MCAT testing timeline

[Hammer1010]

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Hi all,

I would like to apply med schools in 2016 (October/November 15th due date) and I have several questions:

1. I would like to take the MCAT for the first time during summer (Aug) 2016, is this possible? I know that I would not have another chance to re-take (or I do? see #2), but I don't want to take another gap year in between. I feel like I need at least 8 weeks to study for it and devote 100% of my time to this exam to do very well, so I can't really squeeze it in between my semesters (I attend summer school as well).

2. If I take the MCAT July, can I re-take it Aug/September and still count the second time towards my 2016 application? Or is it possible to take the MCAT and have the grades released after I already applied (I know that it may be a suicide mission)?

3. How long would you say one should study for the MCAT to get a very good score (33-35+)? I understand that this is very individual, but I guess some people can share their experience at least. My plan is to devote the entire summer from May to Aug/Sept and take the MCAT (I'll graduate in May). Edit: just noticed the 30+ MCAT thread, looks like in a range of 200-300 hours total. Doable.


4. Not really relevant, but how important is it to volunteer before applying? I would have 2-2.5 years of lab experience in my university, with several of my own projects through fellowships over the summer and during the semester. I do a cut-edge research (optogenetics - REM sleep in mice), but I'm not sure if that's enough and maybe I should start to diverse a little bit from my lab work to different medical aspects in addition to whatever I'm doing right now.

Thanks for your help!

 

[mcatjelly]

If you're applying next cycle (June 2016), I'd highly advise against taking your first MCAT any later than June, maybe July if your application is otherwise competitive and you don't anticipate a retake. Why can't you take it any sooner, like maybe taking August or September 2015?

If you do end up taking it in July, you can retake in August, but many schools won't accept a September date.

If you take the MCAT summer 2016, you have two choices: 1) not submit application until you receive your score (highly risky), or 2) submit your application June 1st, but only apply to one "safety" school that you're not all that interested in attending so that you get the one month verification process out of the way. This is in the event that your MCAT score sucks and you end up needing to reapply, and don't want to be listed as a reapplicant at the schools you're shooting for.

Er, volunteering is extremely important. If you don't have any experience interacting with patients or other evidence that you enjoy helping others, your application will be thrown out. You're obviously doing great with the research, but you need to get started on volunteering ASAP. Make sure you've shadowed as well.

Edit: current consensus for MCAT study time-frame is a solid 3-4 months.

 

[Hammer1010]

If you're applying next cycle (June 2016), I'd highly advise against taking your first MCAT any later than June, maybe July if your application is otherwise competitive and you don't anticipate a retake. Why can't you take it any sooner, like maybe taking August or September 2015?

Mainly because I double major + have a lab + my own project = no time to study "seriously" for the MCAT (I prefer studying 8-12 hours/day than 8 hours a week for a prolong period of time).
So applications start June and end up at the day it's due by each med school? (Oct/Nov 15th?)

If you do end up taking it in July, you can retake in August, but many schools won't accept a September date.

Is there a way to check which schools take it and which don't? I tried to search at their website, nothing really mentioned about this topic except for one school and their statement is really vague (it doesn't say yes and doesn't say no, they just don't recommended it).

If you take the MCAT summer 2016, you have two choices: 1) not submit application until you receive your score (highly risky), or 2) submit your application June 1st, but only apply to one "safety" school that you're not all that interested in attending so that you get the one month verification process out of the way. This is in the event that your MCAT score sucks and you end up needing to reapply, and don't want to be listed as a reapplicant at the schools you're shooting for.

So I apply to one school and if my MCAT is good I'll apply to the others (the one I want)?

Er, volunteering is extremely important. If you don't have any experience interacting with patients or other evidence that you enjoy helping others, your application will be thrown out. You're obviously doing great with the research, but you need to get started on volunteering ASAP. Make sure you've shadowed as well.

I was 3 years EMT overseas (did everything except declaring death and open veins), but it was during high school years and I'm not sure if it counts. How many hours would be a good amount in terms of volunteering?

Edit: current consensus for MCAT study time-frame is a solid 3-4 months.

Unless you're a crammer and can handle 12 hours/day?

 

[allantois]

There are plenty of people who study 8-12 hours a day for 3-4 months.

Med schools want to see a solid MCAT and plenty of volunteering. And no, having your own research project and a second major does not waive the above expectations.

 

[Hammer1010]

There are plenty of people who study 8-12 hours a day for 3-4 months.

I just finished going over the first ~25 pages of the MCAT +30 thread, and I couldn't really find many people like that. It's kind of insane in my opinion to study that much every day (5-6 times/week). My bio, chem/ochem is solid, as well as physics. The only thing I really need is the verbal section (and it looks like most people hate it). I may need to go over the humanities section in depth since they've included it in the new MCAT and I haven't taken any sociology classes or anything similar to that (I took a psychology class but it was 5 years ago). We'll se though, I guess everybody is different in terms of their level - I'll probably also try to squeeze in a GRE after the MCAT to have a PhD position as a backup (some schools take the MCAT, but others don't).

Med schools want to see a solid MCAT and plenty of volunteering. And no, having your own research project and a second major does not waive the above expectations.

The second major has nothing really to do with med schools; I know they don't care/really look at that. I had the opportunity to waive many classes through my lab, which is at the same subject as my major, so my second major is really a minor course load + a hobby. My projects in the lab are fellowships, so I do it for money to survive (and I also get units for that).

 

[mcatjelly]

So applications start June and end up at the day it's due by each med school? (Oct/Nov 15th?)

You can start filling out your application when it opens in May and then submit it for verification whenever that is, usually around June 1st. The verification process takes 3-4 weeks (sometimes longer) and then is sent off to schools for review immediately after verification.

So it seems like one crucial piece of information you're missing out on is that medical schools have rolling admissions. This is why I am strongly advising against a July/August MCAT. Your peers who submit their application June 1st and have their scores in by the time the first wave of applications are sent off to schools in the first week or two of July, will ideally receive their secondary applications mid July, complete them by the end of July/early August, receive interview invites in September, and receive their first acceptances mid October.

So for comparison, if you take your MCAT in August, your application wouldn't be complete until September (when your score comes in), some schools wait to send you secondaries until they get your MCAT score, you'd hopefully have yours prewritten and be able to send them in by mid-September, and then start receiving interviews during the time other applicants are already accepted.

Moral of the story: the later you send your application in, the less seats there are available at medical schools. People do get in with late applications, but why risk it?

Is there a way to check which schools take it and which don't? I tried to search at their website, nothing really mentioned about this topic except for one school and their statement is really vague (it doesn't say yes and doesn't say no, they just don't recommended it).

It should probably be on the school's website. Most accept September as the last date (I think), but if they don't explicitly list a policy it'd be best to call the schools.

So I apply to one school and if my MCAT is good I'll apply to the others (the one I want)?

Yup.

I was 3 years EMT overseas (did everything except declaring death and open veins), but it was during high school years and I'm not sure if it counts. How many hours would be a good amount in terms of volunteering?

You can mention it in your personal statement, but anything done during high school doesn't count, sorry. :/ People change quite a bit from the person they were in high school, so adcoms need proof that you've thought this through and are confident you know why you want to go into medicine. Medicine is a people-oriented field. If all you've done over the past few years is research, how do you know you want to be a physician? Serious question here.

Unless you're a crammer and can handle 12 hours/day?

Keep in mind that the MCAT is much more a critical thinking test than a content regurgitation test. Before you sign up for 12 hours a day for six weeks, make sure you're familiar with the MCAT and how it asks questions. If you need to study for 12 hours a day to compensate for not having 3 months to devote to studying, then I'd argue you're someone who needs to have their studying spread out over at least 3 months.

 

[Hammer1010]

Medicine is a people-oriented field. If all you've done over the past few years is research, how do you know you want to be a physician?

Well, that's the biggest point that I've already experienced medicine in different forms and shapes for 3 years, so I wanted to do research and compare between the two, so I can decide which one fits better. So fat those both are pure crap, but I can't see myself doing anything else in my life, so I "settle" down.

If you need to study for 12 hours a day to compensate for not having 3 months to devote to studying, then I'd argue you're someone who needs to have their studying spread out over at least 3 months.

Why does it matter if you study for 3 months few hours a week or many hours a day for several weeks? When I cram for exams or study way ahead, my scores are similar (cramming even makes it better). I suspect it depends on one's style - I can't study for any exam 3 months - I'll burn much quicker than sitting for many hours a day and get over with it in a few weeks. I know it's a risk, and this is also why I apply for a PhD programs at the same time to have a backup plan. I may also apply for the PhD-MD program, but that's something that I could tell only after I take my MCAT I guess.

 

[ilovemedi]

Why does it matter if you study for 3 months few hours a week or many hours a day for several weeks? When I cram for exams or study way ahead, my scores are similar (cramming even makes it better). I suspect it depends on one's style - I can't study for any exam 3 months - I'll burn much quicker than sitting for many hours a day and get over with it in a few weeks. I know it's a risk, and this is also why I apply for a PhD programs at the same time to have a backup plan. I may also apply for the PhD-MD program, but that's something that I could tell only after I take my MCAT I guess.

I agree with you. 3 months is too much for me, I work better under pressure. In fact, the whole "3 month mentality" screwed me over and made me burnt out for the old MCAT. Go with your gut. My sib studied in only 2 freaking weeks compared to his last mcat and scored 5 points higher...

 

[Hammer1010]

I agree with you. 3 months is too much for me, I work better under pressure. In fact, the whole "3 month mentality" screwed me over and made me burnt out for the old MCAT. Go with your gut. My sib studied in only 2 freaking weeks compared to his last mcat and scored 5 points higher...

I guess second time, if you put a lot of time the first time, is much easier and most of the things are repeat, so you'll need much less time (you also learned from your mistakes the first time and know what resources helped you the best, so you waste less time on that).

 

[ilovemedi]

I guess second time, if you put a lot of time the first time, is much easier and most of the things are repeat, so you'll need much less time (you also learned from your mistakes the first time and know what resources helped you the best, so you waste less time on that).

very true, but I mean, he took the mcat back in sept. didn't do anything for months. took in january, and only studied 2 weeks.. he's also a good test taker, so maybe that helped a lot too LOL. point is, i also think it's a mentality thing.