Gap Year and New MCAT

[Plue00]

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Hey guys (originally posted this on the wrong forum 😛)

I'm set to graduate in 2015 and after talking to my parents, they insisted I take a year off so I can do some things before medical school.

The problems comes with the new MCAT. If i were to go straight from undergrad to med school, I would take the MCAT at the end of my third year (April 2014) and apply that June. Since I'm going to be taking a year off, I decided it's best to spend the summer studying and take the MCAT in August/September 2014 and apply June 2015.

Would my 2014 (old) MCAT be accepted by medical schools if I'm applying for the 2015-2016 cycle?

Also, do you guys know if new courses like biochem/psychology/sociology would be required for those applying in 2015? I'm not scheduled to take any of those during undergrad and only have AP credit for psychology.

Thanks for the help. Tried searching but didn't really have much luck.

 

[Plue00]

Your 2014 test wouldn't be a problem. Most schools accept MCAT scores taken within the last 3 years.

As for the "new" courses, it will probably be school-specific. It can't hurt to send an email to the schools you're interested in to see if these courses will be necessary during the 2015 cycle.

If you have the time, check out the latest copy of the MSAR. The schools that recommend these psychology and sociology courses may start requiring them in a few years. I can't see the schools that don't recommend them now making them required in the following year.

Thanks for the help. I just got a weird message from someone saying the exact opposite of you

Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

 

[plumhill]

Hey guys (originally posted this on the wrong forum 😛)

I'm set to graduate in 2015 and after talking to my parents, they insisted I take a year off so I can do some things before medical school.

The problems comes with the new MCAT. If i were to go straight from undergrad to med school, I would take the MCAT at the end of my third year (April 2014) and apply that June. Since I'm going to be taking a year off, I decided it's best to spend the summer studying and take the MCAT in August/September 2014 and apply June 2015.

Would my 2014 (old) MCAT be accepted by medical schools if I'm applying for the 2015-2016 cycle?

Also, do you guys know if new courses like biochem/psychology/sociology would be required for those applying in 2015? I'm not scheduled to take any of those during undergrad and only have AP credit for psychology.

Thanks for the help. Tried searching but didn't really have much luck.

Of course it'll vary by school, but I can't imagine that schools won't continue to accept the old MCAT for 2-3 years. If they didn't it would be a huge disadvantage for students who are taking a gap year, and virtually no one could take the MCAT in 2014 unless they were applying for the 2014 cycle...

 

[Plue00]

If you want to believe the other person, go for it.

If you want to listen to reason, check the MSAR. Each school has an "Oldest MCAT Considered" section, where they'll have the date of the oldest MCAT they'll take into account. The University of Michigan, for example, will accept MCAT scores as old as January 1, 2011, for this cycle.

It'd be idiotic to make all 2015 applicants take the MCAT in 2015. Can you imagine trying to sign up for a test that year?

Of course it'll vary by school, but I can't imagine that schools won't continue to accept the old MCAT for 2-3 years. If they didn't it would be a huge disadvantage for students who are taking a gap year, and virtually no one could take the MCAT in 2014 unless they were applying for the 2014 cycle...

Ahhh, thank you guys. Now I don't have to freak out and rush to apply in 2014 and can delay it til 2015.

Only thing left to know for those of us applying are which schools are adding the biochem/psych/socio classes as a requirement.