advice for a sick mcater

[wannabmed]

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i'm retaking the mcat this weekend - but have been sick with the flu for the past several days - i am getting worried that i won't have the endurance to put forth my best for the long test - i really only need to improve my physical & biological science scores - is there any sense in resting during the verbal & writing sections (leaving those parts blank) & then using all of my energy on the science ones? (i would send letters to the schools that i have applied to to let them know what i did.)

 

[Kimka83]

I am so sorry you aren't feeling well. I think it is a really bad idea to leave the verbal blank! But your idea with writing sample might work. Instead of leaving it blank, write a very brief essay. Do the tasks that they ask in a few sentences, and then rest for the remaining time. The writing sample is not as critical to your medical school application as the other sections. A poor writing sample will be easier for med schools to overlook and for you to explain than getting a 0 on VR.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

Perhaps we need to call Psycho Doc out of the wood works. I believe, he said he had a UTI on the day of the test, so can relate to you better. You might want to give him a PM and ask him how he dealt with it.

hey i check this thread and amazingly see my name mentioned 😛

 

[Psycho Doctor]

i'm retaking the mcat this weekend - but have been sick with the flu for the past several days - i am getting worried that i won't have the endurance to put forth my best for the long test - i really only need to improve my physical & biological science scores - is there any sense in resting during the verbal & writing sections (leaving those parts blank) & then using all of my energy on the science ones? (i would send letters to the schools that i have applied to to let them know what i did.)

hey there. sorry you're sick. the flu has many sypmtoms; which ones are you experiencing?

no matter how sick you feel i don't think I'd leave sections blank. if you get a poor score you can always explain. I'd make sure you get plenty of rest, fluids, etc in the next couple days to help you recover as quickly as possible. take non drowsy medication if necessary to relieve you of any remaining symptoms on test day.

i know for my test last year, i really was ready to void it by lunchtime. Since i came down with a UTI the night before the MCAT(not yet officially diagnosed; therefore i didn't even had antibiotics) i was running to the bathroom several times during the exam and didn't finish any section.

My mentor who was so awesome that he met me during break and brought me antibiotics 😀 and had lunch with me and convinced me I wasn't doing badly and not to void it. I ended up doing much better than i expected.

don't let your symptoms get to you and just concentrate on the test. lots of good luck.

 

[~CDN Pre-med~]

I tried Cold FX...it's s super high dose of ginseng, got very popular here in the past year. I had a big test during school and could not bring myself to study. Got my bf to buy some and I was feeling awesome by the end of the day. If anything, it'll give you tons of energy. It's a three day treatment so start soon if you wnat to get the full benefit by test day. Feel better! 🙂

 

[cyclist05]

i'm retaking the mcat this weekend - but have been sick with the flu for the past several days - i am getting worried that i won't have the endurance to put forth my best for the long test - i really only need to improve my physical & biological science scores - is there any sense in resting during the verbal & writing sections (leaving those parts blank) & then using all of my energy on the science ones? (i would send letters to the schools that i have applied to to let them know what i did.)

Hey, sorry you are sick. I know it just adds more stress to an already stressful day!

I was quite ill during the April MCAT. I'd had a root canal the day before the test, and the antibiotics I was taking for the tooth infection made me feel like I had to run to the bathroom every five minutes. I stopped drinking anything the afternoon before the test and ate very little (really, really bad idea!). I also quit taking any type of pain medicine so that I wouldn't feel mentally goofy during the exam. Throughout the day, I felt nauseated, thirsty, tired, and my head and jaw ached. During the writing section, I seriously thought I was having a heart attack (because of severe dehydration???). The chest pain probably wasn't worth the five minutes I saved by not having to run to the bathroom. That was a little distracting. I seriously thought I was going to die for a minute or two. Fortunately the pain went away.

Anyway, the point of my sob story is that I still managed to get a 31M (yeah, the writing wasn't good), which was right in the middle of my practice test scores (all AAMC 30-32). So have faith, you could still do fine during the test even if you feel ill. If you have to take a break for a section, do it during the writing. Spend ten or fifteen minutes writing and then take a break. My essays were AWFUL and I still will probably be okay applying with an M.

So good luck, I think you will do fine. Just try to remind yourself that it's only one day and it will eventually be over and in the past.

 

[Nikki2002]

Hey--I think I read in the rules and guidelines (on the page where you sign up for the mcat online) that if you leave a section blank, your test will automaticaly be VOIDED. I'm not sure I'm correct, but please check it out or call to make sure. Also, Zicam always works for me when I have a cold, but I'm not sure what it will do for a flu. Good luck!

 

[jintonic5]

oh man-- so sorry to hear you're not feeling well 🙁

definitely take care of yourself for the next couple of days and get lots and lots of sleep. load up on vitamins and good for you foods. i agree with the other posters in that you shouldn't leave sections blank. if you don't do well, you can explain that to the schools you apply to. good luck!