How to Content Review for Mcat in 6 Weeks
If you're in the midst of studying for MCAT exam prep, check out my story on how to conquer it!
"And now let's honor the graduating class of 2016!"
The arena fell into a thunder of adulation as family unit, friends, and anybody in between clapped for their graduating engineers. I knew I should have been elated. (Subsequently all, I was officially a biomedical engineer; I could now add B.S.Due east to my email signature.) In this moment I should take relished in the overflowing adoration.
But all I could think was "I demand to become abode and report for my MCAT."
Information technology was the twenty-four hours of my higher graduation from Arizona State Academy, the last of my ii ceremonies. Later I walked across the stage, out the doors, and into the merciless Arizona sunshine, I would officially exist finished with all things undergrad. Merely, unlike most of my classmates, I would non get to frolic into the beckoning summer, animate sighs of relief and spending carefree days enjoying my accomplishments. That would not be me at all because I was a premed.
And a premed'due south work is NEVER done.
GET A LEG UP WITH PICMONIC FOR PRE-HEALTH
What was weighing on my listen the about was my upcoming MCAT. June 18… 5 weeks away. I had 5 weeks to principal everything I'd learned in the last four years. I'm sure y'all've heard what they say (all premeds have), that you should accept at to the lowest degree iii months of dedicated MCAT exam prep before taking the examination. The fact that I had less than half of that time really pushed me to the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Fundamental word: verge . I wasn't about to permit the MCAT beat me. (And *spoiler alert* information technology didn't.) This story has a happy catastrophe (I promise) and fifty-fifty if you're in the aforementioned state of affairs I was, yours volition too! Want to know how? Well… let me tell you how I ended up in this mess first and and so we can talk about how I cleaned information technology upwardly.
My Downfall
Everyone told me my last semester of college was going to exist the least stressful semester of my life. They said information technology would be a breeze. Everyone told me I had nix to worry about.
And what did I do? I believed them.
Since I idea my last semester was going to be so easy, I piled on as much as I could (sort of like a last hurrah), confident that I would still be able to observe time for my MCAT examination prep. Overcommitting was about a coercion at that indicate; when adding an activeness to my résumé, the joy and excitement I felt was comparable to a toddler's first Christmas.
As obvious as it may seem to you (and me) at present, at the time I didn't realize that taking 19 credit hours, researching in iii different labs, preparing for my thesis defense, starting a part-fourth dimension job, and prototyping a medical device (with 2000 pages of supporting documentation) for my senior Capstone project would go out absolutely no room for MCAT exam prep.
The realization hitting me much as well belatedly and, while I had optimistically set my MCAT for a comfortable May 14, by the time I graduated I knew I would have to push it back. Thus, the dreaded countdown to June 18 began. How was I going to study for the MCAT?
Dominate THE MCAT WITH PICMONIC
My Approach to MCAT Test Prep
I started my MCAT prep when I got domicile from my graduation ceremony. If you're in the same situation I was in, or your examination date is coming up and you lot don't feel prepared, I advise yous do the post-obit:
HAVE A GOAL
It'due south a good thought to know the number yous'll want to see on your MCAT score study. Knowing I was at a disadvantage, I aimed for a 509 which, when I was applying, cruel in the 82 nd percentile and was the average MCAT score for matriculating medical students. (It'southward gone up to 510 since and then.) What constitutes a good MCAT score is partially subjective, and depends on your personal goals and aspirations.
To effigy out what you should be aiming for and to clarify MCAT score ranges,, look at the score distribution outlined by AAMC .
Retrieve to have realistic expectations. (I hoped for a 528 but expected a 509.)
KNOW YOUR WEAKNESSES (AND STRENGTHS)
Permit me tell you a secret: I did non accept a single general biology form during college (cheers AP/IB credit). While it was prissy to have that room to take other classes (similar genetics and biochemistry), I definitely did not know my organ systems likewise every bit I should accept. Because of that, I knew I would accept to spend virtually of my time reviewing for the "Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems" section of the MCAT.
Now, the (non-so) "new" MCAT also has a "Psychological Foundations of Behavior" section. I don't know almost y'all but I love psychology. Believe it or not, I largely drew from my high schoolhouse AP psychology grade when completing these practice passages (this is the one section of the MCAT where rote memorization can get you far). Needless to say, I studied less for this MCAT section than I did the other science sections.
Everyone is different though, so only brand sure to spend more time on your weaker subjects and less on your stiff ones. If you're the type that likes to accept everything organized to a T, make an MCAT study guide and schedule. Utilize your time wisely; that's what they call time management!
ASSESS YOUR WEAKNESSES WITH PICMONIC
Exercise MAKES PERFECT
Every bit much as it pained me, I knew that all-encompassing content review was non an option; I would never get any practise in that way. So I relied largely on my years of premed classes and prayed they would become me where I needed to become (they did, and yours will likewise). I think what a lot of people go wrong about the MCAT is that they believe information technology purely tests how much they know. While cognition is definitely important (sad, you yet have to know the enzymes involved in cell respiration), the MCAT at its core tests critical thinking . In other words, it's not how much y'all know, but how much you tin know using information you don't know. (Let that marinate in your encephalon for a minute; if yous've ever looked at an MCAT biochemistry practice passage, you'll know exactly what I mean.)
Thus, my approach revolved almost solely around MCAT practise questions. For this, I mainly used the Princeton Review ; the exercise questions in each volume are (i) impeccable and (ii) numerous. To go more practice, I also used Picmonic (very helpful for enzyme kinetics), flipped through AAMC flashcards, and, a few days before my test, ran out and bought McGraw-Colina'south 500 Review Questions for the MCAT in every subject area.
Make sure to utilise a multifariousness of resources and review the explanations for each question, REGARDLESS of whether you got the question correct or incorrect. The question explanations in any book are a aureate mine of tips and tricks; utilise them to your advantage.
2021 and 2022: STAYING MOTIVATED AT Habitation
The 2021 exam and application season was unlike whatsoever seen earlier. In the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, many students are studying from dwelling instead of at their colleges. This comes with its ain benefits, but also drawbacks. (Remember those times you told yourself you'd study over holiday breaks..) Staying on chore and motivated is crucial to coming out of this flavor with an exam outcome you're satisfied with. Regular do, a varied nutrition, and realistic prep and studying expectations can all aid yous ensure that you lot're taking steps in the correct management.
My MCAT Test Prep Report Schedule Week-By-Week
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Calendar week 1: Accelerated content review. I went through all of the Princeton Review books (ane a twenty-four hours), skimming the capacity, reading the summaries, and doing all the questions at the end of each chapter.
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Weeks 2-iv: I did zilch but exercise passages, dividing upwardly my time by subject in order of weakest to strongest. I used the Science Workbook that comes in package of Princeton Review MCAT material.
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Week 2: Focused Biology and Biochemistry Practise
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Week 3: Focused Chemistry and Organic Chemical science Exercise
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Calendar week 4: Focused Physics Practice
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Week 5: Terminal Review
This is when I did a niggling flake of psychology and CARS practice. I too reviewed the notes I had taken during all of my previous practice sessions and farther practiced topics I felt shaky about using McGraw Loma.
Parting Words
Always have hope. It sounds cheesy, but keeping a positive attitude will be the fuel that gets you through your MCAT exam prep.
Socialization is dead to you lot. During this accelerated prep, no i else should exist (except your parents; they always matter). That means putting away your phone, keeping abroad from social media, and not going to parties or hanging out with friends. (I hope it's not the end of the world if yous don't similar your best friend's profile picture for a few weeks or don't encounter the premier of that new motion-picture show.) In that location will exist time for all of that After your exam.
Written report every moment you can. (I know they say not to study the mean solar day before your exam, just that'south 24 hours of fourth dimension you'll never become back…think about that.)
Bring a jacket on examination day (it WILL be freezing).
GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY STUDYING!
-Aimen
Read about Aimen'southward MCAT exam prep and go along up with her journey as a first year medical student by following her on Instagram @lil_waimen .
USE PICMONIC FOR MCAT EXAM PREP
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