Tackling the MCAT: An Interview with Bradley Fox (Duke Medical School MS1)

Navigating the path to medical school can be challenging, but having the right advice makes all the difference. From tackling the MCAT to surviving long nights of studying, Bradley Fox (Duke Medical School MS1) has navigated the journey firsthand. We reached out to him to get insights, tips, and advice for aspiring medical students.

MCAT QUESTIONS

How did you study for the MCAT and what was your studying timeframe?  

• I studied for six months total. I spent three months reviewing content in a textbook, and another three months taking practice questions on Anki Milesdown, Uworld, and AAMC
• I took periodic practice AAMC exams: at the beginning, mid-point, and then on a ~bi-weekly basis starting two months before the exam 

Did you take the MCAT more than once if so, why? 

• I only took the MCAT one time, in the Winter of 2023.
• In general, I would never plan on taking the MCAT more than once (this will lead you to develop a mindset where it’s easy to fail)

Do you wish you took a certain class that would have better prepared you for med school?

• I do not have any regrets about my preparation for my medical school coursework. For example, I am taking pathophysiology classes now, and I do not believe that there is any undergraduate class that would have prepared me (any better than the MCAT) for understanding and approaching the content
• However, I have huge regrets about not taking classes that involve technical skills relevant for contributing to medical school “outside of the classroom.” These include: (1) machine learning or artificial intelligence; (2) health policy classes; or (3) advanced statistics classes. These three classes are perfect examples of areas where medical students can eventually develop skills that can be used directly on published research projects in medical school.

What was the most beneficial resource and how did you use it? 

• The two most beneficial resources are (1) UWorld practice question bank, and (2) AAMC CARS practice passages. You should be doing these practice questions non-stop for the entre three months leading up to your exam. It helps you get used to the content AND the style in which AAMC asks their questions, which is important for CARS so you can build a subconscious intuition for how to answer questions correctly. I would recommend being extra-careful to analyze questions when you get them wrong.

What is one tip you would give premed students about to start prepping or about to take the MCAT?

• There are TONS of practice questions on AAMC and Uworld. Give yourself the time to take all of them, and learn from every answer you get wrong. Remember, no one will be checking or will care about the scores you get on your practice tests!!

How did you balance studying for the MCAT with other commitments like school, work, or extracurriculars while staying motivated and avoiding burnout while studying for the MCAT?

• I took a month off work in the month leading up to the MCAT. This helped give me full-time space to focus on studying. In addition, I took a vacation about two months before my test date, where I studied for ~2 hours per day and was otherwise relaxing on a cruise ship. This was HUGE in clearing out burnout that was building up in my system, and it gave me a clear mind heading into the final month of full-time grinding

MEDICAL SCHOOL QUESTIONS

What was the most challenging part of the medical school application process for you?

• The most challenging part was in the Summer of application season, when I balanced 60+-hour work weeks with writing ~15+ unique Secondary essays about my life experiences. Secondary essays can NOT be underestimated; these are a critical section where admissions committees can compare students who might otherwise have similar profiles (e.g., high MCATs, high GPAs, similar quality recommendations). It is hugely painful to create tailored and personal responses for ADCOMS to compare between students, and this is only going to get harder as AI technology improves

How did you choose which medical schools to apply to?

• I spent a lot of time reflecting on the following criteria: (1) where I wanted to live (e.g., Urban, East Coast, Cold Weather); (2) academic preferences (e.g., schools with “flipped classroom”, schools with 1 versus 2 years of preclinical work); (3) residency match rates by specialty; (4) student experiences, as reported on Reddit or during admissions weekend; (5) research and extra-curricular opportunities. These five reflections helped me to clarify my school preferences, and even better, they helped me understand my specific interests within medicine, which gave me “fodder” for my Secondary essays

What do you think made your application stand out to admissions committees?

• I’d like to think that there are two types of successful applications: “well-rounded” and “pointy” applications. For me, I presented a “well-rounded” application, with a cohesive narrative for supporting social patient’s social needs as a community leader, including perspectives from my experiences in the clinic, in business, and in community service. To be clear, I did NOT have a “pointy” standout achievement – I did NOT publish in Nature, or file for a patent, or score a perfect MCAT score, but I have classmates who did all of these things.
• For pre-meds, I recommend using your first two years to: (1) explore your genuine interests within medicine (e.g., cancer care,  social determinants of health,

How did you manage the transition from undergrad to medical school?

• I took three gap years. This transition was helpful for three reasons: (1) I developed some “real-world” skills and a unique perspectives, as a business consultant for healthcare insurance companies; (2) I needed the extra time to study and take the MCAT; (3) I needed the money required to apply to medical school and sustain myself without relying too heavily on loans. Nearly everyone in my class at DukeMed took 1+ gap years, and I would highly recommend it for anyone struggling to navigate the transition.

What study habits or skills have helped you the most in medical school?

• Most of my classmates use Anki to study, however I personally focus on practice problems (some generated by my professors, some by ChatGPT) as well as re-watching videos from lecture presentations.
• I would recommend for students to use their undergraduate classes and MCAT sessions to explore various strategies (e.g., anki, UWorld, textbook reading) and find active-learning techniques that feel natural for them.

If you could go back, what would you do differently in your premed journey?

• I would more authentically pursue classes and extra-curriculars that you are passionate about, and try (as best you can) to avoid activities that your heart is not committed to.