Make sure to sleep!

You’ve got a big day ahead of you – are you ready? Have you done everything you possibly can so this day goes off without a hitch? I’m not talking about the actual MCAT studying – that’s something you certainly can’t leave till the last day! – I’m talking about all the organizational and practical things you need to do on Test Day itself to make sure that you are able to focus and perform your very best.

Keep this checklist handy. Check off each one as you go.

1. Get a good night’s sleep! At this point, staying up late and cramming will do more harm than good.

2. Eat a healthy, well-balanced breakfast. A good breakfast will help you perform better (when we’re hungry our brains don’t work so well), and you certainly don’t want grumbly hungry tummy sounds distracting you and the other test takers around you. On the flipside, make sure you don’t overeat; the last thing you need is a stomachache today!

3. Minimize your coffee consumption to keep anxiety and jitters to a minimum. You may want to start this process a few days in advance. If your body is used to four coffees before 10 AM, then today is NOT the day to drop down to one. You don’t want coffee jitters, but you also don’t want a caffeine headache. Plan ahead and drink a reasonable 1-2 cups on MCAT Day.

4. Confirm that you have the right address. Put it into Waze the night before so you have an idea of the route you’ll take and how long it will take for you to get there.

5. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the exam. You definitely DON’T WANT TO BE LATE.

6. Bring food. You’ll be at the test center for about eight hours and you’ll need snacks to keep your energy up and your tummy grumbles down (see tip 2 for more on that). Don’t bring anything that needs to be heated or refrigerated, as you probably will not have access to a microwave or fridge.

You’re almost there! You’ve prepped for this day and checked off all your to-do’s. Now it’s time to sit down and rock that MCAT!

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Related Resources:

• MCAT Scores, MCAT Prep, and MCAT2015 [podcast]
• How to Succeed on Your MCAT Test Day
• How to Get into Medical School with Low Stats [webinar]