MCAT Prep was one of my biggest concerns when considering my path to becoming a physician. The MCAT, or Medical College Admissions Test, is the entrance exam that anyone applying to a U.S. medical school will take, therefore your MCAT studying skill development is extremely important. This 8-hour exam covers Biology, Biochemistry, General and Organic Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, and Critical Analysis and Reasoning (CARS).
MCAT Subjects
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
- CARS
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
- Psychological, Sociological and Biological Foundations of Behavior.
This is a lot, I know. Do not start hyperventilating on me yet. You’re probably thinking…I have to get at least a 510 to get into a good school…I haven’t even taken half of the classes on that subject list…I’m not a good test-taker…The list goes on and on. Don’t fret. I am here to tell you
Now, I am not going to disillusion you into thinking that I have it all figured out. I took the MCAT 3 times and my highest score was a 504. My goal was a 512 and I thought I had decent MCAT Prep routines, so I was pretty disappointed. However, what I came to learn was that I was more than my score. I needed to focus on enhancing the parts of my application that were exceptional. I had a lot of other strong attributes and, the biggest reason, you couldn’t pay me to take it again.
Focusing on my strengths gave me the confidence to apply to schools with higher average scores than mine. I made them tell me no instead of putting myself out of the running. I received multiple interviews and had a choice of schools. So do not fret. It is not the end of the world and with a little help, you may just shock yourself. Below is a list of tips to assist with your MCAT Prep I gathered from different sources online. I hope they give you some guidance and, had I followed them, they may have helped me 😬 Let’s get started:
1. Be prepared to drop some CA$H
Becoming a doctor is not cheap. AT ALL (I have opinions about this but will reserved for another time 😀). There are a lot of fees associated with the MCAT and MCAT prep, but the important ones are:
- Initial exam fees are $320 when you register at least 15 days out.
- If you register within the 8-14 day period, initial exam fees are $375.
- There are international fees of $115, regardless of how close to the exam you are.
- Rescheduling fees will cost you $95 if you are in the Gold Zone (29 days before the exam). They jump to $160 if you are in the Silver Zone (15 days before the exam). There are no rescheduling options past this deadline.
- You may only cancel during the Gold Zone and receive $160 back as a refund.
MCAT Fee Assistance Program
The potential saving grace is that there is a Fee Assistance Program (FAP) that could alleviate the financial stressors of trying to get into medical school. The issue with this is it is very hard to qualify because they pull from your parent’s tax forms. Whether a dependent in college or an independent with a job, I have never qualified. My parents made more money than their guidelines allowed for, disqualifying me from the program. So it is time to plan, save, and get ready to fork over your (or your parents’ 🤞🏽) money.
*Remember, tests fill up months in advance so reserve your spot AS SOON AS POSSIBLE*
2. Start MCAT Prep Early and Spread it Out
This was my mistake with test number 1. My test was at the end of July, I began my MCAT prep in May when school was over. I was so busy with school, that squeezing in MCAT studying on top of that was unfathomable. I worked all day, came home and studied for about 4 hours, ate dinner, and went to bed. My weekends consisted of HOURS of studying, straight. Not only did I have one of the worst summers ever, I was stressed and overwhelmed. I left myself no time to decompress.
Beneficial MCAT Prep Plan
The second time I took the test, I started my MCAT prep in September and took the test in January. This helped a lot as I was able to study and review what I studied. I could take full lengths, review the full lengths, and still have enough of a life to not go insane.
In order to be most efficient, make a plan. If you do not put MCAT studying in your schedule, then you won’t do it. It also will be easier to move through content if you can visualize what you need to go over. Melanated and Meducated has created a simple, printable template (below) for you to use. However, to make things easier, the premium version that has automated features designed to alleviate the planning process!
As you plan out your MCAT prep, remember to remain flexible. Don’t push yourself to move faster or slower than you need. As you understand topics, continue to move forward. If you get stuck, then take your time making sure you have a firm grasp on the content area. However, it’s important to make sure you stay on pace so you don’t get behind.
3. Use a Myriad of Resources to assist with MCAT Prep
The market for MCAT prep materials is huge, almost overwhelming. However, there is a lot of overlap so you won’t miss out by choosing one product over the other. I personally used Kaplan self-paced MCAT prep the first time around. This course was $1000 (I qualified for a scholarship of 50%) and came books and an online database. The database consisted of videos going over content, taught by MCAT content professionals. If you are a self-learner and want to study at your own pace, then this course may suit you. It is also the cheapest option. If you prefer instruction, they also have one-on-one live classes and in-person MCAT prep classes, each at $2299.
Additional MCAT Prep Tools
In addition to Kaplan, there are MCAT prep resources available through the AAMC, Princeton, NextStep Prep, and others. My second test, I used the Kaplan MCAT Complete 7 Book Subject Set from Amazon for about $240. This MCAT prep comes with online access to all the quizzes, three full length exams, and a science diagnostic. I worked through the course by myself and relearned the material. At the end of each chapter, I would take the quiz and see where I needed improvement. This method helped me increase my score and also helped me save some money.
I also used Kaplan MCAT Flashcards and Khan Academy Test Prep to supplement my MCAT studying. The Kaplan books give a thorough overview of the general topics. Khan academy gives an in depth lesson over specific content areas. This is a great tool to supplement your learning, because they do a really good job teaching with clear examples.
Finally, the last (and best) resource for MCAT prep that I used was a tutor. My tutor was a 3rd year med student at Baylor University that scored above the 90th percentile on his MCAT. He went to my undergrad university and had already tutored me in science subjects before he graduated. I definitely would have benefitted having him as a tutor from the beginning, but you know…third time’s the charm.
4. During MCAT Prep, Build Up Your Endurance
MCAT prep is similar to training for a marathon. You wouldn’t go run 50 meter sprints for 8 weeks and then go try and run a 26.2 mile race.
When studying for the MCAT, you cannot study for an hour everyday, and then expect to be able to focus for 8 hours on really hard content. The brain is a muscle, and in order to build up stamina, you must exercise it. That means studying in significant blocks of times, similar to what the test would look like. This way, when you’re taking the test, your brain does not go into shock over 8 hours of expected focus.
Building Stamina
In your MCAT prep process, block out 3-6 hours of time everyday. These amounts can vary everyday and can even be broken up throughout the day, as long as you are preparing yourself mentally to be focused for that long.
When you reach the point in your MCAT prep where you’re ready to take a practice full length, try to make it through the entire test in one sitting, using the same timing as the test. Only take breaks when they are authorized and only for the allotted time. Abiding by these practices will only maximize your MCAT prep.
5. Practice Makes Perfect: MCAT Prep Edition
I played basketball for a long time. In fact if I didn’t want to be a doctor so bad, I would be pursuing a coaching career. I also worked for a college basketball team in college. The thing that remained consistent was that practice environments had to simulate game day. If it didn’t we went into the game completely unprepared.
The MCAT is the same way. You have to take practice tests so you can get acclimated to the test. You want to get used to how the timing works, how many breaks you get (how long they are), etc. Kaplan’s MCAT prep has full length tests that come with all of their prep course options. These full lengths match as close to the AAMC interface as possible and provide you scores at the end. This gives you a realistic picture of where you’re at. They also give you a complete explanation of each question so if you missed it, you can see why. Other MCAT prep companies also provide full length exams with their own answer bank.
Test Day Simulation
When taking these exams, it’s important to make your environment as test like as possible. Testing in your bed with Grown-ish playing in the background is not going to cut it. Simulation of test day and a testing center will enhance your experience. If you’re unfamiliar what that will look like, you’re in luck. You have a seasoned test taker that can tell you what to expect:
- Upon arrival, you will enter a suite or testing center of some sort. After checking in, you will put away EVERYTHING except for your I.D. and locker key. They won’t allow anything so I would recommend against wearing any jewelry, watches, rings, etc.
- You will be searched with a wand before entering the quietest room you’ve ever been in.
- You will be seated at a cubicle and looking at a monitor. There will be cameras pointed at you from every direction. You will also have the option to wear noise-cancelling headphones.
These are the conditions you can expect to test in, so this is the environment you need to simulate. Set up a quiet space, preferably a library study room if possible. Make sure you have a flat surface, a chair and a computer or laptop. Your computer should be in fullscreen mode (F11) to limit distractions. When taking these tests, try not to look at your phone until you’re done. Don’t listen to music or have any sound. Get used to concentrating in this atmosphere so your brain learn to focus.
By putting yourself in this environment repeatedly, your brain will be used to it come test day.
6. Take the MCAT When Ready
Deadlines. This is one of a Pre-Med’s biggest concerns the year of application. Although they are important, don’t get so caught up in them that you take this test before you’re ready. It is better to reschedule the test than to waste $300+ taking it before you were ready. But, if you wait until the last minute to take it, then you are not giving yourself time to reschedule. Plan to take it early so if you’re not ready, you can push it back and give yourself some more prep time.
7. Take Breaks During MCAT Prep, Have a Life
This is the MCAT prep tip that I probably took too liberally 😬 but it is important! Studying everyday for 12 hours a day will only lead to burnout and a hate for life. Ok, maybe that is a little dramatic, but that pace will be hard to maintain. Burnout is just a natural human phenomena. That is why planning and starting early is so important. You can change the number of hours you study everyday.
This will also allow you to take days off, and do something that you enjoy. While you study, give yourself “Brain Breaks“. Catch up on Twitter or watch 10 minutes of your favorite YouTube channel. Whatever it is that you do, make sure to give yourself some grace and time to do what you enjoy. This way there are little rewards at the end of each MCAT study session to look forward to.
8. Stay off the Internet During MCAT Prep!
Comparison is the thief of JOY! It will drive you crazy seeing on YouTube all the “How I scored 520 in only 3 Months” stories. Stay off of Student Doctor Network, Quora, Yahoo Questions, etc. throughout your MCAT prep. If you are looking for answers on a question that’s fine.
If you’ve just taken a full length and didn’t get the score you wanted, that’s the last place you want to go. It will only discourage you and get you to lower your goals to “safe schools”. Everyone’s stories are different, as are everyone’s strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, you cannot go to the internet and compare yourself to people who you have no idea about. You’ll set you up for hurt feelings and discouragement. Keep your head up and just keep pushing forward. Stay the course and stay confident!
9. Before and After Test Day
The day before the test, this is what I suggest that you do:
LIVE IT! TREAT. YO. SELF. You have been studying MCAT prep materials for MONTHS. At this point, you know all that you are going to know for the test. It is unnecessary to beat yourself over the head with more information that you probably aren’t going to retain anyway. Do one thing that you enjoy and that relaxes you. Eat good meals and don’t put any foreign substances in your body that your body is not already accustomed to. This is not the night to go out and party until 2 a.m. This is the night that you prepare for test day and go to bed early. Getting an adequate amount of sleep is imperative for ultimate focus.
On the day of the test, wake up early and make sure you have everything you need. Do not pump yourself full of caffeine if you don’t normally drink coffee. Also, make sure you eat a light, but satisfying, breakfast. Double check you have your lunch, I.D., and anything else the testing center requires. A couple of snacks and a bottle of water won’t hurt either. Leave early enough to give yourself plenty of time to get to the testing center. The last thing you want to do is be panicked and stressed because you got lost and were late. It will help to drive to the testing location a few days before to familiarize yourself.
After your test is over, it is time to:
You finally conquered the beast! It is submitted. There’s nothing to do but relax and enjoy the next 30 days of panic as you wait for your scores. Depending on where you are in your application cycle, you may spend this time preparing the rest of your application. This way, when your test scores come back, your application is ready to go.
If you are disappointed by your score DON’T FRET. Before you breakdown over percentiles and average scores of your Dream School, remember this is one portion of your application. If you don’t hit 500, that will definitely make things more difficult as that is a common benchmark. However, do not be discouraged. Do some research, talk to some admissions counselors and really evaluate what your score means. You got this!
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