Cautionary tale for nontrad's...

[hopefuldoc97239]

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It's that season when people are gearing up for the next admissions cycle, so while checking facebook today it occurred to me that I should share my friend's story as a cautionary tale to other non-traditional applicants who are getting ready for the 2012 cycle.

A friend of mine with a PhD in neuroscience from a well-respected school just announced via facebook that she is retaking the MCAT.

She had applied for the 2011 cycle but I take it that she didn't get any acceptances.

I know that two weeks before her last test date she had not even attempted a single one of the official practice MCAT tests available from AMCAS. She was trying to study on the weekends while working her post-doc job during the week.

My analysis: She put her post-doc job ahead of getting into medical school.

Lesson: If you don't make med school your #1 top priority, don't be surprised when you don't get in...

🙁

A sad story, but I hope people can benefit from it. If you're gearing up for the next admissions cycle (and especially if you're studying for the MCAT!) now is the time to recommit yourself and reaffirm your goals. As far as I can tell, simply getting the interview is one of the the biggest bottlenecks you face on your path to becoming a physician. If there's something left for you to sacrifice in your life, now is the time.

 

[0919mmk]

It's that season when people are gearing up for the next admissions cycle, so while checking facebook today it occurred to me that I should share my friend's story as a cautionary tale to other non-traditional applicants who are getting ready for the 2012 cycle.

A friend of mine with a PhD in neuroscience from a well-respected school just announced via facebook that she is retaking the MCAT.

She had applied for the 2011 cycle but I take it that she didn't get any acceptances.

I know that two weeks before her last test date she had not even attempted a single one of the official practice MCAT tests available from AMCAS. She was trying to study on the weekends while working her post-doc job during the week.

My analysis: She put her post-doc job ahead of getting into medical school.

Lesson: If you don't make med school your #1 top priority, don't be surprised when you don't get in...

🙁

A sad story, but I hope people can benefit from it. If you're gearing up for the next admissions cycle (and especially if you're studying for the MCAT!) now is the time to recommit yourself and reaffirm your goals. As far as I can tell, simply getting the interview is one of the the biggest bottlenecks you face on your path to becoming a physician. If there's something left for you to sacrifice in your life, now is the time.

Absolutely correct! The first time I took the MCAT, I just studied from a book and did no full-length practice tests --> 32. Yesterday, I took a practice test, my 5th one after taking the Kaplan class --> 38. Moral- full-lenths are crucial and awesomely important. I have gotten ranges of 32-39 on the full lengths.

If you do enough of them, you will have seen every type of question, every subject, and there will be no surprises on the real thing.

 

[katiemaude]

This made me think. I've been contemplating the 10-hr a week job I hate (but it's some money, and it's the only job I can find that fits with my school schedule). I'm taking physics 2 and orgo 2, volunteering and taking a Kaplan MCAT class two nights/week. I could use those 10 hrs plus commuting time to study for the MCAT. Right now I'm lucky to get in 2 hrs of MCAT study a night, plus 6 hours of class per week. I'm taking it in June. Time to buckle down, even it means sacrificing a few hundred bucks a month.

 

[Torr]

I think this is an important point to make for non-trads. Most of us have been working for a while to support ourselves and have a hard time taking lots of time off just to study (unless currently in post-bacc).

I studied for my MCAT while working ~50hr weeks. I'm sure it cost me a few points and I don't recommend it. I had a few co-workers leave and felt like I needed to pick up the slack. I was lucky to get in but I'm sure it also cost me some interviews and acceptances.

Force yourself to take time off and do the best you can. In the long run it will save you more $$ not having to reapply etc.

 

[mafunk]

Lesson: If you don't make med school your #1 top priority, don't be surprised when you don't get in....

I completely agree. All I'm doing between now and when I apply

• Finishing up PreReqs
• Volunteering in four diverse patient care roles at four different locations
• Involved in community service and teaching yoga
• Studying for MCAT
• Revamping my second language

 

[pinkzebra]

this thread makes me feel better

i very recently quit my job so that i could study full-time. props to everyone who works long weeks, studies efficiently, and still finds family time. i was working 45 hours as a research assistant and taking the PR course on saturdays and sundays. i honestly didnt realize it would be as difficult as it was. the only study time i had was after my 6 year old went to bed, and by then i was falling asleep in my books im a recent college grad (graduated last may) so working full-time on top of studying ~30 hours/week was much tougher than even the most intense of course loads i had in undergrad.

it was a difficult decision to leave my job, but i think it was the right one. luckily my husband supports me 10000%. we just have to tighten up the budget (quite a bit) for the next few months while i study.

 

[chrissyxf]

While I definitely agree that taking full length tests are necessary, I don't think you necessarily have to quit your job. Depends on the person (like most things). I could never ever study productively for more than 3 hours a day. Ever. Never have been able to and I suspect it's not going to change. In fact, having a job makes me utilize the time I have much more effectively. I don't get up and take tons of breaks or go on facebook or whatever because there is simply no time.
I have given up going out with friends during the week (and now that I'm 2 months away, on the weekends as well) and I make it a point to leave work on time instead of an hour or two late doing stuff that either a) isn't my job or b) could've been done if I worked through lunch or didn't bs with co-workers. I've also stopped watching tv...completely...Used to watch something like 5 shows/week but now I'm looking forward to catching up over the summer haha- no reruns for me! 🙂
But I have taken 3 full lengths so far and have scheduled to finish all the AMCAS tests prior to my may 21st date and they've gone up 4 points so far and I'm in range of where I want to be (30+) now and now I'm working on the weaker areas of physics and ochem. I got lucky and my verbal is consistently 11 or higher but for those that are struggling, EK has a great strategy.

Bottom line: do full lengths and sacrifice time doing stuff you'd rather do because you really really don't want to do this a second time if it can be helped.

 

[Djuobah]

While I definitely agree that taking full length tests are necessary, I don't think you necessarily have to quit your job. Depends on the person (like most things). I could never ever study productively for more than 3 hours a day. Ever. Never have been able to and I suspect it's not going to change. In fact, having a job makes me utilize the time I have much more effectively. I don't get up and take tons of breaks or go on facebook or whatever because there is simply no time.
I have given up going out with friends during the week (and now that I'm 2 months away, on the weekends as well) and I make it a point to leave work on time instead of an hour or two late doing stuff that either a) isn't my job or b) could've been done if I worked through lunch or didn't bs with co-workers. I've also stopped watching tv...completely...Used to watch something like 5 shows/week but now I'm looking forward to catching up over the summer haha- no reruns for me! 🙂
But I have taken 3 full lengths so far and have scheduled to finish all the AMCAS tests prior to my may 21st date and they've gone up 4 points so far and I'm in range of where I want to be (30+) now and now I'm working on the weaker areas of physics and ochem. I got lucky and my verbal is consistently 11 or higher but for those that are struggling, EK has a great strategy.

Bottom line: do full lengths and sacrifice time doing stuff you'd rather do because you really really don't want to do this a second time if it can be helped.

Thank you so much for your response!! I am 6 months away from my test date, and I know it is crunch time. I do agree with you that actually working forces me to study the limited time that I do have, and actually makes me focus more. With that said, I know that I must stop watching TV, AND I need to leave work ON TIME. These two things, esp the latter is what have been cutting into my study time.

 

[Harlan Miles]

I agree that you don't have to quit your job to effectively study for the MCAT. I couldn't afford to do that - for more than financial reasons - so I modified the other aspects of my life.

One really important thing - come up with a REALLY good study schedule and stick to it. That's what did the trick for me. I had a three month schedule with weekly objectives, including a minimum of four timed section-based practice tests and a full length exam each week. I also had a tutor working with me and knowing that we would review my practice exams, question-by-question, definitely kept me on my game.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I put my plans ahead of my job... even told them that... they still didn't fire me silly people... I was accepted, so obviously it worked!!

 

[LupaCupcake]

I talked to a doctor here about MCATS. He has known me and my family for awhile now so we talk about med school tidbits when I run into him. He went to Dartmouth for his med school (he raves about that school).

He said flat out even if your GPA is high, you need to devote a good amount of time for the MCAT. If you can afford it, quit your job and make study guides/practice tests/reviewing your full time job until you take the test.

 

[TylerJ]

She did not take a practice test before? She probably did not do too well on her MCAT.

A friend that just graduated from Johns Hopkins and is in internal medicine residency now suggested taking 5 practice exams under timed conditions before taking the real MCAT. It's not only a matter of knowing the material, but having the mental endurance to take the exam. It's like a deciding to run a marathon next week and only running 3-4 miles at the most for training, sure you know how to run, but you're not going to make it to the finish line come race day.

Also, a word of additional advice, think of the MCAT as an introduction to preparing for and taking long tests, as they will occur frequently throughout your medical career.

 

[MeowMix]

I could never ever study productively for more than 3 hours a day. Ever. Never have been able to and I suspect it's not going to change.

For someone with such a good mcat strategy, you have an unconventional study plan for med school. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[Nymphicus]

She did not take a practice test before? She probably did not do too well on her MCAT.

A friend that just graduated from Johns Hopkins and is in internal medicine residency now suggested taking 5 practice exams under timed conditions before taking the real MCAT. It's not only a matter of knowing the material, but having the mental endurance to take the exam. It's like a deciding to run a marathon next week and only running 3-4 miles at the most for training, sure you know how to run, but you're not going to make it to the finish line come race day.

Also, a word of additional advice, think of the MCAT as an introduction to preparing for and taking long tests, as they will occur frequently throughout your medical career.

I did this the week of spring break, which was the week before my MCAT. One every day....worst spring break ever. I guess it worked out though. I highly suspect that the routine and no-stress repetition that I developed through my studying and especially the FL tests contributed to my score. I took the FL's all in the school library so that I was "uncomfortable" (not in my own chair at my own computer at home), to more closely mimic the real thing.

This plus the fact that I don't really stress that much gave me a final result of not being nervous really at all on the real thing, and wondering if I should actually be more nervous. Also, during the real MCAT test, I couldn't shake the feeling that it was just another practice and I would have another practice test the next day.

 

[iceet]

this thread makes me feel better

i very recently quit my job so that i could study full-time. props to everyone who works long weeks, studies efficiently, and still finds family time. i was working 45 hours as a research assistant and taking the PR course on saturdays and sundays. i honestly didnt realize it would be as difficult as it was. the only study time i had was after my 6 year old went to bed, and by then i was falling asleep in my books im a recent college grad (graduated last may) so working full-time on top of studying ~30 hours/week was much tougher than even the most intense of course loads i had in undergrad.

it was a difficult decision to leave my job, but i think it was the right one. luckily my husband supports me 10000%. we just have to tighten up the budget (quite a bit) for the next few months while i study.

It comforts me to hear this. I too wanted to leave my job to focus solely on the MCAT. At first I thought my boss would give me a hard time about it when I told him my decision but he supported me 100%. Instead of leaving though I limited my hours to part time (~12/week) and have been able to balance MCAT studyingt as well (so far).