Full time job and studying for MCAT question

[evaporation132]

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Main point - Starting to study a year in advance by going through the NEW 2015 MCAT princeton review books:

Ok so I graduated college and now I am working a full time job and got the Princeton review books to study for the MCAT (theres like 6 books). However the books are fat and working a full time job I get home at like 6 or 7pm everyday on weekdays. I decided to start studying about an hour or two everyday and work through the books in a years time (to review all the material) to take the MCAT next year. I am planning on studying hardcore like 3 months prior to the MCAT (including reviewing the first book intensely which is biology, but I don't know how hardcore I can study with only about 4 free hours each day after work).

Do you guys think I will be alright? Is there another strategy that would work better given my circumstances?

I thought since I'm reading the books with time I will be able to learn the content or at least have a good understanding/background and then do practice tests hardcore near the MCAT... but now I am afraid it won't be very efficient since I was looking at other forums and people say I will "forget" what I learned the first 6 months although I think I at least would be able to recognize content when I see it since I'm reading these books.

 

[ElectricNoogie]

If you are working full-time, then a 3-month study schedule is likely not enough time to prepare for the new MCAT. I was working part-time when I took the MCAT and it was tough to balance. I even worked part time early in my first year of med school but that soon stopped because you have to devote a certain amount of time if you want to excel, no matter how smart you are. This new MCAT has a lot of material to master. Unless one is fresh off of most of the pre-reqs, which you are not, I would give yourself more time. Why not take a diagnostic (there are several for free out there) and see what your current level of competency is? This will also allow you to identify your current MCAT strengths and weaknesses, which will make your studying more efficient.

Having a reliable set of books is a good step. I would take a diagnostic and see how far you can get, prep wise, in 3 weeks or so. If your weekends are your own right now, that is where you can spend a good chunk of your time studying. How disciplined are you? Do you mind not having much free time or social calendar for the next 3-5 months? Aim for 20-25 hours per week of honest MCAT studying (that can mean reading, videos, testing, reviewing) and see how close you come. Good luck!

EDIT: Whoops, I missed the fact that you are 1 year out from your MCAT. In that case the FT job really doesn't factor in. The books for the MCAT will likely be all new next year anyway. I would review the material you have on weekends to keep it sharp if you want but avoid doing much testing this far out. Focus on scientific concepts that you need to master (electrostatics, chemical trends, Newtonian mechanics), not the kind of material that is just memorized (amino acids, biochem pathways, endocrine hormones). Its never too early to work on CARS techniques and MCAT like thinking so mix that in every once in a while. You WILL forget stuff but if you work through the books you have over the next 8 months, then 3-4 months of devoted study a year from now could be sufficient. You may have the option to reduce the job commitment by then.

 

[evaporation132]

I think I have good discipline, on weekends I study like 5 hours a day or more on Sunday (I might have to increase this) and I study at least an hour everyday after work (most of the time 2 hours).

I don't care about social life but I do like to relax at least on weekends after I'm done studying (play video games, hang out with girlfriend, do something outside, play guitar)

My main worry is if I'm doing good by studying through these 6 books ONE year early or if I'm just going to forget stuff (I don't think I will i am just nervous)

In other words is it good that I'm starting a year early going through the 6 books or will it not be efficient and I should like quit my job (don't know how i would afford living) and cram it all 3-4 months before the test?

thanks for your help

 

[evaporation132]

thank you electricnoogie, that makes me feel a lot better that going through all these books now will help (their the new and upgraded 2015 test books for the NEW mcat they rolled out with the psych section and all that, hope they don't make completely new books next year again)

and I will intensify the studying 3-4 months prior like you said, probably just refreshing the books content and intensely going through practice exams (is that a good strategy for the 3-4 months prior?)