What are some tips for maintaining sanity during MCAT studying?

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Astra

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As my exam date draws close ( April 23rd) I am getting more and more uncertain of myself and am seeing all of the things I don't know. I am also doubting myself and generally am having anxiety.

Any tips for changing my mindset?
 
This exam and many exams you will take in the future you will walk in feeling unprepared, uncertain and anxious. This is true for the MCAT, many med school exams, the steps, etc.
Really just have to ask yourself "did I do the absolute best I could have done preparing for this test?". If the answer is yes (as it often is for all of those exams if you're a good student) you just need to do some breathing and get in the batters box.
 
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I suggest a a routine, I got up everyday at 5 am because it was an hour and a half drive to the testing center. I studied at the same coffee shop. I think by building a routine and focusing at the task at hand you will do great.
 
Once I accepted that I couldn't know EVERYTHING that was going to be on the test perfectly, things stopped being as ****ty.

I made time to spend with friends, exercise, etc. If I hadn't done that.....yikes.
 
If you're ever doubting yourself - pick a subject that you're really good at, and do a couple of easy passages. Works like a charm - my self confidence goes through the roof. A lot of this test is just about mental state. Also, reassure yourself that if (for some reason), you don't do that great, you can always retake it. There's always a plan B. There's always going to be things that you can't control (like what topics what appear on test day), but you CAN control the amount of practice you do and preparation. Make a list of all the things you need work on, and just get it done.
 
Having a schedule is key. Try to deviate from the schedule as little as possible.

Exercise (how you do so is up to you). Get enough sleep. Eat enough food - not junk food. Have a hobby. Take at least one full day off each week.
 
If you're ever doubting yourself - pick a subject that you're really good at, and do a couple of easy passages. Works like a charm - my self confidence goes through the roof. A lot of this test is just about mental state. Also, reassure yourself that if (for some reason), you don't do that great, you can always retake it. There's always a plan B. There's always going to be things that you can't control (like what topics what appear on test day), but you CAN control the amount of practice you do and preparation. Make a list of all the things you need work on, and just get it done.

I like the bolded part; in regards to the first part of the advice, try not to spend much time on your strengths. You need to be honest with your weaknesses on this exam and hone in those in order to maximize your study time--wasting time on your strengths could give you a false sense of security.
 
I treated it like a job. I gave it my full attention for x houes each day. It was hard to find test material but I spent the last few weeks testing and refining

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Making a schedule is the single most important thing you can do for yourself. Additionally, try to split up your studying periods. For example, instead of studying for eight hours straight and then taking a break for exercise, take your break after four hours of studying and continue with the second four hours after your break. This works wonders for maintaining energy and concentration.
 
Okay, first and foremost, you will never know everything for the test. What's most important is that you are practicing the skills you will need. Practice passages are your friend! At this point, you should be transitioning away from content review and doing more and more practice.

Make sure to set aside time to do practice tests in test-like conditions (be somewhere quiet but not too quiet, only take the allowed breaks for the correct amount of time). Think of what you will bring to the site (food, beverages) and take a least one practice test that mimics the real one including the food/water and timed breaks. I did one full-length practice test every Saturday for 5 weeks prior to my exam, and I think that really helped prepare me emotionally. But don't just take the test and forget about it or stress that you didn't do as well as you wanted. Make sure to go over it and understand why you made the mistakes you did. Then you can figure out new strategies to approach those problems. It's less about memorizing content and more about close reading, understanding the methods/results of the experiment passages, and recognizing when the passages directly give you the answers.

General advice to all: DON'T DO ANY STUDYING FOR THE 2 DAYS BEFORE YOUR TEST. Seriously. The day before my test I went to see the Star Wars movie, went out to lunch, and hung out with friends. It was the best choice I could have made because it allowed me to enter the exam wayyyyy more relaxed than I would have otherwise. If you feel like you must study a bit, you can do flashcards or something on the 21st, but don't cram! And don't do anything on the 22nd!! It won't help and will make you so much more stressed.

On the actual test day, allow yourself to relax. Smile at people when you are waiting to start. Depending on the vibe there, crack a couple of jokes. It's really important to start the test in the right mindset, if possible.

Most importantly, breathe!! It will all be over soon. 🙂
 
Okay, first and foremost, you will never know everything for the test. What's most important is that you are practicing the skills you will need. Practice passages are your friend! At this point, you should be transitioning away from content review and doing more and more practice.

Make sure to set aside time to do practice tests in test-like conditions (be somewhere quiet but not too quiet, only take the allowed breaks for the correct amount of time). Think of what you will bring to the site (food, beverages) and take a least one practice test that mimics the real one including the food/water and timed breaks. I did one full-length practice test every Saturday for 5 weeks prior to my exam, and I think that really helped prepare me emotionally. But don't just take the test and forget about it or stress that you didn't do as well as you wanted. Make sure to go over it and understand why you made the mistakes you did. Then you can figure out new strategies to approach those problems. It's less about memorizing content and more about close reading, understanding the methods/results of the experiment passages, and recognizing when the passages directly give you the answers.

General advice to all: DON'T DO ANY STUDYING FOR THE 2 DAYS BEFORE YOUR TEST. Seriously. The day before my test I went to see the Star Wars movie, went out to lunch, and hung out with friends. It was the best choice I could have made because it allowed me to enter the exam wayyyyy more relaxed than I would have otherwise. If you feel like you must study a bit, you can do flashcards or something on the 21st, but don't cram! And don't do anything on the 22nd!! It won't help and will make you so much more stressed.

On the actual test day, allow yourself to relax. Smile at people when you are waiting to start. Depending on the vibe there, crack a couple of jokes. It's really important to start the test in the right mindset, if possible.

Most importantly, breathe!! It will all be over soon. 🙂
Good advice!!!
 
The FL tests can be stressful as you're trying to simulate performance under possibly fatigued conditions. I was working full time so mine happened on Saturdays. Do not go over the mistakes on your practice tests right afterwards...its a waste and nothing will be retained. You're stupid for the rest of the day lol. Do it the day after when you're refreshed. After test go out with friends and have a beer, forget about it until the following day.

Also not really a sanity thing but as you know, the test is long and computer based. Staring at the screen for most of a day really dried my eyes out to the point they were burning. I suggest investing in some Clear Eyes Cooling Eye drops and bring them to the test. It works miracles. Especially on test day. Before the drops, after every test I'd look like a toolbag wearing sunglasses in my house until 9pm.
 
I treated the MCAT like a regular exam and I reviewed my notes the day before and for an hour before the actual exam. I didn't do any practice problems or full lengths during this period but I felt like reviewing my previous errors and my summaries helped refresh my brain before the actual exam.
 
I think the biggest thing is to not procrastinate or cram. The better you get, the more confident you get and anxiety dies down.
 
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