[Official MCAT News from the  Association of American Medical Colleges]



Vol 1 Issue 7



[Pre-Med Resources From  the Association of American Medical Colleges]



As a pre-med, your time is precious. Between classes, studying, extracurricular activities, and maybe trying to sneak in a little fun every now and then, it is hard to even think about adding in one more thing. So when it comes to the MCAT exam, it is not surprising you want to know the best and most efficient way to prepare.



It is important to keep in mind there is no right or wrong way to prepare for the exam. Everyone is different. But even at this point in your academic career, knowing where and how to start can be a challenge. While we don't have the perfect solution, we can look to past examinees to see trends in their preparation.



Based on responses to the 2014 Post-MCAT Questionnaire, we know that examinees prepare for the exam in many ways. Specifically, they:



  1.  Prepare to take the exam for at least 8 weeks. Nearly 70% of examinees spent more than 8 weeks preparing for the exam, with 16.1% taking 13-16 weeks, and 20.8% preparing for more than 16 weeks. More than 70% of examinees spent more than 10 hours a week preparing during this time, with 19.6% preparing for 21-30 hours a week and 25.1% preparing for more than 30 hours.

  2.  Prepare with a variety of materials. More than 70% used the AAMC's practice tests. More than half used materials from a commercial test preparation company. Additionally, examinees used materials from a preparation course provided by a university, medical school, or post-baccalaureate program (12.0%), other materials not specifically labeled for MCAT preparation (33.1%), and more.

  3.  Prepare in a variety of ways. More than three-quarters read on their own about the MCAT topic areas, while almost one-quarter participated in study groups on specific topics, and one-quarter took online courses on specific topics.

  4.  Volunteer to prepare for the exam. Nearly half volunteered in a setting that exposed them to one of the tested topics. And, more than half volunteered or worked in a research lab that exposed them to MCAT topics.

  5.  Face many challenges preparing for the MCAT. The biggest challenges were balancing time between studying and non-work-related demands (71.4%), having difficulty relearning material they learned a while ago (53.5%), and balancing time between studying and working a job (54.3%).



To learn more, or view full results, see the Post-MCAT Questionnaire<http://echo4.bluehornet.com/ct/66007509:30776995869:m:1:2692870743:86DFEAA2F0FA3EF65ABEDBEE2E4DC066:r>.



See the AAMC's website to learn more about creating a study plan<http://echo4.bluehornet.com/ct/66007510:30776995869:m:1:2692870743:86DFEAA2F0FA3EF65ABEDBEE2E4DC066:r> using AAMC's free and low-cost test preparation resources.



ANNOUNCEMENT: Site Maintenance



The AAMC is performing system maintenance from 5:00 pm ET on Friday, August 7 through the morning of Monday, August 10.



To make sure the maintenance does not hinder your MCAT preparation, please:



  1.  Purchase all official AAMC materials before 5:00 pm ET on Friday, August 7. You will not be able to purchase any materials during the maintenance.

  2.  Activate your materials at e-MCAT.com before 5:00 pm ET on Friday, August 7. You will need to create an account on e-MCAT.com and log into the practice site to activate your materials. You will not be able to access new tests and question packs during the maintenance unless you previously activated them.



If you have already purchased and activated your materials, don't worry. This maintenance will not prevent you from accessing your materials.



If you have questions, please email us at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>.



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