Abdul El Sayed
We found 17 articles
At first, studying for the physical sciences section of the MCAT seems impossible. As a student, how could I possibly review years of material in the couple of months before I take the MCAT? As an MCAT tutor, it’s become clear that you really don’t have to. Instead, absolutely understanding a few example situations (preferably from everyday life), ...
To exam buffs and MCAT tutors, the MCAT is one of the most beautiful exams out there. When it comes to exam elegance, it is the standardized test version of Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” What makes the MCAT so beautiful? Well, unlike some things that are only beautiful on the outside, it’s the core of what the exam is all about. ...
Preparing for a standardized tests, like the MCAT, GMAT, LSAT, or GRE can be an all-encompassing experience. Students believe that to do well, they have to put the rest of their lives on hold—by dealing with their exam in the most neurotic way possible, they believe that they can exert control over it. As an MCAT tutor, I have seen that the ...
Five steps to beating test anxiety As an MD/PhD candidate, I've taken and prepared for countless standardized tests. I also know that tests are scary for everyone, even the most seasoned test-takers. After all, exams have implications—and big exams have big implications. In that respect, a little anxiety is natural. But too much can be ...
There are 141 accredited MD-granting medical schools in the US, as well as an additional 29 DO-granting schools. Now, how do you choose the right medical school?
Gaining acceptance to medical school can be a Herculean task. Between meeting pre-med requirements with stellar grades, studying for and taking the MCAT, and navigating the medical school admissions maze, it can be quite the effort. Differentiating between the different medical school paths you can take adds an extra level of complexity. There’s ...
Studying for the MCAT is heartbreaking, laborious, and anxiety-provoking for pretty much all students. Like the exam itself, MCAT preparation is a marathon. As with all standardized test preparation, over the course of studying, it’s easy to become distracted and lose focus. This can directly affect your chances for success on the exam.
One of the cardinal challenges that many students preparing for standardized exams struggle with is procrastination. Unlike classes, for example, where regular exams force students to catch up with the material at regular intervals, when studying for a standardized exam, there is, by definition, only one exam. What’s worse, that fact plays to ...
The medical school application process is so competitive nowadays that it is easy to get caught up in myths and preconceptions about being premed and applying to medical school. Let’s bust some of those below:
The 2012 MCATs are over, and the holiday season is rolling around. And quickly approaching is the 2013 season of MCATs. It’s very easy to get sucked into a vortex of obsessing over MCAT, feeling discouraged by your score, and hoping to score better next time.
Studying for the MCAT isn’t always sunshine and lollipops, so most people want to make sure that they get it over with the first time around. And what’s the most important predictor of their success in doing so? Their study program. To quote a proverb: “He who fails to plan, plans to fail.”
Studying for the MCAT isn’t always sunshine and lollipops, so most people want to make sure that they get it over with the first time around. And what’s the most important predictor of their success in doing so? Their study program. To quote a proverb: “He who fails to plan, plans to fail.”
One of the hardest parts of applying to medical school for many students is crafting a solid personal statement. Your personal statement is the crown jewel of your application—believe it or not. That’s because it’s the piece of the application over which you have the most control. This is your chance to tell the admissions committee everything ...
MCAT out of the way, and the only thing standing between you and your dream school is the medical school application process.
Let's explore the history of the MCAT: The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) (of which we know all of you are intimately aware) is the rite of passage for students intending on applying to medical schools (MD and DO), as well as certain other fields ancillary to medicine in the United States and Canada. The exam was first developed in 1928 in ...