Post Bac programs and MCAT timing

[postbacker]

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I am interested in hearing the experiences of people who attended (or are currently attending) one year Post Bac programs (like Goucher, etc.) and the timing and preparation for taking the MCAT during or at the very end of your Spring semester.

Specifically, between doing your course work and getting good grades in the Spring semester course work and everything else you are doing (volunteering, shadowing, research), did you feel ready to take a Spring MCAT? Is that what is typically done by people in Post Bacs - taking the test in April, before the end of the Post Bac itself? Any thought given to delaying the MCAT until at least after the school term ends, say taking the MCAT in June?

Also, what is the track record for students in your Post Bac RE MCAT scores, the need to retake the MCAT, etc.

 

[Pemulis]

I am interested in hearing the experiences of people who attended (or are currently attending) one year Post Bac programs (like Goucher, etc.) and the timing and preparation for taking the MCAT during or at the very end of your Spring semester.

Specifically, between doing your course work and getting good grades in the Spring semester course work and everything else you are doing (volunteering, shadowing, research), did you feel ready to take a Spring MCAT? Is that what is typically done by people in Post Bacs - taking the test in April, before the end of the Post Bac itself? Any thought given to delaying the MCAT until at least after the school term ends, say taking the MCAT in June?

Also, what is the track record for students in your Post Bac RE MCAT scores, the need to retake the MCAT, etc.

I did the Goucher program last year, and am in med school now. I can't speak for other post-bacs, but at Goucher, you take the MCAT in April, a few weeks before finishing the program. The staff and faculty are aware of this, and make sure to cover all the key topics before the exam. Everyone in my class did well on the exam and got into med school. The same is true for roughly the past ten classes or so (i.e. 100% acceptance rate), so obviously the formula works.

Now that the MCAT is being given in computerized form, it's possible that Goucher will schedule things/advise students differently. I wouldn't worry about this kind of thing right now. Just focus on getting into a post-bac with a proven track record, and trust in the advising you get there to help you reach your goals.

 

[postbacker]

I did the Goucher program last year, and am in med school now. I can't speak for other post-bacs, but at Goucher, you take the MCAT in April, a few weeks before finishing the program. The staff and faculty are aware of this, and make sure to cover all the key topics before the exam. Everyone in my class did well on the exam and got into med school. The same is true for roughly the past ten classes or so (i.e. 100% acceptance rate), so obviously the formula works.

Now that the MCAT is being given in computerized form, it's possible that Goucher will schedule things/advise students differently. I wouldn't worry about this kind of thing right now. Just focus on getting into a post-bac with a proven track record, and trust in the advising you get there to help you reach your goals.

Hi Pemulis:

Thanks for the reply to my post.

I will be starting the Post Bac at UVA in June. I am a "liberal artist" with none of the science pre-reqs, so it should be an interesting year.

Did you do anything prior to starting the Goucher program, along the lines of basic science review, or the "chemistry for idiots" kind of books?

Also, now that AMCAS is starting on May 1, do you know if this is simply going to shift the entire application / verification / secondary / invite process a month earlier (i.e., will medical schools start everything a month earlier), thereby placing more pressure on applicants who want to start ASAP on the application process to take the MCAT earlier, too?

Thanks for your thoughts,

postbacker

 

[Pemulis]

Hi Pemulis:

Thanks for the reply to my post.

I will be starting the Post Bac at UVA in June. I am a "liberal artist" with none of the science pre-reqs, so it should be an interesting year.

Don't sweat it too much; I was in the same boat as you, and made it through OK. Contrary to what most "liberal artists" (myself included at one time) believe, pre-med science isn't all that hard, as long as you study the material in a disciplined way.

Did you do anything prior to starting the Goucher program, along the lines of basic science review, or the "chemistry for idiots" kind of books?

Nope. I did do a quick review through an algebra book. It probably didn't hurt me any, but I think I would have been OK even if I hadn't done that.

Also, now that AMCAS is starting on May 1, do you know if this is simply going to shift the entire application / verification / secondary / invite process a month earlier (i.e., will medical schools start everything a month earlier), thereby placing more pressure on applicants who want to start ASAP on the application process to take the MCAT earlier, too?

I really can't answer this question. Trust me, once you get to med school, you very quickly stop keeping track of the pre-med game. This is where getting in touch w/ your advisor at UVA can help you out; they should be able to give you good advice on this sort of thing.

Best of luck to you.

 

[law2md]

Please pardon my ignorance in asking this question! I am assuming that when you take the MCAT in April you are using the score for the admission essentially one year and a few months later, correct? I could't imagine that you could start a few months later but want to verify!

 

[lawnboy313]

Please pardon my ignorance in asking this question! I am assuming that when you take the MCAT in April you are using the score for the admission essentially one year and a few months later, correct? I could't imagine that you could start a few months later but want to verify!

Depends on the program. For most post-bacs, yes, you are correct--you start up med school a year and change from when you take the MCAT. The exception is if your program has a linkage. For example, with my program (UConn), I'm scheduled for a June MCAT and hope to start med school in August.