Talking to people @ the MCAT.

[MEG@COOL]

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I am thinking that before the test is over that I will not want to talk to anyone during the breaks etc as I do not want to hear them lament about or gloat about how well they did on the test. Afterwords I really dont care, but before that I think it would be pretty annoying. Does anyone else feel this way? Any stories to share?

 

[DrBowtie]

I agree. That is unless you thought it was easy and everyone else is crying 🙂. I plan to just keep to myself and refocus. Besides, talking in the bathroom is frowned upon.

 

[jebus]

I am thinking that before the test is over that I will not want to talk to anyone during the breaks etc as I do not want to hear them lament about or gloat about how well they did on the test. Afterwords I really dont care, but before that I think it would be pretty annoying. Does anyone else feel this way? Any stories to share?

I understand your reticence, but frankly you shouldn't even care about other people while your taking it, during breaks, etc. Even if you overhear them, try to block them out if they make you uncomfortable. It's easy to do, you know.
Being comfortable in the test center is the most important thing. Your performance on this test is totally independent of them. You're not taking it for them and there's no need think about their problems/successes at all. I remember talking to one lady during lunch who was worried about coughing during the test and I thought she was ridiculous.
Someone in my test center had some serious gas. (And no, it wasn't me!) Other people got sort of upset by this but I didn't let it bother me. I suggest you do the same.

 

[Mr. Tee]

Talking about the test won't let you go back and redo that section. It's not worth agonizing over past questions. What's done is done. Meditate 🙂

 

[Nikki2002]

I talked with people before the test (I thought it helped chill me out) and after (to vent) but during the breaks I kept to myself. Tried to avoid all the people flipping out in the hallways.

 

[Mr. Tee]

Tried to avoid all the people flipping out in the hallways.

Is that common? It's going to be tough to block out all that noise from my ears 😳

 

[Nikki2002]

Is that common? It's going to be tough to block out all that noise from my ears 😳

well, as we would all make the mad rush to the bathrooms during break, I would hear some people just in COMPLETE distress. Stay the hell away from them! Then I would hear people saying, "OMG--that section was so easy-I think I only missed 3 questions" stay the hell away from them too. Then there is the group of people that gets together and tries to figure out the answers to questions in the 10 minute breaks--COME ON!! go to the freakin' bathroom and drink your gatorade. This all may not be typical--we had no air conditioning and it was 90 degrees outside--it was making everyone a lil crazy.

 

[big_smiles]

I took the MCAT twice, and the first group was antisocial, no one really said a word. Sign up with a friend at the same center if you can, it helps to relax between breaks to chat a few minutes (there really isn't time to study, except lunch). The second time I took a Kaplan course and knew a lot of the people there, I didn't hear people agonizing over questions, just small talk. .. all there is time for really. Relax, I mean, don't plan whether you will talk or not and overanalyze. Take notecards, snacks, chat if you feel like it in breaks --up to you. Try to write during lunch though , it helps you switch gears for the writing section.

 

[shantster]

I am thinking that before the test is over that I will not want to talk to anyone during the breaks etc as I do not want to hear them lament about or gloat about how well they did on the test. Afterwords I really dont care, but before that I think it would be pretty annoying. Does anyone else feel this way? Any stories to share?

One of my friends and I are going to take the test at the same location. It will be good for the lunch break, but otherwise, I'm going to impart a "no talking about the MCAT" rule on that one since she's the type of person who would want to talk about it during breaks.