Best Use of a Short Sophomore Summer: MCAT or Research

[potatopotato]

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I am a prospective MD/PhD undergrad in my sophomore year. I will be studying abroad in Europe in the spring and will be returning around June 1. I am currently debating my options for the summer considering the time MCAT studying will take (planning to take in August)

My options are:
1. Full time research position in my area of interest through an organized program. I would study for MCAT in the evenings.
2. Part time/flexible hours arrangement shadowing an MD and helping with clinical research (contact from parents). This would not be bench research and not in my primary area of interest. However, I would have much more time to study and it would be a lower stress arrangement.

I have 2 previous summers of formal research program experience in the same lab, and 1 semester of research for credit at my university.

Which would be the best use of my 10 weeks this summer?

 

[Nymphicus]

MCAT if you have enough time to devote to it and have taken the pre-reqs.

In my opinion.

 

[CuttingCorneas]

It seems like you've already got a substantial amount of research. I would say MCAT preparation is the best choice.

 

[487806]

As others mentioned, MCAT has the priority here (as always). Good .

 

[Bangersandmash]

How committed are you to an MD/PhD program? If you're dead set on it, do as much research as you can while still getting a 34+ MCAT. Unless you already have publications with your previous summer research programs, the more the better for MD/PhD programs. Focus on one area/project though. Don't just do research for the hell of it.

Otherwise, go for the MCAT. I am a strong proponent of taking it after sophomore year if you have an adequate amount of time in the summer to study.

 

[DrBing]

Do you plan on taking the MCAT your third year? I'm assuming you've already completed all of the pre-med reqs if you're thinking about studying for the MCAT already. If not I don't see how the MCAT could be helpful to you studying so far in advance. If I were you, I would do what truly interest me for one summer just to add some variety and stand out as a med school applicant. So many people do research,research, research. I don't think stacking on more research is going to make you look any better as an applicant. Try something new, like attending a global health conference, shadowing or scribing in the hospitals, volunteering with an organisation that runs free medical clinics. Unless, you plan on getting some type of research/lab job in the medical field then I would definitly try to switch it up some. So if I had to pick I think you should go with option 2!🙂

Hope this Helps!

 

[Josh7]

Is it worth studying for the MCAT over that summer if I haven't taken Orgo II yet?

 

[DrBing]

Is it worth studying for the MCAT over that summer if I haven't taken Orgo II yet?

What MCAT do you plan on taking? MCAT 2015 or the current one? If it's the current one I feel like it couldn't hurt to start looking at the MCAT. Have you taken physics already too? Personally, I'm not worried about the MCAT at all. I'm going to study everyday for a month before I take it summer after I graduate. Then take a gap year and travel! See some things. Gain some new insight. Everyone's in such a rush to get to med school and accumulate debt. lol i'm chillin 😎

 

[Ismet]

OP: MCAT. I don't know if you've ever studied abroad before, but re-entry is a b**** for a lot of people. I was pretty non-functional for a couple weeks after returning from my study abroad (reverse culture shock, readjustment to being at home, etc), so you should consider the possibility that you won't be starting MCAT prep for a bit after returning. That said, just studying in the evenings might not cut it for prepping for an August MCAT. Everyone's different though, and you might be able to make it work.

I'm going to study everyday for a month before I take it summer after I graduate. Then take a gap year and travel! See some things. Gain some new insight. Everyone's in such a rush to get to med school and accumulate debt. lol i'm chillin 😎

Until you get your first loan repayment check 6 months after graduation. I'm all for a gap year, but that's a bad rationale to have.

 

[Spinach Dip]

OP: Seeing as you already have a good deal of research, I would suggest some intense MCAT study. It is a bear and doing some study at night after a full day of lab work does not sound like the best idea.

On OChem 2: Most of what you need to know for the MCAT is in OChem 1. And your study time should prepare you for the rest.

 

[Josh7]

What MCAT do you plan on taking? MCAT 2015 or the current one? If it's the current one I feel like it couldn't hurt to start looking at the MCAT. Have you taken physics already too? Personally, I'm not worried about the MCAT at all. I'm going to study everyday for a month before I take it summer after I graduate. Then take a gap year and travel! See some things. Gain some new insight. Everyone's in such a rush to get to med school and accumulate debt. lol i'm chillin 😎

Yep I've already taken the physics courses. I guess the only part I'm really worried about on the MCAT is the biology section. I think I'm pretty strong in the other categories but I'm really taking the bare minimum requirements for biology since my major isn't a biological science. Just hoping that a few months of intensive self studying can overcome that.

 

[NickNaylor]

I don't think it would be unreasonable to study in the evenings. Turning down the opportunity to do a research program to study for the MCAT seems a bit overkill. I highly doubt you're going to be studying more than a few hours a day anyway, right?

I mean it's better than studying during school since you don't have much "homework" to deal with even with the research position.

(sent from my phone)

 

[moosetracks]

yep i've already taken the physics courses. I guess the only part i'm really worried about on the mcat is the biology section. I think i'm pretty strong in the other categories but i'm really taking the bare minimum requirements for biology since my major isn't a biological science. Just hoping that a few months of intensive self studying can overcome that.

chiefffffff

 

[Bangersandmash]

OP: MCAT. I don't know if you've ever studied abroad before, but re-entry is a b**** for a lot of people. I was pretty non-functional for a couple weeks after returning from my study abroad (reverse culture shock, readjustment to being at home, etc), so you should consider the possibility that you won't be starting MCAT prep for a bit after returning. That said, just studying in the evenings might not cut it for prepping for an August MCAT. Everyone's different though, and you might be able to make it work.

Non-functional for a couple of weeks? Are you exaggerating? Or are you just easily shocked? I can't imagine how you functioned the first week overseas if coming back home was such a shock. My overseas trips have not been more than a 3 day recovery.

 

[Josh7]

chiefffffff

👍

 

[Ismet]

Non-functional for a couple of weeks? Are you exaggerating? Or are you just easily shocked? I can't imagine how you functioned the first week overseas if coming back home was such a shock. My overseas trips have not been more than a 3 day recovery.

I had traveled abroad before (to Europe) and never had an issue. Forgive me for sounding cliche, but while studying abroad, I visited countries and interacted with people that completely changed my point of view on a lot of things. I didn't want to come back so soon, but I had to start school the week after returning. I had zero drive to do anything, I was depressed with how much waste and excess we as Americans (definitely me included) are used to...etc.

TL;DR: If I had to buckle down and study for the MCAT in that first week or two after returning, I wouldn't get much yield. YMMV

 

[sliceofbread136]

All my friends who did a study abroad and then studied for the MCAT ended up voiding it and are now not applying to med school.