rushing into MCAT?

[Talula21]

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Once again excuse my incessant questions about taking the MCAT...but here goes (again). 🙂 I decided late in the game of undergrad that I wanted to go to med school. So I finished the degree I had been working on (Fine Arts) and have since taken the med school pre-reqs in my own somewhat unstructured way. I am wanting to take the MCAT in Aug 05. By then I will have taken Bio I, Cell and Molec Bio, Public Health Bio, Chem I, Chem II, OChem I, and Phys I (with a 3.8 GPA). I plan continuing to take classes during the lag year (and finishing OChem II, Phys II in the fall of 05, and Biochem and MicroBio in the Spring of 06). So I guess my question is... will I be alright applying while still taking these classes, or should I wait to take the MCAT in April 06? Thanks for any help!! 🙂

 

[newyorkcougar]

Hi...

I took the April MCAT while I was was still in ochem 2 and physics 2. I got a 33R so clearly taking the MCAT before the end of the semester didn't ruin my score.

Take the MCAT as soon as you finish the coursework, and don't spend a lot of class time on stuff like micro.

Good luck

 

[DrB]

I envy your science GPA Talula21. There seems to be an unfair advantage to the people who decided to go preMed after studying for a non science undergraduate degree.

I spent seven years as a full time science undergraduate. Then I graduated with a BS degree in Neuroscience and Behavior. The MCAT did not represent these years of science. It seems to test your ability to read fast and make decisions based on hidden information. As a non science undergraduate you are well prepared.

Take the MCAT when ever you like... you will do fine.

 

[stoic]

I think you'll be fine taking the MCAT w/o orgo II and physics II. You'll get what you need to know out of study materials.

I took the MCAT without physics II and was able to do well.

Good luck.
S

 

[Talula21]

Thank you all so much for the advice. I feel like I'll be ready, I just need to quit second guessing myself!!! 🙂 Thanks again and good luck to you all......

 

[bigbassinbob]

I envy your science GPA Talula21. There seems to be an unfair advantage to the people who decided to go preMed after studying for a non science undergraduate degree.

I spent seven years as a full time science undergraduate. Then I graduated with a BS degree in Neuroscience and Behavior. The MCAT did not represent these years of science. It seems to test your ability to read fast and make decisions based on hidden information. As a non science undergraduate you are well prepared.

Take the MCAT when ever you like... you will do fine.

Well unless you double majored, you probably didn't take any more science classes than someone who graduated with the same degree in 4 years. Because it did take you 7 years to get your bachelor's degree, that would make me think that your semesters were less intense than the average student's, and therefore you were not prepared for the intensity of the MCAT. Also, since the MCAT does represent BASIC science classes very well, you may have forgotten some of the material taught in your intro to bio, gen chem, and physics classes you took during your first year. The test does incorporate skills in reading and interpretation, but you should have been able to learn those through almost any course - especially after 7 years.

 

[Senor.Frog]

Take practice tests to see where you're at. If you do well on these tests, most of the time you can do a bit better on the exam, as was the case for me. (i.e. practice tests ~29, actual test, 32Q)