Is taking the mcat in june considered late?

[Forca Barca]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So, iam a junior now. I am planning to take the mcat in june of 2012 and apply when i get my score in Mid july.
Is this normal or is it kind of late to apply then? Do most people have their mcat score by june when the amcas application open or what?

Shanks

 

[TheMightySmiter]

So, iam a junior now. I am planning to take the mcat in june of 2012 and apply when i get my score in Mid july.
Is this normal or is it kind of late to apply then? Do most people have their mcat score by june when the amcas application open or what?

Shanks

Getting your score back in mid-July isn't a problem in terms of timeline. The only concern is that if you were to score low, you would have to retake in August or September, which is considered a late test date. I personally think it's best to take the MCAT in March or April. That way, if for some reason you do poorly, you'll have enough time to study and retake without delaying your application significantly.

Was there a reason you are already choosing June? If it's because you will still be finishing up prereqs in the spring, I honestly think that you would still be fine with an April test date. There isn't much more to learn at that point, and if there is still a bit that you're missing, you can learn it from a prep book.

 

[Forca Barca]

Getting your score back in mid-July isn't a problem in terms of timeline. The only concern is that if you were to score low, you would have to retake in August or September, which is considered a late test date. I personally think it's best to take the MCAT in March or April. That way, if for some reason you do poorly, you'll have enough time to study and retake without delaying your application significantly.

Was there a reason you are already choosing June? If it's because you will still be finishing up prereqs in the spring, I honestly think that you would still be fine with an April test date. There isn't much more to learn at that point, and if there is still a bit that you're missing, you can learn it from a prep book.

Well, in the winter semester i am taking physics 2 and molecular biology (advanced class) so idk if i will do a good mcat prep while taking these courses. So i figured non-intense studying january until may for mcat plus keeping up my good grades in my other 2 classes is better.

Plus i was thinking if i did bad on the mcat ill just take a gap year bc a couple months wont make a significsnt change to my score

Thoughts?

 

[aSagacious]

That's fine, June is not late in my book. I'm of the notion that things should be done right the first time and not rushed. That said, I took my MCAT in mid-April after about 4 months of studying (while taking a pretty hefty course load) and did reasonably well.

 

[lolcat]

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but what course would be more valuable to take before the MCAT --- Cell and Molecular Bio (3 credits) or Microbiology (4 credits with lab)?

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Well, in the winter semester i am taking physics 2 and molecular biology (advanced class) so idk if i will do a good mcat prep while taking these courses. So i figured non-intense studying january until may for mcat plus keeping up my good grades in my other 2 classes is better.

Plus i was thinking if i did bad on the mcat ill just take a gap year bc a couple months wont make a significsnt change to my score

Thoughts?

Seems like a good plan to me. 🙂

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but what course would be more valuable to take before the MCAT --- Cell and Molecular Bio (3 credits) or Microbiology (4 credits with lab)?

I took cell and molecular bio and didn't find it all that helpful, simply because the depth of information in cell and molecular was way beyond the biology on the MCAT. If I had to do everything again, I'd take physiology for the best MCAT prep.

 

[MShopes]

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but what course would be more valuable to take before the MCAT --- Cell and Molecular Bio (3 credits) or Microbiology (4 credits with lab)?

Definitely Cell/Molecular bio...I barely see questions related to microbiology.

However, if I had the chance, I would rather take genetics course instead. It is much more helpful and genetics appear a lot

 

[tn4596]

I took micro last semester, it doesnt rly help...
I also took genetic, this i must say help a lot.. I woud say 70% of the topic in genetics related to mcat, maybe not with the depth you learned in the class but yeah, take genetics..

 

[lolcat]

Thanks for the response guys. I'm actually taking genetics this upcoming semester, along with physics. The next semester I'm going to take physics II along with biochem, and have the option to either take cell and molec or microbio. Looks like I will just take cell and molec based on your responses.

But to the OP, that sounds like a good plan if you are willing to take a gap year. I'm also in a similar situation as you (entering my junior year), but I, on the other hand, am strongly against taking a gap year. A lot of people have told me to aim to take the MCAT in March/April so I can apply early. But I don't want to spend time studying for the MCAT with my school workload (I'll be taking physics II, biochem, cell and molec along with research and ECs).

So basically my question is that is it fine to start studying for the MCAT as my classes end (May) and then by following SN2ed's 3-month schedule I will hopefully finish studying in August and take the MCAT then. How will that affect my application process if I don't want to take a gap year?

 

[ppfizenm]

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but what course would be more valuable to take before the MCAT --- Cell and Molecular Bio (3 credits) or Microbiology (4 credits with lab)?

If you can and you are at that level just take Biochem. Good for the passages on the MCAT and good for med school

 

[ceasefire]

These people had the same questions. Look at those threads for answers please:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=400650

http://www.studentdoctor.net/answer...-to-take-the-mcat-with-a-3-5-sgpa-and-3-6ogpa

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=808080

You can search SDN on google by typing in your search terms (like June MCAT too late) and type "site: studentdoctor.net" so google will give priority to sdn searches that match your criteria.

 

[Procyon]

So do you guys think it's plausible to take the MCAT in like, late April even if I'll be finishing up physics II? (If I start studying at like, the end of December and save physics for last?)

 

[RookTookIt]

So do you guys think it's plausible to take the MCAT in like, late April even if I'll be finishing up physics II? (If I start studying at like, the end of December and save physics for last?)

I think it terms of having taken enough classes to know the material you'll be fine, but it might be difficult to study for the test while you are also taking tough courses.

 

[ghostman]

Getting your score back in mid-July isn't a problem in terms of timeline. The only concern is that if you were to score low, you would have to retake in August or September, which is considered a late test date. I personally think it's best to take the MCAT in March or April. That way, if for some reason you do poorly, you'll have enough time to study and retake without delaying your application significantly.

I agree with this. I took the MCATs at the end of May, two weeks after completing Bio and Orgo. I wish I had taken the April exam though, since there was really no information from those last few weeks of class that came up on my MCATs. I had a decent score, but it was lower than my practice exams. I considered retaking it, but realized that I wouldn't get my score back until late August at the earliest. I ultimately decided not to retake. No clue if this was the right decision, but I felt I really didn't have much of a choice to retake.

 

[Procyon]

I think it terms of having taken enough classes to know the material you'll be fine, but it might be difficult to study for the test while you are also taking tough courses.

Eh, I'm used to a 17 credit course load, but I'm planning on cutting back to 14 for my "MCAT study" semester, so I should be good even if two of the classes are tough. (Physics and biochem.)

 

[NewYorker9]

I took my MCAT in June.

With amcas bumping up the delivery of things in comparison to prior cycles, it's too early to tell if it worked out well or not.

I didn't get my results back until mid-July. Started getting/completing secondaries late July/early august.

We're going on mid-August and a bunch of people already have numerous interview invites from getting their stuff done completely in June -- while I'm currently riding the feared "zero train". 😀

Essentially: I feel the AMCAS' shorter turnaround is a disadvantage for us June-takers and makes us look/feel more late (for many institutions) than we would have been during prior years.

Cliff notes: Take the MCAT in April/May if you can.

Solid advice, thanks for posting this

 

[sunrat39]

Hey guys,

So, I was planning on taking the MCAT during Summer but I don't think I will be ready by then. So, I was planning on taking it maybe early January 2012and hoping to get in this year (fall of 2012) for med school. Is this possible? I know you want to take the MCAT sooner than later but I would rather wait a little while longer and do better than to rush it. Thanks!

 

[paul411]

Hey guys,

So, I was planning on taking the MCAT during Summer but I don't think I will be ready by then. So, I was planning on taking it maybe early January 2012and hoping to get in this year (fall of 2012) for med school. Is this possible? I know you want to take the MCAT sooner than later but I would rather wait a little while longer and do better than to rush it. Thanks!

If you take the MCAT in Jan 2012, you won't be able to apply for fall 2012 admissions. Application deadlines for fall 2012 close by November 2011.

After you take the MCAT in Jan 2012, you can apply during summer 2012 for fall 2013 admissions.

 

[sunrat39]

If you take the MCAT in Jan 2012, you won't be able to apply for fall 2012 admissions. Application deadlines for fall 2012 close by November 2011.

After you take the MCAT in Jan 2012, you can apply during summer 2012 for fall 2013 admissions.

Thanks for the answer. I don't know if you would know this or not but do you think the SMP program follows the same outline (like Loyola University near Chicago)?