Kind of a weird question...but I need to know!

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So long as that will not hurt your GPA and you will be able to catch up, sure I would skip it.
 
If you won't fall behind, then go for it. Usually the first week of class is a joke anyways. Just don't burn out the last week-continue taking lots of breaks and get good amounts of sleep.
 
DO IT.

Even if you take a small slip in GPA (probably unlikely from 1 week of classes unless you are taking a heavy load), it would be outweighed with at least a 2 point increase in MCAT (or a guarantee of not dropping 2 points).
 
It totally depends on your needs and abilities. BUT I thought I'd give you another perspective since most people are saying go for it 🙂

My perspective of the MCAT is that there are two aspects: the basic sciences (or the "hard information") and the format of the test. You've been preparing for the basic sciences since freshman year. You've got that info locked away, and reviewing/studying will help you remember it. But the MCAT challenges your critical thinking, which is seen in the "format" of the test, or the way passages are written, questions are asked and answer options are written. While I don't know your reasoning skills and some people are blessed with an innate ability to reason, critical thinking isn't something that will develop in a few days for most people. Its something that I had to work on for months. Also, remember your limits for studying. I took the MCAT twice. The first time I experienced study exhaustion, something I never had to deal with. The closer the MCAT day came, the worse I did and sure enough got a 24. The second time, I tapered off: started review books, with a few practice sections/tests, then slowly transitioned to all practice sections/tests closer to the test day. I took a practice test 7 days before, and each following day, I reviewed flashcards each morning for an hour. I got a 32 the second time. Anecdotal? Possibly. But some of my friends expressed the same condition, so it must apply to at least a certain population of test-takers.
Sorry, I know you aren't asking for opinion on how to study, but its still a part of my logic of why I wouldn't sacrifice class hours. I'm convinced that an "extra week" won't help you with the basic sciences, and since critical thinking skills in relation to the MCAT are somewhat longitudinal, it won't help you there either. Start a week earlier, and don't exhaust yourself. Skip a week of classes? Well, sure I agree, the first week is "meet your classmates! heres your syllabus! watch the freshmen get completely s***faced!", and most likely wouldn't hurt your GPA. Just some thoughts 🙂 Good luck!!
 
If you're planning to study all summer, that extra week is going to make zero difference and you should get the test over with before the semester starts. Overstudying/burn out is a real phenomenon. It's a bit like preparing to run a race; there will come a point where pushing yourself harder and harder just isn't going to get you anything more on game day.

If you are not planning on studying all summer then it's a closer call depending on exactly how much time you have to study.
 
It would be fine considering the first week of school is usually fluff anyway. A better question would be is one extra week at the end of 3-4months going to make a difference. My own answer would be no but only you can answer that.
 
candbgirl said:
Really?
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Well, I'm making a lot of assumptions. Lets say you shank this semester from missing the first week of classes and drop 0.1-0.2 cGPA that's equivalent to 1-2 points on the MCAT according to the lizzyscore. But unless you're scoring 35+ then 2 mcat points will mean more to your app. As you can see, from the responses, a lot of this is touch and feel, but that is my logic.
 
SN12357 said:
If you're planning to study all summer, that extra week is going to make zero difference and you should get the test over with before the semester starts. Overstudying/burn out is a real phenomenon. It's a bit like preparing to run a race; there will come a point where pushing yourself harder and harder just isn't going to get you anything more on game day.

If you are not planning on studying all summer then it's a closer call depending on exactly how much time you have to study.
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I am planning on studying all summer, and yeah I'm starting to think the 8 days won't really help as much as I thought it would. I tend to get pretty distracted when it comes to adding/dropping classes during the first week of school and I'm afraid such distractions might give me an extra stress I don't need...
 
NuttyEngDude said:
DO IT.

Even if you take a small slip in GPA (probably unlikely from 1 week of classes unless you are taking a heavy load), it would be outweighed with at least a 2 point increase in MCAT (or a guarantee of not dropping 2 points).
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, I wil be taking a heavy load (at least 20-21 credits) and it's very important I get all my classes in order so that I can graduate on time. Schools starts August 25th and add/drop period ends Sept 2nd which is before the mcat so I may not be able to skip the entire week like i though i would. I also need to make good impressions with teachers i need recs from =/

Hmm...I'm confused now. Maybe I need to stop worrying about that extra week?
 
040111333 said:
I am planning on studying all summer, and yeah I'm starting to think the 8 days won't really help as much as I thought it would. I tend to get pretty distracted when it comes to adding/dropping classes during the first week of school and I'm afraid such distractions might give me an extra stress I don't need...
Click to expand...

The absolute last thing you want when you're about to take the MCAT is distractions. Ideally that last 3-4 days before the MCAT should have nothing but studying and then relaxing the night before. I really think letting the semester begin before you take the test is a worse idea.
 
SN12357 said:
The absolute last thing you want when you're about to take the MCAT is distractions. Ideally that last 3-4 days before the MCAT should have nothing but studying and then relaxing the night before. I really think letting the semester begin before you take the test is a worse idea.
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This. Exactly this.
The extra week is a drop in the bucket. The extra distractions and stress being added on RIGHT as you go to take the exam is deadly.
Plus, wouldn't you rather take the MCAT, then have a week or so of 'fluff' to recover so you don't burnout in the semester, rather than OMG FINISH MCAT CRAP NOW IAM A WEEK BEHIND IN FOURCLASSESOMG.
 
Are you planning on applying this upcoming cycle? I really recommend not taking it as late as September. By the time schools get your MCAT the system is so cram packed with all the August applicants that you're at the bottom of the stack. Plus if you take it early you can retake after submitting.
 
Only reason I say this is a friend of mine took hers in September and did badly, then was just **** out of luck. Now she's having to reapply and the whole bit. I mean stuff happens during that exam. It's happened to myself as well as very good friends. You do solid going into the test and something just goes wrong.
 
ChemNerd07 said:
Are you planning on applying this upcoming cycle? I really recommend not taking it as late as September. By the time schools get your MCAT the system is so cram packed with all the August applicants that you're at the bottom of the stack. Plus if you take it early you can retake after submitting.
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Huh. I was assuming they were planning to take it Sept 2014 and apply Jun 2015...but maybe I'm biased as that is my personal plan!
 
ChemNerd07 said:
Are you planning on applying this upcoming cycle? I really recommend not taking it as late as September. By the time schools get your MCAT the system is so cram packed with all the August applicants that you're at the bottom of the stack. Plus if you take it early you can retake after submitting.
Click to expand...

Haha no way. I'm not applying this cycle! I'm just a sophomore right now...I'm planning to take the MCAT 2014 before the new one comes out (since I'm done with all my prerequisites and all...) My back-up plan is to take the Jan. MCAT or possibly the 2015 MCAT if for some terrible reason, I don't do well on my first try.
 
040111333 said:
Unfortunately, I wil be taking a heavy load (at least 20-21 credits) and it's very important I get all my classes in order so that I can graduate on time.
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040111333 said:
Haha no way. I'm not applying this cycle! I'm just a sophomore right now...
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:thinking:

You cant squeeze out an easier (and by easy I mean regular courseload) fall semester and iron it out between now and the next 2 years?
 
NuttyEngDude said:
:thinking:

You cant squeeze out an easier (and by easy I mean regular courseload) fall semester and iron it out between now and the next 2 years?
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Not really. I am a transfer student so really behind in my courses. Hence, I'm missing a lot of pre-reqs I need for the courses in my major. 🙁
 
040111333 said:
Haha no way. I'm not applying this cycle! I'm just a sophomore right now...I'm planning to take the MCAT 2014 before the new one comes out (since I'm done with all my prerequisites and all...) My back-up plan is to take the Jan. MCAT or possibly the 2015 MCAT if for some terrible reason, I don't do well on my first try.
Click to expand...
Ohhhh super smart idea! I almost did this also but I was missing orgo 2. What's nice about that is no one really takes the MCAT around then so it'll be nice and quiet 🙂
 
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