Should I drop my hobby to study for the MCAT?

[Rishi Jayanth]

There is a hobby I really enjoy and have been doing throughout undergrad. It's a great source of exercise and stress relief, but I am concerned about its commitment this year, especially considering that I will be taking the MCAT also. Generally, it's around 4-6 hrs/week; however, it can get up to 15-20 hrs/week during a 1-2 month time frame. I want to score as high as I can on the MCAT, but at the same time, I like having this as an outlet. For context, I am in an early assurance program so the min MCAT requirement is not too high, but as I said, I want to actualize my potential. I am scoring in the 505-507 range currently without any content review and am planning for spring time testing date.

I would appreciate any advice for this trivial dilemma, which is inadvertently causing me a great deal of worry. Thank you!

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[Hollow Knight]

There’s really not a great answer here. I’d personally say no. Simply because you have to find a way to stay joyful during this process.

However, you have to be realistic. When I was studying for the MCAT exam, I was taking 15 credit hours, working 15 hours a week at a job, and working 10 hours a week or so for free in a research lab, not to mention all the volunteering/shadowing/leadership positions I had. I did not have 15 hours a week to dedicate to hobbies. I chose to be utterly miserable for 6 months to make my dream of being a doctor a reality.

I’m not saying you should drop it. I’m saying look at all your responsibilities and ask yourself if you have time. Regardless, you have to find some way to blow off steam, but 15-20 hours a week is a lot, and you won’t have that much time for fun during med school or residency anyway.

 

[Goro]

There is a hobby I really enjoy and have been doing throughout undergrad. It's a great source of exercise and stress relief, but I am concerned about its commitment this year, especially considering that I will be taking the MCAT also. Generally, it's around 4-6 hrs/week; however, it can get up to 15-20 hrs/week during a 1-2 month time frame. I want to score as high as I can on the MCAT, but at the same time, I like having this as an outlet. For context, I am in an early assurance program so the min MCAT requirement is not too high, but as I said, I want to actualize my potential. I am scoring in the 505-507 range currently without any content review and am planning for spring time testing date.

I would appreciate any advice for this trivial dilemma, which is inadvertently causing me a great deal of worry. Thank you!

You should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time.

 

[Hollow Knight]

I'm going to get weirdly specific here, but to add to this thread and give you (and others) practical advice- You have to learn to fit in small things that make you happy while also working 80+ hours a week. That's the hours you'll be putting in in medical school and residency.

When I was younger, I was a huge gamer (just as an example). My favorite were solo RPGs (Skyrim, Assassin's Creed, etc). You really can't play those games for 30 minutes. Now that I'm a medical student, I don't do this hobby anymore. I can't spend two or three hours gaming on a regular basis.

However..... I can play Smash for 5 minutes on a Pomodoro break. Or MarioKart. Or, I can spend 5 minutes reading literature. I'm a fan of the classics (hence the Hemingway quote in the signature haha), and you'd be amazed at how many books you can finish reading for 30 minutes spread out over an entire day. I love anime- an episode of Demon Slayer takes 20 minutes, and I can fit it in during my lunch or dinner. Or use that time I eat to call friends or family.

Maybe if you like this hobby (it sounds like a sport), you don't have time to play for 4 hours a day, but maybe you have time to play for four hours once a week on Fridays. Or maybe you and the boys get together and play for 30 minutes during your lunch break everyday.

I'm just spitballing here. My method as a premed student was basically to never have fun (I was low SES and trying to grind and make it). You can do that for a couple of years, but you won't make it through 7+ years of medical training doing that.

At the same time, you'll be working 80+ hour weeks and have to budget time accordingly. It sounds really simple and stupid, but I'm typing all this because it took me some experimenting to figure out. Even my SDN use- it looks like I'm really active on here, but I really only spend like 15 minutes a day. I check it in the mornings and evenings, and I look through notifications and only respond to stuff I think I can help with.

Or..... like Goro said, walk and chew gum.

 

[Rishi Jayanth]

I'm going to get weirdly specific here, but to add to this thread and give you (and others) practical advice- You have to learn to fit in small things that make you happy while also working 80+ hours a week. That's the hours you'll be putting in in medical school and residency.

When I was younger, I was a huge gamer (just as an example). My favorite were solo RPGs (Skyrim, Assassin's Creed, etc). You really can't play those games for 30 minutes. Now that I'm a medical student, I don't do this hobby anymore. I can't spend two or three hours gaming on a regular basis.

However..... I can play Smash for 5 minutes on a Pomodoro break. Or MarioKart. Or, I can spend 5 minutes reading literature. I'm a fan of the classics (hence the Hemingway quote in the signature haha), and you'd be amazed at how many books you can finish reading for 30 minutes spread out over an entire day. I love anime- an episode of Demon Slayer takes 20 minutes, and I can fit it in during my lunch or dinner. Or use that time I eat to call friends or family.

Maybe if you like this hobby (it sounds like a sport), you don't have time to play for 4 hours a day, but maybe you have time to play for four hours once a week on Fridays. Or maybe you and the boys get together and play for 30 minutes during your lunch break everyday.

I'm just spitballing here. My method as a premed student was basically to never have fun (I was low SES and trying to grind and make it). You can do that for a couple of years, but you won't make it through 7+ years of medical training doing that.

At the same time, you'll be working 80+ hour weeks and have to budget time accordingly. It sounds really simple and stupid, but I'm typing all this because it took me some experimenting to figure out. Even my SDN use- it looks like I'm really active on here, but I really only spend like 15 minutes a day. I check it in the mornings and evenings, and I look through notifications and only respond to stuff I think I can help with.

Or..... like Goro said, walk and chew gum.

Hey Hollow Knight. Thanks for taking the time to respond, and I genuinely appreciate your responses. I certainly agree that medical school does not leave room for such activities, realistically. My response to that would be that continguing this activity would more so mimic that "work load" than not; I am also fortunate that I have some free time and fewer responsibilities at this time. Once in medical school, this will certainly change, so is there a case to be made for experiencing this?

 

[wysdoc]

Why are you studying for the MCAT over such a prolonged time period?

 

[Hollow Knight]

Hey Hollow Knight. Thanks for taking the time to respond, and I genuinely appreciate your responses. I certainly agree that medical school does not leave room for such activities, realistically. My response to that would be that continguing this activity would more so mimic that "work load" than not; I am also fortunate that I have some free time and fewer responsibilities at this time. Once in medical school, this will certainly change, so is there a case to be made for experiencing this?

If you have time man enjoy yourself. Even in med school the workload comes and goes. My ex wife and I got through like 5 Netflix shows when I was on my psych rotation

 

[Rishi Jayanth]

Why are you studying for the MCAT over such a prolonged time period?

Unfortunately, I have content gaps and I am taking second half of physics and biochem this semester. However, several people have suggested that I expedite my studying. I’m open to doing that as well and it may not be the best idea to study for such a long time. What are your thoughts?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Unfortunately, I have content gaps and I am taking second half of physics and biochem this semester. However, several people have suggested that I expedite my studying. I’m open to doing that as well and it may not be the best idea to study for such a long time. What are your thoughts?

MCAT prep does not help you with content gaps if you haven't had the foundational material. I don't understand why you want to expedite studying while completing prerequisites.

One aspect of being a mature adult is managing your priorities and schedule. Adjust your commitments when appropriate. When we ask you in an interview how you prepared for the MCAT, imagine how you would answer that question if you said, "I gave up my hobby that helps me manage stress for a few weeks..."

 

[pedneuro6894]

I've heard rumors that if you stop sleeping you gain like 50+ hours a week in spare time. Not sure if that will work for you or not tho...