MCAT Timeline Question! Please Chime in!

[deleted621740]

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Hi all,

I am a rising sophomore and have naturally begun researching the MCAT as well as specific timelines that have been demonstrated to be the most conducive to a high score. With that said, my assumption was that most applicants take the MCAT in the spring of their Junior year, and begin submitting primary applications sometime in the early summer – Yet, I have also come across many posts stating that studying for the MCAT with a full course load is "suicide". My question is then, if it's not possible to take the MCAT during the spring of Junior year without jeopardizing your GPA, then how is anyone a traditional applicant!? That is, how does anyone matriculate the Fall directly following senior year if they didn't follow this MCAT timeline? I would hate to dedicate an entire summer strictly to MCAT study because I consider that time ideal for EC's. Furthermore, I will not be taking physics simultaneously with Organic chemistry (Which I am aware is very common) and thus will not be taking the MCAT during the summer following sophomore year (Which I also know is a very common scenario). Please, any and all MCAT veterans please offer your advice. Thank you very much!

 

[NorthOfBroad]

I took the old mcat and got a 37. The summer after my sophomore year I worked in a research lab about 40 hours each week and studied for the MCAT at night and on weekends. It can be done. But do whatever it takes to score well on it, you don't want to study again and no EC in the world will make up for a low MCAT score. Take a gap year if you have to, it's that important

 

[kvothe2015]

I took an online MCAT night class twice a week during the fall (while taking undergraduate classes at the same time), studied really hard over winter break, and took the MCAT first thing in January. I felt really prepared and got a 40 on the old MCAT. Maybe you can study over winter break? Also, your post implies that you won't be done with either Organic or Physics until the summer of your Junior year. I would really recommend trying to get all the prerequisites for the test done before taking it. I know a couple of people who think they didn't do well because they hadn't finished all the prerequisites yet. You really want to make sure you crush the test the first time you take it.

 

[deleted621740]

So you guys took the MCAT before you had taken biochemistry?

 

[kvothe2015]

Biochemistry wasn't a prerequisite for our MCAT. Personally, I took the MCAT while I was taking Biochem. I would say you should try to take at least a semester Biochem before taking the new MCAT, but I don't have any first hand experience with the Biochem on the new MCAT, so perhaps someone who does would be better suited to give you advice on that.

 

[Lannister]

I took the new MCAT in May. Studied while I was a full time student. I got a 4.0 and a 514 (~34, not great but decent), and had plenty of free time. It was exhausting but I wouldn't say it's "suicide".

And biochem wasn't necessary for the old MCAT. Please do not try to take the new MCAT without biochem. That would definitely be suicide.

 

[tunicaexterna]

do NOT take the new mcat without biochem.

 

[efle]

Used to be possible to take it in August/Sept following sophomore year and study all summer. Now with biochem on it you probably cannot be a traditional applicant taking it any time other than junior spring. I predict many many people will take gap years to have the summer after junior year as MCAT summer

 

[SmurfingReviews]

A lot of my friends that are currently in med school are traditional students. I think they just buckled down during winter semester of Jr year.

On another note, I typically took 3 science courses during all 4 years of my undergrad. I also double majored in Biochemistry and Business... I didn't have that luxury of studying for MCAT during jr year so I had to take the non-trad. route - which isn't a bad thing.. c: