MCAT advice for a serial procrastinator?

[doritos4lyfe]

I saw a previous post here from last year about this, but does anyone have any advice on any physical specific things that I can do to study for this exam? I've tried studying for this exam before and it didn't work, and I know that I am absolutely not someone who can cram for this exam for 2-3 weeks and score ok.

I've basically never done any studying or homework on a Saturday, I usually cram ~15 hours before an exam or paper, so I really have not developed any reasonable study habits. I'm kind of devastated because I know this is going to keep me from what I want to do unless I can undergo some sort of serious transformation.

😕🙁

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[Jas1360]

Yes, you need to undergo a transformation. You have to find the motivation in yourself. All we can do is help you with study strategies, we cannot motivate you to act upon our advice.

 

[Meredith92]

I was the same way but then I started sn2s schedule and having goals for each day really helped and got me motivated especially when I was falling behind. I recommend that!

 

[Jas1360]

As far as how to study, make a study schedule but only one hour at a time. Then you can reward yourself with something fun after you dedicate the full hour to studying. You do not get the reward if you don't actually study. The reward can be whatever you like. Maybe, going out with friends, watching a movie, or anything that you really enjoy doing with your free time.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

OP, sign up and postpone it a couple times until you are forced into a gap year. I guarantee you will find motivation. ...Dont let it come to that 😛

 

[Shjanzey]

It comes down to how much you really want to be an MD. If you are still procrastinating then you aren't very serious, so I would suggest that once you are tired of playing around you can come back to retry when you are actually serious. Take it from me, I am a former serial procrastinator.

 

[doritos4lyfe]

Unfortunately, that's basically exactly what happened. I kept postponing until I was forced to take a gap year. I've tried taking a course and couldn't take it seriously even though I had to pay for it. Initially I was studying well for a couple of weeks but quickly grew tired of it and got behind.

Shjanzey, what you're saying is really resonating with me. I think I'm going to think about this for a while.

Thanks guys, good luck with your applications/studying/whatever you're doing.

 

[NickNaylor]

I'm somewhat the same (a procrastinator at heart, which I like to call "being efficient"), so what motivated me when MCAT studying came around was 1) having a solid, very detailed plan to follow and stick to and 2) realizing that the MCAT can make or break your app if you do well or suck. The MCAT will not singlehandedly carry you if your app if otherwise weak, but it truly can open a lot of doors if you do well (or, conversely, close a lot of doors). It's nice to be rolling in interview invites while others are worried about getting their first.

Ultimately, you need to make the connection that MCAT = necessary to get into medical school. If that isn't enough to get you at least somewhat motivated, then as others mentioned I would question whether you're serious about pursuing medicine. Frankly the MCAT is a cake walk compared to what med school is like, so even if you manage to procrastinate and do well on the MCAT, this is really something you want to try and get under control because it absolutely will not work in the next phase.

 

[JLeBling]

As far as how to study, make a study schedule but only one hour at a time. Then you can reward yourself with something fun after you dedicate the full hour to studying. You do not get the reward if you don't actually study. The reward can be whatever you like. Maybe, going out with friends, watching a movie, or anything that you really enjoy doing with your free time.

What? This outlook is too short sighted.The reward is seeing your practice test scores gradually increase proportionally to the effort you put into studying. The reward is getting into medical school and becoming a doctor.

Just remember that if you can't motivate yourself to study, there is probably an asian kid studying right now who will take your spot in med school.

 

[Jas1360]

What? This outlook is too short sighted.The reward is seeing your practice test scores gradually increase proportionally to the effort you put into studying. The reward is getting into medical school and becoming a doctor.

Just remember that if you can't motivate yourself to study, there is probably an asian kid studying right now who will take your spot in med school.

He already knows the long term goal and he is not motivated by it. He needs to break it down to simple steps he can actually follow through with.

Maybe you are not a procrastinator so long term goals are the only motivation you need. For those of us who have ever struggled to keep our motivation up and avoid procrastination we sometimes need to focus on simple steps toward our long term goals.