MCAT Timeline

[DrStraggler]

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I'm a freshman right now, and obviously it'd be stupid to start studying now. However, my bio teacher told me to get an MCAT book and since I'm doing my 1 year of both Bio and Genchem, do just those questions. I'm taking Orgo and Physics during Soph year, is a summer long enough to prepare for an exam?

And also, do Med schools look at all of your scores or just the one that you send?

Thanks!

 

[deep122]

You'll have enough work to do without piling on more with MCAT problems, which should be saved until you're actually studying for the exam anyways. Do well in your prereqs now. Trust me. I worked hard in mine and did well, and that prepped me so well that when I started studying for the MCAT, I recalled topics I hadn't studied in years with ease. Also, a summer should be enough time.

 

[stolen_biscuit]

I agree. You will have to review the stuff as you're studying anyway, and you kind of get in a mode for those types of questions. It would be a bit wasteful to do that now since you'll just be doing it again when it's time. Especially if you take the summer off before your MCAT, you will have plenty of time to study.

 

[NickNaylor]

So you're planning on taking your exam after your second year? Why? In some respects it's a good idea, but I wouldn't feel comfortable studying just for the summer, especially if you want to do very well. I wouldn't plan on being able to study 8+ hours a day just because it's the summer - I imagine you'll probably burn out. Plus I think there's some value in going over the material multiple times over a longer time span.

As far as scores, you have no choice with respect to which tests will reported to schools and which won't. If one of your exams is scored (i.e., you don't void it before you leave the testing center), then it'll appear in your AMCAS application.

 

[valkener]

Medical Schools look at all the scores. That's why you want to do well the first time so you don't have to explain why you were foolish enough to take the MCAT prematurely and early.

You might be really bright and do well anyway, but I am certain you would do even better if you would just wait and focus on what you are doing right now.

Be present in your classes, network with professors, volunteer or get a professional job (not many hours of course), and get a kick-ass GPA. If you're really that dedicated and ambitious, why not get a 4.0 GPA? =)

Good luck, but put the MCAT aside for now. The best you can do for the MCAT right now is pwn your classes and build a very dense foundation of knowledge in the categories that the MCAT will test you on.

From what I've read on this board, preparation times are about 2 months - 1 year. While I think that 1 year is too long and 2 months too short, it's in the ball park. Check out Sn2ed's schedule or how to study for the mcat.

If you're really stubborn and you have to buy MCAT books already, I'd go with Examkrackers because they are succinct.

Good luck and enjoy college.

 

[DrStraggler]

Thanks for the advice guys. Yeah, I do realize that one summer is probably a short amount of time, and I don't think I'd be confident after it. I think I'm going to work my schedule out a bit more, and take more classes the first two years, and take it easy the second semester of my sophomore year (probably 12-15 credits), so that I can use that time to study also.

Hopefully everything works out and I get it right the first time!

Oh and those links are wonderful, thank you!