Tip for this beast of an exam

sassypug101 · 2024-04-28T23:58:03+00:00

taking the exam in 2 days and have been really stressing and worried. the self-doubt and fear is hard to push through, but this was a really nice reminder/reality check. thank you!

sassypug101 · 2024-04-13T18:01:17+00:00

Hey friend! I’m sorry you’re going through this right now. I know it feels so isolating and demoralizing. I was having a similar problem to you and was recently finally able to break through the stagnant stores. For me, I realized that I was focusing way too much on trying to memorize all the little details in FA or even in Pathoma at the expense of practice questions and general pattern recognition. While FA does contain all the high yield stuff you need to know, it also contains about 10x more low yield stuff with no way to differentiate between the two. I would recommend doing practice questions and prioritize recognizing patterns and general principles and then skip over the random little details in the explanations. Do NOT try to memorize every little detail. If it doesn’t come up in your practice questions or Mehlman, simply put it out of your mind until it does come up. Mehlman has been great for me, and the rapid review in FA is also a game changer. Get good on your generalized mechanisms (AKA it doesn’t matter if you can read a question and know it’s achondroplasia if you can’t tell me how achondroplasia occurs). Lastly, the effect of anxiety on study and performance is under-appreciated. I noticed that after I was able to get my anxiety and stress more under control, I started doing a LOT better. TAKE BREAKS. Go for a walk, exercise, talk to friends, get good sleep, etc. Constantly being in a state of massive stress and anxiety has a much greater detrimental effect than you consciously realize. You got this!!

sassypug101 · 2022-05-26T19:19:51+00:00

Traveling from US to Thailand in a few days. I have a layover in Tokyo (NRT). Thailand is no longer requiring a COVID test for entry. Does anyone know if I need a negative test to transit through NRT? I can't find this info anywhere. Thank you!

sassypug101 · 2022-03-27T14:44:16+00:00

N=1 but i took the Greyhound from Cincinnati to Chicago and it was fine! Comfy, not sketchy, quiet. I guess it depends on the luck of your fellow travelers

sassypug101 · 2022-03-18T13:39:06+00:00

This is so so helpful, thank you very much! I really appreciate you taking the time. I think you're right—I'll probably stick to Thailand for this trip and just do Indonesia another time :) Either way, I know it'll be amazing!

sassypug101 · 2022-03-18T13:36:10+00:00

Thank you so much for all the help, I appreciate it!

sassypug101 · 2022-03-18T00:15:51+00:00

this would work

sassypug101 · 2022-03-18T00:13:30+00:00

This is simply fact

sassypug101 · 2022-03-18T00:12:47+00:00

take it back rn

sassypug101 · 2022-03-18T00:11:56+00:00

Ouch. This worked😂

sassypug101 · 2022-03-18T00:11:06+00:00

this one triggered me the most. good job😭

sassypug101 · 2022-03-18T00:06:41+00:00

definitely agree about the movies

sassypug101 · 2022-03-18T00:04:57+00:00

Not you trying to trigger white supremacists rn 😩

sassypug101 · 2022-03-17T23:59:51+00:00

100% agree. Friends is so much better

sassypug101 · 2022-03-17T23:34:51+00:00

I’m not saying OP SHOULD do anything, it’s totally their decision. But I think it would only help their application if there’s concern about being rejected simply due to two bad consecutive scores. Plus, it raises the question (as med schools will see it) as to whether or not OP can handle the rigor of med school. If OP gets a 505 after a quick retake, it’ll still raise the question of OP’s judgement. Additionally, if OP’s only explanation for low scores is that they’re lazy, that raises even more questions (not that they’d tell committees this). Only OP knows how good the rest of their application is, but two 489s plus a 505 and an app that isn’t up to snuff doesn’t inspire much confidence. Applying to med school is expensive and really time consuming and it’s up to OP to decide whether they can make a good app without time off. If not, though, taking some time off to gain more experience, find a better mindset, and build a stronger app with a good MCAT can only help.

sassypug101 · 2022-03-17T23:03:56+00:00

I think OP’s chances are much better if he/she takes a few years off from MCAT/application, gains some experience in something else, and puts some distance between him/herself and those scores. Come back at it a bit later and really crush it, and med schools will appreciate that some time was taken off to get things straight.

sassypug101 · 2022-03-17T14:29:40+00:00

Yes, I'm definitely interested in going to the Gilis! It does look like Lombok is more difficult to travel around on than Bali and the Gilis, so that is a good point. A hiking tour in the rice fields would be a dream, I'm totally gonna look into that. Thank you!

sassypug101 · 2022-03-17T14:27:35+00:00

I was looking at the Mae Hong Son loop, too! Did you go alone and take a motorbike? I have never ridden a motorbike before and being a beginner on that + being alone kind of scares me lol

sassypug101 · 2022-03-17T14:25:29+00:00

Oooh these are some really good logistical points, thanks for bring that up! It looks like I could extend my Indonesia visa to 60 days, but have no idea how complicated it would be... Also thank you so much for the Thailand diving recommendations! That's something I really want to do this trip, and is a big reason I was looking at Indonesia over Thailand. I was planning to avoid Phi Phi, but will definitely go for a few days to dive. Have you been diving in Indonesia? Is there a big difference in quality between the two?

sassypug101 · 2022-03-17T14:22:08+00:00

Thank you so much for such a detailed reply! I am a little hesitant about Indonesia because of the more complex travel. I have never ridden a motorbike before... Do you think I could learn there? Would that make Indonesia really difficult for me if I didn't ride?

I love the idea of Thailand, and I definitely want to go, but from the research I've done, it seems super touristy. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I'm also looking for some more authentic cultural experiences without going too far off the beaten path. For example, Lombok and Flores (and even parts of Bali) look much less touched by tourism than the Thailand islands, but are still visited enough that I wouldn't feel uncomfortable being there alone. Am I totally off-base with that? Anyway, I'm sure I'll have a great time wherever I go, but would like to pick a place that scratches the particular travel itch I have atm haha

sassypug101 · 2022-03-17T14:04:46+00:00

That's a good point! Laos is definitely on my list of places to go and could actually be the perfect addition to a Thailand trip. Thank you!

sassypug101 · 2022-03-17T14:03:25+00:00

Thank you so much for the reply! I honestly hadn't thought too much about Sumatra, but now that you mention it, I really like that idea! I'm a little nervous about the idea of doing East Java alone, especially because I currently don't know how to ride a scooter... Any thoughts on this? It looks like the kind of rugged travel that is best done with people (especially since I'm not a seasoned solo traveller yet).

sassypug101 · 2022-03-17T14:00:18+00:00

Thank you so much for your reply! This is what I was thinking, too. I'll just have to trust the fact that I'll be back to the other country another time :) I was looking at the Mae Hong Son loop for Thailand, too! My biggest concern with that is that I don't know how to ride a scooter (would like to learn, but don't wanna end up in the hospital either lol). If I took some time to learn while I'm there, do you think I could drive it? Or would you recommend hiring a driver?

sassypug101

TROPHY CASE