full time PhD student + FT parent

[jsh52]

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I'm taking the MCAT June 16. So far, all I've done is 3/4 of the Chem book from Kaplan, 1/4 of Physics, hardly any bio or Ochem yet. I should be able to get through all the content of the books in about 3 weeks. A lot of it is coming back to me, but I haven't had some of these classes for 6-7 yrs. I have not taken a FL test yet. I took some bio questions and got about 95% of them right without studying (I'm doing my PhD in physiology so I damn well better lol), but physics is a discouraging 50% correct.

Here's the problem: my typical day is very, very freaking busy. I have a 7 month old baby, 2 hours of commuting, and 8 hours doing my thesis (Ph.D) research. I'm up at 4:30am and home at 4pm. Baby's bedtime is 7:30 but I am usually only able to keep myself up for another 2 hours since I wake up at 430 everyday. My husband works about 80 hours a week so he is NO help with the baby. My weekends are typically spent watching the baby, but I do have family around that would be willing to help out.

What is the most efficient way I can spend my next two months? I need a low cost/high reward strategy. 🙂 Right now-I study an hour before anyone else gets to work. Then, I study when the baby naps and goes to sleep. So maybe about 2 hours a day currently. Thoughts?

 

[catswym]

Have a family member watch the baby and start taking a full length exam every weekend. One per weekend and then really go through the answers. Also, if you aren't doing well on physics I would do the EK 1001 questions. I think doing the questions is more helpful than content review. You also need to do the FLs to get a sense of where you're at. If you get a 24 you know you have lots of work to do. If you get a 30, you know you're nearly there. YOu have about 2 months which means up to 8 practice exams and then spend the week doing questions.

 

[jsh52]

Have a family member watch the baby and start taking a full length exam every weekend. One per weekend and then really go through the answers. Also, if you aren't doing well on physics I would do the EK 1001 questions. I think doing the questions is more helpful than content review. You also need to do the FLs to get a sense of where you're at. If you get a 24 you know you have lots of work to do. If you get a 30, you know you're nearly there. YOu have about 2 months which means up to 8 practice exams and then spend the week doing questions.

If I haven't taken Physics, Chem, and Ochem in ages...is it worth doing purely content review before doing questions? I tried just doing questions without any review and it was bad. Definitely outside of my area of expertise + it was awhile ago.

 

[catswym]

If I haven't taken Physics, Chem, and Ochem in ages...is it worth doing purely content review before doing questions? I tried just doing questions without any review and it was bad. Definitely outside of my area of expertise + it was awhile ago.

This is all "if I had to do it over again" advice but I think it's only useful to review equations and using the equations which the EK1001 book really does. I didn't use that until a couple of weeks before my test and I think it would have been really helpful to use it MUCH earlier (full disclosure: I was getting 10 on all of my practice FLs and then an 8 on the real thing so I can only hypothesize). The chem book will be similar. I didn't really review Ochem at all and didn't feel lacking in that area but I did biochem for grad work and we did a bit of ochem there.

 

[jsh52]

This is all "if I had to do it over again" advice but I think it's only useful to review equations and using the equations which the EK1001 book really does. I didn't use that until a couple of weeks before my test and I think it would have been really helpful to use it MUCH earlier (full disclosure: I was getting 10 on all of my practice FLs and then an 8 on the real thing so I can only hypothesize). The chem book will be similar. I didn't really review Ochem at all and didn't feel lacking in that area but I did biochem for grad work and we did a bit of ochem there.

Ah ok. I do have the EK 1001 Physics book. So you thought that was pretty representative of actual MCAT questions or was it just good overall prep? I went through the first few sections and i did find it pretty helpful--after I had done the content review. Is it worth getting the other 1001 books?

 

[catswym]

Ah ok. I do have the EK 1001 Physics book. So you thought that was pretty representative of actual MCAT questions or was it just good overall prep? I went through the first few sections and i did find it pretty helpful--after I had done the content review. Is it worth getting the other 1001 books?

The chemistry one is probably helpful too if you are struggling with that section as well.

 

[PharmaTope]

where do you live by the way?

 

[hopefuldoc97239]

I think you need to get some more flexibility into your schedule. Ask your PhD mentor if you can take it easy for a month or so until after you finish the MCAT. Maybe your program will let you take personal leave.

All that may sound preposterous... but if you do poorly on the MCAT it will haunt you. Don't take it until you're really ready.

 

[jsh52]

I think you need to get some more flexibility into your schedule. Ask your PhD mentor if you can take it easy for a month or so until after you finish the MCAT. Maybe your program will let you take personal leave.

All that may sound preposterous... but if you do poorly on the MCAT it will haunt you. Don't take it until you're really ready.

That's a good idea, but I took maternity leave from end of Sept-Dec so I really don't want to ask. I probably have the world's best thesis advisor and I think he will be pretty understanding if I study for the MCAT 2 days a week at work and do experiments 3 days. Maybe I will give that a try. My experiments are nearly done, as well, and I will be moving onto writing my dissertation.

That or I will have to sleep even less. 🙂

 

[medgirl13]

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[medgirl13]

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[Mommy doc]

I'm taking the MCAT June 16. So far, all I've done is 3/4 of the Chem book from Kaplan, 1/4 of Physics, hardly any bio or Ochem yet. I should be able to get through all the content of the books in about 3 weeks. A lot of it is coming back to me, but I haven't had some of these classes for 6-7 yrs. I have not taken a FL test yet. I took some bio questions and got about 95% of them right without studying (I'm doing my PhD in physiology so I damn well better lol), but physics is a discouraging 50% correct.

Here's the problem: my typical day is very, very freaking busy. I have a 7 month old baby, 2 hours of commuting, and 8 hours doing my thesis (Ph.D) research. I'm up at 4:30am and home at 4pm. Baby's bedtime is 7:30 but I am usually only able to keep myself up for another 2 hours since I wake up at 430 everyday. My husband works about 80 hours a week so he is NO help with the baby. My weekends are typically spent watching the baby, but I do have family around that would be willing to help out.

What is the most efficient way I can spend my next two months? I need a low cost/high reward strategy. 🙂 Right now-I study an hour before anyone else gets to work. Then, I study when the baby naps and goes to sleep. So maybe about 2 hours a day currently. Thoughts?

I am taking MCAT on June 16th too. I reviewed Examkracker lecture series one time (but probably absorbed 50% of material) didn't take any FL exam. studying with EK1001 series now. I have a full time job, three kids, and 40 years old. I never thought I have ADD or learning disability but since I started studying for MCAT I feel so stupid..One of my sons is four years old and he told me yesterday, he doesn't need a doctor he needs a mommy..My husband isn't so supportive about me going medical school.
I am just little bit depressed. Hard to accept I am not good enough to do what I want to do.
Good luck with your MCAT. I think you are doing good studying two hrs everyday. Let me know if you find any efficient way to study.

 

[pinkzebra]

is it absolutely vital that you take the test june 16th? i think that everyone requires different amounts of prep, so if you found that you wanted additional time, would you be able to take it? maybe a later test date or pushing back an application cycle? truthfully, though, i really think you can study efficiently with your time. take advantage of your family being around to help with the baby! i have taken on a lot in the past and looking back, have no idea how i did it! so needless to say, i definitely think you will be able to accomplish your studying goals with a lot of dedication and hard work. i really commend you for taking on so much! 🙂

can you study when the baby's awake too? have you thought of audio lectures for those times or when you are in the car, cooking, or cleaning? i used to spread out a blanket and some toys in the family room and my daughter would play while i read/did homework. do you have any other prep books besides Kaplan? i have the BR books, PR prep books, and EK and i honestly think having a variety really helps. some books explain different concepts better than others. another piece of advice would be to leave yourself time for practice tests/reviewing of them. i have the same test date as you, but i have heard from SO many people that those really help more than people realize!

good luck!

 

[walnutz8]

I'm taking the MCAT June 16. So far, all I've done is 3/4 of the Chem book from Kaplan, 1/4 of Physics, hardly any bio or Ochem yet. I should be able to get through all the content of the books in about 3 weeks. A lot of it is coming back to me, but I haven't had some of these classes for 6-7 yrs. I have not taken a FL test yet. I took some bio questions and got about 95% of them right without studying (I'm doing my PhD in physiology so I damn well better lol), but physics is a discouraging 50% correct.

Here's the problem: my typical day is very, very freaking busy. I have a 7 month old baby, 2 hours of commuting, and 8 hours doing my thesis (Ph.D) research. I'm up at 4:30am and home at 4pm. Baby's bedtime is 7:30 but I am usually only able to keep myself up for another 2 hours since I wake up at 430 everyday. My husband works about 80 hours a week so he is NO help with the baby. My weekends are typically spent watching the baby, but I do have family around that would be willing to help out.

What is the most efficient way I can spend my next two months? I need a low cost/high reward strategy. 🙂 Right now-I study an hour before anyone else gets to work. Then, I study when the baby naps and goes to sleep. So maybe about 2 hours a day currently. Thoughts?

How well are you doing on the FLs now? If you are hitting your target scores then you should be fine. Otherwise, you might want to postpone. I don't know how true the average +/- 2 is for MCAT takers, but for me, I ended up at -2 off my average. So worse case scenario, you should feel comfortable with the low range of your FL tests. I went straight EK for prep, including audio (good for your commutes) and 1001s (i think the Bio and Verbal are most helpful bc they are passage-based, but all in all they take a bunch of time).

Really commend your effort there and your situation. I didn't have the kid nor the commuting, but I did a PhD (bioengineering) and defended end of last year, and did 2 months of studying with full effort. Is your defense date locked in yet? As long as you give yourself time (a few months) after MCAT, then I think you should be good to go. Write a good thesis and defend well, it's not important for practicing medicine but it's something you worked on for many years, and it's good to end things well. Good luck!