If I have 4 months to go, how many hrs/day should I study for MCAT?

[TurkSurg]

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If I have 4 months to go, how many hrs/day should I study for MCAT?

 

[Eye Cue]

Your suggested daily routine for the next 4 months:

0.7 hours morning preparation +
11.5 total hours of studying +
1.5 hours total food breaks +
0.7 hours of procrastination +
1.1 hour coffee and biscotti break (important) +
1 hour of browsing SDN MCAT forums +
0.2 hours phone time +
0.2 hours total bathroom breaks (which you can also study during) +
0.5 hours of dealing with random people who attempt to converse with you if you are in a public place +
6.6 hours of sleep


On a more serious note, I personally studied for 3 months and 15 days, 8-12 hours average/day. I would usually take a day off a week, very occasionally 2 (by off-day, I mean study for only 4-6 hours that specific day, but took no days off towards the end). I know that there are many people that do not require the same study regimen as I did, and there is no way for me to know which category you fall under. The 30+ MCAT thread was very helpful to me in determining the work needed to be done.

 

[Tartheheel]

Just study whenever you can. Studying means = PRACTICE QUESTIONS. Every single question you get wrong is an opportunity to learn, a gap to cover up...The more time you spend doing this, the more gaps you'll know exist, the better your preparation.

Don't even think you have 4 months to prepare, b/c that itself will cause you to procrastinate,...Honestly, study as if you have 3 months left, and then a month before the test, "realize" that you have a month more to go and take comfort in the fact that you prepared as if it was scheduled that day. Hard to do..but totally worth it.

 

[Evergrey]

If I have 4 months to go, how many hrs/day should I study for MCAT?

It's really dependent on who you are and how you learn. Some people don't need that much time to study for the MCAT. Others study better if they space it out in small chunks over time. Still others study best if they cram for just the month before the test.

Keep in mind that if you're using a lot of study material, it will probably take you in excess of 200-300 hours to get through it all, and then some more time to take AAMC practice exams and review those too.

 

[Schemp]

You're still a very long way out. If you spend an hour a day on average studying over the next month, I'd consider that plenty. Then you can slowly increase it as you get closer. I didn't really start studying at all until about 2 months before the exam, but it depends on the person. If you're trying to study 3+ hours a day for four months though, you're not gonna make it. I didn't even study that much during the 2 months, it'd be way too much for me to sustain on a daily basis. It'll pretty much depend on your style though.

 

[JJMrK]

You're still a very long way out. If you spend an hour a day on average studying over the next month, I'd consider that plenty. Then you can slowly increase it as you get closer. I didn't really start studying at all until about 2 months before the exam, but it depends on the person. If you're trying to study 3+ hours a day for four months though, you're not gonna make it. I didn't even study that much during the 2 months, it'd be way too much for me to sustain on a daily basis. It'll pretty much depend on your style though.

That's about what I did.

 

[Compass]

Study when you can. I find forced study schedules to be "OH MY GOD, WHY DO I HAVE TO DO THAT NOW." Also, 4 months is plenty.

 

[bxadook]

On a more serious note, I personally studied for 3 months and 15 days, 8-12 hours average/day.

On a more serious note, I personally think this is insane. I find it hard to retain anything over 4 hours. It's like you are just staring at paper, and then some words occasionally. If you were to have a stop watch for every mini-break you took, I am sure your realistic hours are between 4-6 a day. Seriously. At 12 hours a day 😱your routine has to be like....

1. Wake up
2. Eat breakfast
3. Study
4. Lunch
5. Study
6. Stare at wall
7. Sleep
8. Be unhappy👎

 

[Eye Cue]

On a more serious note, I personally think this is insane. I find it hard to retain anything over 4 hours. It's like you are just staring at paper, and then some words occasionally. If you were to have a stop watch for every mini-break you took, I am sure your realistic hours are between 4-6 a day. Seriously. At 12 hours a day 😱your routine has to be like....

1. Wake up
2. Eat breakfast
3. Study
4. Lunch
5. Study
6. Stare at wall
7. Sleep
8. Be unhappy👎

You have no idea... torture isn't quite the word to describe it.

 

[Recoil]

No more than an hour a day for the next 3 months, but then pick it up during the final month before your test.