Should I take the MCAT while 39 weeks pregnant?

[Fun1nth3sun1]

Hello Everyone,

So I was planning on taking the MCAT a few weeks ago but felt that I needed more time to take more practice tests and improve my score. So far, my score went from 477-501 and I have been studying for over 4 months now. I am considering taking my MCAT soon, but was wondering if it would be too risky to take it while 39 weeks pregnant. So far, I feel normal and have just minor pain but nothing major. I feel that it is doable but just wanted to get some input. Would you agree that it would be better to take it before having the baby? But at the same time, I do not want to rush and take the test, when I still have potential to continue increasing my score through additional studying. What should I do?

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[deleted967981]

Just to be safe, you might want to build in a 3-5 point score drop cushion to allow for nerves on testing day, an unreasonably hard section, poor testing conditions, lack of sleep the night before, etc. So if you’re aiming for a 505, you should be scoring 508-510 on your FLs.

Bearing that in mind, all you really need to focus on right now is getting your score in the range you need. If it takes one more month or six more months, that’s fine. Medical schools aren’t going anywhere, and it’s more important to apply when you are ready and have the best possible application than it is to rush yourself to meet an arbitrary timeline.

As for the pregnancy issue, that is entirely your choice, but I would not have risked it with any of my pregnancies. Also, I don’t think I could have sat still for that long without having to visit the restroom that late in the game.

Good luck!

 

[DK0828]

Consider your state after birth. ****s going to be crazy, especially if this is your first kid.

 

[Campana]

My two cents: making any firm plans for the month on either side of the "due date" is risky. All three of mine arrived 4-5 weeks ahead of schedule, and required extra attention for the first few weeks after.

 

[Goro]

Hello Everyone,

So I was planning on taking the MCAT a few weeks ago but felt that I needed more time to take more practice tests and improve my score. So far, my score went from 477-501 and I have been studying for over 4 months now. I am considering taking my MCAT soon, but was wondering if it would be too risky to take it while 39 weeks pregnant. So far, I feel normal and have just minor pain but nothing major. I feel that it is doable but just wanted to get some input. Would you agree that it would be better to take it before having the baby? But at the same time, I do not want to rush and take the test, when I still have potential to continue increasing my score through additional studying. What should I do?

The MCAT is a high stakes, career deciding exam that is also a test of judgement. While only you can determine if you can handle the exam, I strongly feel that it's risky to take it if you're not at your best.

 

[Fun1nth3sun1]

Just to be safe, you might want to build in a 3-5 point score drop cushion to allow for nerves on testing day, an unreasonably hard section, poor testing conditions, lack of sleep the night before, etc. So if you’re aiming for a 505, you should be scoring 508-510 on your FLs.

Bearing that in mind, all you really need to focus on right now is getting your score in the range you need. If it takes one more month or six more months, that’s fine. Medical schools aren’t going anywhere, and it’s more important to apply when you are ready and have the best possible application than it is to rush yourself to meet an arbitrary timeline.

As for the pregnancy issue, that is entirely your choice, but I would not have risked it with any of my pregnancies. Also, I don’t think I could have sat still for that long without having to visit the restroom that late in the game.

Good luck!

Thank you for the response! Yes that is a good point that I should have a cushion to allow for nerves and other circumstances.
I do not think it is worth the risk and the possibility that I might have to re-take the MCAT.

 

[Fun1nth3sun1]

Consider your state after birth. ****s going to be crazy, especially if this is your first kid.

Yes I agree, which is why I was aiming to take the MCAT before! But I think I will have to wait until after the baby is born as its not worth the risk.

 

[Fun1nth3sun1]

My two cents: making any firm plans for the month on either side of the "due date" is risky. All three of mine arrived 4-5 weeks ahead of schedule, and required extra attention for the first few weeks after.

Thank you for the response! I will postpone it until later in the summer!

 

[Fun1nth3sun1]

The MCAT is a high stakes, career deciding exam that is also a test of judgement. While only you can determine if you can handle the exam, I strongly feel that it's risky to take it if you're not at your best.

Yes I do not think it is worth the risk. If I rush and do not get the score I would have to take it again. This would just be a waste of time and energy especially considering my circumstances. I have decided to wait to take the exam until at least June 28th or June 29th. My question though is will I still be okay to apply this cycle if my application is already verified by then? I live in Texas and will also apply broadly to mainly DO schools and some MD.

 

[deleted967981]

Yes I do not think it is worth the risk. If I rush and do not get the score I would have to take it again. This would just be a waste of time and energy especially considering my circumstances. I have decided to wait to take the exam until at least June 28th or June 29th. My question though is will I still be okay to apply this cycle if my application is already verified by then? I live in Texas and will also apply broadly to mainly DO schools and some MD.

You’re more than fine time wise for DO with this date. I know nothing about the Texas system, and I think the prevailing advice for MD is complete by Labor Day, so you might want to pre-write any secondaries while you’re waiting on your scores.

I retook the MCAT late last year and submitted my primary in September, secondary in December, and was interviewed and accepted in February to a DO school. YMMV

 

[Goro]

OP oh, you'll be fine.

 

[Stellaartwa]

OP - I see you've decided to wait, that is a good decision. If the highest score you're achieving on practice exams is a 501, you are not ready to take it.

In case other pregnant ladies look at this thread in the future, I don't think the pregnancy part should be an impediment. People always try to tell pregnant women that they can't do things because "What if?" and it irks me. In my experience, the only pregnancy related symptom that would have affected me during a long exam that late in pregnancy was the number of bathroom breaks that I would have needed.

Good luck to you on both of these exciting endeavors in your life! 🙂

 

[deleted967981]

OP - I see you've decided to wait, that is a good decision. If the highest score you're achieving on practice exams is a 501, you are not ready to take it.

In case other pregnant ladies look at this thread in the future, I don't think the pregnancy part should be an impediment. People always try to tell pregnant women that they can't do things because "What if?" and it irks me. In my experience, the only pregnancy related symptom that would have affected me during a long exam that late in pregnancy was the number of bathroom breaks that I would have needed.

Good luck to you on both of these exciting endeavors in your life! 🙂

I've been pregnant several times, and if you have too (even once), you know how miserable those last few weeks can be, especially if the baby has already moved down. My advice to this and any other pregnant ladies taking or potentially taking the MCAT is not that they "can't" do something, but just from the voice of experience, that they might not be comfortable after a certain point.

And yes, the bathroom breaks are rough. I went to an extremely long movie when I was almost due with my 3rd and I missed the vast majority of it due to repeated visits to the restroom.

 

[Campana]

I don't think the pregnancy part should be an impediment. People always try to tell pregnant women that they can't do things because "What if?" and it irks me.

This.

I'm glad you posted this. While my example is just my n=1 (or n=3 if you count pregnancies instead of people), it is just information, not a mandate. I definitely know many women who were not uncomfortable, not reduced in physical activity, mental acumen, stamina, both day before and day after delivery. Other factors not known, odds are that OP will go the full 9 months.

If the highest score you're achieving on practice exams is a 501, you are not ready to take it.

It is indeed the actual MCAT preparation that should be the driving factor in determining timing.

 

[DokterMom]

For some women, there definitely IS such a thing as "pregnancy brain" so ask yourself that. Of course, the flip-side is post-partum sleep-deprived brain, which may not be better... You might be well-advised to wait a full cycle.

OP - You said you live in Texas. Do you qualify as In-State for medical school purposes? (Or will you if you wait a year?) Because the cost differential between IS public schools and most DO schools is pretty remarkable.

Just some additional things to consider.

 

[Fun1nth3sun1]

OP - I see you've decided to wait, that is a good decision. If the highest score you're achieving on practice exams is a 501, you are not ready to take it.

In case other pregnant ladies look at this thread in the future, I don't think the pregnancy part should be an impediment. People always try to tell pregnant women that they can't do things because "What if?" and it irks me. In my experience, the only pregnancy related symptom that would have affected me during a long exam that late in pregnancy was the number of bathroom breaks that I would have needed.

Good luck to you on both of these exciting endeavors in your life! 🙂

Yes, agreed! That is why I plan on taking it later. If I was not in my last weeks of pregnancy and I was scoring well I would have taken it. But hopefully I will be ready to take it by the end of June or beginning of July!

 

[Fun1nth3sun1]

This.

I'm glad you posted this. While my example is just my n=1 (or n=3 if you count pregnancies instead of people), it is just information, not a mandate. I definitely know many women who were not uncomfortable, not reduced in physical activity, mental acumen, stamina, both day before and day after delivery. Other factors not known, odds are that OP will go the full 9 months.



It is indeed the actual MCAT preparation that should be the driving factor in determining timing.

Right, agreed. Its my first pregnancy so for the first time babies usually come later than expected.

 

[Fun1nth3sun1]

For some women, there definitely IS such a thing as "pregnancy brain" so ask yourself that. Of course, the flip-side is post-partum sleep-deprived brain, which may not be better... You might be well-advised to wait a full cycle.

OP - You said you live in Texas. Do you qualify as In-State for medical school purposes? (Or will you if you wait a year?) Because the cost differential between IS public schools and most DO schools is pretty remarkable.

Just some additional things to consider.

Right, I will try to study as much as I can before the baby is born by taking at least two practice exams and checking over my wrong answers and once the baby is born will continue taking 1 exam per week until I score what I would like. Considering all circumstances I will just see what happens!
I do qualify as in-state in Texas. That is a good point. Its just that I thought I would be more competitive for DO Schools considering my stats. But unfortunately, there are only 3 DO schools in Texas, one of which is private and has $50000 a year tuition rate and the other one will be brand new school starting in 2020 and another more established school. I will still apply to my state MD schools, although I am just not too confident that I would get in.

 

[futuremdforme]

I would rather write it super pregnant (even overdue) than with a newborn when you'll be sleep deprived and needing accommodations for pumping etc. That said, you need to be ready to write it and if you're not hitting your target, you're not ready.

 

[BlueB]

I'd wait if it was me. I took it (shouldn't have I was not ready at all) at 7 months pregnant and was uncomfortable. I cannot even think about taking it at 39 weeks. I would have been so miserable. That said, I don't remember the first month of my kid's life because I was so damn exhausted. Seriously if it weren't for pictures I wouldn't believe it happened. So it you are going to wait make it as far out as possible and maybe get a hotel/babysitter for the few nights before the test. Also if you do take it before you give birth, look into the accommodations. I did but it was too late to use them. I don't remember exactly what they are but look into them.

 

[drbatsandwich]

Girl, I'm taking it on Friday at 30 weeks pregnant and I thought that was hard!! I still think I would rather take it at 39 weeks than after having the baby and needing to pump/being exhausted etc. You're exhausted and uncomfortable now, but I would think that's about to get worse here soon - I say go for it. If we all waited until the absolute perfect moment to do things there would never be any progress.