MCAT studies with full courseload

[Dr Ginger]

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preface: all the threads i searched on this subject seem to be relatively old

anyone else out there studying for the MCAT while taking a full corseload this upcoming semester? (Im a senior applying this upcoming summer so I dont have a choice since i need to graduate on time 🙁 )

im starting to get a little nervous ... 16 credits (pretty much all science courses... but according to ratemyprofessor they shouldnt be too academically demanding) + Kaplan course

advice from veterans would be much appreciated on how you got through school and MCAT prep in one piece.

thanks!

 

[ChemFreak]

I am in the same boat as you. 13 credits of all science courses and then research on top of that plus Kaplan MCAT course. I'm a retaker though so hopefully things will be a little easier.

 

[Genefreak]

I am in a similar situation. I am signed up for 22 credits (19 hours of science) this spring and I plant on taking the MCAT in the spring. I have no choice about the credits, long story but I really have no choice.

I have research as well, and EC's too. I am not taking an MCAT course, but will study on my own. I've made a schedule and allocated set times for everything. I don't know how it will turn out, but I'm hoping for the best.

 

[ILikeDrugs]

Of course you have choices. Take the MCAT in late August or apply the following year. This is discussed in SN2ed's sticky in the MCAT forum. It doesn't matter if the threads are old, they're all going to say the same thing that still applies to the present: take a full load and studying for the MCAT is a bad idea. Unless of course you full load is nothing but physical education classes that don't require studying.

I've made a schedule and allocated set times for everything. I don't know how it will turn out, but I'm hoping for the best.

You don't know how it'll turn out? Why bother taking the test then? You might as well take it when you're confident about how it'll turn out.

 

[loveoforganic]

of course you have choices. Take the mcat in late august or apply the following year. This is discussed in sn2ed's sticky in the mcat forum. It doesn't matter if the threads are old, they're all going to say the same thing that still applied to the present: Take a full load and studying for the mcat is a bad idea. Unless of course you full load is nothing but physical education classes that don't require studying.


You don't know how it'll turn out? Why bother taking the test then? You might as well take it when you're confident about how it'll turn out.

ding ding ding

 

[emlibrary]

preface: all the threads i searched on this subject seem to be relatively old

anyone else out there studying for the MCAT while taking a full corseload this upcoming semester? (Im a senior applying this upcoming summer so I dont have a choice since i need to graduate on time 🙁 )

im starting to get a little nervous ... 16 credits (pretty much all science courses... but according to ratemyprofessor they shouldnt be too academically demanding) + Kaplan course

advice from veterans would be much appreciated on how you got through school and MCAT prep in one piece.

thanks!

Im taking 18 credits, but it shouldn't be too bad. I took a semilar schedule this semester and survived without much studying.

 

[slowbutsteady]

Of course you have choices. Take the MCAT in late August or apply the following year. This is discussed in SN2ed's sticky in the MCAT forum. It doesn't matter if the threads are old, they're all going to say the same thing that still applies to the present: take a full load and studying for the MCAT is a bad idea. Unless of course you full load is nothing but physical education classes that don't require studying.


You don't know how it'll turn out? Why bother taking the test then? You might as well take it when you're confident about how it'll turn out.

This.

Plan on being a reapplicant.

 

[makeyourself]

If you are ready to buckle down and have no life.. go for it! I took 19 credit hours (with a pretty tough course load) while taking an exam crackers prep course.

On top of this I had work, volunteering, and research. There were many days I would be out of the house from 8am to 11pm, and then have to get homework done. My roommates were both English majors, so watching them party every night wasn't so awesome.

Now the icing on the cake was that I had my MCAT on Saturday, and then both a Physics and Immunology final on the Monday right after that. (The reason for such a crappy time to take it was because of a trip to Japan right after finals).

I ended up doing pretty well (35), although I feel if I had taken a week or two after finals to just cram I might have gotten a few more points.

If you are willing to bust ass, then go for it. I think it is a good experience to have, it will make med school seem like vacation.

 

[chrissyxf]

question along these lines...i'm actually not taking a full courseload but i am working full time (45 hrs/week) and taking organic chemistry 2 in the middle (yes, this is insane). i want to apply this summer for school- when is it too late to take the mcat? esp since I think the mcat can be what pulls me over the line if i score well- my orgo class will be over in the beginning of may and i've already started reviewing mcat material (i'm 3 years out of undergrad but just finished pa school- don't ask- see another thread on this). is it too late to take it in june since it takes a month to get results? can you overstudy/over review? i don't have the money for a kaplan course- i just bought the examkrackers books and am borrowing a friend's kaplan book. i plan to purchase the practice exams online from aamc.

 

[Genefreak]

This.

Plan on being a reapplicant.

Well thank you.......🙄

 

[UpQuark]

Me too.

12 creds - 600 level Neurobiology, Anatomy and Phys Lecture and Lab (helps with MCAT plus pretty easy at my school), and Physics Lect + Lab
EC Wise - TA (6hrs/week), Research (6hrs/week), Community Service (2hrs/week)

Also taking Princeton course

Hope I can manage at the least 3hrs a day of studying.

 

[dbeast]

I did 18 all science units, a kaplan class, and the May 15 MCAT which was during finals and got a score that is good enough. It *is* possible but be ready to give up your life for a semester and don't plan on going to a top 10 med school.

Or wait a year and have a super dominant app. Calculated risks.

Fun fact: Average matriculant age is 25 years old.

 

[WingedOx]

it depends on what the courses are. If they're things like Physics and Physio, those things are going to be relevant to the MCAT, and one less subject that you have to master. And a Kaplan course is what? once per week plus a test on saturday?

 

[eli20]

I took a 19 hours while I was studying for MCAT, and honestly I wish I had taken a bit fewer. A lot of people can probably do both, but I ended up putting off MCAT which was a bad idea. I ended up pushing my test back and cramming my studying into about 3 weeks after classes ended.

I was happy with my score, although I think I could have done better if I had organized my studying better. More importantly, it was tremendously stressful and just bleh.

 

[WingedOx]

oh man, I forgot that you can take the computer test whenever the hell you want...

...kids these days.