How to focus and work productively for 6hrs + a day for the MCAT?

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johny1

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I've started studying for the MCATs which are 2+ months away and I've realized that it is extremely difficult to study 6 hrs a day for this exam. Never in my life have I ever studied for an exam thats been 2+ months away. What are some tips from people that have consistently produced 6+ hrs of work for 2+ months for the MCAT.

I don't mean going to the library and sitting there for 6 hours. I've done this and it isn't too difficult. I'd only produce 2-3 hrs of actual work though. The other 3 hrs go to daydreaming/thinking about something else/ sitting there blankly.

For exams in college its pretty easy to study 6-8 hours a day when the exam is 2-3 days away since you have that time pressure.

This is what I'm trying to simulate:

From what I've studied, it seems that both the right and left brain are working efficiently together, but able to screen out peripheral distractions. Time seems to disappear and you and the thing you're doing feel as though they've become one. Such flow states have aspects in common with trance states, though it's tough to do MRIs of someone writing a book or playing a game.
Click to expand...

How do I get in the zone for content review? I don't think I'll have this problem when I start taking FLs or practice sections.

Here's what I've already tried:

  • Clean up work space
  • Deactivate Facebook
  • Turn off cellphone/ all distractions
  • Work in quiet area like a library
  • Listen to motivational music
  • Reward yourself for working for a certain time (this doesn't work for me! It's too artificial)
  • Eat healthy(My diet consists of a lot of protein, fruits, healthy fats)
  • Exercise (I hit the gym 4 times a week)
  • Sleep 8 hrs (I sleep till I'm fresh)
  • Take a break every 10 mins for every 1 hr of work (Done this, but it only works for 2 hrs then the breaks get longer)
  • Random other stuff I've found on google and that's pretty common sense


I understand a lot of this is just internal motivation and people just have it or don't. But I'm still curious about the techniques/mindset/ and approach of you self-disciplined monks that are able to study for long hours with laser focus. I know that I am capable of this since I've done it for final exams many times, but I just can't seem to convince my brain that I need to be studying everyday for this test thats so far away.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks guys.
 
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Take planned study breaks and keep with them. If you study for 45minutes and break for 15minutes your next youtube break is never that far around the corner, just be strict on making sure you take the breaks, and that you get back to studying promptly.

For me this works wonders.
 
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Qester said:
Take planned study breaks and keep with them. If you study for 45minutes and break for 15minutes your next youtube break is never that far around the corner, just be strict on making sure you take the breaks, and that you get back to studying promptly.

For me this works wonders.
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You have good motivational techniques so far!


My biggest pitfall lately: Get on SDN to do a quick check/post and end up staying far longer than expected.......... so be wary of that.
 
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johny1 said:
For exams in college its pretty easy to study 6-8 hours a day when the exam is 2-3 days away since you have that time pressure.
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You were able to do the above because you had a goal (the test), though it was an urgent one. It might help to set up daily goals to keep you going.

For example:

Friday - read and take notes on chapter 1 of physics; do correlating practice problems

Saturday - verbal, briefly review yesterday's notes, move to next chapter or rotate subjects.

You'd be surprised that you can easily fill 5-6 hours a day by doing the above.

By setting up things you want to accomplish each day, you're kind of making a schedule. Of course, the goals and schedule is up to you create and organize. Speaking of schedules, I highly recommend SN2ed's schedule. At the very least, it could serve as a template for you.
 
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You don't need to study continuously 6 hours in a day. I usually break it down into 2, 2, 2. If I have the day off, I'll take 3 hour breaks in-between if I can. Arrested Development is back. No amount of importance on the MCAT will stop me from watching at least an episode a day.
 
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TriagePreMed said:
You don't need to study continuously 6 hours in a day. I usually break it down into 2, 2, 2. If I have the day off, I'll take 3 hour breaks in-between if I can. Arrested Development is back. No amount of importance on the MCAT will stop me from watching at least an episode a day.
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Thank you Netflix!!

However, AD fits the Pringles motto for me. Once you stop, you just can't stop.
Guess I'll have to make it a post-MCAT treat. 🙂
 
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I've been struggling with this for some time and the one solution that I've been able to come up with is the Pomodoro technique. Simply put, you study for 25 minute intervals (called a Pomodoro) with 5 minute breaks in between each study session. The only exception is the last break (after your 4th Pomodoro) which lasts 15 minutes or so. At first, it may seem that 25 minutes is not enough, but after a few Pomodoro's, you will be happy you took a break after the 25 minutes. The technique also recommends that you quickly review what you went over in your last Pomodoro (last 25 minute session) as a means to catch up to where you at your current state of studying, however, this largely depends on the task.

Try it out. 🙂
 
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A few things I've learned about studying over the years,

1. Don't study with music; even if it is just soft classical music, sometimes it can become distracting
2. Start studying early; I think you would be surprised by how much you can accomplish at 6 am compared to 6 pm.
3. Whenever you get tired or bored of a subject, switch to a different subject, or do some verbal reasoning practice. Keep yourself interested in the material and learn the underlying concepts.

Hope these tips help, each person is different so figure out what works for you!
 
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Motivation.

Remember why you want a good score and what that means to you. Maybe even post motivating quotes and pictures above your desk.
 
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Jesus...6 hours a day?

I think I only really do 2 hours a day max, I've been going at it for 3 weeks now. Maybe I should step it up?
 
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Three things are important to be achieve success:

1. Available Resources
2. Effort
3. Motivation

You seem to have #1 and #2 but missing/lacking #3. NO ONE in this forum can give you ideas or ways to boost #3 except one member..."Johny1." Get in touch with him, if you get help from him then you are set.

Good Luck.
 
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Gauss44 said:
Motivation.

Remember why you want a good score and what that means to you. Maybe even post motivating quotes and pictures above your desk.
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I've always done this even during the school year. It's VERY powerful. People should give it a chance.

I say always go for a perfect score. Let people tell you it's impossible (because they will) but always go for perfect. One of the quotes on my desk says, "he who aims for excellence will be above mediocrity, while he who aims for mediocrity will be far short of it". I honestly believe that people who say "I just want xx score" have actually limited themselves to a maximum of that score. But setting your goal for the maximum score possible might help motivate you.
 
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