Developing Discipline: A How-To Guide for Taking the MCAT

By: Ryan Carter-Stanley, EC Scholar and Honors College senior

The “MCAT.” I don’t know about you, but for me, as a senior in high school, that one word had the ability to evoke incomprehensible amounts of anxiety. It wasn’t until I met the test face-to-face (or face-to-computer really) that I was able to see past my fears. The MCAT is a necessary step to achieving your dreams–one of many as you will shortly discover–but it does not have to be a dreadful one. You will, I hate to say, find your self spending countless hours nose-in-book, and you will have to learn the art of saying “no” every once in a while. You will have to develop a study plan. You will have to look inside yourself, muster up every ounce of self-discipline and interest in science that you can, and buckle down for a hard couple of months. But you do NOT have to be anxious. This is a very hard test and it is meant to be. I don’t think any human being desires to sit in front of a computer for 7 hours and be required to expel countless tidbits of information compiled from the toughest college classes you will have taken. But, my young friend, hear me when I say this: you can do it. You may have to do it twice, and it will not be the best memories you have from college, but you can do it!

I have always found test taking to be one of my strengths, but after taking the MCAT once, I discovered that this exam was different. Do not be quick to assume that you do not need to study hard. I was able to get a set of MCAT subject study books for free from my Pre-Med advisor. These books can easily run a few hundred dollars. I made a study plan, which I humbly admit I struggled to stick to. I have had friends who are able to sit down each day and study 4 hours for a couple months, and if that is you, then this method may work. Figure out if you are a morning or evening person. It helped me to wake up before my roommates, brew some coffee and tackle it then. That way, I didn’t find it as tempting to join in on the activities around me. I took the older MCAT in November of my junior year. I did this so that I would have enough time to take the newer version a second time if need be.

…Well, the need be became my reality. I wasn’t satisfied with my slightly below average score, so after quite a bit of self-coaching on why I wanted to be a doctor, I began preparing for the second test. This time, I took a different approach and signed up for a MCAT preparation course. It was VERY expensive (I think around $1,000), but there is just no Family Dollar option for this test. I joined in on an online session twice a week and studied some on my own. We were assigned a chunk of the book to read and practice on our own and then we would go over it together. Kaplan (the company that I took the course with) was able to offer countless strategic tips on how to attack the test aside from content-based knowledge. I without a doubt recommend taking one of these courses…and this is coming from a girl who would choose shopping at Goodwill or a yard sale any day. I am thrifty, but there are no cutting corners with this one. If I remember correctly, the course is a two-month commitment. You also need to give yourself time to take the many practice tests they provide, so I would probably dedicate a semester to preparation. Kaplan will provide you with so many resources; you will not be able to cover it all. But I encourage you to try and do as much as you can.

And then rest. Find things that you enjoy to take a break. And take the test. Dominate the test even! And find a way to occupy yourself for a month while you wait for the results. Trust me, this is only your first lesson of patience when it comes to seeking a career in medicine. It is March as I write this, and I have been waiting since my interview in October to hear back from the Brody School of Medicine. We will wear those white coats one day, my friends. One. Foot. In. Front. Of. The. Other.