How to Maintain MCAT Motivation and Prevent Burnout While Studying

I. Why MCAT Motivation Matters

The MCAT is a very important exam for medical school admission, and maintaining motivation is incredibly important for long-term success in the MCAT. If you lack long-term goals you will likely struggle with spending the long hours necessary to get a good MCAT score. Trying to force yourself to do the work without the motivation might lead to burnout and make your life more difficult than it needs to be. Luckily, there are many solutions to ensure that your energy remains high even when you do not get the practice exam score you wanted or the QBank set did not go how you expected it to.

II. Identify the Root Causes of Burnout

There are multiple things that can lead to low motivation and thus burnout. The most common of these is an overload of how much you must study. With so much material on the MCAT, it is easy to become overwhelmed under the sheer weight of this exam. With this high load of material also comes the unrealistic expectations you might have for the score that you need. The best way to fix these unrealistic expectations is to do some research into the medical schools you are trying to apply to and understand what competitive MCAT scores look like and what you truly need to become a doctor! Once you have figured this out, it is important to create an MCAT schedule that works best for you and will prevent overload in work and allow for rest. You might be tempted to schedule as much work as possible, but it is much better to schedule more rest than you think you will need. Some study sessions go well, and some do not, and thus it is important to always leave leeway for yourself to recover as needed. One important thing to ensure is present in your study schedule is a balance between CARS and science prep. Making sure you schedule CARS prep early is important so you can build a steady foundation for this notoriously tough section. Common MCAT Mistakes to Avoid for Higher CARS Scores.

III. Build a Balanced MCAT Study Plan for Motivation

Make sure that your study plan is well structured and maybe even have a friend go over it to have a second set of eyes see if there are any issues. It is always good to have a good gameplan before you begin preparation. On the flipside it is also true that becoming obsessed with creating a perfect schedule can lead to delays in prep.  The Bottomline here is to make sure you have a gameplan, you have given yourself time to rest and recharge, and you have distributed time between the subjects evenly. Additionally ensure that you have short term goals that you would like to reach that allow you to feel like you have achieved something and allow you to keep your motivation high. MCAT Study Plan Focused on CARS.

IV. Stay Motivated Through CARS Practice

The biggest piece of advice to study effectively for the MCAT is to make sure that CARS prep is regularly integrated into your overall MCAT journey. Especially in Canada, the CARS score has become an increasingly important part of a medical application. CARS prep is a marathon, not a sprint and thus having small stints of regular practice is the best way to go. It is important to emphasize quality over quantity in CARS prep. Doing one passage a day and analyzing and understanding every CARS option choice using AAMC logic is far better than doing 15 passages and not checking your answers or understanding logic.  A super cool thing about CARS prep is because you can just do one passage a day and because these passages are often about varied topics, they can help take your mind off the ongoing drone of biochemistry or physics. Doing CARS passages in manageable chunks delivers instant feedback and allow you to use a different part of your brain. Doing CARS passages daily will also build your confidence in the area because by the time you take your actual exam you know that you have done this section consistently. However, make sure to schedule breaks where you do absolutely nothing to do with the MCAT as well so as to maintain your energy. How to Improve CARS Score MCAT.

V. Practical Strategies to Boost MCAT Motivation Daily

The best practical way to maintain your motivation for MCAT prep is to visualize the bigger picture. You are in this not to get the highest MCAT score or be an expert at the MCAT, but to become a doctor who will help your future patients. Understand, that the MCAT is just one step in the long process of becoming a doctor and that you should think of it as such. Always try to reward your progress, however small it might feel. Ensure that you set small goals that are both result-based and progress-based so that you always have something to celebrate and keep up your energy. Certainly, talking to your friends and family or having fun every now and then can also help. Always remember that you are in this to be a better doctor for your patients and that your patients will thank you in the future!!

VI. Use the Right Study Tools and Resources

Ensure that you are using the best tools to study for this monster of an exam. Using the wrong tools will result in a lack of results and frustration. Passive reading or rewriting will not work for an exam the size of the MCAT. As such, it is important to utilize the correct tools for this exam. This includes tools that allow for active recall, such as Anki or some other form of flashcard usage. Anki is particularly good because it times flashcard reviews depending on how difficult you found them the last time you did it. Practice exams are another very useful resource. Certainly, the AAMC full length practice exams are some of the most representative practice exams for MCAT prep. Practice tests are also useful because they mimic exam and testing conditions. In addition to this, practice tests also test recall in a way like flashcards. Having a good mixture of these resources and even studying with friends can keep studying engaging and motivating. Best Anki Decks for MCAT Preparation.

VII. The Role of Self-Care in Preventing Burnout

Out of everything above, self-care might be the most important part of MCAT prep and should be top of mind during your preparation for this marathon of an exam. There are a few key components to caring for yourself. These include a good nutrition, sleep, exercise, and even mental health strategies such as meditation and mindfulness. Nutrition can certainly be difficult however, it might be a good idea to create a meal plan so that you have something easy and healthy to eat when your study session finishes. Additionally, having proper nutrition makes sure you are well-fueled and feeling good before your prep sessions. There is plenty of research to suggest that your gut microbiota plays a big role in your mood and general health, so eat up and eat healthy!! 

Getting enough sleep is also important; the MCAT isn’t something that you can pull an all-nighter for, and therefore, it is important that you have a good sleep schedule throughout your prep time to make sure that you are sharp and alert during prep. Remember, spending an extra hour while compromising your sleep for a night will not do much in the long run to help you with the exam. Exercise goes hand in hand with sleep and nutrition, and is also important for your health and wellness. Exercise is known to release endorphins, which are feel-good molecules that make your brain stay happy. Even if the exercise is not high intensity, it is always nice to get a breath of fresh air or even shoot a few hoops on the basketball court with a couple of friends. Having some physical activity during a summer when you will likely be seated for much of the time is important and necessary for your mental health. 

Finally, it is important to have a good mental and maintain mental health. This can be done by meditating or even engaging in mindfulness practices. Long-term stress and anxiety is not good for mental health, and it is important to seek professional help if you ever feel that it is too much. Your mental health is far more important than some number on an exam, and you should prioritize it as such. All in all, self-care is incredibly important for maintaining motivation during MCAT prep and should be top of mind when you are creating a game plan for the MCAT.

VIII. Learn from Mistakes and Stay Flexible

Mistakes are going to happen. You are human, and you have to realize that no matter how hard you try, sometimes things do not go your way. The best way to deal with mistakes is to understand how they happen and how you can best move on and try to fix the mistake while learning from it. One good piece of advice is to realize that adjusting plans is a better idea than outright quitting. Maybe there is a small change you can make to your study schedule that allows you to fix the mistake, or maybe you can have your friend explain a concept that you are stuck on, maybe you need to try a different strategy for CARS prep, either way, there is always something you can try before considering quitting. If the exam is too close and you truly do not feel prepared, then maybe you can postpone the exam to a different date. Make sure you consider all your options before quitting and try to consult others who might have taken the MCAT before for their advice, so you know the best way to approach the situation that you are in.

IX. External Sources of MCAT Motivation

It is very important to have some extrinsic sources of motivation that keep you going. Some examples of extrinsic sources of motivation include peers, tutors, and your community that can support you through this ordeal. Additionally, these extrinsic sources of motivation can also help keep you on track by making sure that you are following your study schedule. Having a study group or having accountability partners is the perfect way to do this. Not only do you get to talk to people in the same boat as you during what would be an otherwise socially isolating journey, but you also get people who have the same goal as you and want the best for you. Supporting each other is an amazing way to reach your MCAT goal score while staying sane.

X. Final Week: Keeping Motivation Without Overworking

The biggest thing to focus on during the final week of studying is to ensure you are getting enough rest and taking it easy. You do not want to do anything that will stress you out unnecessarily. Make sure you engage in light review and maintain the knowledge you already have while also relaxing and trying to visualize your performance for exam day. Make sure you have an idea of what the testing center will look like and what sort of security protocols are in place. Ensure you have a healthy and nutritious lunch packed and tonnes of water and food to eat during your breaks. Additionally, make sure you have a piece of valid ID for registration at the testing station. The biggest thing here is to make sure that you are avoiding burnout while still maintaining the knowledge you need to pass the exam. Do a light review of amino acids or formulas that you might need to know. Doing these basic tasks can ensure you don’t forget an easy formula or amino acid (which are very high yields) and also keeps your stress low because these concepts are not as difficult to understand, and you have likely seen them before in your preparation. Ensure you get enough rest the day before the exam and that everything is packed well in advance. What to Expect on MCAT Test Day.

XI. Test Day Motivation Tips

Most of all, believe in yourself! You have spent so much time working hard for this, and you have tried your absolute best to do well. At this stage, it is important that you have confidence in yourself and remain relaxed. Take some deep breaths before your exam and on the car ride there, and make sure you have somebody to drive you. Remind yourself of the amazing doctor you will be and think of all your future patients who will thank you for working so hard to help them. Remember, you are not in the MCAT game; you are in the medicine game!! Take a few deep breaths and start the exam, you got this!!