Hi everyone!
I'm currently busy doing a week of "transitions" to third year and will start my internal medicine clerkship on Monday! I'm nervous but mostly excited to not be in lectures any more and to actually get out of my comfort zone and learn some real, hands-on doctoring. I'm still mentally recovering from Step 1 and I hope I'm ready to begin studying for the medicine shelf / Step 2 next week. Although I have yet to receive my score for Step 1, I've been trying to figure out what worked for me and what didn't. And in the midst of this thought process I keep coming back to my study approach for the MCAT. So I wanted to share a few things I would have done differently.
1. Find the right resources.
Being a first-generation college student can be really challenging in all kinds of ways, and preparing for the MCAT was no different. Often times there are resources that go undiscovered simply because we don't know where to look or that there even are resources available. In retrospect, I didn't talk to enough people who had taken the MCAT before me for advice and I wish I had. Your peers are great resources, use them! But don't get stressed out when someone else's approach is a lot different from your own, just use their advice and modify it to what works best for you.
I didn't take a course prep course. At the time, I couldn't afford it and resented it. But after getting feedback about it from a few of my friends I'm glad I didn't take it because it really sounded like a waste of time and money. Granted, if you're the type of learner that needs to be guided through different subjects then it might work for you. But if you're a more self-guided learner then I wouldn't recommend it, but that's just my two cents.
In order to ensure you're getting the right resources make sure to ask around because people who have been through it will give you some great insight. Also Tumblr and Reddit have great MCAT and premed sections - but be careful, these forums can be a little neurotic so try to not stress yourself out unnecessarily. Do your research, decide what works for you, and stick with it.
2. Be organized.
Looking back at my schedule for dedicated Step 1 study I wished I had done the same for my MCAT. Even though you don't get dedicated time off to study (unless you take a summer to study or another break), I think I could have easily incorporated some structure into my undergrad schedule. I would recommend laying out a schedule of classes, work, volunteering, etc and adding dedicated study hours to it. You will be able to track your progress and it will also be satisfying to see how much you've accomplished.
2. Start early.
I took my MCAT in April 2012 and started studying that January. I started early, but I was also very passive with my learning which had its consequences. At the time I didn't know what practice question resources were available or how helpful they would be. I wish I had done more questions and been more of an active learner overall. After studying for Step 1 I learned the value of practice questions and saw how most of the material I've retained came directly from these questions. They're also a great way to gauge how well you're progressing and if you're ready to take the exam. Starting early can give you ample time learn a lot of material, but also redirect your studies if you find something that is or isn't working.
3. Be honest.
One of the biggest mistakes I always made when studying in undergrad was not being honest with myself about knowing a concept. I think it's really easy to assume you'll just remember something and move on. When in reality you won't remember and you'll wish you had spent a little extra time on that concept. So be honest with yourself! If a concept is hard, it's tempting to skim it and never come back to it. I can't tell you how many times in undergrad I thought to myself "Wow, that's a little confusing, it can't be on the test" - and it was ALWAYS on the test! So I fixed my approach for med school and it carried me through Step 1. By forcing yourself to be honest with what you truly do not know and committing yourself to taking a little extra time to learn something you set yourself up for success. In the end the only person you're cheating is yourself, so it's definitely worth it to be honest and power through.
4. Be confident.
Going into Step 1 I was confident. I was confident that I knew all I could know in the amount of time I had to know it in. It was a reassuring feeling. And I consciously reminded myself to be confident during the test. I don't remember feeling confident about the MCAT. At all. Whether it's a practice test at home or the real thing, confidence is a huge factor in performance, at least for me. So be confident, because you always know more than you think you do!
