MCAT Studying/EMT Studying at the same time?

[VAStudent08]

Hi, so I'm studying for the MCAT this summer (I just finished all of my prereq's) and my test date is August 18th. I am prepared for the amount of work that is going to be involved in studying this summer so that I can do well. However, for anyone who may have completed an EMT-basic training course, I was wondering if it could be feasible to gain my EMT certification at the same time as I am studying for the MCAT. The class that I'm looking at meets for 3 hours twice a week. I would like to get my EMT certification because, after doing a ride-along, I think it would be a very worthwhile volunteer experience and would be great to do throughout next school year and then while doing my gap year. But I know that it's definitely more important to do well on the MCAT. If anyone has any advice/personal experience that could help me out, I would really appreciate it!

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[Hospitalized]

It's certainly possible. You will definitely have time for MCAT studying with only one other commitment (unless you have other things you haven't mentioned). But are you disciplined enough to do 5-6 hours of quality study time per day for the MCAT while enrolled? It's not easily accomplished. Plenty of people have done it, and plenty have failed.

 

[medic408]

Did it last summer, extremely doable.

 

[Welshman]

The EMT certification course will be one of the easiest things you do in college. If you have a basic grasp of physiology you'll do fine, the "hardest" part is the practical components i.e. Physical exam, history etc.

I wouldn't worry about it at all

 

[Bloohaze]

I got my EMT cert in college, and think that you definitely have a reasonable plan with taking the EMT course and studying for the MCAT at the same time. One of the worst parts about studying for the MCAT is just the lack of variety in your day, and I think the 6 hour/week EMT class might be able to break that monotony a little bit (as long as you don't mind the extra work). It's pretty great to have human interaction sometimes.

When do you plan to take the EMT test/practical in order to get your cert? I'm a little confused about your timelines since my EMT class required about 120 hours of class. If it's supposed to wrap up by the end of the summer, you might end up having to take the tests fairly close to your MCAT date. If that was the case, I would consider options to avoid that extra stress. Good luck with the studying!

 

[VAStudent08]

I got my EMT cert in college, and think that you definitely have a reasonable plan with taking the EMT course and studying for the MCAT at the same time. One of the worst parts about studying for the MCAT is just the lack of variety in your day, and I think the 6 hour/week EMT class might be able to break that monotony a little bit (as long as you don't mind the extra work). It's pretty great to have human interaction sometimes.

When do you plan to take the EMT test/practical in order to get your cert? I'm a little confused about your timelines since my EMT class required about 120 hours of class. If it's supposed to wrap up by the end of the summer, you might end up having to take the tests fairly close to your MCAT date. If that was the case, I would consider options to avoid that extra stress. Good luck with the studying!

Hi, the test date for the course does end up being around my MCAT test date, but I am going to try to take the test later once I return back to school, since the test fee should apply everywhere in my state (although I might have to pay a small extra fee). Thank you for your feedback by the way!

 

[VAStudent08]

It's certainly possible. You will definitely have time for MCAT studying with only one other commitment (unless you have other things you haven't mentioned). But are you disciplined enough to do 5-6 hours of quality study time per day for the MCAT while enrolled? It's not easily accomplished. Plenty of people have done it, and plenty have failed.

Can I ask you what others might have done that may have led them to "fail"? Just looking to see what mistakes I should try to avoid! Thank you!

 

[Hospitalized]

Can I ask you what others might have done that may have led them to "fail"? Just looking to see what mistakes I should try to avoid! Thank you!

Not being disciplined, not focusing on your weaknesses, poor time management, overestimating readiness for MCAT, not studying effectively, etc.