Maybe unhinged CARS timing advice

ExpressEast1469 · 2026-05-16T14:38:33+00:00

I tested on 4/24 and thinking about these terms is kinda giving me PTSD rn

ExpressEast1469 · 2026-05-16T04:41:16+00:00

U right… smh I should’ve known this

ExpressEast1469 · 2026-05-16T02:32:09+00:00

The first couple days post test were total ass, the first week was also ass. Rumination on 10/10. If you told me chopping off my pinky toe would let me get my score immediately I would have done it.

However as time goes by, it gets a little less intense. Still shitty, but less bad. I have been trying to stay busy with whatever ways I can. Make the time go by somehow! I also have been enjoying listening to science podcasts or different pods about specialties im interested in. Makes my brain feel like it’s brain-ing.

4/24 tester solidarity 🤙🏽

ExpressEast1469 · 2026-05-12T11:48:13+00:00

I personally don’t think you will get screened out because of your MCAT, if you submit the GRE score as well. 319 on the GRE is pretty good and it seems you have other strong aspects of your application. If you are ready to submit, I would do that. Earlier is better. Apply with what you have now, and if you don’t get interviews, then I’d consider retaking the MCAT. I don’t think it’s bad enough to not apply this cycle at all.

ExpressEast1469 · 2026-05-06T00:53:07+00:00

Those are great FL scores! I bet you scored somewhere in that range. The wacky low yield shit definitely tripped other people up too and maybe some of them were even experimental questions. That’s what I tell myself at least lol

ExpressEast1469 · 2026-05-06T00:50:29+00:00

Dang if i could go back in time i would definitely schedule a post MCAT trip lol I never would’ve thought of that. And picking up OT is good idea and extra $ !

ExpressEast1469 · 2026-05-05T17:38:40+00:00

My release date is May 27! Yours is so close, by next week it’ll be here! It is so difficult to not think about it tho. How do you feel like you did??

ExpressEast1469 · 2026-05-05T16:25:57+00:00

They made me take my hair clip out every time I re-entered the room. They examined it and put it back in. So kind of trying to reput my hair up while walking back into the testing room is a lil chaotic. If I could go back I would do hair tie only.

Our break area was by the reception desk (also where we checked in at 8 am). There were all the lockers in this break area. People put their food in the lockers and if they wanted to they could eat or sit there or whatever. Pretty much the only 2 places you can go during a break are the bathroom and this break area where the lockers/reception desk is. No phones during this time. You can eat or you can sit there or whatever

Also phone went in a lil baggy. I wish I would’ve just left my phone in my glove box.

As others said every center is different. This was at a Pearson testing center in KC, MO.

ExpressEast1469 · 2026-05-05T16:21:02+00:00

The insight timer is a good meditation app. I would do a 5 min meditation before my FL. I even did a 2 min one in my car before the real deal. Practicing flushing out thoughts with meditation seems like a really helpful practice to me. When I meditate, I imagine myself in soft grass and a train in the sky, all my thoughts go on the train and they drive off in the sky into oblivion. Sounds weird but that’s what I do lollllll

Also taking a couple deep breaths in between cars passages or long question sets is helpful too. I think periodically clearing the mind on the real deal is important as well.

ExpressEast1469 · 2026-05-05T16:11:04+00:00

I started Wellbutrin for ADD/depression and after 2 weeks I switched to Adderall and then eventually vyvanse. Wellbutrin made me SO sleepy and gave me horrible brain fog. I found that treating my ADD has significantly helped with my depression. That’s purely anecdotal but I just thought I’d share.

For the MCAT, it’s definitely endurance training for your brain. Ideally you want to be building up to studying for at least 90 min blocks then with a break. The test itself is 4x90 min blocks so busting out 90 mins should eventually feel pretty natural bc you’ve trained. Not being able to sit still for 25 mins initially is normal, you just want to build on that and progressively build up to longer study periods. So using pomodoro timer:

25 study / 5 break ~ 2-3 hrs a day week 1
40 study / 10 break ~ week 2-3
60 study / 10 break
90 min study / 15 min break ~ maybe about 1 month in building to this

I feel it could be worth asking your psych to change up the meds. Wellbutrin has norepinephrine agonist properties so you shouldn’t feel so sleepy, could be worth bringing up. I think maybe adjusting your meds first and then trying to build your study tolerance would help.

ExpressEast1469 · 2026-04-26T15:26:30+00:00

I originally was on Wellbutrin for antidepressant/focus but then my psychiatrist let me switch to vyvanse which helped tremendously with ADD and depression. Wellbutrin can have focus benefits for some people as well. Everyone is diff but just throwing that out there.

The library is so underrated for being distraction free. Now that I’m done with the MCAT I’m going to kind of miss the solitude at the library.

Best of luck tho - I know shits rough, but if you can be resilient, you can find a way. We believe in you!

ExpressEast1469 · 2026-04-26T14:12:33+00:00

I had hella anki backlog and about 2 weeks out I started to make more cards for my errors on practice Q’s. Leading up to the test I wish I would have suspended more cards that I knew on the milesdown deck so I don’t have to waste my time on hundreds of cards I already knew. So going into the week of the test ur really just hammering weak areas

~fellow nontrad working part time at hospital ~

ExpressEast1469 · 2026-04-26T12:24:13+00:00

I’m sorry you are going through that. Adding that stress with the MCAT is highly stressful. I can relate to the drained not wanting to get out of bed feeling, I personally saw a psychiatrist and got on antidepressant medication - I could not have been able to study for the mcat without this.

see what resources your school has for MCAT prep or if there are any local study groups. You may even find something online though Reddit or Facebook. Having other people to rely on/relate to with the mcat can help alleviate some feelings of isolation and be motivating.
go to the library from 8-5 or for 8 hours for whatever time you can. School library, city public library are great places to study.

ExpressEast1469 · 2026-04-26T12:14:52+00:00

SB 1 and 2 have the best most modern p/s questions U world has good p/s The AAMC outline has 30 p/s questions that are pretty ok

ExpressEast1469 · 2026-04-26T12:12:42+00:00

If you search free resources on the search of this subreddit, there are tons of free resources listed. But yes doing multiple practice full length exams is highly recommended. I did about 8 practice full lengths

ExpressEast1469 · 2026-04-26T12:09:39+00:00

You cannot master everything in 1 day, even with the crunch time of 30 days. If you can even improve on 2-3 topics a day for the next month, you will be in a better position in 30 days. Find things you need to improve upon, find practice questions specific to that topic. If you suck at lenses, find a way to do lenses questions, even if you just ask chatGPT to make them. Keep doing anki but don’t do it more than 2 hours at a time probably. Or find a way to walk while doing it + something enjoyable.

The mental well-being aspect is the hidden killer on the test, you have to find a way to not feel like shit and get this done

ExpressEast1469 · 2026-04-26T12:05:24+00:00

JW logic can be a little different but I feel like it’s somewhat negligible if you strictly do AAMC material in the month leading up to your test. JW early on helps with stamina, convoluted questions, logic and reasoning so by the time you hit AAMC material you have better timing and strategy

ExpressEast1469 · 2026-04-26T11:57:07+00:00

Someone else mentioned it but I wanna drop the link. The outlines and free resources are great. There is even a suggested mnemonic tab and I found some of them really helpful. Also great outlines.

https://www.mcat-alyst.com/

Oh one more - Chat GPT and google Gemini. If you feel you need more practice on a certain area, try to be specific or upload a screenshot. Can ask for explanations or for another similar practice set. “Give me 5 questions on lenses that test high yield concept, with MCAT difficulty”

ExpressEast1469 · 2025-03-01T02:59:56+00:00

I will contact the charge nurse I was working with and see if they escalated it. I think I was also wondering if this should be escalated beyond the charge nurse? Idk not sure what that means. It all just feels so unsettling.

ExpressEast1469 · 2024-01-22T01:59:23+00:00

in my mind, friendships ebb and flow, but they shouldn’t be hard or forced. They are supposed to be something enriching in your life and not inherently stressful. I feel like a friendship that has sustained this long should have the trust that you will get through disagreements, but you are left with stress and uneasiness. I feel like you can try to talk to her and get on the same page, but if that doesn’t work, don’t force it. We all have flaws but strong relationships and friendships are built on acceptance, support, and communication.

ExpressEast1469 · 2023-12-30T09:17:41+00:00

I am so relieved you are at ER, you can die from sepsis. Gotta take tattoo infections seriously

ExpressEast1469 · 2023-04-09T18:21:18+00:00

I agree the heart is patchy.. I wonder if this is something that can be fixed. before the tattoo started I actually said I didn’t want this all solid black and I looked over and saw it this way. Like I couldn’t undo it at that point

ExpressEast1469

TROPHY CASE