motivation to study for mcat
medical students i need some guidance.?
i'm about to enter my freshman year this upcoming fall. i plan to start studying for MCATs a little bit from then until the end of sophomore year. By sophomore year, I plan to take the MCAT. is this a good idea? i sort of want to travel abroad for research and studying junior and senior year. i really want to make sure i don't mess up. i want to do extremely well. i think i'm pretty bright. i just hate high school and it gives me very little motivation to succeed. but in college, i think i will be more determined since i'll be on my own completely. please, any advice would be great. 
No, no, no, not a good idea!!!
The MCAT directly tests the material taught in the premed prereq classes. It will therefore be useless, pointless, and a source of unnecessary angst and anxiety to start studying for the MCAT before even taking those classes. It's like studying to take the final exam before registering for the class (in fact, that's exactly what it is). If you don't believe me, flip through the organic chemistry section of an MCAT review book at the local bookstore....it will look like absolute gibberish to you at this point in your education (although to be fair, it remains absolute gibberish to most people actually taking orgo....)
Most people take the MCAT their junior year....in part because that's when they're usually wrapping up the premed courses, and also because MCAT scores are only valid for a few years. If you're going abroad, then perhaps taking it before you leave is a good idea....but trust me, your plans are going to change 500 times between now and then.
I know the MCAT has an infamous reputation...and to be fair, it's mostly legitimate, but it's not what you should be focusing on now....and if you are 'pretty bright' then there REALLY is no need to start studying now. Most people start buckling down and study a few months before the exam....and the anxious head-starters probably start about 6 months before.
At the start of college you should simply focus on doing well in your classes, learning the material (so you aren't self-teaching it when cramming for the MCAT), and having fun. You *won't* be on your own....every college has a premed advisor--get in touch with yours when you start school. He/she will help you with what classes to take, when to take the MCAT, what volunteering/shadowing you should be doing, and so on.
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