While everyone was enjoying their Charli XCX brat summer, I was either working on the ambulance, training for my half marathon, or studying for the MCAT. The hardest part by far was when I had a full-length practice test on a clear, sunny day. Preparing for the MCAT really tested my discipline, focus, and time management. I was working roughly 50-60 hours a week on the ambulance, meaning I had limited time to study. I decided to focus my studying on weak areas, unfamiliar topics, and CARS practice. CARS is an acronym for Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills, where they give you a passage to read and ask several questions to assess your understanding of the piece. I would do at least 2 CARS passages a day, sometimes requiring me to complete them while at work. The UWorld QBank was a lifesaver for me, allowing me to study while on the go. My focused studying involved anatomy, organic chemistry, and biochemistry since I believed these to be my weak spots. I included a study guide I made for urology since this was a topic I was unfamiliar with prior to the MCAT. 

 

I decided to focus my studying on weak areas, unfamiliar topics, and CARS practice.

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On top of my busy schedule that summer, a week before my MCAT, a family emergency hit that threw off my mental focus. I felt disheartened and worried, convinced I would need to take the MCAT again. Nonetheless, I walked into the testing center prepared to do my best and adapt later if needed. While taking the exam, I felt like my focused studying really paid off. While I was chasing more quantity of studying, my quality of studying helped me feel confident on exam day. I also felt proud that all my previous work in classes paid off, allowing me to score well on the biology and physics questions without really studying for those sections. Additionally, CARS was one of my highest-scoring sections, likely due to my daily practice for 2 months leading up to my exam. While my studying was not a method you’d see recommended, it worked well for me, and I scored well. I found empowerment in catering my studying to my needs rather than following a guided study schedule. I do think having a structured class may have been beneficial, but I am proud of my self-guided studying and final exam score. Finishing the MCAT is a huge milestone, and it checks off another big task on my journey to medical school. 

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I found empowerment in catering my studying to my needs rather than following a guided study schedule.