MCAT vs Research Internship in the Summer

[Archaeopteryx]

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So I'm a rising Sophmore and I will be done with all of my pre-reqs by the end of this year, and I know that my best shot at getting a really good MCAT score is to study for it during the three months of summer and take it in August. But I also want to apply to some of the summer research programs (which will basically be almost like a full time job for 10 weeks) since I don't have a good research experience - I mean I currently work at a lab at my university where we study the sexual selection of a certain bird species which has nothing to do with what I intend to study for my PhD. So I was wondering if I should forget about the summer research and focus on the MCAT, or should I try to get into one of those programs and take the MCAT during the spring of my junior year with a light course load ? especially after I take a biochem class which many people say would help for the MCAT!

Any help would be greatly appreciated 🙂

 

[Ombret]

MCAT studying should not really be a full time job. Everyone is different, but if think you are more or less on the ball, try to line up a research position, plan to study pretty diligently in your spare time, and take a stab at the test. At worst you retake it.

 

[bd4727]

I would disagree with the above post a bit. I think dedicating time to studying is a smart move. Now obviously everyone's strengths are different and only you can know how much you need to study, but 3 months of 9-5 studying seems like overkill for the MCAT. Most people don't take that much time for USMLE Step 1. A month would be more than enough for most people in all reality. Also, you should purchase one or two practice tests from AAMC and take them as realistically as possible-- that will give you a general idea of where you stand with regard to how much studying you need to do.

MD-PhD admissions is essentially a balancing act between good grades/MCAT and lots of research. They are equally important, so sacrificing one for the other is not a position you should try to put yourself in.

My recommendation would be to do summer research, study at night for an hour if you feel compelled, then take at most 1 month off right before you take the MCAT. Do nothing but study for the MCAT and take practice tests during that time. At the end of that time, take the MCAT right away. Obvioulsy not everyone will be in a position to do this, but it worked for me and I think many other people do the same thing as well.

 

[Choculitis]

My recommendation would be to do summer research, study at night for an hour if you feel compelled, then take at most 1 month off right before you take the MCAT. Do nothing but study for the MCAT and take practice tests during that time. At the end of that time, take the MCAT right away. Obvioulsy not everyone will be in a position to do this, but it worked for me and I think many other people do the same thing as well.

I did pretty much the same thing and did very well. Spending an entire summer doing nothing but studying is overkill and completely miserable. If you know the material well, then preparing doesn't need to be a huge production.

 

[EsseQuamVideri]

I think you would benefit from the summer research for MD/Ph.D admissions. I tried full-time studying during the summer (only part-time research, 10-15 hours/week) and it was too much time. So I studied less during the summer, very little during the fall semester, and a LOT during winter break to take it right after the semester started so I was most prepared. Worked for me

 

[BrightandClear]

I studied full-time during the summer while also doing 20/hour a week of research. It was a busy summer. Worked out great for me. You'll need to figure out how much studying and test-taking practice time you need, and plan from there.

 

[nysw]

Everyone's going to give you a different answer here, but I don't think that MCAT and summer research are mutually exclusive. The summer student in my lab studied for the MCAT while working here 40/hrs a week and I studied for the MCAT in the spring while taking classes and working at the lab.
Do summer research when you can! Like someone else said, studying for the MCAT doesn't have to be this huge deal.

 

[Neuronix]

I did 8 hours a day in lab and 3 hours a day of MCAT studying for that three month summer. On the weekends I did one full practice exam and took one day off. I think that was a good regimen. As everyone is stating, you don't need to study full-time.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Thanks everyone, your answers are very helpful!