Accepted to Early Assurance program. MCAT Requirement

[Rop]

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Hello SDN! I was recently accepted to an early assurance program and I am finishing up my Sophomore year this week. The program wants us to make a good score on the MCAT and I am shooting for a 30 or above.

I am an English major and I have already had a year of Biology and General Chemistry. Next year I will be taking Organic Chemistry and Physics along with Bioethics and some other English courses. I will only have the bare minimum prerequisites for the MCAT.

I plan on taking the January 2014 MCAT during the second semester of my Junior year next year. This means I'll only have a half semester of Orgo and Physics. The reason why I feel that I should take it in January is because my school pretty much gives us 4.5 weeks out of school for winter break and I can use all of this time to study. Summer studying is no longer an option for the MCAT because of the demands from my EAP with classes and things of that nature. Also, my senior year is spent at the Medical School taking Medical School courses for credit along with finishing up my undergrad requirements. As you can see, it would be in my best interest to get this MCAT requirement over with while I am still at my home institution. I know this is not a lot of time but given my circumstances what would you change/any suggestions? Thanks

 

[BABSstudent]

The only thing I would change is to shoot for a 28 on the MCAT. If you really are okay with going there for medical school then I would go with only trying for that 28ish score. It doesn't take that much studying or practice to hit that mark and I think casual studying over the semester and 4.5 weeks of intense studying at the end can get you there. Just make sure you take practice tests and do practice problems.

 

[BABSstudent]

also, it will require a lot of extra studying to teach yourself material that you haven't learned. That means you may need a tutor and lots of practice problems. Buying an ExamKrackers 1001 problems book for physics may help.

 

[coffeesnob]

Hello SDN! I was recently accepted to an early assurance program and I am finishing up my Sophomore year this week. The program wants us to make a good score on the MCAT and I am shooting for a 30 or above.

I am an English major and I have already had a year of Biology and General Chemistry. Next year I will be taking Organic Chemistry and Physics along with Bioethics and some other English courses. I will only have the bare minimum prerequisites for the MCAT.

I plan on taking the January 2014 MCAT during the second semester of my Junior year next year. This means I'll only have a half semester of Orgo and Physics. The reason why I feel that I should take it in January is because my school pretty much gives us 4.5 weeks out of school for winter break and I can use all of this time to study. Summer studying is no longer an option for the MCAT because of the demands from my EAP with classes and things of that nature. Also, my senior year is spent at the Medical School taking Medical School courses for credit along with finishing up my undergrad requirements. As you can see, it would be in my best interest to get this MCAT requirement over with while I am still at my home institution. I know this is not a lot of time but given my circumstances what would you change/any suggestions? Thanks

Honestly, taking the MCAT before learning physics 2 or orgo 2 is not a good idea. Teaching yourself those classes during your winter break sounds like a disaster to me. You will not be able to learn physics 2 and orgo 2 all by yourself and be able to review bio/chem for the MCAT within 4-5 weeks.

You will probably do better taking the MCAT in the spring...If I were you I would review bio, chem, orgo 1 and physics 1 during the winter break. And then study for MCAT during your spring semester (or quarter) along with your classes (orgo 2 and physics 2). I assure you you will have to study much less and do much better if you take the MCAT in the spring. Shoot for April?

EDIT:

Actually, I have no idea where you stand in regard to MCAT knowledge/test taking skills. Why don't you take a practice full length from AAMC right after your fall classes and decide if you want to take the MCAT in January? We can't tell you anything at this point until you show us some MCAT scores. If you score around 27 pre-study, I would say you have a decent shot at scoring 30 or above with 4-5 weeks of reviewing/studying.

 

[bigdogrob4284]

You can get away with not having Ochem 2, but I wouldn't take the MCAT without physics 2. Almost all of the topics covered in physics 2 are fair game for the MCAT, and they are fairly difficult to self teach in my opinion.

 

[Rop]

Thanks everyone. Looks like I need to see how I can take the MCAT during the Spring.