Jacob FrenchmanBIOSC Junior and pre-med student I can imagine that, like me, lots of my fellow Biology peers are also studying for their MCAT, DAT, GRE, or PCAT right now during classes. Honestly, I have been planning to study for the MCAT spring of my Junior year ever since I became aware of the "typical" medical application process. When COVID happened, I assumed that online classes would be a blessing for my MCAT semester; however, taking all of my classes in my room AND studying for the MCAT definitely has been a new beast entirely. My method for tackling this situation has been to make a schedule and fill in as many of my responsibilities as I can on my weekly calendar to keep track of things- I even fill in time for lunch, exercising, and office hours because it can be really easy to get overwhelmed. One technique I found on YouTube which helps me stay productive throughout the day is to plan out tomorrow’s goals on a sticky note the night before. I then put this sticky note on my desk and cross things off as I complete them- I know that this could be accomplished using the Reminders app or an Agenda, but I enjoy the novelty of the classic yellow sticky note! Sometimes, if I feel like I need extra motivation that day I will include my classes and exercise on the sticky note so I can get the added satisfaction of crossing off another task :) Another thing that has worked for me in terms of studying is to do most of my MCAT work in the morning before classes. I then use my classes as a natural break from studying and as a transition into regular schoolwork in the afternoons and evenings. Also, I created a schedule based on weekly goals for my MCAT prep instead of strict deadlines which gives me a bit more freedom day-by-day. This has proved critical for me because inevitably other work for classes can require time that I’d usually use for the MCAT. I also try to spend my time studying for Physics and Biochemistry efficiently, actively interacting with the content and attending office hours in the hopes that it will help me better understand the physics and biochemistry questions on the MCAT. The most important thing that I am actively striving for during this semester of graduate exam preparation is balance. It’s a challenge to balance school, extracurriculars, and personal health, but it is extremely important for us as people and for our future success. I often find myself feeling guilty about taking an occasional evening off to hang out with my roommates instead of studying but these sessions are important for mental health AND for academic success. One thing that we all learn from balancing schoolwork and studying for graduate exam simultaneously is the importance of setting boundaries between relaxing and studying to help with long-term success.! If you want to talk work-life balance, exam prep, or schedules (it’s that time of year again) swing by my office hours on Wednesdays from 1-2 PM!
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January 2022
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