Should I take the MCAT in August or wait until January?

[Eye see you]

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I switched to pre-med at the beginning of my Junior year (Fall 2018). My final semester as undergrad is winter 2020. I know most people take the MCAT at the end of their junior year but I didn't feel prepared and I wanted to strengthen my application. Definitely wasn't ready for the MCAT in May this year. I originally planned to study over the summer and take the test in August. I've completed all my pre-reqs but I haven't started studying yet. I plan to apply to med school at the beginning of the cycle next year. Since I won't be applying until June next year, I was considering taking the test in January since it'd give me an extra few months of study time and if I'm not happy with my score, I can take it again in May. The other option is taking it in August and potentially retaking it if I'm not happy with my score sometime in 2020. I'm only taking 12 credits this coming up fall and 12 in the winter so I'll have a good amount of time to study during the semester.

 

[Dream of the Endless]

The correct answer is always take it when you're ready. Sounds like you'd be better off taking it in January from my view. You might be able to push it in for a September or August date, but why rush if you don't have to? As long as you have a score in before the cycle starts, you're golden.

A strong, singular MCAT is always a positive, but many schools also look more highly upon your most recent score. Others will average them. It's a school specific thing. Either way, your score will come in early enough for you to decide if you need to retake for next cycle.

You could grind out the content this summer and take lower yield tests(Kaplan/TPR). Than spend fall taking and reviewing exams (NS/EK/Alt) at a comfortable pace w/ plenty of time to brush up on weaker areas.(Anki is a major key so you don't start forgetting older/smaller.) Uworld if you need to. Than your last month+ after fall ends grind out AAMC material. Done well, you should at least be sitting at 510-515. An old fling took a similar route, and ended up with a 523 on test day. Best of luck!

Edit: If you're one of those savages, you could also take in summer. I've known people to push out 95+ percentile scores in 2 months. Take a NS exam, if you score 510+ and that's your goal, you could probably start on AAMC material and hit 515+ realistically. Those are the ones who already have strong test taking/analytical skills. Most have to learn it for MCAT, otherwise everyone would be scoring 515+.