MCAT timeline for gap year applicant

[548955]

Hello all,

I have a question as to when I should take the MCAT. I had a late start on my pre reqs I am now a Sophomore, and will be taking Physics my senior year. My question is when should I take the MCAT(obviously when I'm finished with my pre reqs which would be early May of my senior year) and When should I submit my application? earlier is better I'm assuming early June? I know I will have a gap year which I'm completely fine with because there is some traveling and real world experiences I'd like to catch up on like actual cooking and not having to live off of Ramen Noodles for the rest of my life.

Also any tips on raising my GPA? Thanks in advance!

 

[Make Or Break]

You basically answered your first 2 questions yourself.

As for tips on raising your GPA, a search on this site will yield a ton of results.

 

[Osteoth]

Take the MCAT when you're done with the pre-reqs, and then depending on your score, you will be able to plan when to apply.

To raise your GPA, study more, go to office hours, work harder.

 

[548955]

If you apply to med school the year before you start then that would mean I would have to study for the MCAT while taking Physics II in order to apply that cycle so technically I wouldn't be DONE with the pre reqs but Physics II would be fresh in my mind. If I wait until the summer after I graduate to start studying for the MCAT then that would mean I'll have two gap years instead of one which I'm really not aiming for.

 

[548955]

Thank you both for the replies.

 

[Chillbo Baggins]

I took Physics my senior year and I think it worked out pretty well. I graduated in early May, filled out my apps, and took the May 30th MCAT.

Like you said, all the Physics is still fresh in your mind, so I didn't study any of that besides for class, leaving the rest of my MCAT study time for the subjects I hadn't dealt with in a while.

 

[jb94mg]

So, can one take the MCAT in April or May of the year when they plan on applying? Seems somewhat risky.

 

[mehc012]

So, can one take the MCAT in April or May of the year when they plan on applying? Seems somewhat risky.

If they have test dates then, sure you can!
It's not really risky if you're well-prepared!
Plan to take it once, don't take it until you feel like you can't bomb it, and go from there. Whether you do that in August or April, it's the same, then.

 

[Chillbo Baggins]

So, can one take the MCAT in April or May of the year when they plan on applying? Seems somewhat risky.

As long as the rest of your app is complete and submitted early, not a problem. I had some of the earliest interview dates.