When it comes to the medical school journey, everyone has their own story, but there’s one big challenge most of us have to tackle: the MCAT. In this new series, our Blueprint MCAT alumni share how they crushed the MCAT and made their med school dreams come true!
Retaking the MCAT can leave students feeling lost and unsure of how to approach it. Find out how former Blueprint MCAT student Laura achieved a 20-point score increase and secured an acceptance to her top medical school by slowing down during her MCAT retake.
I went to undergrad for four years, got two degrees (BA Philosophy and BS Pre-Medicine) and two minors (Psychology and English). I started studying for the MCAT junior year but pushed myself too hard and got burnt out. By the time I took the MCAT, I wasn’t mentally fully ready for it.
The school I am currently at has an average MCAT score of 515. I knew that I needed to have a great score in order to have a chance at a program like the one I am at—which can make a difference when I am applying for residency programs.
The MCAT is a big deal and coming from a family where no one is in medicine, I was left having to figure out what the best move was to study.
Further Reading
🏃 Recharge and Refocus With These MCAT Study Breaks
💪 MCAT Stress Management: Stay Calm and Focused on Test Day
🤔 Are You Ready for the MCAT? Take Our Quiz
My Blueprint MCAT Experience
With Blueprint [MCAT], I had a handle on all the information I would need to know through the review videos. Additionally, with the Blueprint practice exams, I felt like I knew exactly what I needed to do in order to get the score I wanted. I loved that I could see everything I needed to do from start to finish and move things around if I needed to. There wasn’t any pressure on me to make sure that I covered a topic- Blueprint’s schedule had it covered.
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While my first go wasn’t the prettiest, the second score was exactly what I wanted and if I didn’t use Blueprint, I think I might have missed important content trying to figure out how to study on my own.
I had a friend use Blueprint to get into the same institution I am at, and it was, and is, a tried-and-true method for success.
What I Learned After Retaking the MCAT
I went to Italy to study abroad and when I got back with a clear mind, I retook the MCAT. I submitted my primaries in Italy and secondaries when I got back. My timeline was definitely a little silly, but I am so thankful to have gotten into a school that I am so excited about!
I was motivated by the self-confidence that I can do it, and to get a better score than I did the first time.
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My “Why Medicine”
I have seen the difference it makes when you have a support system during tough times. I want to be someone who patients can turn to and know that they are supported. Ultimately, I feel that by pursuing a career in medicine, I can obtain a wealth of knowledge, and then use that knowledge to uplift others during their most difficult times.
There is no other career that I feel like I could get as much education as possible and still be a service to the community. I hope that I can pioneer new discoveries in research and create a culture in medicine that takes care of patients and everyone else on the healthcare team.
Advice for Other Premeds
Take a deep breath. The process of getting into medical school is hard, but you can do it. Take things one step at a time and do your best to manage time.
Want more inspiration? Check out more success stories from Blueprint MCAT alumni!
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Noor didn’t let imposter syndrome or Sauron the MCAT stop her from following her medical school dreams!
Prepping for the MCAT as a Parent: Morgan, a non-traditional student and incoming MS1 at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Greenville had to figure out the best way to balance MCAT prep as a new parent.
How I Stayed Motivated During My MCAT Prep: Daniela, an MS1 at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, used her gap year to discover how medicine can combine all her interests and passions. She also achieved a 23-point MCAT score increase!
Conquering the MCAT as a non-traditional student may seem daunting, but you don’t have to face it alone! Whether you need the flexibility of a Self-Paced Course, the instruction of a Live Course, or 1:1 attention of a private MCAT tutor, we have the MCAT prep option that works for your learning style! With resources such as a powerful AI-powered MCAT QBank, representative full-length practice exams, and more, you’ll get all the practice you need to reach your goal score.
Blueprint MCAT is here to provide the support and flexibility you need to reach your score goals. Start your journey today by creating a free Blueprint MCAT account.
