Is working going to ruin my chances?

[ciestar]

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Okay, so basically I'm at a serious bump in the road. I want to apply for this cycle and I haven't gotten much studying done, at all. I'm working full time as a pharmacy tech because i really cannot afford to not work (the pay is crap, but it's better than nothing). However, I cannot seem to find that work/life/mcat balance. I am overwhelmed.

I need advice, especially from you other nontrads who have gone through all of this.

Should I quit and then find another over the summer? Should i just cut back hours? Am I completely screwed and blew it for this cycle?

I'm at a loss right now. I know cvs isn't where I want to be forever and I feel like it's holding me back but it's more complicated than that...

Help?

 

[swivelj]

How many hours are you currently working? I work 3 12 hr shifts Fri, Sat, Sun... And study Mon-Thurs.... I'm using a modified SN2ED schedule... I usually spend 8-10 hrs studying a day... And it's still going to take me 6 months to follow this schedule...plenty of people have overcome a full time job and done well on this test. I came to terms with the fact that I am not going to have a full day to do anything other than work or study... But I still have an hour or two a day to workout... So keep up whatever hobby you have to help maintain your sanity... But realize going out or spending a whole day goofing around just can't happen... Small price to pay for the big picture. Someone that I admire said something the other day that really resonated with me... Basically when a person discovers they have a choice to succeed or to not... Things are very simple... You will choose to do what is necessary or you will accept failure... Excuses can no longer be apart of your story... So when you are tired or burnt out just ask yourself if you can live with the fact you didn't see it through or you didn't do the work that was required of you... If you can live with it then that's perfectly fine and this wasn't for you.... Be honest with yourself and bust your a** if you want it...
Good luck my fellow non-trad

 

[Blueprint MCAT Tutor]

Two quick stories:

I'm currently working with a tutoring student who works full time (~50hr/wk) in a lab in Boston doing some sort of fancy immunology research that I can only pretend to understand. Every evening and every weekend she does MCAT work and we meet a couplefew times a week. It's taken her a long time, but after 5 months of work she raised her score from an initial Kaplan diagnostic of 17 to her two most recent scores 34 Kaplan / 32 AAMC.

It can be done, it just takes a metric ton of patience.

When I was in Spring semester of Junior year I was taking a full 16 credit courseload, working 20 hours a week at the world's crappiest bagel store (seriously, we would get a "morning rush" of like 3 old people coming in for their coffee, the place sucked so bad), and had the MCAT coming up. Back then it was only paper and you basically *had* to take it in April. But, I found the time to get it done. Just a little bit every day.

The key is to focus on right now. Here. Today. What are you going to do this afternoon? This evening? Forget how much there is to do. Forget how far you have left to go. Just say, "okay, my goal for today is to take a 60min timed verbal section".

And then DO IT. Just do it. Shut off the damn TV. For the love of all that's holy and decent in the universe, power down your damn phone. Remove distractions. Just decide what needs to be done for that one single day and just do it.

Go.

Now.

What are you doing?!

Seriously, stop wasting time on an internet chat forum.

GO.

GO DO YOUR MCAT HOMEWORK.

 

[christinalouise]

When would you be planning to write the MCAT?

It really depends on whether you personally can find the balance. I work full time, volunteer with two organizations, study for the MCAT part time and still have time to help out with my nieces/nephews homework. But personally I thrive under a rigid schedule, so planning every day out isn't a bother for me.

My advice would be map out how many hours you figure you'd need to dedicate to each subject matter. From there either determine how many hours you could comfortably balance and forecast what date that would put your exam at. Or decide a date you'd want to write by and see how many hours a week that would require you to study. You will most definitely have to push yourself and it will come with stress (that is the price of going after your dreams). But do not set a schedule that is unrealistic because all it will do is either burn you out or it will discourage you if you cannot stick to it. If you find you have ample time in a week to study but still can't seem to get on it, find a way to motivate yourself. Push yourself. Change your habits. Find what works for you.

At the same time, it is not the end of the world if you push it back a year and take your time to study. Make that extra year count! Get involved in the community if you aren't already, volunteer somewhere, or take on a part time job for a few months so when you are ready to sit down and study you can cut your hours back without financially struggling. If you do cut your hours back you may find it easier to assemble a study schedule and remain dedicated to it. If you are working shift work full time I'm guessing that means there is a ton of variation in what time you study at each day. That may be what you are struggling with.

Best Wishes!

 

[ciestar]

Yeah, exactly. It is basically a set schedule every week, but different times each days. I'm currently working about 33 hours each week. There's a ton of variation in it too. For a Monday, where I currently work 12-9 I'd either have to get up really early or stay up later to accomplish anything. And on a Friday I'm there 9-5. You have a point, maybe that is what I'm struggling with.

I'm already graduated last August. So the idea of pushing it back another year doesn't thrill me at all. I want to apply this summer. Idk if I have enough time now though. I feel like I already blew it.

Thanks all of you!

And FWIW, I got a 20 on a TPR diagnostic. Can only go up from here!

 

[Mad Jack]

There's 168 hours in a week. You sleep 56 of them, and work another 40, so you've still got 72 hours a week left. I worked 32 hours, went to school full time with three lab classes, and still found the time to study for the MCAT. Study while you eat. Study when you wake up. Study after work and before bed. Study on your breaks. On your days off, study from sunup to sundown. If you can even manage to get in 40 hours worth of studying each week of those 72 you're not working or sleeping, you have the potential to do fine. Just make sure you use the right materials. With a score that low, I'd really recommend TBR for your physics and chem. Also, take the free AAMC 3 to get an idea of where you are on the real thing. No other practice tests are as accurate as the official AAMC exams when it comes to determining what your final score will be. Good luck.

 

[ciestar]

I actually worked it out with my boss today and I'm going to be dropping hours to ~20 a week. This will help immensely I think.

I'm still getting going. I feel like I'm spending way too much time on certain subjects (ochem). Now I'm scared that 11 weeks won't be enough time! (June 21st mcat here I come.)

 

[makingthejump]

Best piece of advice from personal experience is to do a little bit of studying each day using one source. Do not overwhem yourself with multiple sources to study from and do not overwhelm yourself by saying "I'm going to study 5hrs a daily 7 days a week" its just not realistic. I study 2-3hrs a day for 4-5 days a week and am taking my exam at the end of this year. It is much more manageable when you set attainable, realistic goals than to overwhelm yourself with ambitous, unrealistic goals that lead to burn out. Same concept as the person who says, "I'm going to exercise 6-7 days a week for at least 2hrs per day"...and that same person shuts down due to being overwhelmed and stress with rigidity in their schedule and quits exercising all together.

 

[dutchie000]

I work 40-60 hours a week working 10-14 hour shifts and am studying for it... Granted my first diagnostic wasn't brilliant, I think it can be done with lots of self-determination and discipline! I still have somewhat of a social life... Like... Barely 🙂

 

[BeachBlondie]

Just to quell your fears:

I research 40+ hours per week AND travel from time to time. I just took the thing on Saturday and felt incredibly prepared with content knowledge...

....And I'm a film major.

You can definitely do it. Glad you were able to swing the reduced hours; go get some!

 

[ciestar]

Thanks so much for all the encouraging words! 🙂

 

[christinalouise]

That's awesome to hear! I'll be taking it the week before you! Crunch time here we come!

Just stay positive and celebrate your successes, even if they are little things. It will snowball and you will start looking forward to studying and reviewing.