Is it possible to study for the MCAT during the school year?

[premed2013]

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This school year I will be taking biochemistry, physics, english, and history. I will also be doing research, volunteering, and tutoring. Is it possible to study for the MCAT with this type of workload. I plan to take the MCAT next spring which will give me roughly 7-8 months.

I haven't takent physics yet, so I would have to study it as I study the MCAT.

Do you guys think it's possible? What do you guys suggest?

I did some content reviewing this summer. I volunteered at a hospital and did a lot of shadowing this summer.

 

[aSagacious]

I did the same thing (heavy courseload, ECs, etc) and my grades ended up suffering. I would make an effort to lighten up your course load as much as possible during your MCAT prep period.

 

[typicalindian]

definitely try to take a LIGHT course load. The MCAT requires you to study like its a job which you might not be able to do if you have many other obligations to attend to

 

[ellm1205]

I think you should cut out on some of the extracurriculars if possible... I prepared for the MCAT during the school year too, but I made a conscious decision to to cut back on activities outside of class. You need to set aside a certain amount of time to prepare for the MCAT every week, and if you have too much stuff going on, it's really easy to push it aside. good luck!

 

[premed2013]

I plan to take a lighter course load spring semester.

 

[Morsetlis]

I think you should cut out on some of the extracurriculars if possible... I prepared for the MCAT during the school year too, but I made a conscious decision to to cut back on activities outside of class. You need to set aside a certain amount of time to prepare for the MCAT every week, and if you have too much stuff going on, it's really easy to push it aside. good luck!

If you plan on studying like you would in med school, extracurriculars are certainly possible WITH MCAT studying, given a little above-average intelligence and diligence.

 

[Cinclus]

I was a full-time graduate student and teaching assistant while studying for the MCAT. I studied for about 6 months, a bit longer than most, to make up for the fact that I was so busy. So it's definitely possible, though you shouldn't expect to have too much of a life outside of your studies.

 

[ppfizenm]

I did it with a full time job where I also had to design lesson plans every week and went out on weekends. Still got a 34. 2 months of study btw

 

[Etorphine]

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[JOHNNYCAGE]

Echoing what others have said it is definitely possible. Study the physics material for the MCAT as you go through it in class. Don't take any practice tests yet, hold off until you are almost finished or finished with physics. Also if you start studying now you have the advantage to work on things that may require long term investments to improve...verbal comes to mind. Just pace your material so you don't fly through your best resources too early and have nothing for the spring.

 

[FunnyCurrent]

It is possible for some people to do well while maintaining other commitments. This is irrelevant. What matters is if YOU can effectively study for the MCAT with a full or even light load. Thinking about my classmates, the number of students who bombed the MCAT (<28) after studying with no additional commitments dwarfs the number who excelled after studying with a full or light load.

If you have a schedule (in terms of when you would like to apply) that hinges upon success in the MCAT, try to allot as much time for the MCAT as possible. A lot of people experience shock, dismay, and frustration when they finally realize how difficult it is to increase your MCAT score. (Just as an example it took me 3 months to move my verbal score from a 10 to a 12 with consistency. Most frustrating experience evar!)

 

[raltima07]

One more person for its possible - do not mess up though.

 

[wookiewookie]

What about working full time and taking physics II during Spring semester and planning on taking the MCAT in March or April?

I am planning on having all my pre-reqs (except Physics II) done, and would take the class while studying concurrently for MCAT?

 

[NickNaylor]

I took 15 hours and continued all of my ECs while studying for the MCAT. It was hell, and there were weeks where I was unable to do studying, but it's certainly possible if you're dedicated enough.

 

[FutureMD23]

Last spring I worked 35 hours/wk, took 13 hours (including ochem II, lower level pchem, and histology), took an mcat prep course, and obviously took the mcat (in april). It can be done. Definitely was not easy. You just have to stay motivated and remember that it will eventually be worth it!

 

[deep122]

Not advisable. I only took 2 classes and was drowning in the amount of work I had to do. It depends on the person though. Is it worth sacrificing one semester of your social life just to get to medical school one year early? I thought so, but I really regret my decision now.

 

[doctorshateher]

It really depends on your study habits and schedule. Sure, some people can do it. But whether or not you can is something we can't really answer.

I wasn't really able to study for the MCAT like I had hoped during the school year. I had 19 credits I think and I did cut back on ECs but I still ended up missing a big chunk of my MCAT online classes and not making it a priority (my own fault).

I studied for the MCAT about 12-14 hours per day the 7 days leading up to the test to make up for my lack of diligence during the year. I would not really recommend this strategy.

Figure out your schedule, time commitments and study habits and decide if it's realistically something you can handle.

 

[ucsfstudents]

It is possible to study for the MCAT if you do not have a heavy course load. If you have a heavy course load, it is better to focus on your classes and study for the MCAT later.

 

[boshtrich]

I took a heavy courseload (18 credits, mostly science and engineering classes) and took the MCAT in May and my grades and MCAT score turned out fine (ended up with a 3.85 and a 33), so it is possible. The one thing that helped me was that I had about two weeks after school ended to focus on the MCAT, so you could consider taking a May test instead of March or April if you feel you need a little more time. The main thing is to allocate specific times to study and then only study during those times. You can also get some of the AAMC practice tests and take one about every three or four weeks to get an idea of how you are doing and whether or not you will be ready. I would also make sure you finish biochem and physics well before your test (take them in the fall if possible) as those are two very important topics for the MCAT (my physical sciences section was like 70% physics). Just stay focused and stick to a study schedule and you should be fine.

 

[Morzh]

I didn't read all the replies and I'm sure someone already said this, but I did it and ended up doing just fine.

I got my study materials (didn't take a course) around Thanksgiving, studied on-and-off through Christmas when I had some time, and then really picked it up big in late Jan and kept going until my test date at the end of March. I took a lighter load that Spring semester, and especially made sure I didn't take any overly time-consuming labs. Starting about 2 months before I basically didn't have a life anymore--I just got comfortable and good at 4 hour study sessions in the library every evening with short breaks every hour. I worked through all the EK content review books and some other stuff like their 101 verbal, and did all the AAMC practice tests. Scored 34. My semester sucked socially but I don't regret it at all, especially since its not even Sept yet and I've already had 3 interview invites, thanks largely to my score I believe.

 

[gettheleadout]

Yes, I did it with a 38+ score. Don't expect to have a life.

I pretty much plan to emulate this.

 

[Morsetlis]

I pretty much plan to emulate this.

It depends on your intelligence. 4 hours of Kaplan a day for 2 months plus two days of cramming was enough for my 36T. Other people didn't even use review courses... and this one girl I knew only used ONE MCAT book series and got a 38.

 

[Schizotypy]

I studied for the MCAT (didn't take a course, just used one MCAT book and my old textbooks) over the course of a little under 3 months with a full-time job, and with an emergency eye surgery smack dab in the middle of my study schedule (studying with one eye dilated for a month was awesome!). I still got a 34. Make a good study plan and be dedicated but flexible, trying to make up for lost time if you have to dedicate extra time to other activities.

Totally doable if you plan well and disciplined. For insurance, I'd take a slightly lighter course load, though.

 

[gettheleadout]

It depends on your intelligence. 4 hours of Kaplan a day for 2 months plus two days of cramming was enough for my 36T. Other people didn't even use review courses... and this one girl I knew only used ONE MCAT book series and got a 38.

Wish me luck? Haha...