE TEST

Before you can actually start studying for the test, you need to know the content.   Most students know that the MCAT tests knowledge of biology, chemistry, organic chemistry and physics, however, that’s not enough to know. It’s important to know specifically what concepts from those subjects you are responsible for knowing. Knowing the specifics will guide your studying. The AAMC details the specific subject matter that will be tested on the exam.

What’s on the MCAT 2015

COMPLETE MCAT 2015 content description:    (YOU MAY BE TEMPTED TO NOT LOOK AT THIS, DON’T YIELD TO THE TEMPTATION. KNOWING WHAT’S ACTUALLYO N THE TEST IS WELL WORTH YOUR TIME. IF THE AAMC THOUGHT IT WAS NECESSARY TO PRODUCE A 120+ PAGE DOCUMENT WITH WHAT’S ON THE TEST, IT BEHOOVES YOU TO LOOK AT IT)

 

3. SET OUT TIME TO STUDY.

It’s recommended that students devote 4 – 6 months to prep for the exam.

Arrange your academic schedule so you have adequate time to study. As much as is possible take a lighter courseload during the semester during which you will be studying for the test. So, if your schedule for next semester has more than 15 credits, and the majority of those credits are science courses, consider swapping one for a general education/ prerequisite that will be not take up too much of your time. Plan to study every day and devote more time on the weekends.

 

4. PREPARE MENTALLY

You will need to prepare mentally before you embark on this journey. The preparation isn’t just for you, its for your friends a nd family who will neglect for the 4-6 months during which you will be studying.   You have to be diligent about your MCAT study time; it can’t be negotiable.

 

5.  DECIDE WHEN YOU’RE TAKING THE TEST

There are 14 test dates for the 2015 MCAT, from April to September, attached is a copy of the schedule  and when scores will be released.  A select few of you may be able to take the May test, but that would require you to prepare NOW! If your schedule for the upcoming spring semester doesn’t permit ample time to study for they test, do not plan to take it ” and see what happens”. It is doable to get good preparation in between November and May, but you would just have to be diligent, disciplined and start now and have a schedule that would permit that.

 

If you are considering taking the July/ August test

1.  What else do you have planned for the summer? As much as possible, try to dedicate the whole summer to those final 2 months of test prep.  ( I say final two months of test prep because you should not be starting to study for the test during the summer.  If you can remotely afford not to work, don’t work.  I would not plan to do research during this time.  One feasible option to consider is to get some shadowing experience in. Anything other than that may prove to be too time consuming and will take you away from studying for the test.

2.  How will you study?  Prep class or on your own with materials.  If financially feasible, I would recommend a prep class.  The investment is worth it.

 

If you  are considering taking the May test

1.  Will you have a light enough schedule to study during spring semester?  If you won’t have time to study, don’t plan to take the test.

2. Is it more important to you to have the opportunity to take the test again or to have more time to prepare?  Keep in mind that there will only be about 9 weeks from the time the May MCAT scores come out (on June 30) and when the September** test is administered, so if you’re thinking that taking it in May gives you time to retake the test; it does, but there will only be about 9 weeks, so there really won’t that that much time to study.  There would only be time to address areas where you had specific deficits.

**I say September test, because by there is a possibility that by the time the May scores come out on June 30, there may not be enough time to register for the August test.  Registration dates have not yet been published**

 

6. MAKE A SCHEDULE!

In order to know where you’re going you need some direction, a roadmap, a guide. Same with MCAT studying. You can’t just decide, OK, today I’m going to study biology and then pick up your book , read for 2 hours and then close it. In order to cover all the concepts tested, it’s important to know what you specifically aim to cover within a period of time ( per day  or per week) You can create a weekly schedule, or you can go further and plan out what you hope to cover every day.   I would recommend studying for at least one solid hours per day with more on weekends and during breaks.  Utilize test prep materials now concurrently as you do your coursework.

 

7. DO TONS OF QUESTIONS

Do tons of questions, and then do them again. You want to familiarize yourself with the test, the testing environment and the material. Kaplan, Princeton Review, Exam Krackers all offer an online question bank. I would recommend that students buy the qbank in about 6 months before you hope to take the test and work on the questions during the school year. I would also recommend incorporating full length practice tests into your study schedule, especially as the actual test date nears and in light of the fact that test is about 7.5 hours long.  There is currently a full length new MCAT practice test on the AAMC website. I would do it, and do it again, and do it again. An additional one will be available in the new year.

 

8.  USE YOUR TEST PREP MATERIALS NOW

Use your test prep materials for your current coursework.  That way you familiarize yourself with the information and can apply the concepts to what you’re currently doing in class.  Obtain test prep materials during Thanksigiving and christmas break and use them along with text books and other resources now and during the spring semester.

 

To Do List

– Obtain the AAMC official MCAT 2015 guide

– Order Kaplan / Princeton Review / Exam Crackers Online course or plan to take a live course during the summer.

(Kaplan has live classes that you can attend online, that start as early as November 15th)

– Get a qbank

– Obtain the AAMC MCAT 2015 Practice test

– Set up a schedule

 

Celebrate Small Victories!!

“Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! …”

Psalm 150:1-6 ESV

I bring greetings from the other side of the most gruesome academic challenge I’ve had to date (and hopefully ever): STEP 1.

 Best. Feeling. Ever.

I am proud to announce that after 3 months of poring over review books, and thousands of practice questions later, I have finally taken this darn test.

Some say, and I agree, that this is perhaps the most important test of our medical career.  Sure, some would argue the MCAT is more important, because if you don’t do well on the MCAT, then your career won’t even begin.

Well, they are both right up there.  However, what puts the STEP above the MCAT, in my opinion, is the simple fact that the STEP is pass/fail.

At the end of the day, you want to get the highest possible score for both exams; however, you can’t really fail the MCAT.  If you got a few points lower than expected, it’s not the end of the world, if your overall presentation compensates.  However, if you fail the STEP 1 even once, then the chances of a residency you truly want diminish dramatically.

Therefore, students frequently retake the MCAT to get a HIGHER score, and some schools consider an improvement a positive, and look only at the HIGHER score.

However, if you pass the STEP with the lowest score, that’s it.  You’re not allowed to retake it to improve your score.  And if you fail…then, oh boy.  I don’t even want to think about it.

There’s always more anxiety for a pass/fail test, in my opinion…especially one that costs close to $900.

I digress.

The purpose of this today’s blog, post STEP 1, is to introduce the need to celebrate victories.

It’s common sense, I suppose, yet not one that medical students do efficiently.

Most med students work hard to party play hard.

Balance is essential.  So, while it is crucial to celebrate large victories, such as taking and passing STEP 1, one must remember to celebrate the little victories along the way or you’ll burn out quicker!

Little victories are as varied as the people who celebrate them.  Anything can be a little victory.  But of course, balance is key.

Examples of such could be: after every few hours of diligent study, you’ll watch 20 minutes of your favorite show.

Another example would be: after a week of studying, you’d take a whole day off! Thank God that plan is already included in the Seventh-Day Adventist fundamental beliefs!  (My friends used to envy the fact that I’d take Saturday off).

Another example: After taking block exams every few weeks, you’ll treat yourself to a massage (loved this treat for myself), or dinner/movie/trip to the beach with friends.

Another example: After passing the semester, you’ll travel to an exotic locale internationally (my personal favorite).

As you can see, I started out with the smallest of victories, and progressed to larger and larger ones.

These have always helped served as motivational tools to fight the good fight when every cell of my being wanted to throw in the towel.

The fear of failure didn’t hurt as a motivation tool either. 😉

After the STEP 1, I frantically searched “Groupon Now” for a nice meal and a nice massage, walking around downtown Chicago, in the frigid cold for more than four hours.  It was my favorite night in Chicago…because for the first time ever, I had guilt-free fun. No more: OMG, I should be studying!  Not for awhile, at least.

So, I want to encourage you, in whatever step you are in your journey to fulfilling your dreams, make room to celebrate victories.  Visualize your victories and how you’ll celebrate them before they come.  The mind is a powerful motivator as well.

For those of you who do make it a habit to celebrate large and small victories in your academic journey, what sort of things do you do?  I’m sure some other readers, myself included, would love to get great ideas for future celebra-shi-ons.

Happy Holidays to All and God Bless on your Journeys!

~Tacha