My Pre-Med Story: Bella’s Guide to a Successful MCAT Prep

Feeling overwhelmed by the idea of taking the MCAT? You’re not alone, because I remember feeling the same way. When I began my pre-med journey, the MCAT felt like one of the most daunting tasks. If I’m being completely honest, the idea of a seven-and-a-half-hour test sounded scary and borderline insane. Here’s the good news though – the MCAT may be intimidating, but it’s not impossible. With the right strategies and a good MCAT study plan, you can tackle anything the test throws your way. I scored a 517 (94th percentile), so I’m going to share some of my most important tips to set you up for success too!

Planning Your MCAT Preparation

There’s a lot to consider when planning your MCAT preparation. I know it can feel overwhelming, so let me break down a few key aspects to consider first.

When to Take the MCAT

I often get asked when to take the MCAT. The AAMC offers a variety of MCAT test dates from January to September each year. There’s no “perfect” timeline for everyone—some people feel ready after about 3 months of studying, while others need a bit more time. Here are a few things to consider when picking a test date:

• Personal schedule: Do you have other commitments (work, school, extracurriculars etc.) that might affect study time? Since I wrote my MCAT in the summer and during the COVID pandemic, I didn’t have as many other commitments as I would have had otherwise, so I needed slightly over three months to study.
• Science background: If you’re already familiar with the material, you may need less prep time than someone who does not have a strong science background. When I wrote my MCAT, I had just finished my second year of a biomedical sciences undergrad, so my science background was pretty robust. However, a friend of mine with a kinesiology background found they needed 4-5 months to study since they had never taken biochemistry, organic chemistry, or physics.
• School deadlines: Check the MCAT deadlines for the schools you’re applying to. For Ontario schools, as long as your score is received by October (exact date varies—check OMSAS!), you’re good to go. For U.S. schools, the admission process is rolling, and primary applications open in May. Consider taking the MCAT earlier to target schools with different cutoffs and get an edge with an early application.

How Your Science Background Impacts Your MCAT Prep

Speaking of science background knowledge, are you wondering when you “know enough” to take the MCAT? If you’re in a biomedical-related undergrad, most of the core content is covered by the end of your second year, so the summer after might be a good time to test. If you don’t have that background, don’t worry—it’s still totally possible to learn the material with the right MCAT resources. You just might need a longer timeline to build your knowledge base.

My MCAT Timeline

In terms of my own MCAT timeline, I started preparing on May 15th and took my exam on August 21st, which worked well for me given my science background and other commitments. The most important thing is to pick a date that feels comfortable for you and allows you enough time to feel prepared. Here is a bit more detail on what I focused on during different stages of my timeline:

• Beginning: The beginning of my prep felt scary, and I had a hard time trying to organize myself. Thankfully, the Prep101 course helped me set up a study plan and gave me a structure to follow. Once I settled into the routine of the course, things seemed a lot more doable, and I had to plan to ensure I reviewed all the necessary content. 

• Middle: Midway through my prep, I identified areas for improvement and started working on my timing. Early on, I focused more on accuracy than speed, but since the MCAT is timed, I began practicing with stricter time limits (eg. giving myself 10 minutes for a CARS passage instead of 12)

• End: Towards the end of my prep, I focused on full-length AAMC practice tests, filling content gaps, and deliberate practice. Deliberate practice is a strategy where you do targeted questions to address weak areas (eg. practicing buoyancy problems in physics if that is a challenge)

Throughout each stage of my prep I made sure to incorporate lots of MCAT-style practice questions, active recall, full-lengths, and CARS practice questions – but more on all of that later. 

MCAT Preparation Methods

I was first introduced to Prep101 through their undergrad exam prep, which led to me discovering their MCAT Prep course. I chose to trust Prep101 with my MCAT preparation due to my past experience with some of their incredible instructors, their incorporation of test-taking strategies, and their integration of materials like full-length exams and AAMC practice questions. The course made me feel like I had someone to guide me through the process and made a daunting task seem a lot more manageable.

Throughout my prep, there were definitely aspects that I figured out along the way: some strategies worked well, and others, well…didn’t. I’m going to share a few MCAT study tips, without which I don’t think I could have scored as high, so you can learn from my experience!

Active Recall & Spaced Repetition

One of the biggest mistakes I made at the beginning of my prep was thinking that reading = memorizing. Spoiler alert, it usually doesn’t (unless you have a photographic memory, in which case, I’m jealous). Reading to gain a basic understanding of something is one thing, but there is so much content on the MCAT that sometimes, it can feel like drinking from a fire hose. I found that active recall methods like these worked a lot better for me:

• Anki: A free downloadable app for your computer, beloved by med students for a reason. I don’t know who made the algorithm, but it works. You can either make your own cards (I liked doing this personally) or find pre-made decks online

• Quizlet: If Anki seems too intimidating don’t worry. If you’re more familiar with using quizlet, it can still be used for active recall

• Amino Acid Quiz: A free app available on the app store, great for memorizing names, structures, and classifications 

MCAT Practice Questions/Full Lengths

Similar to active recall, doing MCAT-style practice questions is an “active” rather than a “passive” form of studying. A big mistake I think a lot of people make is that they don’t do any practice questions or full lengths until they feel like they have absolutely mastered the content. Here’s the problem with that: the MCAT requires a lot of application, so knowing every single detail won’t necessarily mean that you do well. Doing MCAT-style questions from the start of your prep is so important to hone your ability to apply principles. Comprehensively reviewing full length tests after you complete them also helps point out knowledge gaps – which is a great learning opportunity.

Honing MCAT Test-Taking Strategies

Honing your MCAT test-taking strategies is an essential part of your prep. There is such a wide breadth of information to know for the MCAT – chances are you are not going to be an expert on every single little detail. As a result, it’s important to practice how to think through a question, keep your cool, and utilize test-taking strategies even if a piece of information does not immediately come to mind. This is just another reason not to skip out on practice questions.

Working on Timing/Endurance for the MCAT

One more note on practice questions/full lengths and then I’ll get off my soap box; don’t underestimate the importance of building your endurance when studying for the MCAT. The MCAT is a whopping seven and a half hours: take it from someone who’s done it, it’s really hard to sit, read, and think for that long (especially in the era of TikTok). The MCAT is like running a marathon, and just as if you were training to run a marathon, doing full length tests to build your endurance is crucial.

Diagrams/Flowcharts

Using diagrams and flowcharts when studying for the MCAT made complex biochemical pathways much clearer. As someone who enjoys writing things out, physically drawing out some of the more complicated hormone pathways or stages of glycolysis helped me commit them to memory and understand them better. I would draw them, tack them up above my desk (they were a great piece of wall decor), and then periodically take them down to see if I could recite them by using my hand to cover up all or portion of the pathway that I wanted to practice. 

Targeting Weak Spots

I touched on this previously, but it is so important to target your weak spots while you are studying for the MCAT. I know it might be tempting to focus on some of the things you like or are already good at, but it’s a lot more important to practice areas you find challenging (I’m looking at you – physics, orgo, and CARS). Think of it like training for sports. If you were having a hard time scoring a goal in soccer, you would practice shooting on net. The same goes for studying, make note of areas for improvement and target them by filling content gaps or doing practice questions.  

I’m going to revisit my marathon analogy here: the MCAT itself is a marathon, but so is studying for the MCAT. It’s a long process, so just like how you don’t want to use up all of your energy in the first two kilometers of a marathon, you don’t want to burn yourself out before you write your exam and reach the finish line. That’s why it’s important to take care of yourself throughout the process by managing your stress and fostering support systems, so I’m going to share some of my top tips for doing this below!

Take Days Off While Studying for the MCAT

I know it may be tempting to go “pedal to the metal” and study for the MCAT everyday, but that’s not feasible long-term. Have you ever heard of “diminishing returns”? It’s a term that’s popular in the fitness industry – it describes what happens when someone who exercises full-out every day can’t see any more progress because they aren’t giving their body time to recover in-between training sessions. The same is true for your brain – tiring yourself out excessively by not giving yourself time to recuperate can actually do more harm than good. At least one day off per week is an essential part of your study plan.

Keep Up With Hobbies You Enjoy

It’s important to make time for hobbies you enjoy, whether it’s hitting the gym, playing intramural sports, taking a dance class, or doing something creative like drawing or painting. Any form of physical activity—like a simple walk—can boost mental clarity. I always made sure to get outside for a quick walk each day, and it really helped me stay focused and avoid feeling cooped up. If you enjoy activities like knitting or crocheting, they’re great for stress relief and giving your brain a break from MCAT prep.

Schedule Time to Connect With Friends and Family

Scheduling time to connect with friends and family is essential to fighting burnout. Humans are social creatures, we’re not meant to sit alone in a room for months on end! During my days off, I made a point to schedule time with my friends or family, whether that meant going to the movies, the beach, a workout class, or even just a coffee at a café. 

Seek Out Someone You Can Talk To

I know studying for the MCAT can feel isolating at times, which is why it’s so important to have someone to talk to about your prep. I was lucky to have a friend who was also studying for the MCAT that summer, so we would often call or meet up to share our experiences. Sometimes, it helps to talk to someone who truly “gets it”—someone who’s been through or is going through the same thing. This is one area where Prep101 really stands out. They offer virtual study groups to connect you with other students preparing for the same test, and they match you with an MCAT coach who’s already taken the exam and knows exactly what you’re going through.

A common question I get is “how do I find a study plan that works for me?”. The truth is, everyone’s different, so what works for one person might not work for another. There’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach. Your study plan should be tailored to you, not the other way around. Prep101’s coaching program pairs you with an MCAT coach who creates a personalized study plan and helps adjust it as needed throughout your prep. Here are a few things to consider:

• Finding a Day for Full-Length Exams: It can be tough to carve out 7+ hours for a full-length exam, especially with other commitments, but don’t skip this part of your prep! Plan ahead and make sure you schedule time for them. I found Saturdays worked best for me.
• Reviewing Your Tests: Reviewing full-length exams takes more time than you might expect, but it’s crucial. It helps you identify content gaps and learn from mistakes, so be sure to allocate enough time for this part of your prep. The day after I wrote a full length worked well for me, but pick whatever day works best for you and your schedule!
• Scheduling Days Off: It’s important to take at least one day off each week to avoid burnout. When planning your study schedule, also note any days you can’t study or will have limited time. Plan around these days first to make sure you stay on track.
• Be Flexible with Your Plan: Life happens, so don’t stress if you need to adjust your study plan along the way. Prep101 coaches encourage flexibility—your plan should work for you, so don’t hesitate to make changes, even if it means pushing your test date back.
• Leaving Time Between Content Review and Test: Give yourself enough time between finishing content review and the test itself. I found 3 weeks to be ideal, giving me time to address knowledge gaps and do plenty of practice exams.

Recommended reading: How to Create an Effect MCAT Study Plan

Preparing for the MCAT can feel overwhelming, but remember that success comes from consistent effort, good planning, staying focused on your goals, and giving yourself some grace. Trust the process, and be open to making adjustments along the way. Don’t overlook your mental and physical health—taking breaks and managing stress are key (try to stay off premed Reddit as much as you can – some threads just add unnecessary stress!). Keep believing in yourself, stay persistent, and when you see your goal score, all of your hard work will be worth it. I also strongly recommend you book a free consultation with one of our MCAT experts to make sure you get started on the right foot. You’ve got this!