Unacceptable to do nothing but apply and prep for MCAT?

[kaleidoscopes]

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When you are up to the process of studying for the MCAT or applying, are you expected to keep busy with a job/internship and have valuable experience during the summer? Or do people just take time off to focus on these two things?

 

[deleted357625]

When you are up to the process of studying for the MCAT or applying, are you expected to keep busy with a job/internship and have valuable experience during the summer? Or do people just take time off to focus on these two things?

No your not expected to do anything. Just do whatever you can to do well on the test, whether it means not working at all.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Take a 3-4 month break on everything you do and focus on killing the MCAT. You will thank yourself later.

 

[generator]

If you can, only study for the mcat. Continuing to do other things (work, research, volunteer) has been a huge mistake for me and I regret it every late evening / early morning I spend studying.

Or I guess study a little everyday earlier than most ppl would suggest (more than 4 months) ... man sometimes i wish i could it all over again.

 

[aSagacious]

I don't know. I preferred working and taking classes while I was preparing for the exam, as they provided some solace from the incessant worry. Realistically, I think anything more than 5 hrs/day of studying is overkill. I usually did something like: content review on weekdays, full length on Saturdays, review my mistakes on Sunday (and it worked pretty well for me).

 

[kpcrew]

As long as you are focused and can concentrate on your studying, you should be fine. Just keep a decent study pace and don't burn out before the actual exam.

 

[EliteBeat9]

.

 

[Barcu]

I would at least continue volunteering, which really doesn't need to be much more than 4 hours a week (just do a couple days for a few hours).

If you can't fit that in, you're doing it wrong. You should be able to fit that in and more.

It's important to take time and study to do well on the MCAT. I don't think adcoms would really care if you spent most of your time doing that. But if you can't do much beyond that, then that could signify a problem as well.

 

[kaleidoscopes]

okay cool, interesting to see that many other people also have a light load while studying for the MCAT. do people also try to keep a light schedule when it comes time for applying? (completing AMCAS, secondaries, etc)?

 

[aSagacious]

okay cool, interesting to see that many other people also have a light load while studying for the MCAT. do people also try to keep a light schedule when it comes time for applying? (completing AMCAS, secondaries, etc)?

Again, it depends on the person but IMO there's no reason you can't keep up with your ECs during the application cycle. I've been working 70 hour weeks all summer and have had no problem keeping up with applications (just start preparing your primary app as soon as it opens and chip away at secondaries as they roll in).

 

[KLycos]

I'm working full time and have a social life and I did this all while I was studying for the MCAT and applying.

 

[nysw]

I wish I had spared myself some grief by studying for the MCAT during winter/summer and focusing only on that. I studied last spring and juggled my ec's, school&work. My grades dropped a little, my MCAT was okaaaayyy and I'm pretty sure I sprouted 6 white hairs. Bah. Horrible semester.

As for applying, I'm working full time&volunteering now. I spent the past few weekends/weeknights on my applications.. Getting applications done isn't a problem, but I'm slightly worried about how interviewing will pan out during classes.. :/

 

[YouNeverKnow22]

I disagree, focusing just on the mcat will put that much more pressure on you...you need to do things to take your mind off it...just a personal experience

 

[CodeBlu]

Focus on the MCAT. Volunteer to keep your mind fresh, and have something to look forward to. Look at the doctors in their shiny white coats, and remind yourself that you're doing all of this for a reason. Puts things into perspective.

 

[alwaysaangel]

For the MCAT its really a personal decision.

Some people can't just focus on one thing and would need distractions.

Some people want it fast and hard and over. So they really cram for like 2 months and take it to get it over with.

Others can't do the cramming thing so they spread the studying out more and intermix it with their normal schedule.

You need to decide what works best for you. However, I will say in my experience as a teacher that the really long study plans and classes are usually a bad idea (eg class from Sept-April with fewer classes per week). Students usually can't stay focused on the MCAT because of their other classes, they don't keep up, get behind AND burnout.

For applications, I think it would be a little weird to completely take time off. Applications don't take up THAT much time.

 

[CodeBlu]

For the MCAT its really a personal decision.

Some people can't just focus on one thing and would need distractions.

Some people want it fast and hard and over. So they really cram for like 2 months and take it to get it over with.

Others can't do the cramming thing so they spread the studying out more and intermix it with their normal schedule.

You need to decide what works best for you. However, I will say in my experience as a teacher that the really long study plans and classes are usually a bad idea (eg class from Sept-April with fewer classes per week). Students usually can't stay focused on the MCAT because of their other classes, they don't keep up, get behind AND burnout.

For applications, I think it would be a little weird to completely take time off. Applications don't take up THAT much time.

That's what she said.

I'm sorry alwaysaangel... I couldn't help myself. The little things in life give you pleasure when you're suffering through the app cycle. Haha.

 

[alwaysaangel]

That's what she said.

I'm sorry alwaysaangel... I couldn't help myself. The little things in life give you pleasure when you're suffering through the app cycle. Haha.

No worries. I would have been seriously disappointed in SDN if no one had caught it to say that 🙂

 

[rentedmule]

That's what she said.

I'm sorry alwaysaangel... I couldn't help myself. The little things in life give you pleasure when you're suffering through the app cycle. Haha.

That's what He said.