Pre-meds are psycho (Part I)

Look what the Princeton Review sent me last week. The really sad thing is...I think I would have done most of this stuff anyways (except the part about putting away my books and not studying)...and I think they're really fantastic ideas. Sheesh...what's wrong with our subpopulation of students?! Dunno about this whole banana and Belgium waffle huge breakfast though...sounds sort of gross.

08/17/2005

Hey Christine,Saturday's almost here, and now it is time for the nitty gritty preparation:

1. PUT YOUR BOOKS AWAY. I am serious. You have been studying for months; you know this stuff. If you want to do something, then read. Good choices are Scientific America (# 1 in my book), DISCOVER (#2 for me), OMNI, Newsweek, TIME, US News and World Report, Vanity Fair, the New Yorker, etc.

2. Go to your test site. I am not joking. You need to know where you are going and where you are going to park. And doing this ahead of time will guarantee that you won't get lost on that day.

3. On Friday pack your bag during the day (see below) and then that night, rent a movie and chill out. Go to bed at a decent hour. If you try to go to bed at 8pm it won't work, you will sit in bed staring at your ceiling for several hours. If you find yourself wired and anxious, DON'T take sleeping aides.....suffer the restlessness, drink some warm milk, chamomile tea etc....you will feel better if you are only tired in the morning and not drugged up.....adrenaline will take care of tired....nothing takes care of drugged!

4. FOOD
a. A BIG HUGE BREAKFAST - you won't become listless from a big breakfast, only fueled for your marathon plus the adrenaline is pumping (fatigue occurs during the first HOUR of the MCAT)
b. A HEALTHY LIGHT LUNCH - warm rooms + overstuffed belly + 5 hours into MCAT = a serious want to sleep
c. SNACKS AT EVERY BREAK - high protein high fat snacks (i.e. peanut butter and cheese crackers) are the best type of brain food
d. FOOD CHOICE - as stated FATS are brain food - (lots of energy 9cal/g) they are stored well for short term storage and accessed relatively quickly. Carbohydrates (4 cal/g) are necessary for immediate energy needs and should not be forgotten as should proteins (more because proteins are usually associated with vital minerals and vitamins) Go for the Belgian waffles with butter and the double side of bacon and eggs for breakfast (make it big, satisfying and a reward for your hard work) (Hell, add a biscuit) Lunch should be light!!!! A sandwich, soup, salad with some meat on it etc. Nothing heavy or laden with grease. Keep it simple you just need to sustain energy not store a bunch for another full marathon...you are in the home stretch.
e. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS - potassium is good (no cramps or heart failures) so you can bring a banana for one of the ten-minute breaks or put bananas on your waffles. Water is necessary for digestion and dehydration is both disorienting and annoying....drink moderate amounts and avoid diuretics throughout the day like coffee, tea, coke, Dr. Pepper, ALCOHOL, etc. Don't overdue this....it's hard to concentrate with a throbbing bladder! Tums help weak stomachs and nervous stomachs as does ginger ale and 7Up. Candy - avoid sugary candies but you can have robust candies like snickers (peanuts), Mars (almonds) and other nut containing candies. These will provide both a sugar rush and a substantial sustained energy supply. Know ahead of time WHERE you are planning on eating and if parking or transport will be a problem (also why you should take the trip over there before). Things are probably not open on campus on Saturdays or at least have altered schedules. Don't plan an e! laborate setting or a far travel distance (car troubles can wreck havoc on an MCAT especially if you are not walking distance to test site) ideally bring your lunch. DO NOT look at any MCAT materials or talk about the MCAT during lunch but read a magazine and relax.

4. PACK your bag in advance. Pack a small back-pack with the following, all of which are absolute necessary (trust me...plus while you are packing you'll be reassuring yourself about being prepared for the MCAT):
a. at least two nutritional snacks (bananas and Peanut butter and cheese crackers are ideal!)
b. several pencils, a pen you trust and like to write with (money spent on a good pen is never wasted ...if you don't have a favorite try the Roller ball ultra-micro 5mm pens....the best and only about 2 dollars)...then pack a second and a third of same pen....just in case.
c. spare socks, change of clothing to be left in your car (I'll explain below)
d. quarters for phones, name and number of a taxi service
e. gum (only if you are a quiet chewer)
f. MCAT registration!!!!!! You're probably thinking, "Like, duh" but you will be surprised! (If you did not include a picture when you registered you can bring one with you to the test site).
g. Photo ID and other forms of ID
h. hygiene products (stress does amazing things to the delicate balance of your bodily activities known as the female menstrual cycle and other unpleasant sounds and smells).
I. Some money for vending and lunch!!! Again, duh, but you will be surprised!j. A magazine to read during lunch
K. a positive attitude

5. CLOTHING - universities are notoriously different environments on Saturdays than on a regular day....fewer people providing body heat, fewer doors opening and closing, etc which means in all likelihood you will be in a room that is either cooler than normal or warmer than normal. And normal temp for 45-minute classes is not the same as several hours and not moving around. Burning up sweating in leather shoes, tight jeans and a button down oxford is probably just as bad as the sockless in the short shorts and tank top with the goose bumps everywhere....NOT FUN.

Recommended Combat gear is as follows:Loose fitting jeans/sweat pants worn over an acceptable pair of walking shorts (this is not a fashion show. It's your life!!!)Cotton socks and tennis shoesShort sleeved shirt with sweatshirt over it.Sounds crazy to recommend what to wear but I have heard all the horror stories of stiletto heals and leather trench coats (not in the same outfit, I assure you). Be aware you may have the need to strip down mid-test section and do not be embarrassed.... for there will be at least 40-50% of the room that wished they could have done the same thing and the proctor can't stop you from doing so as long as it's not a complete distraction!ALSO as mentioned before - a spare set of clothing tucked away in your car or you bag could come to the rescue.... it is hard to concentrate when you have an ice-cream-sundae slowly crisping up and drying in your lap during the essay section (really!!!!!...Seen it and the poor young man did not sit well with it!)

6. TEST DAY. Wake up early enough that you won't be rushed.
a. Shower - not for your sake but your test taking neighbors deserve the respect and plus it is a relaxing activity that will wake you up.
b. Eat- for breakfast, see above.
c. While in the car or waiting in line read something other than your MCAT materials. Just an article in a magazine or newspaper so it doesn't take you half of the verbal section to remember how to read.
d. Relax; don't let the people around you stress you out. This is just another diagnostic, you know the routine.
e. If you see anything strange on the test, don't let it fluster you. Forget about it during the test and e-mail you instructor after.

7. When the test is over, wait until you get home to celebrate! Others may not feel as confident as you do about their test.If you have last minute questions or issues feel free to give me a call or e-mail me.

GOOD LUCK!