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Set a Summer Study Schedule for the MCAT

By U.S. News & World Report

The summer is often the best time for students to prepare for the MCAT. With no classes to attend, students are generally able to devise a study schedule that is comprehensive, flexible and efficient. Below are several key strategies to u s e during your summer of MCAT prep .

1. Formulate a concrete review plan: The most important thing you can do to ensure that your summer MCAT prep is adequate is to create a study calendar. Remember, your time is largely under your own control.

As you draft your calendar, take into account all the commitments and responsibilities that you have. For example, if you know that you will be on vacation during a specific weekend, plan around this item and compensate for lost time.

You should also set firm milestones during your summer prep period. I recommend planning for about 40 hours of study time per week for at least eight weeks over the summer.

[Follow a three month study plan for the new MCAT.]

2. Prioritize the material you struggle with: Paradoxically, most students spend the majority of their time reviewing material they are comfortable with because they tend to enjoy it more. For instance, I have worked with individuals who understand physiology very well, but who struggle with certain topics in physics.

These students spent a large portion of their time studying biology concepts that they had mastered because they did not feel comfortable reviewing physics. This led to their practice exam scores plateauing, not increasing, even though they continued to review for the MCAT.

After focusing on the areas where they were weaker, these individuals began to see a corresponding rise in their practice test results. Though it may not be enjoyable to work on material you do not understand well, the simple fact is that your score will only increase if you address your weakest areas.

Without the added time commitments and distractions of the school year, the summer months provide a perfect time for students to diligently focus on topics that they find more challenging.

3. Emphasize practice tests: Many students do study the material they struggle with, but they continue to underperform on their practice exams or on the actual MCAT. This is often because they spent an inordinate amount of time reading over material, rather than taking practice tests.

After you have reviewed the basic concepts and foundations that make up the MCAT two or three times, you will not gain much additional knowledge with each pass through the material. At this point, dedicate the majority of your time to answering as many practice questions as you can.

You will continue to learn about specific topics through practice questions, and you will also have the added benefit of improving your time management skills, gaining familiarity with the exam format and solidifying the critical thinking skills you will need to do well on the MCAT.

[Avoid making these four common MCAT prep mistakes.]

As a general rule of thumb, I recommend initially devoting 90 percent of your time to reading and reviewing material and 10 percent to completing practice questions. Once you have finished two to three passes of the core material, I recommend switching that ratio to 90 percent practice questions and 10 percent additional, focused review of your weak areas.

Most students see a benefit if they’ve completed at least five practice exams during their review period. This is usually doable if students schedule their exam for sometime in August.

4. Review class material that is relevant to the MCAT: Many students attempt to revisit all of their premedical course material while preparing for the MCAT. Though much of what is taught in standard premedical courses is covered on the MCAT, you will find that just as much is not on the test.

In addition, because of institutional variability in class content, certain students may not be exposed to every MCAT concept while in college. As such, it is important to first work through a comprehensive review book and to identify which topics are on the MCAT.

After doing so, students should u se their class notes to reinforce their understanding of these concepts. Compared with the academic year where office hours with professors and teaching assistants are commonplace, the summer months may require you to use other resources, such as tutors or peer study groups, to reinforce course material.

More from U.S. News

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Set a Summer Study Schedule for the MCAT originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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