Study for mcat summer but wont take it until spring 2016?

[Oncie]

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Hey all, I was wondering whether I should study for my MCAT this summer. I'm not planning to do much else other than research and taking 1 class (statistics). I probably won't take the MCAT until the winter, or even Spring of 2016.

I want to do it in the summer because I'll probably be busy fall semester, I probably won't have any time due to classes, research, and other extracurricular.

I have yet to take genetics or cell bio but have taken most of the recommended classes for the mcat. Any advice?

 

[Hospitalized]

Why not just take it at the end of this summer? 3 months is a good amount of time to study for it.

Edit: I might also add the July-August test dates are open as of today. I would try to register ASAP. If you don't have any other commitments this summer, take it at the end of August.

 

[raiderette]

Take it at the end of the summer.

 

[Oncie]

Why not just take it at the end of this summer? 3 months is a good amount of time to study for it.

Edit: I might also add the July-August test dates are open as of today. I would try to register ASAP. If you don't have any other commitments this summer, take it at the end of August.

I wanted to take a kaplan course. I'm in a program that will pay for my kaplan course, i don't think I can take the course until the fall though. Should I just study for the mcat without the kaplan/princeton mcat prep courses?

 

[Hospitalized]

I wanted to take a kaplan course. I'm in a program that will pay for my kaplan course, i don't think I can take the course until the fall though. Should I just study for the mcat without the kaplan/princeton mcat prep courses?

I've heard mixed reviews on courses. I posted this yesterday:

From what I've gathered, getting a good MCAT score is about identifying your weaknesses and adjusting appropriately. A significant portion is test taking ability. Every test prep company has persons with success stories, but that may not be due to the curriculum they were put through. Remember, it is a business for these companies.

You need to figure out what works best for you. There are plenty of people who get 30+ without using a prep course at all.

 

[NeuResurgens]

I'd say take it his summer. No point in studying all summer only to forget it all during the course of the semester.

 

[sliceofbread136]

Atleast from what I remember I'm pretty sure I would've done worse on my MCAT if I waited until the winter to take instead of just taking it at the end of the summer. I think that might be even more true now due to the paucity of practice material for the new MCAT.

 

[songl4a]

.

 

[Pusheen]

I'm in a similar situation and I'm taking it at the end of this summer. I haven't taken cell bio or genetics or stuff like that either. To me, the benefit of testing over the summer, with no class distractions and other pressing commitments outweighs the possible cons.

It's up to you though. Like people have said though, summer isn't a bad idea

 

[lifetothefullest]

If you don't feel comfortable with taking it in the summer, I would focus on relearning what you don't know in the summer. So if you feel like you didn't learn/retain much of Orgo or Gen Bio, for instance, you should start with that, learn it and learn it well. If you didn't learn it the first time, here's your chance too. For material that you can easily remind yourself of, you can do that in the months leading up to the exam.