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Thursday, March 15, 2012

And...panic!

Ok, so I'm officially starting to panic. The MCAT is just over 6 weeks away and I'm no where CLOSE to being prepared.

I mean, yes I have been taking my prep course but for so much of it I'm learning these concepts from scratch - they aren't a refresher for me like for some many people in my course who have done a degree in the sciences. And when I think about how the MCAT is a relative exam, it makes me panic more. How the HELL am I going to be competitive when I'm going to be up against people for whom this will be second nature?

Ok, I'll be honest. My studying (other than attending my course) has not been as good as it should have been. I think a lot has to do with knowing how to focus my studying. Should I be re-doing my readings? Just pounding out practice problems (which is difficult if I don't fully understand the concept)? A mixture of both? I just don't know and I was hoping that the course I'm taking would give us more in that department. So I've kind of been doing a bit of everything and its just not been effective. Plus I just haven't been putting in the amount of hours that I should have. I'm still volunteering twice a week, still have a family to take care of. Balancing it all has just not been easy. Its an excuse for sure - but excuses aren't going to get me into med school. I know that its not harder for me than other people, or at least its not THAT much harder. There are others who have had way more hurdles to over come and managed to succeed, so there is no reason why I shouldn't either.

So I'm going to start stepping it up a notch. I think my aim will be to focus on a subject a day and spend a part of the day redoing the readings and refreshing the concepts and the other part just pounding away at practice problems. I don't know if this is the best approach, but its AN approach and I need to stick to something now before its too late.

But I'm still really, really daunted by this and where I'm sitting right now I don't have a good feeling about it. I'm going to give it my best shot and if I do really terribly at least I can try again before this application cycle. Though I'm slowly preparing myself that I'm just going to end up trying again next year.

STUPID MCAT. Honestly, if it weren't for the MCAT I think I'd have a fighting chance, I really do. But I guess everyone has a weak spot that if eliminated, would give them a better chance too - and since I obviously can't change the system I have to accept it and make the best of it.

Anyway, if anyone out there is reading this and has ANY suggestions, please send them to me!

3 comments:

  1. Few things I had to learn hard way taking and falling big exams:
    - 4,6,8 weeks is a lot of time. Even one week is too early to give up. No matter how big the exam is. In the next hour you can learn something you don't know now.
    - thinking about other people will only put you down. They can't take or add to your knowledge and you all equally deserve to be there.
    - worrying gives you a feeling that you are doing something when in reality it only takes your time and energy.
    - don't think about next year (this was/is the hardest for me). Yes, you can take it next year. But if you give up now (and thinking about next year will take you there) you will feel guilty next year and it will give you more reason to beat yourself down.

    That is my experience, I don't mean to sound offensive. I just wrote what I wish someone has told me.
    Give all that you can till the very last day. Even failure will make you proud if you manage to show yourself that you are a fighter. And of course "He who gains victory over other men is strong; but he who gains victory over himself is all powerful."
    Good luck!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for your post. Honestly it wasn't offensive at all and it really motivated me. I like what you said that even an hour can contribute and I hadnt thought of it that way before. Thanks again!

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    2. I am very happy if I can help. I know how overwhelming it is as I am trying to deal with it myself.

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