Question about all possible times I can take the MCAT given a year off

[bea524]

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Decided to pursue medicine just very recently, which kind of stinks because I just completed my junior year and most people have already taken the MCAT and will apply in less than a month.

Anyway, obviously I won't apply this cycle but am hoping to apply after my senior year (next year), which means I will have to wait a full year after applying, correct?

So basically my question is whether I'm allowed to take the MCAT during the year off or if it has to be during my senior year.

For example, the two options:

1) Take the MCAT during senior year or during the summer right after school ends. The spring semester of my senior year begins January 2012, so ideally I take the exam so that I can get the results before June 1 2012, the first day to apply. Then I'd have over an entire year which I assume should be used for medically related work, extra volunteering, research etc.


2) Take the MCAT during this extra year off. I am NOT allowed to do this right? Basically I'm supposed to submit my application around June-July 2012, and considering the MCAT is the most important part of the process, I should have this completed before I submit my app right?

I've just been told by a few people recently that I could take my MCAT any time during my year off, which didn't make sense to me because I assume that schools would be reviewing mine and everyone else's apps during my year off.

 

[Tapepsi]

Decided to pursue medicine just very recently, which kind of stinks because I just completed my junior year and most people have already taken the MCAT and will apply in less than a month.

Anyway, obviously I won't apply this cycle but am hoping to apply after my senior year (next year), which means I will have to wait a full year after applying, correct?

So basically my question is whether I'm allowed to take the MCAT during the year off or if it has to be during my senior year.

For example, the two options:

1) Take the MCAT during senior year or during the summer right after school ends. The spring semester of my senior year begins January 2012, so ideally I take the exam so that I can get the results before June 1 2012, the first day to apply. Then I'd have over an entire year which I assume should be used for medically related work, extra volunteering, research etc.


2) Take the MCAT during this extra year off. I am NOT allowed to do this right? Basically I'm supposed to submit my application around June-July 2012, and considering the MCAT is the most important part of the process, I should have this completed before I submit my app right?

I've just been told by a few people recently that I could take my MCAT any time during my year off, which didn't make sense to me because I assume that schools would be reviewing mine and everyone else's apps during my year off.

Hmm...I think I'm a little confused as to what you mean by taking a year off. Are you saying that you want to try and apply right after your senior year? While you do need to take the MCAT towards the end of your senior year (or right after) to be considered for the 2012/2013 cycle, the medically related work, extra volunteering, research, needs to come before you apply to schools as well. So you need to work on all that stuff stat (from now until next June) if you want to apply for the 2012/2013 cycle. If you want to take a year off (which I'd suggest you do) you can strengthen your application with EC's and all that good stuff as well as not having to take the MCAT for another 2 years. You wouldn't apply until the 2013/2014 cycle but it would give you more time to make you a competitive applicant. It's up to you though. Good luck!

 

[bea524]

Basically, if I apply my senior year I will not be able to start medical school the fall after I graduate so I will have that entire year before I start medical school (if I get accepted).

What I'm saying is I can't take the MCAT after August 2012 (assuming I submitted my AMCAS app June 2012 to try and get into the 2013 class for medical school) correct?

 

[Tapepsi]

Basically, if I apply my senior year I will not be able to start medical school the fall after I graduate so I will have that entire year before I start medical school (if I get accepted).

What I'm saying is I can't take the MCAT after August 2012 (assuming I submitted my AMCAS app June 2012 to try and get into the 2013 class for medical school) correct?

Correct. Usually schools have a deadline with the MCAT and August is normally the latest. And yes, you will have a year off while you interview at schools and wait for decisions. But what I'm trying to say is that all of the EC's need to be done before you even apply. It can't be done during that year off.

 

[DrSmday]

Basically, if I apply my senior year I will not be able to start medical school the fall after I graduate so I will have that entire year before I start medical school (if I get accepted).

What I'm saying is I can't take the MCAT after August 2012 (assuming I submitted my AMCAS app June 2012 to try and get into the 2013 class for medical school) correct?

short answer... no you cant. you will need to take your MCAT during your senior year or in the summer/september dates (as in the dates in 2012 not 2013).... your mcat score will be ready in october if you take it in sept of 2012, which is the latest date available ... you can submit the rest of your app until then but it will not be reviewed til your mcat scores come in. Basically taking the MCAT anytime after the June 2012 dates will make your application late... taking the mcat anytime in 2013 will not be accepted for the 2013 entering class. my advice would be taking the MCAT in January 2012, that way you will have enough time to study and also enough time to retake in march/april/may in case you don't do as well as you wish