April or August....worth the gamble??

[maizenblue00]

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Someone please advise - when to take the MCAT, what classes to take beforehand.....!!!

Quick summary:
-graduated from U. of Michigan with a BS in Elec. Engineering (3.2 overall),
-some biomedical research exp/coursework
-I have the option of taking either April '06 or Aug '06 MCAT, but don't know which one is best.

I'm taking night/weekend classes at community college (due to lack of choices) for my bio's, orgo's, etc. If I plan on taking the April '06 MCAT, i'll have just finished Orgo II and either bio II, biochem, or genetics.

So: 1) should I wait until August and hope that I'm a strong enough candidate to get in, or cram a little harder and take the April MCAT to use the rolling admissions in my favor? , and 2) what's best to take: bio 2, biochem, or genetics?

 

[efex101]

If you will have MOST of the pre-reqs done by April AND you have time to ADEQUATELY prepare then take the April one. If OTOH you will not have time to study for your classes AND study hard take practice exams for the April MCAT then don't take it because you will be taking the risk of doing badly on it. Only take the MCAT when you know deep down that you WILL have time to prepare for it. It is a difficult exam not to be taken lightly and requires a lot of prep. Do not focus so much on your timeline as far as getting stuff in if that means compromising your scores.

 

[ntmed]

It is a difficult exam not to be taken lightly and requires a lot of prep.

Efex is correct. While the April is the ideal time to take the exam, it would be foolish to take it in April if you are not prepared.

 

[Law2Doc]

Efex is correct. While the April is the ideal time to take the exam, it would be foolish to take it in April if you are not prepared.

I agree with the prior two responses. While taking it in April allows you to get your application complete early, which is a benefit in a rolling admissions process, a higher MCAT score will generally trump an earlier application. The advantage of applying (having the application process complete) early is incredibly overhyped on SDN. In fact, lots of people get in with solid August MCAT scores, and lots of people who apply early with lower scores don't. So take some practice tests, and if you are doing extremely well prior to April, then take it. Otherwise keep studying till August.

 

[mshheaddoc]

Bio II is important and the MCAT tests strictly intro level classes (supposedly). I'm along the same lines as you are. I won't have phys II though and i'll be taking ochem II during spring. I'm taking the april MCAT hopefully, we'll see how things go along. If need be, I'm taking aug mcat.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Someone please advise - when to take the MCAT, what classes to take beforehand.....!!!

Quick summary:
-graduated from U. of Michigan with a BS in Elec. Engineering (3.2 overall),
-some biomedical research exp/coursework
-I have the option of taking either April '06 or Aug '06 MCAT, but don't know which one is best.

I'm taking night/weekend classes at community college (due to lack of choices) for my bio's, orgo's, etc. If I plan on taking the April '06 MCAT, i'll have just finished Orgo II and either bio II, biochem, or genetics.

So: 1) should I wait until August and hope that I'm a strong enough candidate to get in, or cram a little harder and take the April MCAT to use the rolling admissions in my favor? , and 2) what's best to take: bio 2, biochem, or genetics?

1. Take both MCATs. It won't hurt you to have an improved score a second time, if needed.

2. Bio 2 is MANDATORY before the MCAT. Genetics is a very large part of the MCAT. Biochem is not needed.

 

[MJB]

Bio 2?

Never heard of it...

 

[OSUdoc08]

Bio 2?

Never heard of it...

Um it's the one after Bio 1.

For example:

Bio 1301
Bio 1302

 

[Law2Doc]

1. Take both MCATs. It won't hurt you to have an improved score a second time, if needed.

I personally don't agree with this advice. If you aren't ready for the MCAT, it isn't a good idea to wing it. Otherwise if you get a low score you need to apply to AMCAS checking that box that you are retaking, and may need to worry that some schools who only see your first poor score won't wait for the second before rejecting you. Also, getting a bad MCAT once can be explained as a bad test day, but multiple times is a trend. Thus in case you truly have a bad test day in August when you were actually ready, it is to your advantage not to already have had a poor April showing when you were not. There are also schools that would regard people who took the test just once and aced it as stronger candidates than those who took it multiple times before getting a competitive score.

 

[dr4ku]

I personally don't agree with this advice. If you aren't ready for the MCAT, it isn't a good idea to wing it. Otherwise if you get a low score you need to apply to AMCAS checking that box that you are retaking, and may need to worry that some schools who only see your first poor score won't wait for the second before rejecting you. Also, getting a bad MCAT once can be explained as a bad test day, but multiple times is a trend. Thus in case you truly have a bad test day in August when you were actually ready, it is to your advantage not to already have had a poor April showing when you were not. There are also schools that would regard people who took the test just once and aced it as stronger candidates than those who took it multiple times before getting a competitive score.

I've got to agree somewhat with law2doc. I'm an ms1 and took the mcat coming from liberal arts degree. You may have an advantage with the engineering degree. Your rigorous undergrad has prepared you for what is to come. I'm 5 weeks in and it is not difficult material, just a lot of it. The people in my class with biochem degrees, microbiology degrees, masters, phD's etc. are still having to study daily...but only to refresh what they have seen "in a way". It is deeper material in certain areas for them and review in others and totally out of their "zone" in others.
Back to topic! sorry! I took it in April and then again the next August. I scored 7 points higher the 2nd time. Why. Biochem! Anatomy and physio and Genetics! Your bio 2 course is of concern. What is the curriculum. If I were you. I would try to take anatomy and physiology (many times at a JUCO they are given as 1 course, especially if they have a nursing school attached) as a substitute. This will cover everything the bio course would cover + learn the body. I disagree with whomever was saying biochem was not a good mcat prep. It will give you many underpinnings to genetics and biology that will allow you to reason through mcat questions. I would say it allowed me to answer 2 more right in the bio sect alone. And your 1st year is biochem, biochem and more biochem. Even the cellular/histology/anatomy course in med school has a lot of biochem in it. I'm glad i took it.
Then, get your rec letters together. Get strong recs from docs at that school of choice. How do you find them. Network. My church was a huge resource. Do a mission trip (good for you anyway). Don't back down if they don't accept you the 1st time. They want to know if a non=trad is willing to wait. I did. The 2nd trip I got my recs nailed down tight, had the english dept. at the juco use a fine tooth comb on my amcas appl. Not just the personal statement. I had them read everything. My entire application changed in some way or another. If you are working, use it in your application and interview. I have a family and own(ed) a business. Show them how mature and multi-faceted you are. Details, details!!

My advice. 1. Know Christ! 2. Know people. 3. study harder than you think you really are! 4. practice tests,practice tests and more practice problems. 5. don't forget about verbal reasoning. Mine jumped 3 points alone there with really practicing it daily!! 6. Have fun! It's what the rest of your life will be! 7. There is so much more I could say. Read Mark3:34 daily!

 

[Beau Geste]

My advice. 1. Know Christ! 2. Know people. 3. study harder than you think you really are! 4. practice tests,practice tests and more practice problems. 5. don't forget about verbal reasoning. Mine jumped 3 points alone there with really practicing it daily!! 6. Have fun! It's what the rest of your life will be! 7. There is so much more I could say. Read Mark3:34 daily!

Thank you for posting that. Many people here don't agree with Christianity, but thanks for sending out that advice for people who do (like me!). It takes more than ice cream to get me through the tough times 🙂

 

[Lebesgue]

MS3 taking a break from studying for the surgery shelf... Armin @ Ibizda on the PDA. I'll be 36 at grad so I feel qualified to post in this area 🙂

Taking the MCAT in April without adequate prep is suicide... If you blow it in April nothing short of a 30+++ will salvage your chances as an older student (or younger). 28-29 in Aug, no prob. 23 in Apr, 28 in Aug, big prob... Having interviewed, talked to committee members, and interviewed candidates myself, it is much better to take it once in Aug, do well ONCE, than to have a poor score on your record, period.

Of course if you take it in Aug, you had better be ready. I took a dx MCAT at Kaplan and got 15, after 9 full lengths I got 31Q on the real thing. I gave my test taking advice on previous posts:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=2380218#post2380218

Not only did I take the MCAT in Aug, but my app didn't actually go out till Dec due to some AMCAS problem! Did it hurt me? Within a week I was on a plane to Duke and ended up on their waitlist. I had 2 accepts and multiple waitlists. My GPA was avg at 3.5. I had strong letters and an interesting background. I was also a math major which I think set me apart.

Anyway, take it in Aug if you're not ready, take it in Apr if you are. Kaplan was worth it for me and I think it is probably worth it for most non-trads. Also, biochem was good prep for the MCAT, I took a summer course just prior to starting the Kaplan course.

Good luck!

 

[medworm]

April.

If you start cracking MCAT books now, you have enough time to learn the material either on your own or with a review course. Personally, I couldn't stand studying forever for the MCAT. It's stressful no matter what. Just work your butt off the next several months and get it over with.

Or you can either wait til August, still be equally stressed out about the MCAT. And on top of that, deal with months (that feels like years) of anxiety, uncertainties and fears as you run up against application deadlines, late secondaries, and even later interviews. I'm not saying you are definitely at a disadvantage, but good lord -- you will sleep better.

 

[medworm]

Genetics is accepted as upper division bio.

Biochem is recommended, ans sometimes accepted in lieu of 1 semester of ochem.

I recommend genetics.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Genetics is accepted as upper division bio.

Biochem is recommended, ans sometimes accepted in lieu of 1 semester of ochem.

I recommend genetics.

Genetics was a 2000 level class at my school, thus a lower-division course.

Molecular Genetics, on the other hand, was a 4000 level class---an upper-division course.

 

[little_late_MD]

Genetics was a 2000 level class at my school, thus a lower-division course.

Molecular Genetics, on the other hand, was a 4000 level class---an upper-division course.

I believe medworm is correct in his statement that genetics is an upper division bio-course. While it might be a lower level course at your university, generally it isn't. Also, med schools will not accept genetics as a substitute for BIO II, which completes the lower-level biology requirement.

 

[maizenblue00]

Thank you all for your replies. All the different viewpoints is helping me get a better understanding of what I should expect in the next few months....

As of now, I'm just going to work as hard as I can on the courses I'm taking. Over a brief Xmas vacation, I'll think more critically about what I should do to prepare of the April MCAT. If I don't think I can get a respectable score, I'll probably wait until August. Otherwise, I'll take the April and retake in August if I do poorly....I'm just struggling to judge where I fit in with other candidates, and based on that what score I need to get on the MCATs to say it's "respectable." 🙁

On a side note, I just got certified to work at Mission Control on Friday! 😎 Woohoo!

-maizenblue00