When do i start studying for mcat

Ideally you should spend three to six months studying for the MCAT. Keep reading as we break down why, explain exactly when to start studying, and suggest other ways to use your pre-med years optimally. When you start studying depends on how long you plan to study for. As we mentioned above, three to six months seems to be the sweet spot. Generally, there are two different approaches that tend to be the most successful:.

Why is this the sweet spot? Studying for a short period of time with high intensity often yields better results. The two main reasons are the forgetting curve and burnout. The forgetting curve: This refers to the phenomenon where the further out we are from when a memory was first made, the more we forget that memory. This point is different for everybody, but it generally starts to happen past the six month mark.

Spending more than six months studying may result in working harder, not smarter. Worst case scenario: studying for more than six months actually decreases your score as you forget crucial information.

So, when you start studying obviously depends on when you plan to take the test , but there are a few general guidelines for everybody. The earliest we recommend taking the MCAT is the end of the summer between your sophomore and junior year of college. In that case, we recommend beginning to study no earlier than the spring of your sophomore year. If you are struggling to create your own customized study plan, reach out to an MCAT tutor or prep agency to help you get organized.

This can really alleviate a lot of the stress and anxiety about MCAT prep. Check out this sample six month study schedule below to help you create your own:. Anything we didn't cover?

Have a question? Weekly draws! Easiest Medical Schools to Get into in. Medical School Acceptance Rates in. Blog Resources Scholarship. Blog MCAT. Updated: Sep 09, Article Contents. What is the MCAT? What's on the MCAT? How is the MCAT scored? How to study for the MCAT. Listen to the blog! If you're looking for more information, review the following pages for additional resources: What is a good MCAT score?

Gather resources. Check out this sample six month study schedule below to help you create your own: Would you like us to help you ace the MCAT? Ask our admissions experts! Recommended Articles. As Seen On. Your goal at this point is to rest and relax so that you can go into test day in a good physical and mental condition. Eat well. Try to avoid excessive caffeine and sugar.

Ideally, in the weeks leading up to the actual test you should experiment a little bit with foods and practice tests to see which foods give you the most endurance. Aim for steady blood sugar levels during the test: sports drinks, peanut-butter crackers, trail mix, etc.

Test Day Tips Arrive at the test center at least a half hour prior to the start time of your test. Be prepared to show your photo ID, to sign in, and have a digital image of your fingerprint taken. Definitely take the breaks! Get up and walk around. Ask for new scratch paper at the breaks if you use it all up. Register Book Go. Institutional Partnerships K Home Tutor. Yes, I love saving money! You only go to college once, so make the most of it.

The average age for those starting medical school is 24, so if you want to blaze straight through, you will be up against people with significantly more extracurricular and life experiences. That's okay if you're an academic rock star and everything goes smoothly for you in college. But that's not the norm. The norm is that it's really hard to do well on the MCAT the first time you take it.

The norm is that applying early to medical school helps your chances, so you probably want to apply in June right after you graduate rather than later in the summer after junior year. The norm is that life happens: people get depressed, or their grades aren't perfect, or they need more time to make themselves the best possible candidate.

Getting into medical school takes time, and you'd be wise to give yourself the most time you possibly can. Or think about it this way: a gap year is the last free year of your life.

Once you go to medical school, you basically die. So, what would you do with one year left to live? What should I do during my gap year to stand out for medical school? Learn to be Savvy! Get creative pre-med strategies delivered right to your inbox. We follow the email Golden Rule: we will never send you anything without your permission. All work on this site is our own. The content for the Savvy med school search was found on the webpages of the respective medical schools.

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