MCAT Plan

[OtisO]

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My pre-medicine adviser (without making a HUGE post like I already drafted) told me to study for MCAT the summer after sophomore year (this coming summer). Take practice tests in my fall semester junior year and winter break (and work on weaknesses) and then take mcat in january. I have a couple questions. I have seen some plans online for studying. A lot have you doing all the prep books and then after completion, taking the real test. This plan has me doing that in the summer then practicing and revising skills throughout semester and then taking test. Is this fair enough? Also, I will be taking genetics and psych my junior year fall semester, is that worrisome?

Thanks!

 

[Fall_of_Dorian_Gray]

There is no surefire study plan. You have to adapt it to yourself and individualize it.

To be honest, I got a bit lost in your post but the general gist I got was Summer (study) ---> Junior year (practice test/review) ---> January (take the test).

The general steps are a good guideline but you should only, I REPEAT, only take the test when your practice scores normalize and are within what you are aiming for. Too often, pre-meds underestimate the test or take it without full consideration of its weight. There isn't really a "set period" you're supposed to take it.

I assume you were going to apply to go straight in? (meaning you would apply in June of your junior year?). Then, just have your scores ready before June when applications open.

 

[OtisO]

There is no surefire study plan. You have to adapt it to yourself and individualize it.

To be honest, I got a bit lost in your post but the general gist I got was Summer (study) ---> Junior year (practice test/review) ---> January (take the test).

The general steps are a good guideline but you should only, I REPEAT, only take the test when your practice scores normalize and are within what you are aiming for. Too often, pre-meds underestimate the test or take it without full consideration of its weight. There isn't really a "set period" you're supposed to take it.

I assume you were going to apply to go straight in? (meaning you would apply in June of your junior year?). Then, just have your scores ready before June when applications open.

Correct. You got it. I would study a lot of material while i have more free time in summer, then take several practice tests spaced out over fall semester of junior year, take MCAT in january and apply in June. I think it will work best for me that way if my score isn't what I wanted, I could potentially retake it IF necessary. Does taking psych and genetics my Junior Fall semester sound like an issue to you?

 

[Fall_of_Dorian_Gray]

Hmm, I'm a non-traditional applicant so maybe my advice isn't the best but here's my two cents:

I graduated in 2015 and didn't take psych during college. I used the EK book and Khan Academy's 300pg review packet and managed to score a 131. This has to be part luck because while taking the test I felt like I was getting everything wrong. I'm telling you this not to brag but to let you know that it is possible to do well on the P/S without prior psych. HOWEVER, there is something to be said about taking every advantage you can to give you the best chance for a higher score. You'll only ever know once you start studying for it and take a practice exam.

Genetics... probably isn't that important. Not to say that there isn't any on the exam, but foundational knowledge taught in Bio I and II should be good enough (if not with a bit of supplement from whatever test prep book you're using)

Remember, the most important thing is that you take the exam when you are fully prepared. Don't let your schedule rush you when you're not ready. It's far better to have a gap year than it is to try to explain a low score. It's rare that people "just take it" and "do better than they thought."

Best of luck!

 

[DoctorSnow]

n=1 here but spring semester for my junior year was CRUCIAL for the MCAT. I took physics 2, life-span psych, and molecular biology. Those classes definitely helped me increase from my initial MCAT from january (500) to my MCAT in june (515).

 

[sushi18]

You should be fine taking MCAT before/while taking Psych and Genetics. I think it's solid to spend a month or two (or three) on just practice tests; this is anecdotal but someone I know who got a perfect MCAT did just that. Only concern I think is spreading out your study timeline too much and potentially forgetting some of the stuff you learned earliest - it'll depend on your personal opinion whether you're giving yourself too much time.