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How I Balanced Working 30 Hours a Week and Still Scored Over 510 on the MCAT
By Dr. Sarah
Last Updated Apr 2, 2025
Summary: This blog shares the honest story of a student working nearly full-time while prepping for the MCAT. It walks through the struggle of juggling long work shifts and study guilt, the discovery of a better system, and how a streamlined study method helped her finally feel confident — and score over 510.
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When I first started studying for the MCAT, I was working close to 30 hours a week at a local pharmacy.At first, I told myself, “I’ll just study after work.”
But most nights, I’d come home absolutely drained — mentally, physically, emotionally.
The thought of sitting through a 40-minute video or reviewing dense biochem passages felt impossible.And I remember thinking… how does anyone manage both?
"Everyone says you need 6 months, but I didn’t have that luxury."
All over Reddit and YouTube, I kept seeing the same advice:• Study full-time if you can
• Watch hours of lecture content daily
• Expect to prep for 4 to 6 months minimumBut that wasn’t realistic for me. Between work shifts, trying to keep up with life, and still squeezing in some sort of rest… I knew I needed something more efficient.There was this constant pit in my stomach — like I was already behind before I even started.
1. I tried to make it work with free resources… but I ended up wasting more time.
I hopped between free flashcards, random study schedules, and overly complicated prep books.Some days I felt productive. Other days, I’d stare at the same paragraph five times and still not remember anything.
There was no structure. No focus. Just overwhelm.It felt like I was throwing spaghetti at the wall — hoping something would stick.
2. The turning point: finding a system that actually respected my time
One night (after a particularly rough shift), I stumbled on a post about the 30 Day MCAT Study Bundle.I was skeptical at first.
“There’s no way I can prep for the MCAT in 30 days,” I thought.But the more I read, the more it sounded like exactly what I needed:• A high-yield study plan that told me exactly what to do each day
• Resources that cut out the fluff and focused on what actually shows up on the test
• Strategies built around active recall, AAMC-tested content, and realistic practice questionsSo I took the leap.
3. What studying looked like with the 30-Day MCAT Plan
It wasn’t about studying for 6+ hours a day.It was about studying smart for 1–3 hours consistently — with laser focus.
Here’s what changed:• Instead of guessing what to study, I had a custom daily schedule that told me exactly where to start• The lessons were **clear and direct **— no long lectures, just high-yield breakdownsI practiced using actual MCAT-style questions and reviewed with strategies that helped me retain contentEven on days I worked back-to-back shifts, I could still make real progress.
And honestly? That momentum gave me confidence.Did I still feel tired sometimes? Of course.But I wasn’t wasting time anymore. I was finally moving forward.
4. One month later: My scores improved. My confidence skyrocketed.
Before this, I was scared to even take a full-length practice test.But after using the bundle, I watched my scores slowly climb — first to the high 490s, then the low 500s.
And finally... I hit my goal: a 510+.No fancy course.
No thousand-dollar tutor.
Just a clear, efficient system that helped me stay on track — even with a packed schedule.
5. If you’re working while studying… I see you.
You don’t need to study full-time to succeed.
You don’t need to burn out or give up everything else in your life.
You just need a plan that works with your schedule — not against it.If you’re where I was — tired, frustrated, and feeling behind — I really recommend checking out the 30 Day MCAT Study Bundle.It won’t do the work for you…
But it’ll make your work count.
Follow These 5 Steps— and You’ll See Results
By following these five proven steps — recognizing when your study method isn’t working, focusing on what matters, trusting a structured plan, maximizing limited hours, and believing that consistency > time — you can reach your MCAT goals even while working part-time or full-time.But here’s the challenge:
Most students struggle to apply these lessons on their own — not because they don’t care, but because they’re overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin.That’s why I always tell people: Don’t try to do this the hard way.
Let the 30 Day MCAT Study Bundle guide you — it made all the difference for me.
That’s why we created The 30-Day MCAT Study Bundle—to provide students with a step-by-step roadmap that ensures they follow these exact six steps effortlessly.For a limited time, the 30-Day MCAT Study Bundle is available with exclusive bonuses:🔹 A Complete 30-Day Study Plan – Know exactly what to study every day.
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Student Reviews
Monica L.
"I didn’t think 30 days was enough time to prep for the MCAT… but this study system PROVED ME WRONG. I went from a 502 to a 515 in one month."
Monica's MCAT Score: 515
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Monica's MCAT Score: 521
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