--- title: Medical School News and MCAT Strategy (5) description: Here you will find blog posts with pertinent information on the MCAT test and medical school admissions. Be sure to read some posts today. (5) --- # MEdical School News and MCAT Strategy Stay current with the latest med school admissions news and proven MCAT strategies. Browse by All MCAT prep MCAT studying MCAT tips MCAT MCAT study tips MCAT prep strategies medical school applications Med School Admissions medical school MCAT cardiology chemistry mcat chemistry MCAT behavior section MCAT equations MCAT hematology Medical School Letters of Recommendations Uncategorized mcat physiology med school application timing retaking the MCAT This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ![shutterstock 55184455](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/file-452672441-jpg/images/shutterstock_55184455.jpg?width=264&height=176&name=shutterstock_55184455.jpg) If you are thinking about going to med school, congratulations. You are to be admired for aiming so high and taking on a challenging field with many rewards. You'll need to be completely committed and driven to achieve your goals.  Certainly, scoring in the [75th percentile or higher on the MCAT](https://www.myguruedge.com/mcat-test-prep/) will be critical. However, there are a variety of others things you can and should start doing today to prepare. Start out by taking 5 moves that will get you on the right track today. ### 1. Hit the Books ![describe the image](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/file-442489937-jpg/images/mcat_application.jpg?width=233&height=155&name=mcat_application.jpg)More than 600,000 people submitted applications to med school last year, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Contrast that to the almost 20,000 medical students who graduated in 2012, and you can easily see how difficult getting into med school is. It's vital you and your application stand out from the crowd. These tips will give you the best chance of being considered among the thousands that get reviewed. ### ![shutterstock 112286036](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/file-242846348-jpg/images/shutterstock_112286036.jpg?width=304&height=203&name=shutterstock_112286036.jpg) ### 1. Objective Evaluation of Readiness to Embark on the MCAT Odyssey The first thing that you need to do before you even start to do anything committing for the MCAT is evaluate whether or not you are ready *right now.*  While some say that you may take the MCAT more than one time (up to two or three), it is not recommended.  Depending on the school and rigor, schools may take your best individual sections as your score, or average out the scores, or take the lowest score, no matter what.  So in the end, you want to take the MCAT once, and a knockout *once.  *[Read as much as you can about the MCAT](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/mcat-and-the-medical-school-admissions-process/) and what it entails to prepare for it.  Also worth evaluating is if a career medicine is what you like.  If you are gritting your teeth down for studying because “you really don’t like to study,” then maybe a career spent studying, even after graduation, is not the best for you.  Evaluate if you have what it takes, because us tutors here do not want you to waste your resources, time, and effort on anything. ### ![shutterstock 113315362](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/file-237102862-jpg/images/shutterstock_113315362.jpg?width=311&height=207&name=shutterstock_113315362.jpg) ### 1. Priority Shift to a Career In Medicine  Deciding to undertake and conquer the MCAT is also an unspoken commitment to the profession of medicine.  Just as studying during medical school will takeover most all priorities, preparation for the MCAT should also begin to take priority in your life now.  It is an investment in the now for a much larger return of a medical degree and career, later.  It is sometimes daunting when students make this realization all too late, but the MCAT is the first exam in a series of exams that will qualify you and prepare you for the medical profession. [MCAT](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/mcat-and-the-medical-school-admissions-process/topic/mcat) [MCAT prep](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/mcat-and-the-medical-school-admissions-process/topic/mcat-prep) [MCAT study tips](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/mcat-and-the-medical-school-admissions-process/topic/mcat-study-tips) [![MCAT Study Tips](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/file-19427864-jpg/images/prepare-for-the-mcat-150x150.jpg?width=120&height=120&name=prepare-for-the-mcat-150x150.jpg "Prepare-for-the-MCAT")](https://www.myguruedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Prepare-for-the-MCAT.jpg)Last time, we shared three of five tips for success on the MCAT.   The first three tips were: [MCAT studying](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/mcat-and-the-medical-school-admissions-process/topic/mcat-studying) [MCAT](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/mcat-and-the-medical-school-admissions-process/topic/mcat) [MCAT prep](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/mcat-and-the-medical-school-admissions-process/topic/mcat-prep) [MCAT tips](https://www.myguruedge.com/our-thinking/mcat-and-the-medical-school-admissions-process/topic/mcat-tips) ![MCAT Success](https://www.myguruedge.com/hs-fs/file-19427855-jpg/images/mcatguide2011-144x150.jpg?width=144&height=150&name=mcatguide2011-144x150.jpg "MCATGUIDE2011")**The MCAT is a beast of an exam** – there’s no way around it – and for many of you, it will also likely be your first *real* challenge academically, in terms of necessary preparation, exam intensity and sheer volume of subject matter.  It won’t be easy, regardless of your IQ or SAT scores, but with a little bit of assistance and a whole lot of dedication, it is absolutely doable and within your reach. ### Follow this blog