The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra. - Jimmy Johnson

Doctors all over the world believed, for decades, that stomach ulcers and stomach cancers were the result of spicy foods, a lot of acid, and too much stress.

Barry Marshall however, had different beliefs. As an Australian physician, and microbiology researcher, he believed that ulcers were in fact, triggered by bacteria; Helicobacter Pylori.

To most, this idea seemed crazy.

But to Marshall and his lab partner, this was the truth.

Unfortunately for both of them, they had been unable to provide evidence for how bacteria and ulcers are linked. They had conducted numerous lab experiments on pigs and now, his grant money was almost finished.

Disheartened, Marshall gained his confidence when he saw that thousands of people were dying from stomach cancer every year.

The cure, he believed, was easily available: anti­biotics. But mainstream gastroenterologists dismissed his conclusions, as they held on to the old beliefs that ulcers were caused by stress.

Not being able to make his case in studies with lab mice since H. pylori only affects primates, Marshall grew desperate.

To make matters worse, he was unable to experiment on people which was the only way he could prove what he already knew, and save thousands of lives.

It was July 1984, when Marshall did the unthinkable.

He experimented on the only human patient he could be allowed to experiment on...

Himself.

The week leading up to the MCAT can be very stressful. Especially if you don’t have any guidance.

Here are some helpful tips to be completely prepared, come test day…

Firstly, approximately a week before the MCAT, you should make an effort to actually visit the testing centre.

Kind of like a practice run.

Why should you do this?

On exam day, you want your mind to be as fresh and clear as possible before writing. If you’re going to be using mental focus and energy to figure out directions, plan your morning, plan your day, look for parking, looking for where to go at the testing centre, and hundreds of other things, you’re going to be at a disadvantage when it comes to starting the exam.

What should you do?

Have your entire morning planned from the day before. Get everything you need packed and ready to go. Have your breakfast figured out. The morning of, you should have no stress whatsoever. Plan for optimal performance.

For even safer and better results, practice this entire day once a week before. The same day you go to the testing center, wake up on the same time you’d wake up for the MCAT.

There is huge value in doing this – though it may not be obvious to you right now.

Action Steps The Day Before The Exam

1 - Go through your flashcards. Write out your key memorized information on one sheet.

2 - Recognize where you were when you first started MCAT prep, and where you are now. Think of how much you’ve learned.

3 - Read over your mistakes book. Is there any mistake in there that doesn’t make you feel as comfortable as the others?

4 - You need to sleep early. However, you might also be nervous. Anxiety often causes us to not be able to sleep. Most MCAT Masters made sure that they slept only 5 or 6 hours two nights before their final night. This allowed them to be tired enough to pass out, regardless of their nerves acting up.

Did we miss any good tips? Leave your last-week recommendations in the comments section below...