FIVE TIPS TO HELP YOUR LOVED ONE STUDY FOR THE MCAT

Sleep. Study. Class. Study. Work. Study. Repeat. That’s about how the last six months or so go before your loved one takes the MCAT. Let’s be honest, if you and your spouse, fiancé, girlfriend, boyfriend, son, or daughter take it seriously, it is pretty much a full-time job.

To better prepare you to help your loved one, I reached out to other premed couples to get their take on the matter. So, here are Five Tips to Help Your Loved One Study for the MCAT.

 

1. Time Giver.

Be a time giver. Hands down, this is what every MCAT taker said they needed. Time. Having the time to sit quietly and study. Time to devote to figuring out what to study and how to study it. Time to process hard subjects. Time away from anything more appealing than spending time with lots and lots of test prep books.

Mark is attending the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine in El Paso, Texas. He said his wife Shanna was a great support in preparing for the MCAT. “Even when it was really hard, she let me study late into the night. She definitely recognized the importance of this test,” he said.

It seems like recognizing the importance of the MCAT was comforting to those taking the monstrous test. Lance took the MCAT in March 2017 and couldn’t agree more.

“Kenzi helped by recognizing that it’s a huge test and very difficult, so I didn’t feel bad about devoting a large amount of time to it.”

So, as much as you may want their attention when you both get home, remember to give them the time they need to study.

 

2. Study Helper.

Some people work better on their own. Others prefer to teach what they have learned. Some need a study buddy. Whatever your loved one’s study preference is, try offering to help. Quiz them with MCAT flashcards while they are driving. Ask them how they plan on dealing with the time restriction for each section. Let them talk you through a tough question or section, even if you don’t understand a thing they say.

My husband solidified concepts by explaining them to me in terms I would understand. This way he had to break the problem down even further to show he really understood it. Mark found Shanna’s help useful when practicing the critical analysis and reasoning skills (CARS) passages.

There are four sections in the new MCAT. Take the time to learn what each section is like and how the test is administered. You could even look up some study tips. This way it all becomes a bit more tangible to you and makes it easier when you are trying to help your sweetheart study for the MCAT. The four sections include:

• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior

So, if there is a particular section of the MCAT your loved one needs some extra help studying for, see what you can do to lighten the load.

 

3. Food Maker.

Something my husband expressed was gratitude for making sure he ate! He often would become so immersed in studying that he would simply forget to eat. I tried to make sure that he always had lunch and took the time to eat it. We both were attending school at the time he took the MCAT, so I made it my goal to pack us both lunches each day so I knew he would at least get something to eat during the day.

You don’t have to make them a full meal either. Try slipping your loved one’s favorite snack or treat with an encouraging note into their backpack. It will make them feel special and loved.

 

4. Attitude Booster.

I don’t have to tell you how daunting the MCAT can be. With four big sections, a time restriction for each section, and the pressure of doing well, even the most prepared MCAT taker can get overwhelmed. Be an attitude booster for your loved one and encourage them throughout the process of preparing for the MCAT.

Mark said his wife really encouraged him on days when he felt like he wasn’t understanding the material. Lance said the same of Kenzi. “She was so great at telling me constantly that I could do it.”

There are tons of ways to be an attitude booster. Here are just a few ideas:

• Verbally express your confidence in them face to face
• Write an encouraging note and hide it in their study books to find
• Give them a long back rub
• Pray for them out loud
• Rub their feet while they study
• Send them a funny video to brighten their study time
• Write a message on the mirror for them to find
• Bring them their favorite treat
• Invite other family and friends to text them encouraging words

 

5. Plan Designer.

Make plans so you can create more balance. Everyone would go insane if they studied 24/7. This is something Shanna did that Mark found helpful. “She gave me much needed study breaks (going on dates, watching a show, eating good food) so that I didn’t go crazy!”

It’s important to remind your loved one that a break every now and then will actually make their studying more efficient. Sleep researcher Nathan Kleitman found that not only do we progress through the sleep cycle in 90 minutes, but during the day our bodies also operate on a 90-minute cycle. Huffington Post’s article, The 90-Minute Solution: How Building in Periods of Renewal Can Change Your Work and Your Life, talks more about this idea. So, encourage your loved one to take a break after 90 minutes and see if they work more effectively.

Plan out some study breaks for you and your loved one. From date night to Netflix, they will thank you for giving them a break from the books. Just remember don’t go overboard on the breaks because they still need to study for the MCAT. If your MCAT taker needs more ideas for a study break, take a look at this article from Huffington Post, You’ve Been Taking Breaks All Wrong. Here’s How To Do It Right.

Hopefully these tips help you and your sweetheart study for the MCAT. How else have you helped your loved one study for the MCAT?

Did you like this post? Check out some of my other premed posts!

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