Studying Mcat with Young Children?

[Lukeylu22]

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Just some personal experiences would be nice! study schedules, how long, and what grade did you receive.

I'm thinking of trying to study for the Mcat while taking 11 credit hours, working, volunteering, and having a 1 year old. Is this possible or am I just crazy? .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................I'm pretty sure I'm crazy 😛

 

[Ryank327]

Just some personal experiences would be nice! study schedules, how long, and what grade did you receive.

I'm thinking of trying to study for the Mcat while taking 11 credit hours, working, volunteering, and having a 1 year old. Is this possible or am I just crazy? .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................I'm pretty sure I'm crazy 😛

I haven't taken the MCAT yet but I've had 2 kids, who are now 2 and 5, in the house since I started back at college last year. Are you a single parent? If you are not a single parent make sure your SO understands the importance of the MCAT and your need to study for it.

I have designated a specific room in my house as the study room and make sure my kids know that when I am in there they are not to disturb me except for emergencies. So I can study there throughout the day when needed but most of my study time is either after their bedtime or away at school. For example, if I have classes from 9am-2pm on a day I will be on campus from 8am-6pm and all my spare time will be studying. Set a specific schedule and areas for you to study so it will be less frustrating for your SO to deal with and they will know when to expect not having you available. At the same time make sure you aren't staying up late studying every night and neglecting your SO as they fall asleep alone, I made this mistake and learned it early on.

 

[orthogenes]

Just some personal experiences would be nice! study schedules, how long, and what grade did you receive.

I'm thinking of trying to study for the Mcat while taking 11 credit hours, working, volunteering, and having a 1 year old. Is this possible or am I just crazy? .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................I'm pretty sure I'm crazy 😛

I studied when he was in bed and never got enough sleep. 8 weeks before the test, I paid my sister in law to watch my son for 6 hours a day, once a week, until the week of my MCAT. Got a 33. 🙂 My son was 15 months when I took my MCAT.

 

[orthogenes]

At the same time make sure you aren't staying up late studying every night and neglecting your SO as they fall asleep alone, I made this mistake and learned it early on.

VERY KEY. Do not forget this

 

[CarsonUABSO]

I took the OAT with 2 children, One of whom is autistic(classic), while working 2 jobs, and did very well! I am now going to UABSO this fall....IT CAN BE DONE!!!!! no matter the situation!
With that said, I studied hard, and earned it. Sacrifices will have to be made!

 

[pilotjoe]

I had a newborn three months before I took the MCAT. I had 12 credit hours of science, worked 25 hours/week, helped coach my high school tennis team and studied for the MCAT. I received a 32 on the MCAT.

I started studying the December before my MCAT in mid-May. I really studied hard December-February (until the baby came). Luckily for me, the courses I took doubled as my studying. I majored in Biology, but almost had a degree in Biochemistry as well. I had almost all of the pertinent classes in the three semesters leading up to the MCAT. Everything was mostly fresh in my mind when I started studying, so most of what I needed to study was strategy on test-taking and determining what the testers were looking for. I think what helped me get a 32 was taking 6 practice tests and reviewing the questions for why I got them correct/incorrect.

Hope this helps,
Joe

 

[mdambitions]

I also had a newborn, one month before I took the MCAT + classes, research and work. I realize you have a soon-to-be toddler on your hands, so this perspective is for any soon to be new moms that have a similar question.

I don't want to downplay @pilotjoe 's experience as a new father at all. Cranky newborns wreak havoc on the entire family, and he has some solid MCAT advice. However, new-mother hormones should NEVER be underestimated. I am not one to play the gender card, but I promise, those hormones complicate everything. If you have a new baby, and you're trying to survive those first few weeks, while also trying to figure out breastfeeding, while keeping the tiny human alive, and trying to prepare for something as serious as the MCAT, you're in for a challenge so prepare accordingly.

My mother-in-law came to stay with us, so I could focus on studying, but I still had to pump or nurse every 2 hours, and its hard to develop a rhythm or get into a studying zone, with that kind of distraction. Its also difficult to study when you start lactating at the mere thought of or sound of your baby's cry. I did the best I could, but ended up with a barely average MCAT, despite an otherwise flawless post-bac record.

Effective studying has been various levels of challenging depending on the mobility range of my daughter. The sweet spot was about 4-5 months, when she could sit up to play with stuff, and low crawl slow enough to not get into anything dangerous. Now that my daughter is just over 12 months old, and running through the house, climbing and trying to throw her tiny little body off of everything... well, I'm thankful for daycare.

Moral of my story: Don't take the MCAT one month after giving birth. Worst idea ever. Also, build a solid support system and find a good daycare; you're especially going to need it to survive med school as a parent.

 

[AkGrown84]

@mdambitions....I feel like we are kindred spirits! I'm a mom of 4, and took the MCAT when my youngest was almost 3 months old. Worst. Idea. Ever!

I second pretty much everything said before me. Don't neglect your SO, have a regimented study schedule/place, and for the love of everything holy, do not face the beast that is the MCAT anytime within about 6 months postpartum! I, too, agree that having a newborn as a mother is completely different than as a father (at least in the majority of cases). I was running on very broken (and too little) sleep, and I'm not sure my "studying" was very effective during this time.

After my first horrible attempt that ended in a pretty dismal MCAT, I took another month off, and then studied 3-6 hours per day, 4-5 days per week for 6 weeks prior to my second MCAT. I found that getting a babysitter and simply leaving the house to set up shop at the library was most effective. No matter what I said at home, someone would inevitably need a snack, their butt wiped, or someone hit someone else over the head.....and no matter who else was there watching them, it was always mommy who had to solve the problem. It simply didn't work. But it's all about how old your kids are, their temperament, how your house is set up (is there a good, private space?!), and you and your SO's work arrangements/schedules. My saving grace is that my hubby has always been very onboard with the quest to med school, and I found this to be paramount to my success this far! Good luck!

 

[pilotjoe]

Ideally, you wouldn't want to take the MCAT just postpartum. I don't think there is ever a "good" time to take the MCAT when you have a child. But (from my perspective), I would say that it is easier to take and study for the MCAT with a newborn than with a 1 year old. Newborns sleep most of the time, which allows you to get study time in when you are home. I was active in taking care of my daughter even while studying for the MCAT. I do not know what it is like to breast feed, but my advice in studying most before having the baby still applies. I didn't get to study much after the baby came, but I prepared for that by doing the most of my studying beforehand. The last three and a half months of studying for me was taking a practice test occasionally followed by brushing up here and there on my weaker subjects. Other than that, I just focused on family, classes and family some more. If you really want a good score, just prepare as much as you can beforehand and expect to be really busy.

If you already have a child and you are just starting to prepare for the MCAT, then all I can say is I hope you have a good support network. There is no easy way to study for the MCAT without kids. I would say majoring in biochemistry or biology would be of most help to people with kids because most of the material on the MCAT is covered in your required classes.