OFF before April MCAT?

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I was just wondering, If i could take an off before the april MCAT that is should I take the winter quarter off to study for the MCAT? HOw does the ADCOM feel about it ?
well I am taking a year off after taking the MCAT so graduating will not be a problem
thankyou.

 

[tik-tik-clock]

anyone know ???? 😳

 

[UCLAstudent]

Do you mean that you would take time off while studying for the MCAT and then return to school after the test? If so, I think that might look kind of bad. Lots of people can handle studying for the MCAT while in school, and, honestly, the workload in medical school will probably be worse than studying for the MCAT while taking classes in school concurrently will be.

However, if you mean that you will have already finished school by the time that you begin studying for the MCAT, then that's fine. There isn't much that you can do about it, in that case. 😉

Good luck!

 

[Stitch626]

Maybe instead you could just take a lighter courseload during the Spring and finish whatever's left during the Summer.

 

[flash]

agree..take a lighter courseload, go part time instead of completely off. 4 months of studying 3 or 4 times a week for few hours should be more than enough time score your potential (plus full length practice exams)

 

[ODB]

It really depends. For me and many people I know, getting the 30 or higher on the MCAT required studying for three months ALL the time, meaning not doing anything else at the same time. Taking a few months off to make sure you never have to take the MCAT again sounds like a good idea to me, because going through it more than once is a real pain. But again, it depends. I was not in a science major, and that can make a difference. Also, some people are just very talented at taking these kinds of tests and can work or study full-time while doing very well on the MCAT. It depends on your particular situation, but if you're not amazing at standardized exams (like me) and want to make sure you will get 30+, I think taking off time and devoting that to studying for the MCAT is a good idea.

 

[tik-tik-clock]

It really depends. For me and many people I know, getting the 30 or higher on the MCAT required studying for three months ALL the time, meaning not doing anything else at the same time. Taking a few months off to make sure you never have to take the MCAT again sounds like a good idea to me, because going through it more than once is a real pain. But again, it depends. I was not in a science major, and that can make a difference. Also, some people are just very talented at taking these kinds of tests and can work or study full-time while doing very well on the MCAT. It depends on your particular situation, but if you're not amazing at standardized exams (like me) and want to make sure you will get 30+, I think taking off time and devoting that to studying for the MCAT is a good idea.

will the adcomm have a bad imnpression abt me for taking a break?...
PS: i suck at taking standardized tests

 

[Overeducated]

I will be taking the April MCAT and will probably be taking only one class (neurobiology) in school and a princeton review course (that meets 4 or 5 days a week). Originally I was thinking about taking biochem also but they want you to take the lecture and lab together and the lab is a big time commitment... Anyway, I know it's MUCH more important that you do well on the MCAT rather than try to impress someone with your course load. Some people can take a full course load and still ace the MCAT--more power to 'em. I figure, if there are people who take off the whole summer to prepare for the August MCAT then taking off the winter quarter to prepare for the April one should be no different.

 

[Stitch626]

will the adcomm have a bad imnpression abt me for taking a break?...
PS: i suck at taking standardized tests

I really don't think it will reflect well on you and your ability to manage multiple tasks. I understand, as well as the adcoms do, that the MCAT is a vitally important test that you definitely do not want to have to take (and study for) again - so they do not expect to see you with an impressive course load, 10 hrs of extra-curriculars, and a part-time job. However, with that said, they also do not expect you to have to drop out of school just to study for this one thing. Tens of thousands of applicants were able to take at least a couple classes while preparing for the MCAT, why can't you? As another poster previously mentioned, you will be expected to endure the stress of attending class 8 hours a day, memorizing a plethora of facts, and taking thorough exams in medical school...so you should be able to multi-task to some degree this year, in order to prove to the adcoms you can handle it later.

Based on the fact you believe you have trouble with standardized tests, I would recommend taking a review course for the MCAT (kaplan/princeton) and trying to take at least one class in college. It is definitely do-able. Good Luck

 

[tik-tik-clock]

OMG you guys are just fabulous people!!!!!!!

this helps me so much..
thanks a million!
tiktik 🙂

 

[Shaz]

I was just wondering, If i could take an off before the april MCAT that is should I take the winter quarter off to study for the MCAT? HOw does the ADCOM feel about it ?
well I am taking a year off after taking the MCAT so graduating will not be a problem
thankyou.

I think it makes you look weak to the adcom...you're going to have to deal with this type of rigorous/stressful/potentially suicidal situation in medical school. My advice would be that, though it is certainly a harrowing situation to put yourself in, you have to study for MCAT's while taking atleast a full college courseload.

 

[Medikit]

I think it makes you look weak to the adcom...you're going to have to deal with this type of rigorous/stressful/potentially suicidal situation in medical school. My advice would be that, though it is certainly a harrowing situation to put yourself in, you have to study for MCAT's while taking atleast a full college courseload.

I completely disagree. I agree with everyone who said to take a light course load while taking the MCAT. Doing poorly on the MCAT could have disasterous effects on a persons application, taking a lighter load will not look that bad to adcoms in fact if anything it will make sense to them. Many people don't have the luxury of using the MCAT primarily as a character building tool as you would suggest.

 

[Shaz]

I completely disagree. I agree with everyone who said to take a light course load while taking the MCAT. Doing poorly on the MCAT could have disasterous effects on a persons application, taking a lighter load will not look that bad to adcoms in fact if anything it will make sense to them. Many people don't have the luxury of using the MCAT primarily as a character building tool as you would suggest.

I agree Medkit, but I probably did not elaborate well enough on my position. Yes, I agree that you should take a "light courseload" in that you should take classes that do not demand much time. For example, don't take Biochem, Thermodynamics, and two engineering classes while studying for the MCATs. That is completely ridiculous. What I say is, take the minimum 12units, at max one science class, while studying for the MCATs. Atleast be a fulltime student, albiet with easy classes, while studying for MCATs. Taking the quarter off seems weak to the adcom.