MCAT for 2011 Cycle

[StateCA]

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Hi guys,
if we are applying for the 2011 cycle for admission into med school at fall 2011 when is the optimal time to take the mcat, like the latest (generally speaking for most schools) and when do you guys suggest we take it?
Thank you for easing my confused mind

 

[nkool]

Hi,
i'm in the same boat..i'll be taking the mcat in june 2010.

 

[Klemptor]

A lot of people take the MCAT in Spring of their junior year, but really it depends on what coursework you've had. For example, if you won't be taking second-semester Physics or Orgo until Spring of your junior year, then it makes sense to wait until May or June to take the MCAT.

One brilliant approach (if you've got a good enough grasp of the material) is to study during winter break of your junior year and take the MCAT in January. That way if you do poorly you still have plenty of time to retake it before submitting your primary app, and you won't have taken time away from your schoolwork to study for the MCAT.

In my opinion, the July and August test dates are pushing it a bit. I'd suggest June at the latest. Remember it takes about 30 days to get your score back.

 

[luckyducky87]

I agree that July/August the year before matriculation is a bit late.

Actually, my suggestion would actually be to take it the summer after your sophomore year (so... I'm guessing this summer for you), if you have all of your pre-req's done. If I had one advice for freshman pre-meds, that'd be my suggestion (and plan your coursework so you'll be done by sophomore year), and one thing that I wish I had done.

This way, you're not worrying about the MCAT at all during the school year (and I'm not sure if one month of winter break is enough to really prepare for this beast, unless you can get yourself to work intensely everday during a break) OR while you're busy working on primary/secondary applications... and definitely plenty of chance to retake it.


But if this is not the case and you're trying to take it at the latest time possible, then I'd go for May or June after your junior year.

 

[sully677]

Spring before applying in the summer 🙂

 

[Shawnpremed]

Taking the MCAT a year before you apply is fine for all US med schools right?

 

[Klemptor]

It's fine - I believe MCAT scores are good for three years.

 

[Richard Alpert]

Have the dates that for next years MCAT test dates been posted yet? I'm in the same shoes and would like to apply in the 2011 cycle. Thanks.

 

[Excelsius]

Hi guys,
if we are applying for the 2011 cycle for admission into med school at fall 2011 when is the optimal time to take the mcat, like the latest (generally speaking for most schools) and when do you guys suggest we take it?
Thank you for easing my confused mind

The advantage of taking the MCAT late, such as during spring right when you apply, is that it will be good for 2-3 years for medschools in case you don't get in that cycle.

On the other hand, the advantage of taking it a year or so before applying is that if you don't do well, you can retake it without worrying about your application being late.

So if you have completed all your prereqs and MCAT-related courses, the ideal time to take the test would be within a year of applying but having enough time to be able to take it the second time right before you apply in case you need it. The spring of the application year is not that great then.

Also consider that you will be busy with your applications starting in June. It will be very tough to take the time to retake the MCAT then especially if you are taking classes, working, or have other ECs.

 

[Chances]

Thank you for starting this forum.. my hope is to get in fall 2011. I will be taking the MCAT spring 10'......

 

[Bac Si]

how far do we have to book in advance to take the mcat? i wasn't planning to take my mcat till may 2010, but i'll be done with org 1 and physics 1 in nov. and thinking about taking the mcat in jan. so when would i have to book the date. or should i jsut wait till after org 2 and physic 2? or is it safe to take even without taking org/physic2?

 

[metalgirl14]

You usually need to register for the mcat 3 months in advance. Registration for the January mcat doesn't start until middle of October though.

 

[metalgirl14]

how far do we have to book in advance to take the mcat? i wasn't planning to take my mcat till may 2010, but i'll be done with org 1 and physics 1 in nov. and thinking about taking the mcat in jan. so when would i have to book the date. or should i jsut wait till after org 2 and physic 2? or is it safe to take even without taking org/physic2?

I would suggest you wait to take the MCAT until after Orgo 2 and Physics 2 are completed. There is a good amount of material on the MCAT that would pertain to these two topics and you'd put yourself at a disadvantage if you did not take these classes yet. 🙂

 

[PursueHappyness]

I will have all my prerequisites done by Spring 2011, although I will be completing my second term of Ochem that spring.
If Ochem is my only class, can I take Ochem class and study for the MCAT from January to June, then take the test mid June? I would be apply to start med school in 2012.

 

[Chances]

I would suggest you wait to take the MCAT until after Orgo 2 and Physics 2 are completed. There is a good amount of material on the MCAT that would pertain to these two topics and you'd put yourself at a disadvantage if you did not take these classes yet. 🙂

I am actually taking the MCAT in april towards the end of orgo II. Is this a bad time to take the MCAT? I chose this time frame so I can apply to school as early as possible, since I wasn't a science major, and I have more to prove in regards to grades. I do plan on taking the aug MCAT If I don't do so well in april.

 

[Zona Pellucida]

Spring: April-May

That way if you didn't do as well as you know you could've done (aka far off from you AAMC avergage) you have the June-July dates to do a quick retake while everything is fresh.

This is what happened for me. May 22nd (Eh.) then July 31st (Improved.)

 

[Chances]

Spring: April-May

That way if you didn't do as well as you know you could've done (aka far off from you AAMC avergage) you have the June-July dates to do a quick retake while everything is fresh.

This is what happened for me. May 22nd (Eh.) then July 31st (Improved.)

OK so, say I have a situation like you and I want the schools to see my best score, instead of the not so great one do I not release my score til the second score comes out? I know this may be a question for aamc people, but I figured you have already been through it. What did you do with your scores? I read somewhere the schools look at the most recent score...😕

 

[JJMrK]

I am actually taking the MCAT in april towards the end of orgo II. Is this a bad time to take the MCAT? I chose this time frame so I can apply to school as early as possible, since I wasn't a science major, and I have more to prove in regards to grades. I do plan on taking the aug MCAT If I don't do so well in april.

April is ideal IMO.

OK so, say I have a situation like you and I want the schools to see my best score, instead of the not so great one do I not release my score til the second score comes out? I know this may be a question for aamc people, but I figured you have already been through it. What did you do with your scores? I read somewhere the schools look at the most recent score...😕

You don't want to be in this situation. Plan on preparing for and taking the test only once. If you end up having to take it twice, schools will see (and consider) both scores. The exception is if you void the first test immediately after taking it, but this isn't recommended as you won't have seen your scores.

 

[boaz]

I'm going to take the exceptional opinion and advise the OP to take the test at least a month after spring finals. That gives you time to focus exclusively on that and nothing else. Of course it makes life easier if you can have your apps complete as early as possible, but I don't think that advantage balances the advantage of getting a better MCAT score. Even if you are unhappy with your score, there's still time to retake. Don't listen if anyone tells you that August completion is "late."

 

[Evergrey]

I'm going to take the exceptional opinion and advise the OP to take the test at least a month after spring finals. That gives you time to focus exclusively on that and nothing else. Of course it makes life easier if you can have your apps complete as early as possible, but I don't think that advantage balances the advantage of getting a better MCAT score. Even if you are unhappy with your score, there's still time to retake. Don't listen if anyone tells you that August completion is "late."

Yeah, good MCAT > early MCAT. By a lot. A month of preparation will boost your score a lot.

I would say taking it by early July is the latest people should consider. Med schools don't even begin offering interviews until August, so you'll be complete around the time when interviews start being handed out.

Late July/August/September MCAT dates are cutting it a bit close though, and might significantly affect your chances of getting in somewhere.

 

[TexasPrincess]

I have to jump in here and tell y'all about my experience.

I originally wanted to take the MCAT at the end of May, but decided I should do the ONLY June date for the extra 3 weeks of study. When I went to register early May, there was no availability. I am not a morning person, so the next afternoon administration was July 30. I walked out of the MCAT with no clue how I did. I said probably somewhere between a 27 and 33, which is a big range. I ended up spending the next month working on my primary applications. I didn't submit my AMCAS until AFTER I learned my score (32R Yay!). I ended up being verified at the end of September. All but 1 secondary complete within the next 2 weeks.

Short version: I learned that you HAVE TO REGISTER 60 days in advance or more for the date/time/location of the MCAT you want. You can always change your registration for a fee if something comes up, but register as soon as you can. I was(am) definitely more stressed because my app was on the later side of things.

If you take the MCAT early like the above posters mentioned, you can spend May getting your Primaries ready to submit in June when the applications open.

More advice: Get your transcript requests in first so you aren't waiting for those to process.

I am glad that I had the extra time to study. I didn't take any classes this summer, and just focused on this process. For me, it helped to have the extra time in order to do better on the MCAT.

Good luck!

 

[Zona Pellucida]

OK so, say I have a situation like you and I want the schools to see my best score, instead of the not so great one do I not release my score til the second score comes out? I know this may be a question for aamc people, but I figured you have already been through it. What did you do with your scores? I read somewhere the schools look at the most recent score...😕

Most schools take the most recent score into consideration. I sent my primary (AMCAS) later than I would have wanted to [mid July], that way when my second score came out on Sept 1, I would just be about done sending in all of my secondaries. This way, the schools saw my new score, as well as my old score. I don't think there is a way to 'hide' your first score unless you voided and then you wouldn't even know what you got anyways. I didn't care that they saw it because, if anything, it showed that I was able to improve in PS and VR and get the same score in BS... so I did not do worse in any section.

It's a bit risky and it would be a lot less stressful to just kill it the first time, so plan on doing that. I didn't feel any more prepared the second time... just a better test, less nervous, got there early (so I wouldn't hear everyone typing during their WS while I was trying to do VR).

Good Luck 👍

 

[skyblue2000]

I'm wondering...

so those who are taking it early May (like May 1st or so)....how much do you plan to study during the winter semester, in addition to your school course load and other ECs!? As in hours a week of studying for MCAT specifically.

 

[JJMrK]

I'm going to take the exceptional opinion and advise the OP to take the test at least a month after spring finals. That gives you time to focus exclusively on that and nothing else. Of course it makes life easier if you can have your apps complete as early as possible, but I don't think that advantage balances the advantage of getting a better MCAT score. Even if you are unhappy with your score, there's still time to retake. Don't listen if anyone tells you that August completion is "late."

If you mean completion of your primary, that is late. People have already been to interviews at that point.

The best time to take the MCAT is April, or even Dec/Jan. You also want to take a light course-load that semester so you can prepare. Anything later than May puts you at a disadvantage.

 

[medat101]

April or May, so you can still submit the AMCAS in June and be completely verified sooner!!! Submitting AMCAS early makes a HUGEEEE difference!! 👍

 

[skyblue2000]

I read that the AMCAS application system comes out beginning of May 2010. So wouldn't June still be a month later?

 

[JJMrK]

I read that the AMCAS application system comes out beginning of May 2010. So wouldn't June still be a month later?

You can begin filling it out in May but can't submit until early June.

 

[skyblue2000]

You can begin filling it out in May but can't submit until early June.

Oh ok, thanks. That makes a lot of sense.....

I'm writing the MCAT on May 1st, and the score will be released June 3rd (I believe)...so would it take more than a couple of days to have that verified, because AAMC and AMCAS is linked, correct?

As well, if you complete the application and everything in May, and send your transcripts and LORs, can they all be verified before you can actually "submit" the application in early June?

 

[JJMrK]

Oh ok, thanks. That makes a lot of sense.....

I'm writing the MCAT on May 1st, and the score will be released June 3rd (I believe)...so would it take more than a couple of days to have that verified, because AAMC and AMCAS is linked, correct?

As well, if you complete the application and everything in May, and send your transcripts and LORs, can they all be verified before you can actually "submit" the application in early June?

Basically, once you hit submit your application goes in a line to be verified. So send your transcripts and fill out the application in May, and then submit in early June. Your MCAT will transfer over to your AMCAS almost immediately, and you should be verified and complete by mid-late June.

 

[FutureObGynDoc]

The 2011 MCAT test dates are out:

http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/reserving/mcatschedule2011.htm

Hope this helps 🙂

 

[NickNaylor]

Ideally you'll want your scores to be available before June so that you can submit your app as early as possible if you choose to do so. I think the best time to take it would be the January before you apply; that way you can do some studying during the fall and have a whole month (or however long your winter break is) to devote to studying.

 

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