Panicking! Don't know wtf to do!

[SpaceHamsterBoo]

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I'm a junior...I want to take the MCAT this May...haven't started studying yet.
I want to get into med school for Fall of 2014.
When do I take MCAT, when do I apply for med schools?

Not trolling...I just transferred from CC to Uni as a junior in the spring and haven't met a single pre-med adviser yet.

 

[Aerus]

I'm a junior...I want to take the MCAT this May...haven't started studying yet.
I want to get into med school for Fall of 2014.
When do I take MCAT, when do I apply for med schools?

Not trolling...I just transferred from CC to Uni as a junior in the spring and haven't met a single pre-med adviser yet.

You should start studying NOW. But, if by May, you aren't ready for it (not scoring what you want consistently on the practice exams under the real testing conditions), then don't take it.

Most people who want to apply after their junior year take the MCAT during their junior year. Some people take it in the beginning, some take it in the middle.

 

[bollywoodlover]

Chill out dude. You should start studying now to take the exam in late April or May. You want to study for at least 3 months for the test. You might want to take a prep course if you are in school still, so that you have a schedule of when to do problems and practice tests. Make sure you stick to it. Then apply usiing AMCAS in June. Make sure you gather at least 2 science LORs and one non-science LOR. Make sure to ask your letter writers by March or April.

If you have to take a year off to be prepared and do well on the MCAT, that is certainly an option. Many people take a year or two off before matriculating, so it's not a big deal. You can focus on the MCAT, boost your ECs, and get a job in the meantime.

 

[ACal]

Read this to prepare for your MCAT
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=623898

Read this about applications, especially the primary application part.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=897817

That should get you started

 

[VictorAlpha]

I'm a junior...I want to take the MCAT this May...haven't started studying yet.
I want to get into med school for Fall of 2014.
When do I take MCAT, when do I apply for med schools?

Not trolling...I just transferred from CC to Uni as a junior in the spring and haven't met a single pre-med adviser yet.

I think that if you want to take the test in May you should start studying now. Make sure that you also are scoring well so that if you need to apply again, you won't have to keep a sub-par score on your application. Additionally, you should request your letters in like march or so to give your writers ample time and then it won't be a panic when they invariably take longer than you thought they would.

As for the ECs, if you haven't been on top of that already...start now or ASAP; but this will count mostly toward your RE-application.

Don't panic and Good luck!!

 

[SOMBound13]

"When do I take MCAT, when do I apply for med schools?"


Well, since you're a CC transfer, some might argue that you should apply after senior year, so that you'll have more university courses on your transcript.

How strong was your CC? How did you do on your premed prereqs?

If you want to take the MCAT soon, you need to sign up now. Taking the test in May means not getting scores til June. 🙁 That can mean having to alter your app list a lot if results aren't as anticipated.

I think you might consider this: If your sGPA and cGPA are strong, and you've taken a number of science classes at your univ, then take the MCAT in late April/early May and prepare for it. If you do well, then go ahead and apply this summer...as early as you can considering when you get your MCAT results back. Don't delay..

But, if you haven't taken any/many science classes at your uni, and/or your GPA isn't strong, then delay your app for after senior year.

 

[BABSstudent]

Study now, but realize that you can push back your test date.

For me, I took the June test. I knew there was one school I would apply to no matter my score and I applied there on the AMCAS on the first day. I also added a few schools that I felt like I needed to apply to as a dream school (Harvard, Mayo, etc.). It started the application processing.

Then, I studied my heart out for the next month and took the test. I added a few more schools based on my practice tests and awaited the scores. In the meanwhile, I pre wrote the secondaries based on the school specific thread.

Fast forward to when scores come out. I got what I was averaging and finalized my list to make sure I would get in somewhere. The secondaries literally poured in the day after my MCAT score posted. The secondaries were filled out and submitted within the day.

 

[SOMBound13]

If you're going to be applying this summer, then identify who your LORs will be from. Send those profs a resume with a request to meet to discuss getting a LOR from them. When you request a LOR, be sure to politely indicate when it will need to be complete. Later, check to see if the LORs were done.

Also, make an appt with your school's premed advising. You need to find out what they'll do for you. They may do Committee Letters. If so, then you need to "get in line" early for one. You need to find out what they'll need first. And, then they'll set up a "mock interview" for you.

Also, find out if your school has any premed groups or societies. If so, GO to those.

 

[sinombre]

You just transferred and you're applying in 6 months? Do you think you have sufficient enough experiences/ECs to apply? How do you plan on getting decent letters of rec in that time frame?

Without knowing anything about you other than you just transferred to a 4-year university (meaning you will apply after only having been there for 6 months), I would strongly urge you to consider holding off for at least a year. You're competing against people who have had ample time to build rapports with their professors and take advantage of EC opportunities you probably didn't have at a CC.

 

[SpaceHamsterBoo]

"When do I take MCAT, when do I apply for med schools?"


Well, since you're a CC transfer, some might argue that you should apply after senior year, so that you'll have more university courses on your transcript.

How strong was your CC? How did you do on your premed prereqs?

If you want to take the MCAT soon, you need to sign up now. Taking the test in May means not getting scores til June. 🙁 That can mean having to alter your app list a lot if results aren't as anticipated.

I think you might consider this: If your sGPA and cGPA are strong, and you've taken a number of science classes at your univ, then take the MCAT in late April/early May and prepare for it. If you do well, then go ahead and apply this summer...as early as you can considering when you get your MCAT results back. Don't delay..

But, if you haven't taken any/many science classes at your uni, and/or your GPA isn't strong, then delay your app for after senior year.

I got all A's in my pre-med courses at CC except for Bio 1...got an A in bio 2 and got a B in PreCalc/Calc...got A's in Orgo/Physics/Microbio/etc

I have yet to take any courses at my university and I dont have a gpa here.

 

[sinombre]

I got all A's in my pre-med courses at CC except for Bio 1...got an A in bio 2 and got a B in PreCalc/Calc...got A's in Orgo/Physics/Microbio/etc

I have yet to take any courses at my university and I dont have a gpa here.

Just a warning: adcoms are going to expect you to have letters from the school you transferred to. I think you should seriously consider waiting to apply and spend time taking advantage of the opportunities at your new school.

 

[bollywoodlover]

Not necessarily true. People use cc letters all the time. I didn't even use a letter from my 4 yr and I did fine. It's more about the quality of the letter and if the cc prof knows you better, it will prob be a better letter.

I'd be more concerned with whether your Ecs are up to par.

 

[sinombre]

Not necessarily true. People use cc letters all the time. I didn't even use a letter from my 4 yr and I did fine. It's more about the quality of the letter and if the cc prof knows you better, it will prob be a better letter.

I'd be more concerned with whether your Ecs are up to par.

You may have been fine, but I wouldn't assume most adcoms are OK with no letters from an applicant who transferred to a 4-year. I agree that CC professors can provide great letters though (I had a letter from a CC professor as well).

It's sort of analogous to not getting a letter from a PI who you worked with for a significant amount of time. Some adcoms will be fine with it, and some will see it as a red flag.

 

[Aerus]

I got all A's in my pre-med courses at CC except for Bio 1...got an A in bio 2 and got a B in PreCalc/Calc...got A's in Orgo/Physics/Microbio/etc

I have yet to take any courses at my university and I dont have a gpa here.

You should take some more classes. Applying with only CC credits might not be the best idea.

You should also completely dominate the MCAT and ace upper division science classes at your new university to dispel any doubts about your ability to handle science classes.

 

[SOMBound13]

I think you need to apply after senior year. Right now, you have no ties to your univ.

Will you be able to graduate, get all your upper division classes, in 3 semesters?