MCAT Observation Report

523 Words2 Pages

Thank you for your email. Preparation for my first MCAT was juggled with working as an EMT for Rutgers Emergency Services. During that time I was able to budget for an extended Christmas break (6 weeks of limited work to study), but with the knowledge that I'd have to pick up extra shifts before and after the break to make sure I was able to make rent and pay for other necessities. I had planned to take this MCAT during my senior year, knowing that I’d take a gap year to attend graduate school. While I was disappointed with my first score, it was not until my acceptance into Oxford that I decided to try another time. Oxford’s semester started in October, while other graduate programs started in August – allowing for a September MCAT date. For this …show more content…

That type of stress continues to linger and affect lifestyle choices long after situations change. While I have seriously considered re-taking the MCAT, I decided that the financial commitment of the MCAT paired with a further delay in applying to medical school would seriously compromise my life (I’d have to start paying back loans while limiting my work-hours to study). Further, it was only in the last year that I started to believe that I actually have the capacity to do well on such tests and succeed in challenging programs. Even while at Oxford I suffered from imposter syndrome - constantly wondering how a first-generation working-student gained acceptance into such a graduate program. Low confidence was definitely a factor in my performance. Increased reflections on my experiences have allowed me to be proud of my accomplishments and establish a clear vision on how to improve in the future. My experiences have also made me very compassionate towards people who work hard but do not always receive the outcomes that they prepared

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