With summer coming up, it's MACT season for us pre-meds that have made it this far. We are frantically studying for the test that will determine our future and (holy crap) let me tell you there are some things we have been asked one too many times.
1. Don't ask when we are taking it.
Odds are we are taking it very soon and the date is only getting sooner. It already consumes our every thought and thinking about it one more time just isn't what we need. There is no running. There is no escape. Only MCAT.
2. Don't ask how much we have been studying.
Most of us don't feel like we have studied nearly enough because we are all ridiculously type-A, over-involved students with no time. The answer is always "not enough".3. Don't ask what score we are trying to make.
Most of us have taken multiple practice tests by this point and nope we haven't gotten near what we need to make. We've all just kind of accepted the tidal wave that is rolling toward us. Different people cope in different ways. Mine is usually a large frozen pizza for one.4. Don't tell us what scores other people made.
We will be forced to make this face and act like we are happy for them when we secretly dying inside and considering the prospect of being famous for an embarrassing YouTube video or becoming an exotic dancer. Hey, those people can make good money.5. Don't ask how long the test takes or even what the questions are like.
The test clocks in at around 7.5 hours. Yup, that's the same amount of times it takes to fly to Europe or get open heart surgery. I think we would rather be doing either of those things as opposed to taking that stupid thing. No need to remind us.6. Take our mind off of it as much as possible.
Whether you force them to be social or just sit and watch weird YouTube videos with them I swear it is the best medicine (pun intended). We often find ourselves consumed with endless thoughts of the worst possible scenarios and the distraction does wonders.7. Random reminders that it's going to be okay are key.
In the end, you have made it father than most and that is such an accomplishment. All it takes is a little reminder that one test doesn't define the whole story of who you are. Soon enough you are back on your feet and ready to take this stupid test on.
8. Replace those dreaded four letters with four better ones: LOVE.
To get through this process we are going to need a ton of it. Knowing that we are surrounded by people that love us makes all of this torture worth doing. Our greatest wish is to make you proud and nothing motivates us more than being reminded of why we have gotten to where we are today.
