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Literally. Obviously I'm wasting my time studying, because I'm not doing any better on the tests. I actually had high goals for a while. Now I just don't even want to take the damn thing.
tigress said:Literally. Obviously I'm wasting my time studying, because I'm not doing any better on the tests. I actually had high goals for a while. Now I just don't even want to take the damn thing.
SailCrazy said:I hear you!
I've now taken three Kaplan full lengths.
My first was notably below my target score...
My second was just below my target score...
The third that I just took yesterday... one point lower than my first full-length score!
I think it is quite normal to feel really overwhelmed, stressed, frustrated, *insert you personal adjective of anguish here*, etc. as the final weeks approach. I've been wrestling with a whole lot of test prep frustrations over the past week or so. Here are my thoughts that, while numbered, are in no particular order:
First, while no one wants to take the test again, if you're really that unhappy with your results when you get them, you can. It might be a big pain in the *ss, but it is a reasonable safety option. Don't sabotage this attempt because of excess anxiety. Just give it your best "reasonably-stressed" attempt and see how it goes.
Second, stop competiting against yourself. By that I mean stop beating yourself up over the fact that your scores aren't where you want them to be right now. In the end, your score is going to be whatever it ends up being. Fighting against random goals won't help the process. Accepting your position and working to improve as best you can between now and the test will.
On the same note, realize that when you're preparing for the MCAT, you're not trying catch the person who is going to score 8 points higher than you. You're trying to distinguish yourself from the few thousand other people who are equal to you in intelligence (and maybe motivation.) The better you can stay (relatively) calm and relaxed and just keep at it, the more you'll improve relative to the masses that are stressing out. Just a bit of improvement in outlook can make a huge difference as you slide ahead of the masses around you!
Also - probalby most importantly - we still have almost 4 WEEKS to prepare. You can learn a lot in that time!!! No, you're not going to suddenly know everything and get a 45. But if you take a few deep breaths - heck take a break and get outside for a walk or a run - and apply yourself as best you can, you are definitely going to improve you score from what it would have been if you don't do those things.
While it is an easy thing to say and a really hard thing to do, realise that staying as relaxed as possible and continuing to plug away will likely pay more dividends than you might think.
Now if I can just internalize that myself, I'd get off SDN and back to MCAT prep!!!
Good Luck!
IdolSimon said:Cry tigress cry.
It is not just four week. If you get into Med School we do not want you to cry for another 7yrs. Better try nursing
Doctors know how to cry. And how to be supportive when other people feel like crying.IdolSimon said:Cry tigress cry.
It is not just four week. If you get into Med School we do not want you to cry for another 7yrs. Better try nursing