{"id":1102,"date":"2020-12-24T11:52:39","date_gmt":"2020-12-24T19:52:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/?p=1102"},"modified":"2021-03-23T11:57:45","modified_gmt":"2021-03-23T18:57:45","slug":"how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Study for the MCAT: Your 6-Month Study Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2017\/11\/image-mcat-header-6monthSchedule.jpg\" alt=\"Stethoscope laid over calendar representing how to study for MCAT with a 6 month schedule\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1592\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2017\/11\/image-mcat-header-6monthSchedule.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2017\/11\/image-mcat-header-6monthSchedule-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2017\/11\/image-mcat-header-6monthSchedule-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2017\/11\/image-mcat-header-6monthSchedule-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re wondering how to study for the MCAT, congratulations! You\u2019re in the right place&mdash;and you have perfect timing. 6 months is the perfect amount of time to study for this exam. First, we\u2019ll take a look at how you can approach your MCAT preparation in the most efficient and productive way. Then, we\u2019ll dive into the 6 month MCAT study schedule! <\/p>\n<p>Want to jump ahead? Get your free 6 Month MCAT Study Schedule PDF here!<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/mcat.magoosh.com\/6-month-study-plan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1361 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2017\/11\/cta-mcat-button-6monthPDF.png\" alt=\"Link to get 6 Month MCAT Study Schedule\" width=\"541\" height=\"47\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2017\/11\/cta-mcat-button-6monthPDF.png 541w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2017\/11\/cta-mcat-button-6monthPDF-300x26.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 541px) 100vw, 541px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nCheck out this video to get some study tips from Rachel, a student who scored in the 98th MCAT percentile! Then, read on to get our top 10 MCAT study habits and MCAT study plan tips to help you reach your target score by test day.<\/p>\n<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8l_Mqd4YzII\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"contents\"><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #4D2079\">Table of Contents<\/h2>\n<div class=\"bordered\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#how\">How to Study for the MCAT in 6 Months<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#use\">How to Use This 6 Month MCAT Study Schedule<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#materials\">Essential MCAT Study Materials<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#schedule\"><strong>6 Month MCAT Study Schedule<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a id=\"how\"><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #4D2079\">How to Study for the MCAT in 6 Months<\/h2>\n<p>First things first: let\u2019s answer the big question, &#8220;How do I study for my MCAT?&#8221; Here&#8217;s what we recommend if you have a six month timeline.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-1-Diagnostic-Test.png\" alt=\"Cog wheel and ruler representing diagnostic test - Image by Magoosh\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1855\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>1. Take an MCAT diagnostic test.<\/h3>\n<p>Before you can know what it will take to reach your goals, you have to know how far (or how close!) you currently are to them. Taking a <a href=\"https:\/\/mcat.magoosh.com\/subscribe\/free-practice-test\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">free MCAT practice test<\/a> and carefully evaluating your current knowledge and abilities will go a long way towards setting you up for success. This is the best thing you can do when figuring out how to start studying for the MCAT!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-2-Identify-Goal-Score.png\" alt=\"Pencil over bullseye - image by Magoosh\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1856\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>2. Identify your goal score.<\/h3>\n<p>Where do you dream of going to med school? What <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/mcat-scores-and-gpas-for-top-100-medical-schools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">MCAT score<\/a> will it take to get you there? You may not be able to do anything about your undergrad GPA at the moment, but you can definitely boost your test scores; knowing where you need to boost them to is key!<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-3-Choose-Study-Schedule.png\" alt=\"Shopping basket for the ideal MCAT study schedule - image by Magoosh\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1857\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>3. Find the ideal MCAT study schedule.<\/h3>\n<p>The key to self-study for the MCAT is looking at your goal score in comparison to your current baseline score, then being realistic about the time it will take to get there. This is particularly true if you\u2019re in school or have a full-time job. <\/p>\n<p>How many study hours per week do you have? How many weeks before your admissions deadlines? (You may want to use a spreadsheet for this part!) To find the best study plan, you should also take into account how likely you are to stick to a schedule religiously: the longer the schedule, the more flexibility you\u2019ll have in day-to-day practice.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-4-Form-and-Content-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Lines of text on a form - image by Magoosh\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1845\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-4-Form-and-Content-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-4-Form-and-Content.jpg 275w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>4. Combine form and content review in your practice.<\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s really tempting to just zoom through practice problem after practice problem&mdash;believe us, we know! But to really master MCAT material, you\u2019ll want to review the MCAT content that\u2019s tested on the exam, as well, with lessons to brush up on the concepts you\u2019ll see on your <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/mcat-test-dates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">MCAT test date<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-5-Practice-Test-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Practice Test - image by Magoosh\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1846\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-5-Practice-Test-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-5-Practice-Test.jpg 275w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>5. Incorporate full-length exam practice into your plan.<\/h3>\n<p>Would you go into a marathon without doing some long runs first? Runners know this is a recipe for injury! While taking the MCAT exam without doing lots of <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-practice-tests\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">full-length exam MCATs<\/a> first (probably!) won\u2019t hurt you, you definitely need to get used to the pacing, section order, and test-day experience.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-6-Accuracy-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Arrow going through bullseye - image by Magoosh\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1847\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-6-Accuracy-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-6-Accuracy.jpg 275w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>6. Build accuracy first\u2026.<\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re sitting down at the beginning of your study plan with a timer, you\u2019re creating unnecessary stress for yourself. Be kind at the beginning and focus on taking as long as you need to answer the questions. You can build up to mastering MCAT timing later on\u2014and knowing the question formats really well by then will only help you!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-7-Stamina-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Heart representing stamina - image by Magoosh\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1848\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-7-Stamina-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-7-Stamina.jpg 275w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>7.\u2026without foregoing stamina!<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/improve-mcat-time-management\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The MCAT is a long test!<\/a> You\u2019re likely to spend nearly eight hours in the test center. A key part of practice, and particularly practice tests, will be building up the stamina and psychology you need to ace the official exam. Make sure to block out large chunks of time at least once a week to build these skills.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-8-Study-Work-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Magnifying glass over paper\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1849\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-8-Study-Work-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-8-Study-Work.jpg 275w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>8. Study your work.<\/h3>\n<p>This includes both correct and incorrect answers on practice problem, tests, and study materials more generally. As tempting as it is just to glance at your score and move on, it\u2019s not at all helpful for your longer-term goals. <\/p>\n<p>You need to know which question types (passage-based? discrete?) and content areas (Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems? Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills?) give you trouble and which you get right\u2014and why! By evaluating your strengths and weaknesses, you\u2019ll be better able to address them and make everything into a strength on the actual test.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-9-Keep-Goal-In-Mind-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Lightbulb - Magoosh\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1850\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-9-Keep-Goal-In-Mind-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-9-Keep-Goal-In-Mind.jpg 275w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>9. Keep the ultimate goal in mind.<\/h3>\n<p>It can be difficult to sustain motivation for a test over a period of months. As you start studying, in your MCAT notebook or above your desk, write your ultimate goal or goals down. These can go well beyond medical school admission: do you want to be a pediatric surgeon? Master laparoscopic techniques? Uncover the secrets of biochemistry? The MCAT is the key to opening up these goals for you!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-10-Get-in-Shape-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Trophy with star - image by Magoosh\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1841\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-10-Get-in-Shape-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Icon-10-Get-in-Shape.jpg 275w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>10. Get yourself in shape for test day.<\/h3>\n<p>This means both mentally (in terms of building stamina) and physically. Prioritize your physical health just as much as you prioritize studying for the exam. Get lots of sleep during your study schedule, drink lots of water, move your body, and eat a balanced diet. Now\u2019s not the time for that juice cleanse! The state of your body directly impacts the state of your mind\u2014which will directly impact your MCAT score.<\/p>\n<p><em>Don\u2019t have six months to study for the MCAT? Check out our other <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/mcat-study-schedules\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">MCAT study plans<\/a>, including the <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/3-month-mcat-preparation-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">3 month<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/mcat-study-schedule-2-months\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2 month<\/a>, to find one that fits your schedule.<\/em><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a href=\"#contents\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/100x27-Back-to-Top-button.png\" alt=\"Back to top button - Magoosh\" width=\"100\" height=\"27\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1778\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"use\"><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #4D2079\">How to Use This 6 Month MCAT Study Schedule<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Set Yourself Up for Success<\/strong><br \/>\nBefore moving forward, make sure you have the essential materials listed under the section &#8220;MCAT Essential Materials.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use the Videos Wisely<\/strong><br \/>\nEach week, you will see a list of Magoosh videos to watch. There is time set aside throughout the week to watch them, but some people prefer to watch all of them early in the week and then review concepts more closely on subsequent days. <\/li>\n<li><strong>Play With Your Flashcards<\/strong><br \/>\nI indicated specific days for reviewing your flashcards, but you might choose to review your flashcards a little every day, which is completely fine.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Get the Resources You&#8217;ll Need<\/strong><br \/>\nKeep in mind that the MCAT covers material from 10 semester-long college courses. That\u2019s the equivalent of 450 hours of lecture time! Our course contains about 350 lessons, but they are in the neighborhood of 10 min. long, not an hour. <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Think of the lessons as overviews, and then take the time to learn more about concepts you never learned in school or that you haven\u2019t seen in a long time. <\/li>\n<li><strong>To study the finer points of concepts, you will want to consult scientific textbooks or online sources.<\/strong> Suggestions for sources are listed under the section &#8220;MCAT Highly Recommended Materials.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Plan Out Your Schedule<\/strong><br \/>\nThe schedule is designed to be followed at a rate of 2-4 hours per day, 6 days per week. On practice exam days, you will be devoting 7 hours per day.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Advice for Super-High Achievers<\/strong><br \/>\nIf you want to work ahead of the schedule, I recommend focusing on organic chemistry, because it can be slow going and requires a lot of memorization. Other people like to frontload the social sciences, because success in this area is so dependent on memorizing vocabulary, and it\u2019s nice to have access to all the terms early in the game.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a href=\"#contents\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/100x27-Back-to-Top-button.png\" alt=\"Back to top button - Magoosh\" width=\"100\" height=\"27\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1778\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a id=\"materials\"><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #4D2079\">6 Month MCAT Study Schedule Materials<\/h2>\n<p>We&#8217;ve divided our recommended MCAT study materials into the following categories: essential (materials you simply can&#8217;t go without) and highly recommended (materials that would be highly beneficial to your practice or good to check out if you exhaust your essential materials).<\/p>\n<details>\n<summary><span style=\"color: #005bc2\">Click to view the essential MCAT study materials<\/span><\/summary>\n<h3>Essential Study Materials<\/h3>\n<p>Pretty much all MCAT test prep companies, including us, recommend purchasing official materials from the test makers themselves, the AAMC. I have flagged some of their products as essential materials and others as suggestions. <strong>You can follow this schedule without purchasing materials beyond the Magoosh course and a notebook<\/strong>, but it means you will need to recycle through some of the 700+ practice questions and take fewer practice exams. To follow this schedule precisely, plan on investing an additional $150-$250, unless you have friends who can lend you copies of materials.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re on a tight budget, make use of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.khanacademy.org\/test-prep\/mcat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Khan Academy<\/a> for practice questions, and see if your academic career center or library has any of the materials listed below. Also, keep in mind that the $150-$250 estimate doesn\u2019t include the cost for registering for the exam. You might want to check out our blog post about <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-much-does-the-mcat-cost\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">registration fees and the Fee Assistance Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/mcat.magoosh.com\/plans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Magoosh Premium MCAT Test Prep<\/a> curriculum includes over 330 video lessons, the equivalent of 3 full-length practice tests, and an additional CARS section, for a total of <strong>743 sample questions<\/strong> and unlimited email assistance from MCAT tutors. The lessons are taught by a diverse team of experts. I teach many of the social science and introductory biology lessons, and there are physicians, science teachers, and a CARS expert who cover other areas.  <\/li>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/store.aamc.org\/the-official-guide-to-the-mcat-exam-fifth-edition.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Official Guide to the MCAT Exam, (5th edition)<\/a>, published by the Association of American Medical Colleges, is available in electronic and print formats. It is very important that you purchase the 5th edition, because the MCAT exam was reconstructed in 2015.<\/li>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<li>Magoosh\u2019s webapp flashcards are specifically designed for the new MCAT! Our <a href=\"https:\/\/mcat.magoosh.com\/flashcards\/mcat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">free bundle<\/a> contains 237 flashcards. This is a great starting place to assess your knowledge and improve your scientific vocabulary. The flashcards can be accessed online and as an app on your iPhone or Android. <strong>(FREE)<\/strong><\/li>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/students-residents.aamc.org\/applying-medical-school\/taking-mcat-exam\/prepare-mcat-exam\/free-planning-and-study-resources\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">AAMC sample diagnostic test<\/a>. You will be taking this the first week of the study schedule. You can access it immediately from the AAMC with a valid credit card. It provides an assessment of your strengths and weaknesses, both in terms of content and question type.<\/li>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<li>One <a href=\"https:\/\/store.aamc.org\/aamc-mcat-practice-exam-one-online.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">AAMC practice test<\/a>. I recommend buying <a href=\"https:\/\/store.aamc.org\/aamc-mcat-practice-exam-two-online.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">more than one of them<\/a>, but at the very least you should purchase one. The practice test is a crucial tool, and our study plan suggests you take it early on in your studies and again towards the end. It provides a scaled score. If you\u2019re considering purchasing all the full-length exams and all the official practice questions, you will save money if you <a href=\"https:\/\/store.aamc.org\/complete-official-mcat-prep-bundle.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">get the entire AAMC bundle<\/a>. <\/li>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<li>The AAMC MCAT <a href=\"https:\/\/store.aamc.org\/aamc-mcat-section-bank-online.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">section bank for the physical, biological, and social sciences<\/a>. Students who have taken the MCAT since it was revised in 2015 have complained that many of the MCAT practice tests and prep books don\u2019t reflect the increased focus on biochemistry and the social sciences. The writers of the actual MCAT developed an online bank of 300 practice questions specifically designed for the new MCAT, which are underrepresented in the universe of MCAT test prep materials. <strong>If you already have books or an online program with sample MCAT questions, you can certainly use those instead.<\/strong><\/li>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<li>Both AAMC online CARS practice passage bundles (<a href=\"https:\/\/store.aamc.org\/official-mcat-critical-analysis-and-reasoning-skills-question-pack-volume-1-online.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Volume 1<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/store.aamc.org\/official-mcat-critical-analysis-and-reasoning-skills-question-pack-volume-2-online.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Volume 2<\/a>). You will need at least 50 practice passages, and these online bundles are reasonably priced and contain 18 passages each. The Magoosh course contains practice CARS passages, and you will have 5 from the official AAMC book. <strong>If you already have books or an online program with sample CARS questions, you can certainly use those instead.<\/strong><\/li>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<li>Bookmark at least 5 established online newspapers, news magazines, or sources that contain sophisticated coverage on current events. You can also read paper versions to give your eyes a break from looking at a screen. Recommendations include: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/magazine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The New Yorker<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/world\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Atlantic<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/section\/magazine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The New York Times Magazine<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.the-american-interest.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The American Interest<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thestar.com\/?redirect=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Toronto Star<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foreignaffairs.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Foreign Affairs<\/a>.<\/li>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<li>One or more large notebooks or electronic documents divided by content area (<a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/mcat-biology-biochemistry-topics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">biology<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/mcat-physics-chemistry-topics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">chemistry<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/mcat-physics-chemistry-topics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">physics<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/mcat-physics-chemistry-topics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">organic chemistry<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/mcat-psychology-mcat-sociology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">sociology<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/mcat-psychology-mcat-sociology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">psychology<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/mcat-cars-5-tips-for-doing-well\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">CARS<\/a>). You need a consistent place to store notes that allows you to quickly draw diagrams and write equations. Unless you have a computer or tablet with a high-quality stylus, a paper notebook is essential.<\/li>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<li>A notebook or electronic document or spreadsheet for logging your study hours. You can combine this with the notebook mentioned in #7 or purchase a separate notebook, which I recommend. Keep track of the date, the time of day, the topic or subjects you studied, and the total number of hours you logged that day. Also, make a note about anything you noticed regarding your productivity on that day. Were you comfortable? How was the lighting? Were you tired or distracted? By tracking the number of hours you study, you will be more motivated to add to the total count. Also, you will be able to quickly assess trends in your studying, such as a reduction in the number of hours studied, which will alert you to revamp your program.<\/li>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<li>Lots of blank index cards!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary><span style=\"color: #005bc2\">Click to view highly recommended MCAT study materials<\/span><\/summary>\n<h3>Highly Recommended Study Materials<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>If you\u2019re considering purchasing both full-length exams and all the official practice questions, you will save money if you <a href=\"https:\/\/store.aamc.org\/complete-official-mcat-prep-bundle.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">get the entire AAMC bundle<\/a>.<\/li>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<li>If you don\u2019t opt for the bundle, consider purchasing another AAMC <a href=\"https:\/\/store.aamc.org\/aamc-mcat-practice-exam-two-online.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">practice test<\/a> \u00e0 la carte. I recommend these in addition to the sample test and practice exam listed in the &#8220;MCAT Essential Materials&#8221; section. Just like the first practice test, you can access each exam 5 times. This allows you to review and reassess weaknesses from earlier run-throughs. <\/li>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<li>If you don\u2019t purchase the bundle, consider purchasing the AAMC Online practice questions for <a href=\"https:\/\/store.aamc.org\/official-mcat-biology-question-pack-volume-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">biology<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/store.aamc.org\/official-mcat-chemistry-question-pack-online.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">chemistry<\/a>, and\/or <a href=\"https:\/\/store.aamc.org\/official-mcat-physics-question-pack-online.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">physics<\/a> \u00e0 la carte. These are reasonably priced and written by the test makers. <strong>If you already have books or an online program with sample MCAT questions, you can certainly use those instead.<\/strong><\/li>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<li>Browse <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">our MCAT blog<\/a> for tips and resources of all varieties, including the <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/best-mcat-prep-books-2020-2021\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">best MCAT books<\/a>.<\/li>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<li>If you haven\u2019t already visited The <a href=\"https:\/\/forums.studentdoctor.net\/forums\/mcat-medical-college-admissions-test.31\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Student Doctor Network<\/a>, it\u2019s definitely a site to bookmark. This nonprofit organization started in the mid 1990s, and their forum has threads written by pre-health students, medical students, physicians, osteopaths, dentists, and other healthcare professionals. There are thousands of threads on the MCAT. <strong>(FREE)<\/strong><\/li>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<li>Barron\u2019s MCAT <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Barrons-MCAT-Flash-Cards-Cutts\/dp\/1438075545\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">flash cards<\/a>. Make sure to order versions dated 2015 or later. This is a great resource for mid-level depth of major concepts. The cards provide descriptions of concepts along with formulas and diagrams, and they\u2019re well organized. However, they\u2019re not the best source if you are learning something from scratch.  <\/li>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<li>Supplementary texts: The site <a href=\"https:\/\/openstax.org\/subjects\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">OpenStax<\/a> has free online textbooks and resources for college and AP courses. One of the great things about this website is that content is peer-reviewed by educators and continuously updated, so information tends to be up to date. The following online textbooks are useful for MCAT studying: Biology 2e, Chemistry: Atoms First, Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology, Psychology, Sociology, and Introductory Statistics. For instance, on Week 3, Day 3 of your schedule, you might want to read more about the <a href=\"https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/chemistry\/pages\/6-2-the-bohr-model\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bohr\u2019s Model<\/a> or the <a href=\"https:\/\/openstax.org\/books\/chemistry\/pages\/2-5-the-periodic-table\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Periodic Table<\/a>. <strong>(FREE)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/details>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a href=\"#contents\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/100x27-Back-to-Top-button.png\" alt=\"Back to top button - Magoosh\" width=\"100\" height=\"27\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1778\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"schedule\"><\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #4D2079\">6 Month MCAT Study Schedule<\/h2>\n<p>This schedule is set up on a Sunday to Friday schedule, with Saturdays off. Some people prefer to take Fridays or Sundays off, so adjust it to suit your needs and preferences. The first day of the week (Sunday, in this case) is the most time-intensive, because these are the days you\u2019ll be taking practice tests, which take 7 hours to complete.  One day each week (Friday, in this case), you will review the week\u2019s content and organize your study materials and strategies. You will also take one day off, which is currently designated as Saturday.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mcat.magoosh.com\/6-month-study-plan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1361 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2017\/11\/cta-mcat-button-6monthPDF.png\" alt=\"Link to get 6 Month MCAT Study Schedule\" width=\"541\" height=\"47\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2017\/11\/cta-mcat-button-6monthPDF.png 541w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2017\/11\/cta-mcat-button-6monthPDF-300x26.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 541px) 100vw, 541px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Sample Study Schedule<\/h3>\n<p>Wondering what all this looks like? Take a glance at the below example of the 6 month MCAT study schedule you\u2019ll find in the PDF!<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table id=\"tablepress-31\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-31 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n<th class=\"column-1\"><\/th>\n<th class=\"column-2\"><span style=\"color: #4D2079\">Sun<\/span><\/th>\n<th class=\"column-3\"><span style=\"color: #4D2079\">Mon<\/span><\/th>\n<th class=\"column-4\"><span style=\"color: #4D2079\">Tues<\/span>\n<\/th>\n<th class=\"column-5\"><span style=\"color: #4D2079\">Wed<\/span><\/th>\n<th class=\"column-6\"><span style=\"color: #4D2079\">Thurs<\/span><\/th>\n<th class=\"column-7\"><span style=\"color: #4D2079\">Fri<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><strong style=\"color: #C5168C\">WEEK 1<\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\"><strong style=\"color: #C5168C\">GATHER MATERIALS AND EASE IN<\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">1<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Gather materials, start your notebook, watch Intro videos <\/td>\n<td class=\"column-3\"><strong>Take AAMC Sample Diagnostic Test<\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"column-4\">Review answers, create flashcards, read AAMC book<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-5\">Watch Scientific Inquiry videos, choose test date<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-6\">Watch Scientific Inquiry videos,<br \/>\nread AAMC book \n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-7\">Catch up<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- #tablepress-31 from cache --><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nNow you&#8217;re ready to get started! Download our free <a href=\"https:\/\/mcat.magoosh.com\/6-month-study-plan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">6 month MCAT study schedule<\/a>, then kick off your prep by watching the Intro to MCAT lesson below!<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/mcat.magoosh.com\/lessons\/2697-mcat-intro\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Screen-Shot-2020-12-16-at-11.46.43-AM.png\" alt=\"Need more info about the MCAT? Our expert is in. Click to watch our intro lesson\" width=\"517\" height=\"142\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1786\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Screen-Shot-2020-12-16-at-11.46.43-AM.png 517w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/Screen-Shot-2020-12-16-at-11.46.43-AM-300x82.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 517px) 100vw, 517px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wondering how to study for the MCAT? Our 6-month MCAT study schedule has you covered, with daily instructions and tools you need to succeed!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":218,"featured_media":2130,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[2332],"class_list":["post-1102","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mcat-study-schedules-guides"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v21.7 (Yoast SEO v21.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Study for the MCAT: Your 6-Month Study Plan - Magoosh MCAT Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wondering how to study for the MCAT? Our 6 month MCAT study schedule has you covered, with daily instructions and tools you need to succeed!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Study for the MCAT: Your 6-Month Study Plan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Wondering how to study for the MCAT? Our 6 month MCAT study schedule has you covered, with daily instructions and tools you need to succeed!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Magoosh MCAT Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-12-24T19:52:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-03-23T18:57:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/How-to-Study-for-the-MCAT_-Your-6-Month-Study-Plan.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"580\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"580\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kat Thomson\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kat Thomson\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"16 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Kat Thomson\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#\/schema\/person\/e3e7b201569a0128201896d6a7d430e6\"},\"headline\":\"How to Study for the MCAT: Your 6-Month Study Plan\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-12-24T19:52:39+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/\"},\"wordCount\":2738,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"MCAT Study Schedules (Study Guides)\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/\",\"name\":\"How to Study for the MCAT: Your 6-Month Study Plan - Magoosh MCAT Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2020-12-24T19:52:39+00:00\",\"description\":\"Wondering how to study for the MCAT? Our 6 month MCAT study schedule has you covered, with daily instructions and tools you need to succeed!\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How to Study for the MCAT: Your 6-Month Study Plan\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/\",\"name\":\"Magoosh MCAT Blog\",\"description\":\"Get the MCAT score you want\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Magoosh\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2019\/08\/Magoosh-logo-purple-60h.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2019\/08\/Magoosh-logo-purple-60h.png\",\"width\":265,\"height\":60,\"caption\":\"Magoosh\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#\/schema\/person\/e3e7b201569a0128201896d6a7d430e6\",\"name\":\"Kat Thomson\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/38d9e456daccf9523c171dbdd0a11a9f\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3bcb9e462420967ce0b7d455661151fc7ec2fc9c42e06bf1f531c50bedf72a68?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3bcb9e462420967ce0b7d455661151fc7ec2fc9c42e06bf1f531c50bedf72a68?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Kat Thomson\"},\"description\":\"Kat is the Senior Curriculum Manager at Magoosh with a specialty in the MCAT. She has a BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Ph.D. in medical sociology from the University of California, San Francisco, where she earned the Distinguished Dissertation Award in the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Kat has been teaching premed and nursing students since 2005 as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of San Francisco, Bowdoin, and the University of California, Berkeley, while collaborating on multiple research projects and publications. In addition to the MCAT, Kat has taught courses in Research Methods, Gender, Global and Environmental Health, and others. She is passionate about increasing the number of underrepresented minorities in medicine and helping students get into the medical schools of their dreams. You can join Kat on Instagram and YouTube.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=yAi12ZYAAAAJ&amp;hl=en&amp;oi=sra\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/magooshmcat\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCeSvixReLLS6squ5Adhe0wQ\"],\"honorificPrefix\":\"Dr.\",\"honorificSuffix\":\"PhD\",\"award\":[\"Distinguished Dissertation Award in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (UCSF)\"],\"knowsAbout\":[\"MCAT\",\"Medical School\",\"Medicine\"],\"jobTitle\":\"Senior Curriculum Manager, MCAT\",\"worksFor\":\"Magoosh\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/author\/katthomson\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Study for the MCAT: Your 6-Month Study Plan - Magoosh MCAT Blog","description":"Wondering how to study for the MCAT? Our 6 month MCAT study schedule has you covered, with daily instructions and tools you need to succeed!","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Study for the MCAT: Your 6-Month Study Plan","og_description":"Wondering how to study for the MCAT? Our 6 month MCAT study schedule has you covered, with daily instructions and tools you need to succeed!","og_url":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/","og_site_name":"Magoosh MCAT Blog","article_published_time":"2020-12-24T19:52:39+00:00","article_modified_time":"2021-03-23T18:57:45+00:00","og_image":[{"width":580,"height":580,"url":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2020\/12\/How-to-Study-for-the-MCAT_-Your-6-Month-Study-Plan.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Kat Thomson","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Kat Thomson","Est. reading time":"16 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/"},"author":{"name":"Kat Thomson","@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#\/schema\/person\/e3e7b201569a0128201896d6a7d430e6"},"headline":"How to Study for the MCAT: Your 6-Month Study Plan","datePublished":"2020-12-24T19:52:39+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/"},"wordCount":2738,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#organization"},"articleSection":["MCAT Study Schedules (Study Guides)"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/","url":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/","name":"How to Study for the MCAT: Your 6-Month Study Plan - Magoosh MCAT Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#website"},"datePublished":"2020-12-24T19:52:39+00:00","description":"Wondering how to study for the MCAT? Our 6 month MCAT study schedule has you covered, with daily instructions and tools you need to succeed!","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/how-to-study-for-the-mcat-your-6-month-study-plan\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How to Study for the MCAT: Your 6-Month Study Plan"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#website","url":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/","name":"Magoosh MCAT Blog","description":"Get the MCAT score you want","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#organization","name":"Magoosh","url":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2019\/08\/Magoosh-logo-purple-60h.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2019\/08\/Magoosh-logo-purple-60h.png","width":265,"height":60,"caption":"Magoosh"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#\/schema\/person\/e3e7b201569a0128201896d6a7d430e6","name":"Kat Thomson","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/38d9e456daccf9523c171dbdd0a11a9f","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3bcb9e462420967ce0b7d455661151fc7ec2fc9c42e06bf1f531c50bedf72a68?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3bcb9e462420967ce0b7d455661151fc7ec2fc9c42e06bf1f531c50bedf72a68?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Kat Thomson"},"description":"Kat is the Senior Curriculum Manager at Magoosh with a specialty in the MCAT. She has a BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Ph.D. in medical sociology from the University of California, San Francisco, where she earned the Distinguished Dissertation Award in the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Kat has been teaching premed and nursing students since 2005 as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of San Francisco, Bowdoin, and the University of California, Berkeley, while collaborating on multiple research projects and publications. In addition to the MCAT, Kat has taught courses in Research Methods, Gender, Global and Environmental Health, and others. She is passionate about increasing the number of underrepresented minorities in medicine and helping students get into the medical schools of their dreams. You can join Kat on Instagram and YouTube.","sameAs":["https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=yAi12ZYAAAAJ&amp;hl=en&amp;oi=sra","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/magooshmcat\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCeSvixReLLS6squ5Adhe0wQ"],"honorificPrefix":"Dr.","honorificSuffix":"PhD","award":["Distinguished Dissertation Award in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (UCSF)"],"knowsAbout":["MCAT","Medical School","Medicine"],"jobTitle":"Senior Curriculum Manager, MCAT","worksFor":"Magoosh","url":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/author\/katthomson\/"}]}},"authors":[{"term_id":2332,"user_id":218,"is_guest":0,"slug":"katthomson","display_name":"Kat Thomson","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3bcb9e462420967ce0b7d455661151fc7ec2fc9c42e06bf1f531c50bedf72a68?s=96&d=mm&r=g","user_url":"","last_name":"Thomson","first_name":"Kat","description":"Kat is the Senior Curriculum Manager at Magoosh with a specialty in the MCAT. She has a BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Ph.D. in medical sociology from the University of California, San Francisco, where she earned the Distinguished Dissertation Award in the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Kat has been teaching premed and nursing students since 2005 as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of San Francisco, Bowdoin, and the University of California, Berkeley, while collaborating on multiple research projects and <a href=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=yAi12ZYAAAAJ&amp;hl=en&amp;oi=sra\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">publications<\/a>.  In addition to the MCAT, Kat has taught courses in Research Methods, Gender, Global and Environmental Health, and others. She is passionate about increasing the number of underrepresented minorities in medicine and helping students get into the medical schools of their dreams. You can join Kat on  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/magooshmcat\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Instagram<\/a> and  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCeSvixReLLS6squ5Adhe0wQ\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">YouTube<\/a>."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1102","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/218"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1102"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1102\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1102"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1102"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1102"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=1102"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}