Need help and advice please

[tesfawMD]

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Hello,

I am transfer student at a UC. I will be graduating by next fall or winter. As I am only 20 years old (I'm turning 20 in september), which is relatively young for a transfer student. I transferred to UC when I was 19. In my first year I did basically no ECs, for personal reasons and variety of others which laziness, I have to admit, was a part of, but I figure I have time due to my young age. At this point I realize, I am going to have to take a year off (or two ???) to build my ECs. My question to guys is how should I coordinate my application cycle and should I take two years off instead of two? And if my understanding is correct, you have to apply a year in advance to medical schools correct? Also, when should I take the MCAT??

 

[aSagacious]

1. MCAT - Assuming you've already completed your pre-reqs (bio, chem, physics, orgo) start preparing for the MCAT whenever. I guess the winter before your application cycle would be ideal, since it wouldn't be so far in advance that you'd have to worry about it expiring if you don't get in on your first try, but soon enough where you'd have time to retake it before you apply if necessary. Only sit for the exam when you are consistently scoring at or near your target (don't just take the exam and hope to have a good day).

2. Application timeline - You are able to submit your primary application June 1st of each year (or thereabouts). You then complete secondaries as you receive them through September (often sooner). Interviews occur from July-ish to March-ish. From there, many applicants are strung along on waitlists until the summer. So yes, the application cycle takes a full year.

3. One year or two for ECs? - I can't give you a good answer here. Generally, the more the merrier but I don't think there's a person on this planet that can rattle off a list of minimum criteria required for an acceptance (wouldn't that be nice though?). Just do what you can, starting immediately, and apply when you feel like you've done enough. Is that answer ambiguous enough for you? 😉

 

[tesfawMD]

Don't MCAT scores remain valid for a couple of years? Or Am I mistaken? Lol your ECs answer makes sense haha. But how many years did you personally do (if you don't mind me asking)?

1. MCAT - Assuming you've already completed your pre-reqs (bio, chem, physics, orgo) start preparing for the MCAT whenever. I guess the winter before your application cycle would be ideal, since it wouldn't be so far in advance that you'd have to worry about it expiring if you don't get in on your first try, but soon enough where you'd have time to retake it before you apply if necessary. Only sit for the exam when you are consistently scoring at or near your target (don't just take the exam and hope to have a good day).

2. Application timeline - You are able to submit your primary application June 1st of each year (or thereabouts). You then complete secondaries as you receive them through September (often sooner). Interviews occur from July-ish to March-ish. From there, many applicants are strung along on waitlists until the summer. So yes, the application cycle takes a full year.

3. One year or two for ECs? - I can't give you a good answer here. Generally, the more the merrier but I don't think there's a person on this planet that can rattle off a list of minimum criteria required for an acceptance (wouldn't that be nice though?). Just do what you can, starting immediately, and apply when you feel like you've done enough. Is that answer ambiguous enough for you? 😉

 

[aSagacious]

Don't MCAT scores remain valid for a couple of years? Or Am I mistaken?

Generally speaking, most schools will accept an MCAT as old as three years. I was just mentioning this because say, for example, you were to take the MCAT this December and then do two years of ECs before applying. Your score would only be valid for one application cycle and then you'd have to retake it. Why put yourself in that position?

Lol your ECs answer makes sense haha. But how many years did you personally do (if you don't mind me asking)?

Click on my MDApps profile (beneath my name) to see the list of crap that I've compiled over the years. 😛