Preparing for the MCAT as a Non-traditional Student

Non-traditional students take unique paths to medical school—whether by working, exploring different careers, or taking extra time to meet prerequisites. While the journey may look different than students on the traditional path, it brings valuable experiences and perspectives that can be leveraged for success. This blog addresses the specific needs of non-traditional students and helps you crush the MCAT.

The MCAT is tough, but as a non-traditional applicant, you’ve already proven you can tackle unique challenges—and that’s a strength. Whether you’re balancing work, coming back to academics after a break, or managing other responsibilities, you can succeed with the right plan.

Balancing Work, Life, and Studying

Juggling work, personal life, and MCAT prep can feel overwhelming. As a non-traditional student, you might have additional responsibilities like a full-time job, family commitments, or volunteer work. Here are some strategies that worked for me:

• Time-blocking: Set specific times for studying, work, personal life, and self-care. Treat your study schedule like an important appointment but leave room for other activities to maintain balance. I love using my planner and the feeling of crossing off a task, so I write down everything I plan to do and block out my days each week.
  
  
• Prioritize tasks: Tackle high-yield content and challenging tasks first. By getting the hardest sessions done early, you can bring your best energy to them. To prioritize effectively, start by listing all your tasks. Group them by urgency and importance, like work, school, or personal. Use the Eisenhower Matrix: do it now (urgent/important), schedule it (important/not urgent), delegate it (urgent/not important), or skip it (neither). Set deadlines to stay on track and focus on tasks that have the biggest impact or support your goals.
  
  
• Set achievable goals: Break your study plan into manageable chunks and celebrate small wins. Those little victories kept me motivated through long months of prep. An achievable goal is realistic, specific, and tied to a timeline with clear steps. For example, instead of “I’ll get better grades,” aim for “I’ll study 30 minutes daily and plan my weeks on Sundays.” It should motivate you without feeling impossible or overwhelming.
  
  
• Self-care: Prioritize mental and physical health with exercise, mindfulness, and adequate sleep. Moving my body—whether with a workout or a walk—helped me refocus. Listening to medical podcasts during those walks kept me inspired, too.
  
  
• Intentional downtime: Taking breaks isn’t slacking; it’s how you stay productive. Self-care isn’t selfish—it’s the key to long-term success. Being intentional means choosing how to spend your time, and not letting distractions like doom scrolling take over. Set clear goals, and plan breaks with activities that recharge you, like reading or walking. Setting limits on social media helps, too. Intentional downtime prevents burnout, boosts focus, and supports long-term success.

Preparation for the MCAT

The first step in approaching the MCAT as a non-traditional student is assessing where you are at and where you need to get to. For non-traditional students most medical schools are taking a more holistic approach to applications and that can work to your advantage but doesn’t take away from the importance of this exam. Take a moment to consider how long you’ve been out of school, and your background. Do you already have a good understanding of the content on the MCAT or is it entirely new? How much time do you have to dedicate to your studies for the MCAT? If you’re able to focus full-time, you may be able to prepare much quicker than if you need to study while also working a full-time job.

Aligning Your MCAT Timeline With Your Application Goals

Choosing the right MCAT test date is crucial. Start by identifying the medical school application deadlines and work backward to determine your ideal test date. Non-traditional MCAT test takers often choose their test date based on work, family, and other responsibilities, ensuring they have enough time to study without overwhelming themselves. Unlike traditional or gap year students, who may have more flexibility, non-traditionals must find a balance their personal and professional commitments. The key is to find a test date that allows for thorough preparation while managing other priorities to avoid burnout.

Here’s how to plan a timeline:

• Assess readiness: Use diagnostic tests to identify strengths and weaknesses. I recommend using AAMC materials. Sketchy also just released 20 free MCAT Style Practice Questions. After you evaluate your performance on each section of your practice exam, set a strategy and timeline for reviewing and understanding why you got the questions wrong.
  
  
• Create milestones: I set target scores for practice exams and deadlines for completing content review and practice questions. Here’s a 3-month study calendar from Sketchy that can help keep you on track. As you complete your review, you should be focused on using spaced repetition to retain all the information that you have covered thus far. As you take more practice exams, you should see a significant improvement from your baseline practice exam. Use this to re-evaluate where you were successful and what areas still need additional focus as you get closer to exam day.
  
  
• Build flexibility: Allow buffer time in case you need to adjust your schedule or retake the test; non-traditional students may need more time to balance other commitments. The goal is to feel confident and well-prepared without rushing. There is no correct amount of time, so do what feels best for you!

Taking the MCAT as a non-traditional student can be overwhelming, but you are capable and you are needed here in medicine! Evaluate your baseline, develop a study schedule, incorporate Sketchy MCAT and spaced repetition into your routine, and take a full-length practice exam prior to test day to ensure you are ready. Before you know it you will be hitting submit on your application, and one step closer to your goal!

Why Your Non-Traditional Years Are the Perfect Opportunity to Excel on the MCAT

Your life and work experiences are an asset. They can sharpen your critical thinking and problem-solving skills, especially in sections like CARS. For example, my healthcare background and love of reading helped me analyze passages more effectively and provided real-world context for scientific concepts covered in the exam. Use your unique perspective to navigate dense, challenging passages with confidence.

After my graduation, I worked full-time at the Mayo Clinic. This wasn’t just a resume booster; it also allowed me to have unique experiences that I could discuss in interviews. I worked in a lab but also had opportunities to shadow world-class surgeons and observe patient care. These experiences deepened my understanding of medicine and shaped my career goals. 

Use your gap or non-trad years to focus on MCAT prep without coursework distractions. It’s also a great chance to gain clinical or research experience, which strengthens your application. My Mayo Clinic experiences likely helped with the MCAT by deepening my understanding of biology and psychology, strengthening my problem-solving skills, and improving stress management. Interacting with professionals also boosted my communication skills, making the MCAT content more relatable and easier to grasp.

Deciding on Gap Years, Post-Bacc Programs, and Retaking the MCAT

Evaluate whether additional gap years or a post-bacc program will strengthen your application. If you’re considering retaking the MCAT, weigh your current score against the average for your target schools and assess your readiness. You can read more on retaking the MCAT.

The decision to take more gap years or complete a post-bacc depends on your goals. Some post-bacc programs can bypass the MCAT score, offering an alternative pathway to medical school. If extra coursework or experience will strengthen your application, don’t rush—schools prefer well-prepared applicants over those who apply too soon. If you’ve completed a post-bacc and still plan on taking the MCAT, retake it only if you’re confident you can significantly improve your score. Focus on what you’ve learned and address weaker areas. Taking extra time can pay off in the long run.

Conclusion

Crushing the MCAT as a non-traditional student is entirely possible. By leveraging your unique experiences, creating a realistic plan, and building a strong support system, you can achieve your goals. Remember, your journey may be different, but it’s just as valid and valuable as any other applicant to medical school.

Take the first step today by drafting a study plan or reaching out to mentors for guidance. Visualize yourself in med school—it’s a powerful motivator. Embrace your journey, because it’s as unique as you are. This process isn’t a sprint—it’s a marathon. Pace yourself, stay consistent, and keep moving forward. You’ve got this!

Feel free to reach out with questions or for more advice on transitioning from a non-traditional applicant to a medical student. You’ve got this!

About the Authors:

I’m Tori, a non-traditional medical student who took a gap year and completed a post-baccalaureate Masters program before diving into my medical school journey. As someone who didn’t follow the typical medical school path, I know firsthand the unique challenges and advantages of preparing for the MCAT as a non-traditional student.

Hi, I'm Eden! When I decided to apply to medical school, I was 7 years out from my Bachelor's degree and well into my career. The thought of getting back to studying and taking the MCAT was daunting. In all transparency, I’ve taken the MCAT twice. My first time taking it, I spent the majority of my preparations doing content review and a limited amount of practice questions. After taking the exam and learning from that experience, I knew I wanted to take the exam again without having even received my score yet and how I was going to prepare myself to perform significantly better the second time around. Take it from my own personal experiences to set yourself up for success the first time!