Med School App Timeline question

[Hemorrage]

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hi everyone im currently a sophomore in undergrad and i plan on (hopefully) entering medical school after senior year (no gap year). Now i've been investigating the applications process and the mcat and i have a few questions.

1. I planned on studying for the MCAT during spring of junior year and taking the mcat in the spring aswell. However, many people on SDN say taking classes and studying for the MCAT is not a good idea. So how do these people apply to medical school in time? If i wait until the summer of junior year to prep and take the MCAT, i will have missed the applications cycle that would allow me to attend medical school after senior year. What do you recommend i do? and if people have been through this before can you please post a timeline of how you did it?

2. In regards to studying for the MCAT, i have read many different opinions on the MCAT forums regarding study methods. In school i am primarily a self studier (read textbook, etc), and it seems that doing Kaplan or the 10 week EK would be best for me, however, it seems that many other people have had success with prep courses as well. How do you figure out whats best?

 

[NickNaylor]

1) This myth is similar to the ochem is impossible myth that gets perpetuated. There's a hint of truth in the myth, but it's largely untrue. I wouldn't recommend taking a full load of classes, but by no means do you need to drop to part-time status. It's perfectly possible to take a normal load of classes, continue your activities, and study assuming you have good time management and planning skills.

2) Taking a course definitely isn't necessary. I used the EK kit and thought it did a great job. If you're going to self-study, I would recommend supplementing EK with another resource since EK can be light on explanations. This certainly isn't necessary, but it might be a good idea.

Good luck.

 

[candav]

If you're a sophomore, why not take the MCAT this summer? I took mine the August before junior year and it gave me an entire summer to study. (Granted, I was also working full-time.) Plus, if you do poorly, you have the opportunity to take it again during your junior year.

 

[unrealplayer]

1. I studied for the MCAT while taking courses and it is definitely doable. Devote a few hours a day to studying for the MCAT. Also, some of the material you are learning in your courses may overlap with MCAT material as well. I started studying for the MCAT in December during winter break and set aside 2 to 3 hours a day during the semester. As stated by the others, do not take a heavy course load. Stay around 12-16 credit hours. I took my MCAT in late April, received my score in late May and was ready for the application cycle in June. I can not emphasize enough how important it is to apply early!

2. I took a Kaplan course and I am also a self studier. After a few weeks I realized the material taught in class was basic and that I moved a little quicker. However, the class was great for test taking strategies, techniques, and test materials. Just feel it out and see what works best.

 

[plumhill]

hi everyone im currently a sophomore in undergrad and i plan on (hopefully) entering medical school after senior year (no gap year). Now i've been investigating the applications process and the mcat and i have a few questions.

1. I planned on studying for the MCAT during spring of junior year and taking the mcat in the spring aswell. However, many people on SDN say taking classes and studying for the MCAT is not a good idea. So how do these people apply to medical school in time? If i wait until the summer of junior year to prep and take the MCAT, i will have missed the applications cycle that would allow me to attend medical school after senior year. What do you recommend i do? and if people have been through this before can you please post a timeline of how you did it?

2. In regards to studying for the MCAT, i have read many different opinions on the MCAT forums regarding study methods. In school i am primarily a self studier (read textbook, etc), and it seems that doing Kaplan or the 10 week EK would be best for me, however, it seems that many other people have had success with prep courses as well. How do you figure out whats best?

1. "On time" is a very subjective phrase, since there is really no such thing as applying to med school "on time." Gap years are extremely common nowadays, and it seems that some schools are preferring candidates that have taken time off to do something else, or are otherwise more mature upon matriculating to med school. If you're a sophomore, you can start studying a little bit at a time now. I'm also a sophomore and I've been studying in small chunks since the end of freshman year (since that is when I took biology). I only do about one chapter of my TPR book per week or so, and less frequently during exams, but its enough that I don't totally forget everything I learned in bio. You can also take a lighter course load during your spring semester/quarter before taking the MCAT so that you have more time to study.

2. Research the programs, how the material is taught, and who the instructors are and how they teach (some programs have multiple instructors for different parts of the exam, others have one instructor for the entire course). Figure out how rigorous of a course you want or need. If you feel like you have a good grasp on the material, then you might get by with studying on your own with a review book. You'll find more information about specific courses in the MCAT forum.

 

[mvenus929]

You can easily study for the MCAT while also studying for classes. Studying for classes should not eat up all your time, and you only need an hour or two of studying per day for the MCAT if you spread it out over the semester.

If you're a self-studier, stick with that. I used the EK kit, along with Audio Osmosis, and did quite well on the exam. And I took it in the middle of finals week. That was fun.

 

[estradiol9]

I'm planning on taking less credits than usual to have time to study. I started studying after my last final finished and made myself a schedule. I think it's very possible.

If you have money to blow, take a prep class. Personally, I couldn't afford to throw away $1600 on a prep class. I'd rather save that money for applications.

 

[Hemorrage]

If you're a sophomore, why not take the MCAT this summer? I took mine the August before junior year and it gave me an entire summer to study. (Granted, I was also working full-time.) Plus, if you do poorly, you have the opportunity to take it again during your junior year.

unfortunately i haven't taken physics yet so i couldn't attempt such a feat..

1) This myth is similar to the ochem is impossible myth that gets perpetuated. There's a hint of truth in the myth, but it's largely untrue. I wouldn't recommend taking a full load of classes, but by no means do you need to drop to part-time status. It's perfectly possible to take a normal load of classes, continue your activities, and study assuming you have good time management and planning skills.

2) Taking a course definitely isn't necessary. I used the EK kit and thought it did a great job. If you're going to self-study, I would recommend supplementing EK with another resource since EK can be light on explanations. This certainly isn't necessary, but it might be a good idea.

Good luck.

so would 12 credits (2 science+1 other) be advisable? I was planning on using the EK Kit but what other books should i supplement it with? I read SN2ED's schedule and it looks like a very good plan but i dont have 3 months to dedicate to the MCAT..

 

[schwabejr]

so would 12 credits (2 science+1 other) be advisable? I was planning on using the EK Kit but what other books should i supplement it with? I read SN2ED's schedule and it looks like a very good plan but i dont have 3 months to dedicate to the MCAT..

I took twelve credits and it was more than manageable. I thought I could pull of the self study thing but I didn't stick to it as well as I should have and it definitely cost me a few points as well as some text day anxiety.