Make Lemonade From the Lemons During Your MCAT Prep Period

Setting a Strong Foundation During Your MCAT Prep

Some view the MCAT as a necessary evil. As a crucial (and unavoidable) component of your medical school application, your score on the MCAT can be a make or break factor when realizing your dreams to gain acceptance to medical school. Its importance cannot be over-emphasized. If you want to succeed on this test and achieve the highest score you can, then proper preparation is essential.

Timing is key. You must allow yourself the proper time to fully study the material. This can differ depending on each student's learning personality. Many students delay starting their MCAT prep until four months or less before the test date. Pre-meds are busy. With numerous academic credits coupled with professional volunteering and extracurricular activities, a three to four month study period is often not enough time.

While six months is ideal, it is important to plan and make the most out of your MCAT prep period. Below are some of the tips you need to maximize your personal effort and prepare adequately for MCAT.

Register Early

It is important to take the MCAT early enough for your application. The application cycle for the test opens in June every year. It is important to register for the MCAT early so that you can acquire your MCAT score in good timing for submitting your applications.

The MCAT test dates often span over a 9-month period. Make sure to reserve your spot in advance. Choose an appropriate and realistic date, one that will allow you the time you need to prepare. Test seats also fill up quite fast. Make sure to choose your date early enough in order to get a place.

However, it is more important to consider the amount of time you require to adequately prepare for the exam than to rush to register too early. It's most important that you are prepared to achieve your potential so you can perform well. Give yourself a period of 3-6 months for your MCAT prep. This period will depend on the number of hours you put into your preparation each day and your additional daily obligations.

Review Available Resources

MCAT prep involves a dedicated and ongoing review of various materials in preparation for the exam. There are many resources that can you use as a student to improve on subjects and performance. MCAT books are the most basic and common of all review materials. There are others such as YouTube videos, online tutorials, and one-one lessons with an MCAT tutor.

The AAMC provides practice tests and materials, and students are encouraged to use these resources, as they are the only materials created by the authors of the MCAT. Start using the materials early.

You can take some of the materials and use them alongside your undergraduate courses. These materials will provide extra learning and prepare you well for the MCAT. So while you are studying O Chem in undergrad, for example, you can parallel your course material with your MCAT material to make sure you understand the core concepts.

During your reviews, do not just memorize the formulas but also strive to understand the biological, chemical and the physical processes the formulas explain. You should be able to demonstrate this ability when you take the MCAT.

Study and Practice

It is important to practice as well as reviewing your studies. Many students spend a lot of time review and little or no time practicing exam questions and exercises.

Divide your time wisely, so that you have enough time to not only complete your content review but also practice questions to confirm your understanding. Go over your practice questions, both ones that you got right and ones that you got wrong. See why you got them right, and why you got them wrong. Look for areas of improvement.

You can divide your time into one third for reviewing; one third for a thorough content review, one third for practice tests, and the last third for reviewing practice tests and re-reviewing any shakey areas.

Official AAMC practice tests are important in identifying weak areas. When you take a full-length practice test, try to simulate the actual exam under timed conditions. You can then asses yourself and take note of the areas you need to work on– are you struggling with strategy? Are your nerves getting the best of you? Did you forget biochem?

Work On Your Weaknesses

As you work on your strengths, you need to focus on your weaknesses also. You need to be honest with yourself and identify the areas that need extra work. You may be good in most areas and above average, but you may have areas that you struggle in.

Your study plan for MCAT prep should include deliberate slots to hone your weak areas. Whether you take an MCAT prep course or you are studying by yourself, focus on improving your weak areas as you polish you stronger parts.

Adapt your MCAT prep schedule as you go. You can use your practice tests to inform how you may alter your study plan, to a strategy that caters to both your strengths and your weaknesses.

The MCAT test all subject areas and you should prepare adequately. Do not rely on your strengths only to pull through the exam. Do not just aim for an average but aim to do the best that you can. A good result will open up better chances of placement, and will also ensure you have the scientific foundations necessary to succeed in medical school. The study skills you hone during the MCAT will be instrumental to success in medical school. The MCAT is the first test of many.

Studying for the MCAT is not a sprint. It's a marathon. You need to prepare adequately to achieve an absolute maximum result you can.

Use MCAT Tutor Resources

• Tutor the People MCAT Prep
• Khan Academy
• AAMC