What I've Learned Studying for the MCAT (1 month update) 

I just took the exam a week ago. One thing I’ll tell you which might help is that - if you are as dedicated as you are - it will begin to click. Interpreting the passage, interpreting the figures, and the methods section will end up making sense. Often times, pushing the date back makes burnout worse. When burnt out, it makes higher order thinking much more taxing. You can do this. No question.

Thank you for sharing your experience! Really helps to know I’m not alone. I agree with you, and feel the same way; currently 1 month away from my mcat and yes, I’m very burnt out. It’s so hard, but we just gotta keep pushing, while remembering to be kind to ourselves. We’re all in this together! 💪💪💪 you’ got this!!!

This Saturday is gonna be my second time taking the MCAT (the first is earlier this year in late May). The biggest thing that I struggled with wasn't even the content, or my terrible test-taking stamina. Not even my near nonexistent understand of organic chemistry. It's the passage, figures/graphs and question design. The sheer LOGIC of how they arrived at an answer baffles me, and I think that's what the MCAT really tests on. There's passages about content that you shouldn't even know but can arrive to conclusions based on what the passages say and by process of elimination. It's one thing to understand stuff like the viscosity of a fluid and use it in a fluid pressure equation. It's another to use the same equation to apply to different analogies and contexts that would happen, which incidentally is what the MCAT really tests on in CARs and when they up the difficulty of other sections. I found that by just going over old practice exams I already took, question by question, just dissecting how I decided all of my answers, and then retaking that same practice exam again (with the new knowledge) I made great strides in understanding the logic of the MCAT and it helped me to understand even more difficult questions. In addition just spacing out the 8 hours of studying a day helps. I'm not the type of person where I can just sit for 2-4 hour stints to study because my brain fries out way too quickly. Giving small breaks to yourself as a personal reward for understanding or solving a hard question is a small but powerful tool to keep some motivation! Hope this advice helps!

100% I feel this exactly. Everything you've said is what I told myself and I recently found all this truth on my own. Thank you for sharing your experience.

This is the realest MCAT video out there

Keep going my guy. The MCAT is such a tricky test; keep track of your mistakes, find trends, and keep your mental fortitude up; if you cant study, dont force it. Soon youll be in medical school and then the entire process starts all over again.

I'm so glad you shared your vulnerability because I'm currently 2 months out from my test date too and this process has been extremely humbling and has been so defeating and lonely. Having a great support group helps a lot but having people to relate to like such as with you is amazing!! Keep going we got this!

Hi Andrew. I just want to thank you for being so open about this. I am just starting to study for the MCAT, and I am so happy that you were able to give this advice before I attacked it the same way you initially were going to. Thank you so much, and I wish you the best on exam day! Good luck with the rest of your process as well.

Your confidence inspires me, hope you ace it with no struggles

I’ve been studying for the MCAT for the past year as a stay at home mom of 2! I thought I would study every night from 7pm-12am after my kids go to bed. Yea that didn’t happen lol. I end up studying about 2-3 hours a day but I’m not taking that test until my scores are where I want them!

Keep your head on straight; you said it best, the MCAT is a truly humbling experience. 3 weeks into studying as of today, exam on Sept. 9. Glad you posted this, you just earned a sub! Proud to be a part of this community of future physicians!

Wow. Thank for sharing your experience! I’ve been studying for the MCAT the past three months. Similar to your experience, I was absolutely miserable going to the library for 12 hrs each day 7 days a week. I had my first panic attack as well while trying to take a FL in the library. Now I tell myself to stop studying at the certain time of the night and do something I love like watching an episode of a show or playing tennis for an hour. Although I had to push my exam date, I’m feeling so much better mentally while studying now. The MCAT really does suck. Wishing you all the best on your journey!

This video is very helpful!

You explained it so perfectly. Testing your ability to face an exam maturely is another area that is MCAT tests that no one talks about.

While listening to you talk about your experience, I'm relating so much. I made myself a detailed schedule and was so motivated to keep up with it. A week later, I'm so behind on it because it's so mentally hard to keep going especially when it always seems like an overhaul of information along with needing to relate the content to the AAMC mindset. It just constantly drains me out, and so my workout routine has also slowly disintegrated. I'm trying to catch up on my schedule now which is stressful, but this time giving myself little breaks through my studying to make it seem less torturous. Hopefully it'll work out since my exam is in 2 months now. I hope you survive as well!

Hi Andrew I am taking my exam on 9/9 and I’m in the same shoes as you. I study 8-10 hours a day 6 days a week, and most of its time is not only spent on studying but damaging my self-esteem haha.. It’s a humbling experience, so I feel your pain. Let’s get through this together!!

Well said. Started studying last winter and right when I figured this exam out, I was only a month out from test day. Gonna tackle it again this winter!

4/29 test taker. Biggest advice I can give you is to focus on your test taking methodology. Always break down question stems, passages, timing, answer choices, etc. in the same EXACT way. This will take some trial and error to figure out what works for YOU, but this will be crucial on test day when you are likely the most anxious. Also, do not sacrifice quality time with friends/family. Most people will understand if you can only grab dinner or go to the gym together. Lastly, do NOT write the exam if you are not happy with your AAMC FL averages (most people, including myself, score +/- 2). Best of luck!

I'm studying for it right now as well. I'm so happy I came across this video, as I experienced SUCH SIMILAR REALITIES. There is nothing straight forward about this exam. I started with a plan, that has been re-written many times. I think what has helped my mental health during this journey is straight up working on convincing myself that nothing about this exam is personal. Best of luck all :D

Don't forget to post your questions for the Q&A video! You can also join our discord here: discord.gg/h3JWHy25

I’m going thru the same thing too! Work and other stuff get in the way and it sucks! I’ve also pushed back on working out and stress eating with junk food but now I haven’t had junk food for 3 weeks 😅 I felt disappointed when I had to reschedule but I’m taking this as a second chance to improve my mistakes Goodluck and thank you for sharing!! 🙌🏻

❤❤❤❤❤

I’m working on spacing out my studying and 5 months pregnant 😭. Learning that I didn’t fully understand how to break down the questions really crushed me at first. But I’m learning to be kinder to myself and focus on what the questions are really asking me

Just remember, when it comes to the MCAT you *choose* your own score. Keep studying until your full length practice exams match the score you want. It’s as easy as that.

I am taking the MCAT Sept.10 and I scheduled it on the last day thinking 3 months would be enough time but now I’m really considering rescheduling.I have my next full length on Friday, I’ll probably make my decision then. I’m just so conflicted, because then I’d have to take it January of next year.

Testing in July! Hoping I’ll be good!

I just finisher my first year if college, and am majoring in psych. Would you say that it's too early to start studying for the MCAT? Also, you remind me a lot of myself! Don't be too hard on yourself:) I wish you the absolute besttttt of luck

I really wish I would have studied for my MCAT differently. I waited until 2 weeks before to start studying but since it was on 4/29 this was right before finals week. I was spending time studying for finals and also extremely busy with extracurriculars. Probably only studied for the MCAT about 35-40 hours which is completely my fault for procrastinating. I did end up with a decent enough score but I definitely don’t recommend you do what I do. Learn from my stupidity and DON’T PROCRASTINATE.

I hear you man. Definitely humbling- I’m testing sep 10, also going for a 513. Hmu if you want to be virtual study buddies :D

Gosh u gotta be Mc.Steamy

Hmmmmm