![\"3](\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2017\/12\/image-mcat-header-3monthStudySchedule.jpg\")
\nWondering how to conquer MCAT preparation in only 3 months? Ask and you shall receive!<\/p>\n
\nWondering how to conquer MCAT preparation in only 3 months? Ask and you shall receive!<\/p>\n
Here at Magoosh, we\u2019ve noticed that 3 months is the median amount of time that students have for MCAT preparation–from the day they sign up with us to their projected exam date. So we’ve put together a three-month MCAT study schedule<\/a> to guide you, day-by-day, through the thirteen weeks leading up to your MCAT.<\/p>\n The study schedule includes:<\/p>\n Have longer than three months to prepare? Check out Magoosh’s advice for how to prep for the MCAT in 6 months<\/a>!<\/p>\n The schedule outlined in this MCAT preparation plan will guide you through how to study for the MCAT over the course of 13 weeks at a rate of 3-5 hours per day.<\/strong> However, on certain Sundays you’ll be taking practice tests, which will take 7 hours to complete. You should expect to cover biology once or twice a week, and most other topics on a weekly basis.<\/p>\n Each week of the schedule provides you with a daily list of Magoosh videos to watch, readings to do, and practice questions to complete. There are also specific days indicated in the schedule for reviewing your flashcards, but if you choose to flip through them a little each day instead, that’s completely fine too!<\/p>\n If you want to work ahead of the schedule, we recommend focusing on organic chemistry, because it can be slow going and requires a lot of memorization.<\/p>\n Looking for a different MCAT study schedule? Check out Magoosh’s range of MCAT study plans<\/a>!<\/p>\n You can follow this schedule without purchasing materials beyond the Magoosh course and a notebook,<\/strong> but in that scenario you would need to recycle many of the 700+ practice questions and take fewer practice exams…which is definitely a viable option if you’re on a tight budget! However, to follow this schedule precisely, you should plan on investing an additional $150-$250.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a quick overview, to give you an idea of what materials you\u2019ll need:<\/p>\n Magoosh is our online MCAT prep course<\/a> that offers: Try our free 7-day trial<\/a>!<\/p>\n If you are<\/em> on a tight budget, make use of Khan Academy<\/a> for practice questions and advice on how to study for the MCAT.<\/p>\n The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam<\/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.<\/p>\n Magoosh\u2019s WebApp flashcards are specifically designed for the new MCAT! Our 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.<\/p>\n You will be taking the AAMC sample diagnostic test<\/a> during the first week of the study schedule. It provides an assessment of your strengths and weaknesses, both in terms of content and question type.<\/p>\n We recommend buying both<\/a> tests<\/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 both full-length exams and all the official practice questions, you will save money if you get the entire AAMC bundle<\/a>.<\/p>\n Students who have taken the MCAT since it was revised in 2015 have complained that many of the MCAT practice tests and prep books<\/a> don\u2019t reflect the increased focus on biochemistry and the social sciences.<\/p>\n The writers of the actual MCAT developed an online bank of 300 practice questions<\/a> specifically designed for the new MCAT, which are underrepresented in the universe of MCAT test prep materials. If you already have books or an online program with sample MCAT questions, you can certainly use those instead.<\/p>\n You should purchase both AAMC online CARS practice passage bundles (Volume 1<\/a> and Volume 2<\/a>), since you will need at least 50 practice passages, and these online bundles are reasonably priced \u2013 they contain 18 passages each.<\/p>\n The Magoosh course contains practice CARS passages, and you will have 5 from the official AAMC book. If you already have books or an online program with sample CARS questions, you can certainly use those instead.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Recommendations include: To stay organized during your studies, you should be using one or more large notebooks or electronic documents divided by content area (biology<\/a>, chemistry<\/a>, physics<\/a>, organic chemistry<\/a>, sociology<\/a>, psychology<\/a>, and CARS<\/a>).<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n You should also have 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.<\/p>\n 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 number of hours studied, which will alert you to revamp your program.<\/p>\n And that\u2019s it. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n For a more detailed list of study materials, you should check out the \u201cMCAT Essential Materials\u201d<\/a> and “MCAT Highly Recommended Materials”<\/a> subsections in the study schedule.<\/p>\n Ready to jump in? With close to one hundred days of instruction, this MCAT 3-month study schedule<\/a> definitely has you covered. If you\u2019re feeling stressed about your upcoming exam, we\u2019re here for you\u2014check out our video on how to manage pre-med anxiety with mindfulness<\/a>. And don\u2019t forget to leave us your feedback in the comments!<\/p>\n Happy studying! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Is the MCAT coming up a little too fast? Don’t worry, our 3-month MCAT preparation plan is a daily guide to the thirteen weeks leading up to your test!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":266,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[2343],"class_list":["post-1130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mcat-study-schedules-guides"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
What to Expect from the MCAT Preparation Plan<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/mcat\/files\/2017\/12\/cta-mcat-button-3monthPDF.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nMCAT Essential Materials Overview<\/h2>\n
Magoosh\u2019s MCAT Product:<\/h3>\n
\n\u2022 250+ unique lessons on all MCAT subjects
\n\u2022 700+ practice questions, with video explanations after every question
\n\u2022 Material created by MCAT experts
\n\u2022 24-hour access to online materials from any internet-connected device
\n\u2022 Email support from experienced MCAT tutors
\n\u2022 Customizable practice sessions
\n\u2022 Full-length timed practice tests
\n\u2022 Personalized statistics based on your performance<\/p>\nKhan Academy:<\/h3>\n
The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam (5th Edition):<\/h3>\n
Magoosh\u2019s WebApp Flashcards:<\/h3>\n
AAMC Sample Diagnostic Test:<\/h3>\n
One AAMC Practice Tests:<\/h3>\n
AAMC MCAT Section Bank for the Physical, Biological, and Social Sciences:<\/h3>\n
AAMC Online CARS Practice Passage Bundles:<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nAdditional Reading:<\/h3>\n
\n\u2022 The New Yorker<\/a>
\n\u2022 The Atlantic<\/a>
\n\u2022 The New York Times Magazine<\/a>
\n\u2022 The American Interest<\/a>
\n\u2022 The Toronto Star<\/a>
\n\u2022 Foreign Affairs<\/a><\/p>\nNotebook(s):<\/h3>\n
Study Log:<\/h3>\n
\u2026Lots of blank index cards!<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nTime to get started!<\/h2>\n