Please Help Me!

[crosscountry123]

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Hey Everyone,

I am in need of some serious advice and would really appreciate any and all input. I am currently in my 3rd year of undergrad and trying to decide which route to take:

Option A. New MCAT
- Graduate in December
- Jan. 1 to April: Study for the new MCAT full time and take a review course
- Take the new MCAT in April and apply to medical schools as early as possible

Option B. Old MCAT
- Postpone my last 4 classes to the spring semester and graduate in April
- During the fall semester do a mini internship/co-op in a faculty lab I'm apart of
- September to December: Study for the old MCAT (almost full time) and take a review course
- Take the old MCAT in December/January
- Apply to medical schools as early as possible

So it comes down to whether or not to take the new or old MCAT. For either decision, I will have completed the required coursework for the old/new MCAT (with the exception of biochemistry for the old MCAT - I know its not required but I've heard its helpful).

My only concerns about taking the new MCAT is that there basically won't be the same quality of study materials/courses/practice tests that there are for the old MCAT.

Anyways, sorry for the long post but I would really appreciate any input because I'm really confused on what I should do.

 

[hoihaie]

take the new mcat. If you don't get in next cycle, your scores will still count for all schools, while some schools won't accept the old mcat for the 2017 cycle

 

[claduva94]

Here is food for thought. The old MCAT is 3.5 hours. The new MCAT is 6.25 hours. Which would you rather take?

 

[Saxappeal1]

OP, I've seen trial sections of the new MCAT. It was.....really not fun.

 

[feeling-dizzy]

I guess whether you want to apply this year or next year. I guess this year (2015 cycle), you are already late. Now for next year, I don't know where you live. But Oklahoma medical school will not take the old MCAT in 2014 in consideration for admission of 2016 cycle; they want the new 2015 MCAT. I don't think it applies to all the schools though; but you may want to look into that. The point is the new 2015 MCAT will probably be more valid if you apply say another 2 years from now.

 

[Relz.]

Hey Everyone,

I am in need of some serious advice and would really appreciate any and all input. I am currently in my 3rd year of undergrad and trying to decide which route to take:

Option A. New MCAT
- Graduate in December
- Jan. 1 to April: Study for the new MCAT full time and take a review course
- Take the new MCAT in April and apply to medical schools as early as possible

Option B. Old MCAT
- Postpone my last 4 classes to the spring semester and graduate in April
- During the fall semester do a mini internship/co-op in a faculty lab I'm apart of
- September to December: Study for the old MCAT (almost full time) and take a review course
- Take the old MCAT in December/January
- Apply to medical schools as early as possible

So it comes down to whether or not to take the new or old MCAT. For either decision, I will have completed the required coursework for the old/new MCAT (with the exception of biochemistry for the old MCAT - I know its not required but I've heard its helpful).

My only concerns about taking the new MCAT is that there basically won't be the same quality of study materials/courses/practice tests that there are for the old MCAT.

Anyways, sorry for the long post but I would really appreciate any input because I'm really confused on what I should do.

You said with the exception of biochemistry for the old/new MCAT, you do realize that biochemistry has a larger portion on the new MCAT yes? With that said, I think it really depends on how you think and which topics you're best in, if all it comes down to is which MCAT to write. If you're better at verbal reasoning type questions and concentrating for long periods of time then the new MCAT is probably your best bet. If you're better at equations, chemistry, physics, and that sort of thing then the old MCAT is probably best. Now obviously it's not that simple but that's the way I looked at it when trying to make this decision myself. The new MCAT will be longer so keep that in mind as well!

As far as materials go, it really depends on when you take the new MCAT. I think if you plan on taking it in April then no, most review courses will not have a lot of experience with the new MCAT but the aamc will have put out study materials and several of the prep companies will have as well in order to keep with the times so to speak. I hope I at least helped a little bit! Good luck!

 

[Aerus]

I guess whether you want to apply this year or next year. I guess this year (2015 cycle), you are already late. Now for next year, I don't know where you live. But Oklahoma medical school will not take the old MCAT in 2014 in consideration for admission of 2016 cycle; they want the new 2015 MCAT. I don't think it applies to all the schools though; but you may want to look into that. The point is the new 2015 MCAT will probably be more valid if you apply say another 2 years from now.

Any schools ridiculous enough to expect all their applicants to have taken the MCAT within the last 2 months is not a school I would want to apply to.

Going off common sense, med schools SHOULD at least accept them for the 2016 admission cycle, if not until they expire in 2019.


Sent from The World Tree using SDN Mobile

 

[crosscountry123]

Hey guys, thanks for all the input.

I am planning to apply as early as possible in 2015 and matriculate in 2016. I am a Mass resident and would likely be applying to schools in the Northeast. Is there any definitive list on what schools will not accept old MCAT scores or is it just up to the schools individually?

 

[hoihaie]

Hey guys, thanks for all the input.

I am planning to apply as early as possible in 2015 and matriculate in 2016. I am a Mass resident and would likely be applying to schools in the Northeast. Is there any definitive list on what schools will not accept old MCAT scores or is it just up to the schools individually?

aamc posted a list. check out their FB page

 

[crosscountry123]

@Relz. Sorry, I must have made a typo. I will not have taken biochemistry for my old MCAT option, but will have taken it for my new MCAT option.

 

[feeling-dizzy]

It is best bet to call the school directly and ask, but keep in mind, the committee may change decision after they meet every year. I know about Oklahoma because I apply to it. http://www.oumedicine.com/collegeofmedicine/information-about-/admissions

 

[CrimsonKing]

Maybe things have changed, but when I was applying just a few years ago there were no MCAT sessions offered after September of a given year, so this discussion may be purely academic.

 

[Relz.]

Maybe things have changed, but when I was applying just a few years ago there were no MCAT sessions offered after September of a given year, so this discussion may be purely academic.

They are offering test dates in October and November of 2014 and January 2015 for the old MCAT in light of the change.

 

[allantois]

My only concerns about taking the new MCAT is that there basically won't be the same quality of study materials/courses/practice tests that there are for the old MCAT.

Everyone is in the same boat on that.

 

[optimistic3]

OP, I've seen trial sections of the new MCAT. It was.....really not fun.

I completely agree with this. I have no idea how accurate it was but it definitely scared me off of ever considering it, not that I even was. If you're ok with graduating a semester later, I'd try to take the old MCAT. Make sure your school offers those last few classes you need next spring.

 

[EvenStevens]

I have to take the new mcat , not sounding too exciting from what i read here 🙁
7 hours of testing sounds awful

 

[kxc262]

Medical school policies for accepting scores from the current and the
new MCAT® exams

Should be very useful for you

 

[FutureOncologist]

Option A. If you do badly on the new MCAT, then you can work on the weaknesses. Take the old one and do bad, then you will pretty much have to go from building an apartment studio to a 2-story house.