Welp, when I got my MCAT score back…it was not pretty. The score I got was lower than my initial diagnostic score before I even started studying! I had already delayed things for this test until I wrote the exam. I felt like my entire life revolved around this exam and then when I got my score, I felt defeated, to say the least.
I went into planning mode. I immediately rescheduled my exam and started sending emails, delaying research and volunteer projects, canceling family trips, and trying to get work shifts covered. There was one exam date left for the year and that meant I had 1 month to study and re-write the exam – which is like 1 minute in MCAT studying land. Everyone knows you need several months to achieve a huge score increase, but I was determined to keep pushing forward.
Among the emails to cancel trips and delay research, volunteering, and work – I also hired a tutor. Financially, this was an expensive move but I was pulling out ALL the shots for this re-take. I had a plan, which I went over with this tutor and he gave me the feedback I needed to adjust and, more importantly – BEGIN.
I planned out every moment on a spreadsheet and began studying for this Hail Mary attempt. There were several bumps along the road, of course, but I stumbled into a second MCAT day feeling extremely burned out: my growth mindset was gone!
Unfortunately, it feels like a never-ending hellish cycle to study, take the exam, and re-study. I feel I have pivoted in multiple ways to adjust to new study plans, but nothing seems to be working. Being the persistent person that I am, I’m continuing to pivot, replan, and execute with a growth mindset (which I am still developing).
I plan to bring you along my journey and share the pits and peaks. After all, we are all in this together.
Have some study tips or resources you’d like to share? Let me know!
Happy Studying!
XO Melmo
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