Can someone clarify this vague "preparation time" for me?

[Uisa]

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I've been lurking on the forums for a little while now I've seen various prep times for people. Of course, everyone is different and prep time obviously will change to suit that, but from what I can tell there are 2 times periods that people prefer;

1) over the winter break + some which equals about 1 1/2 months- 2 months prep (60 days approx)

2) over the duration of the spring semester of junior year which is about 4-5 months and then hardcore studying right before the exam for about 2-3 weeks.

These two preparation times are so far away from each other? And yet, they seem to be the most popular preparation times for SDNers.

My question is, for those of who you took the MCAT/preparing for the MCAT what do you think is the wiser choice? I'm leaning towards the spring semester prep-time because I feel that there is NO way I can do well on the MCAT by studying for a month and a half 😕 help

 

[IndianVercetti]

I've been lurking on the forums for a little while now I've seen various prep times for people. Of course, everyone is different and prep time obviously will change to suit that, but from what I can tell there are 2 times periods that people prefer;

1) over the winter break + some which equals about 1 1/2 months- 2 months prep (60 days approx)

2) over the duration of the spring semester of junior year which is about 4-5 months and then hardcore studying right before the exam for about 2-3 weeks.

These two preparation times are so far away from each other? And yet, they seem to be the most popular preparation times for SDNers.

My question is, for those of who you took the MCAT/preparing for the MCAT what do you think is the wiser choice? I'm leaning towards the spring semester prep-time because I feel that there is NO way I can do well on the MCAT by studying for a month and a half 😕 help

Why not do what I'm doing, which is study now during the semester, then go all out during winter break and take the January MCAT? That way, worst case, you could still aim for March as a retake. That's my approach.

So that's about 1 month during the semester approximately plus your 60 days during winter? Give or take. I know a lot of people will think this is too crunched up for time, but I really think it's doable if you stay on task. So far I'm doing pretty decent with my study schedule.

 

[BennieBlanco]

I've been lurking on the forums for a little while now I've seen various prep times for people. Of course, everyone is different and prep time obviously will change to suit that, but from what I can tell there are 2 times periods that people prefer;

1) over the winter break + some which equals about 1 1/2 months- 2 months prep (60 days approx)

2) over the duration of the spring semester of junior year which is about 4-5 months and then hardcore studying right before the exam for about 2-3 weeks.

These two preparation times are so far away from each other? And yet, they seem to be the most popular preparation times for SDNers.

My question is, for those of who you took the MCAT/preparing for the MCAT what do you think is the wiser choice? I'm leaning towards the spring semester prep-time because I feel that there is NO way I can do well on the MCAT by studying for a month and a half 😕 help

The best time is the one in which you have the most free time to devote to prep. For most students this means summer (1st) and winter (2nd) and whenever else (3rd).

If you focus on this then you are focusing on the wrong thing.

Lance Armstrong doesn't prepare for a race thinking "what are the best shoes I need to wear?" or "what is the best outfit?". He focuses on training his body to perform at a peak level.

You need to focus on #1 covering content and more importantly #2 thinking/applying/solving problems with that content.

Everything else is a footnote. A superior student will overcome a mediocre student who studies "at the right time" with "the right materials" and "the perfect strategy". Because it is the person, not the other things that matter.

Start to focus on what matters.

Read posts on SDN, you will see a wealth of people focusing on the wrong stuff. "what is the best day to take the MCAT?" "when should I study for the MCAT?" "how many hours a day should I study?" "What is the absolute best book?" "What is the absolute best way to study for it?" "What color T-shirt should I wear during a full length?"

This reminds me of Arnold Schwartznegger playing a joke on a young body builder. He was so amazed with Arnold and asked him, "how did you get so big and strong, what is your secret?" Arnold to him, "Don't tell anyone, OK?" "ok". Then he whispered, "sugar cubes. I eat sugar cubes before and after every workout and other times during the day." The young bodybuilder was really excited to try this new method.

The joke is this. How did Arnold get so big? He worked his freckin' tail off day in and day out, so hard that he would throw up after training sessions. There is no secret, there is no magic formula. Go buy any book and study it before any exam date and work your tail off.

 

[SN2ed]

I think the most popular plan is studying over the summer. For non-trads, there is no set popular plan. They have to find what works for them and make a schedule/study habit around it.

Plan 1 is usually supported by people who don't need much time to study. They're the type that studies for a month and gets a 35+. However, most people need more than a month or two.

If you can devote a summer to studying, I would go with that. It gives you the most time to prepare with the fewest number of distractions.

 

[Uisa]

Why not do what I'm doing, which is study now during the semester, then go all out during winter break and take the January MCAT? That way, worst case, you could still aim for March as a retake. That's my approach.

So that's about 1 month during the semester approximately plus your 60 days during winter? Give or take. I know a lot of people will think this is too crunched up for time, but I really think it's doable if you stay on task. So far I'm doing pretty decent with my study schedule.

Well, the reason why I am so meticulous about this is because I think getting the correct score the first time will look so much better than trying twice.

Reversely, I think taking it more than once and yet doing well at it the 2nd time around still hurts my chances of getting in, as oppose to getting what you want the first time.

Am I correct in assuming so?