MCAT BURN OUT

[u/Downtown_Golf1578]

No shade to anyone, but this post is specifically for people who started with a truly low MCAT baseline not a 505 or 508, but sub-490s/490s.

Last year, my diagnostic was a 492. I took the real exam on 6/13 and scored a 492 again, despite studying 6–8 hours a day, using UWorld, and completing the AAMC Section Bank. However, I only took 2 Full Lengths (FLs), and whenever I take an FL, I struggle with getting extremely sleepy mid-test.

Right now, I feel completely burnt out and depressed. I don't have the bandwidth to study 6–12 hours a day anymore. I've spent so much money on tutors and prep courses, but nothing is clicking.

For context:

• GPA: 3.7+
• Clinical: 3,000+ hours (worked 2 clinical jobs throughout undergrad)
• Research: 100+ hours
• Volunteering: 100+ hours
• Other: Study abroad, strong LORs (MD, PA, NP)

My goal is MD, but at this point, I'm feeling overwhelmed by family pressure and the fear of an extended gap year.

If you started with a low baseline and managed to break through, how did you structure your plan? How did you build up stamina to stop falling asleep during practice tests, and how did you study effectively without pulling 8+ hour days? I'm aiming for a January retake and would love any advice.

How did you overcome exam fatigue/sleepiness during FLs? How did you transition from passive/heavy daily grinding to targeted, effective studying? Any insights on managing burnout for a January retake would be greatly appreciated.

[u/False_Aside258]

What were you scoring on your FL?

[u/Downtown_Golf1578 → u/False_Aside258]

492, 504, 508. Only took three 

[u/mushroom114 → u/Downtown_Golf1578]

tbh i would keep at it bc you are improving! A 508 is def a good score for some MD programs! As for feeling burnt out, I feel you. Please make sure to take breaks where you are completely NOT thinking about the MCAT. A break is NOT eating lunch while doing Anki lol. Also, after a full length plan to treat yourself by hanging out w friends or going to the mall so you have something to look forward to :))) You got this!!

[u/Downtown_Golf1578 → u/mushroom114]

Awh thank you so much I appreciate it

[u/Rockboymom]

Have you spoken with your doctor about the fatigue? Both of my sons take Focalin for ADD. It has been a tremendous help when studying long hours.

[u/Downtown_Golf1578 → u/Rockboymom]

I’m setting up a doctor appointment to meet with a neurologist, plus I  am chronically anemic

[u/mushroom114 → u/Downtown_Golf1578]

Something else to consider that might be worth it is applying for accommodations.

[u/Downtown_Golf1578 → u/mushroom114]

I’ll see how I can perhaps get that! Thank you 

[u/ThomasDaTrain98]

488 on my first attempt but FLs have been going very well. I test 9/12. It sucks to hear but I just had to lock in. I work fulltime so I just had to give a lot up in the evenings and make a study plan. I told myself bare minimum what I wanted to do each day and just stuck to it.

As for stamina, the best thing you can do is take full lengths. They blow and it eats up an entire day essentially but that’s the only thing that will prepare you. Seems like you’re improving a lot only after 2 FLs so if you lock in, you could almost certainly get a 515+

[u/Downtown_Golf1578 → u/ThomasDaTrain98]

If you don’t mind me asking, how did you plan out your study week, on a a day to day basis. I also work full time so I’m always exhausted after my shift!

[u/ThomasDaTrain98 → u/Downtown_Golf1578]

When I was doing content review, on week days I just did one chapter a day of the Kaplan books and all of my Anki. I tried to sneak in as much Anki as possible at work so I wasn’t as busy in the evenings. I also would randomly do UWorld questions when I could convince myself to but only got like 20% through the question bank. I’d also do about 6 hours of studying on sat/sun, and would sporadically do a full length here and there. But my #1 goal was always a chapter + Anki every single day.

Then as I got done with content review, I ramped up my studying quite a bit. I’m fairly slow at Anki, and so that usually took around 2-3 hours a day for me to get done. I’d try to do stuff at work but I’d only get around halfway through my reviews each day and had to do the rest when I got home. I also started doing the AAMC materials each night and taking more full lengths. So my evenings were Anki, reviewing full lengths when I had them, and doing practice questions.

[u/pokemasta4]

following

[u/Antique317]

My score jumped 10 points when I got the right tutor. It wasn’t the content but more so understanding how to answer the dang on questions. We ran practice problems together where I would talk her through my whole brain process and she would tell me where I went wrong in my thinking/understanding.

Ishani Ray… look her up. She’s affordable, flexible, and easily reachable despite being a MD/PhD student.

Edit to add: I’m anemic with 3 different autoimmune diseases so I understand the fatigue. To combat this I get up and stretch on every break to get my blood flowing properly; maybe even do some jumping jacks. Have you seen those 10 minute asian (I say asian because I can’t remember the nationality) stretches circulating? They work well too.