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!

Meet Megan, an MS1 at Baylor College of Medicine. Like many premeds, Megan didn’t have a long line of family doctors to show her the ropes. She conquered the med school admissions process solo, acing the MCAT, navigating all her prerequisites, building her application, and securing an acceptance to medical school! 

The Experience That Sparked My “Why”

I was inspired to become a doctor when I saw the immediate effects that open-heart surgery had on one of my close family members. That experience made me realize that I want to bring that same joy and relief to other patients and families.

I hope to one day become a pediatric surgeon to bring hope and relief to young patients and their families.

The Key to My MCAT Success: An Effective Study Schedule

I felt incredibly unprepared going into the MCAT, so I highly valued a schedule that would allow me to balance the need to avoid burnout and the need to master this exam. 

My favorite thing about studying with Blueprint was the amazing schedule that kept me motivated to progress in my preparation without becoming overwhelmed. It helped me distribute the massive volume of MCAT content and strategies over a few months.

I don’t think I would have survived the months of studying [for the MCAT] without a cohesive, workable schedule.

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Navigating Medical School Admissions

I didn’t have any physicians or medical student role models to guide my efforts through undergrad, which made applying to medical school difficult. I read countless articles and studied numerous YouTube videos, but that just left me feeling inundated with conflicting information. 

Ultimately, I decided to follow my passions and pursue projects that were interesting and exciting to me – free clinics, tutoring disadvantaged students, and shadowing interesting specialties. I didn’t know what I was doing at the time, but I think that prevented me from feeling overwhelmed or discouraged because I was just so excited and grateful for each opportunity. 

I think being grateful for each opportunity that has brought me here and continuing to be grateful for each day I get to learn and experience new things throughout my education has prepared me the most for medical school.

The time management that I learned from Blueprint [also] helped me in my medical school applications. I felt confident creating timelines for writing and submitting applications and secondaries. The encouragement and guidance I received from my tutors during my MCAT sessions allowed me to feel more confident in interviews and on-campus tours.

Words of Advice for Premeds and Future Medical Students

My best advice for premeds and medical students is to prioritize your friends and family just (or almost) as much as school work. You’ll need a great network to support you through the trials and tribulations of application season, as well as medical school itself. 

Plus, you’ll never look back and think, “Wow, I wish I had less friends.”

The MCAT is a massive test, but with a little motivation and an organized study schedule, you can reach your goal score with ease! Get started today by creating your own MCAT study schedule when you create a free Blueprint MCAT account!