Taking MCAT after Sophomore year?

[genessis42]

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I am currently thinking about taking the MCAT after my Sophomore year is over in late August or Early September after spending 3.5 months in prepping. I also plan on sticking to my current Research Position and doing a weekly Volunteering shift at the Hospital.

Is this a good idea? I've heard that it's very stressful if you save it towards Junior year because you have to worry about your Semester courses+ECs+Applications while a Summer has enough time to spread it out if you're not taking any courses

I'm also worried about how long my MCAT score would last before it expired. The 2015 one will have a new format, so how long would the old format scores be accepted for??

When would an MCAT score from 2013 expire? Could it last for at least 2 years?

 

[gettheleadout]

It's dependent on the school, but most accept scores up to 3 years old (some only 2). That means that the last current-MCAT administered, which will be a score received in 2014, will last a couple years into the period where only the 2015 MCAT will be given. So yes, if you take the MCAT in 2013 your score will still be good for application in 2015.

 

[genessis42]

But is it a good idea to get it taken after Sophomore year?

What about the Spring of Junior year? I thought about that but then I heard that a lot of people end up taking a Gap Year because they can't handle the MCAT with the semester classes, and then the entire Application process right after(Statements, LORs, all that)...It sounds like a lot to do in the Winter of Junior year

For those of you who didn't take a year off, how did u guys handle all of this?

 

[Bucanneer]

If you think you are ready to take it after soph year, its best to get it out of the way early. I'm a junior right now and I feel like I've got a lot on my plate (I'm taking the June MCAT)

 

[Redpancreas]

I am currently thinking about taking the MCAT after my Sophomore year is over in late August or Early September after spending 3.5 months in prepping. I also plan on sticking to my current Research Position and doing a weekly Volunteering shift at the Hospital.

Is this a good idea? I've heard that it's very stressful if you save it towards Junior year because you have to worry about your Semester courses+ECs+Applications while a Summer has enough time to spread it out if you're not taking any courses

I'm also worried about how long my MCAT score would last before it expired. The 2015 one will have a new format, so how long would the old format scores be accepted for??

When would an MCAT score from 2013 expire? Could it last for at least 2 years?

Like Patrick said, most schools accept up to 2 atleast if not 3 so don't factor that into your decision. Have you taken all your pre-reqs?

Bio, Physics, Chem, Orgo?

Then by all means NOW IS THE BEST TIME!

If not, schedule these pre-req ASAP and then start studying after 1st semester junior yr.

 

[genessis42]

By the end of Sophomore year, I'll have the PreReqs done and probably all Math reqs as well

The thing is that I might not have Pchem, BioChem or Genetics done though.
Is it a good idea to add one of them to my schedule during this coming Winter semester??

 

[kickster]

Biochem and genetics would help, PChem I'm not sure of. Even if you can't fit those in, definitely take the MCAT the summer after your sophomore year. It was the best decision I made in terms of the application process.

 

[genessis42]

I'll have around 3.5 months so it could help.
I'm not sure if I will do the Sn2ed study schedule with modifications or take the PR course. I could also spread out the Sn2ed Schedule over 4 months and take the MCAT September instead of August. Any ideas??


Also, the reason why I won't have Biochem or Genetics done by Summer is that they are the worst classes at my school and I already have Physics 2 (which is Electricity & Magnetism), and I don't want to risk getting lower grades or burning out by the time MCAT studying comes along.

Is it possible to do fine on the MCAT without having taken Biochem or Genetics?

 

[gettheleadout]

Is it possible to do fine on the MCAT without having taken Biochem or Genetics?

Yes, absolutely. Any biochem concepts you need to know are covered in decent review materials (either in the bio or organic sections) and/or will be covered in a TPR course if you go that route. A formal course in genetics is not necessary for the MCAT. Having taken genetics, it's a lot of detailed stuff like calculating map distance between genes. The MCAT's smattering of genetics is more simplistic.

 

[genessis42]

But if I do get it done after Sophomore year, that score should last up to 3 years.
I can use it if I end up taking a Gap Year, which I hopefully won't.
It's just hard to tell how this will work out with the 2015 MCAT coming up.

Now I'm just trying to see if Sn2ed's schedule is better or if I should just go for an MCAT course. Is PR better or Kaplan Review??

 

[kickster]

PR but use EK for VR

 

[NickNaylor]

But if I do get it done after Sophomore year, that score should last up to 3 years.
I can use it if I end up taking a Gap Year, which I hopefully won't.
It's just hard to tell how this will work out with the 2015 MCAT coming up.

Now I'm just trying to see if Sn2ed's schedule is better or if I should just go for an MCAT course. Is PR better or Kaplan Review??

If you don't think you will be disciplined enough to do a couple hours of studying every day on your own, then take a course.

 

[gettheleadout]

If you don't think you will be disciplined enough to do a couple hours of studying every day on your own, then take a course.

What I never understood about this is if I weren't disciplined enough to study on my own, I wouldn't be able to make myself attend all of the course sessions either... I'd end up skipping self-study sessions and course meetings alike lol


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[NickNaylor]

What I never understood about this is if I weren't disciplined enough to study on my own, I wouldn't be able to make myself attend all of the course sessions either... I'd end up skipping self-study sessions and course meetings alike lol


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Lol, fair enough. If I (or even my parents) were paying $1,500+ for a course though I would be motivated to attend. 😛

 

[gettheleadout]

Lol, fair enough. If I (or even my parents) were paying $1,500+ for a course though I would be motivated to attend. 😛

See I get that, but what sort of self-study material isn't at least as expensive as the test anyway? I mean the exam itself is $270, I can't imagine throwing that away by not studying... Maybe that's just me but I think that's a lot of money haha

 

[genessis42]

Yeah, it's hard to figure out what works best.
There's people on this forum who scored high by following Sn2ed and not slacking
And others got it by taking the course. It's hard to decide between PR and Kaplan courses as well

Sounds like MCAT prepping during the Summer is much better than doing it in a regular semester even if that semester has a super-light courseload 🙂

 

[gettheleadout]

As someone from a Kaplan-dominated locale, I would take TPR over them. TPR is probably worth choosing (between the two) simply for the famed quality of their Hyperlearning Workbooks (only available in the course or secondhand).


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[AnthonyBourdain]

The only down side I don't see being mentioned is if you either 1) Do not graduate in 4 years as planned or 2) Have to reapply.

In either of those cases, the MCAT will have expired.

 

[genessis42]

I think it could still be valid if I have to reapply.

If it's taken in 2013, shouldn't it still be good for the 2014 and 2015 cycles?