August MCAT advantage???

[Reimat]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Can someone explain to me the advantage of taking the MCAT in August? From what I keep hearing from schools, those applying that fall immediately after are already at a significant statistical disadvantage for admission. By this I mean that when schools finally get your scores, interviews have been handed out, and a first round of acceptances have been given. If you do get an interview as early as December, some rolling admission schools have already filled half their class by then!! So, I guess I wonder what's the significant advantage gained that makes being hurt in the admissions process worth it?

 

[CaptainJack02]

Can someone explain to me the advantage of taking the MCAT in August? From what I keep hearing from schools, those applying that fall immediately after are already at a significant statistical disadvantage for admission. By this I mean that when schools finally get your scores, interviews have been handed out, and a first round of acceptances have been given. If you do get an interview as early as December, some rolling admission schools have already filled half their class by then!! So, I guess I wonder what's the significant advantage gained that makes being hurt in the admissions process worth it?

there is no advantage, scorewise, taking august or april. taking it in august the year you are applying means that your interviews will be delayed since schools will want to see your scores before giving interviews. taking it in april the junior year is what most people do, and it give syou time to retake in august if you don't do well in april. if you do well, then you'll get in your applications in time and you'll receive interviews early on.

what i did, and what i recommend, is taking the mcat the summer right after sophomore year(assuming you're comfortable with the prereq material). this'll let you take the test in the summer without the burden of spring coursework, and you can retake in april if you don't do well in august and STILL get your app in on time and get your interviews lined up. but honestly, there are many people here who took it the august of the year they were applying, and still got in. their interviews were a tad delayed, but there's no inherent advantage in either april or spring, scoring-wise since they adjust scores to a bell curve that remains incredibly consistent session to session.

 

[Lindyhopper]

Yea, any advantage in taking the August test has to stem from having time to study unburdened by spring course work. For same year applicants, there is clearly a timing advantage in taking the April test. I heard different estimates of just how significant is the advantage early file completion.
I think the nature of standardized tests is such that the aamc has to do it damnest to insure that a 30 is a 30 is a 30; regardless of when tested.
Good Luck

 

[fever5]

...the aamc has to do it damnest to insure that a 30 is a 30 is a 30; regardless of when tested.
Good Luck

Look at the disparity between the average score in April 2004 vs. August 2004. Its almost 1 point; large for a sample size of 30,000

 

[datucha13]

I agree with CaptainJack above that the best time to take the MCAT is the summer after your 2nd year of college (August). Grab a job that requires about 24 hours/week and spend the rest of your time on the MCAT.

If you are going to take it in April, then drop down to 3 courses.
No matter how you choose to prep, many hours will be needed so plan accordingly.

 

[Reimat]

Yea, I can see why Aug. after Sophomore year makes sense- now that i'm a junior, I missed my chance to do that, but thanks for the responses

 

[45408]

what i did, and what i recommend, is taking the mcat the summer right after sophomore year(assuming you're comfortable with the prereq material). this'll let you take the test in the summer without the burden of spring coursework, and you can retake in april if you don't do well in august and STILL get your app in on time and get your interviews lined up.

Yeah, that's what I did, and now that I have a job, decreased motivation, and a full load for April of my junior year, I am relieved beyond belief that I already have a score that I can just set on the shelf to apply with in the summer. I can't imagine having to fire up some of those long-dormant brain cells now. 😱

Look at the disparity between the average score in April 2004 vs. August 2004. Its almost 1 point; large for a sample size of 30,000

That's been explained fairly well though - all of the people who tanked the April exam are going to come back for the August exam, and statistically, most of them won't do much better than they did the first time.