To take or not to take...the August MCAT...that is the question

[RyanS32122]

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Hi everyone:
I am a rising junior and I am considering taking the MCAT early, this August (in 5 weeks that is). Anyone recommend/not recommend taking the exam early? I have been prepping for 2 weeks intensively thus far (on top of taking 2 courses and doing chemistry research) and plan to do some intense EK prepping these next 5 weeks.
I am just worried as I am not the best standardized test taker--I tend to freeze up and freak out... I do well on my college exams (GPA = 3.85, Biochem Major, Physics Minor) but the MCAT is a different kind of exam.

Any advise?

Thanks--have a nice holiday...
Ryan.

 

[MoosePilot]

Hi everyone:
I am a rising junior and I am considering taking the MCAT early, this August (in 5 weeks that is). Anyone recommend/not recommend taking the exam early? I have been prepping for 2 weeks intensively thus far (on top of taking 2 courses and doing chemistry research) and plan to do some intense EK prepping these next 5 weeks.
I am just worried as I am not the best standardized test taker--I tend to freeze up and freak out... I do well on my college exams (GPA = 3.85, Biochem Major, Physics Minor) but the MCAT is a different kind of exam.

Any advise?

Thanks--have a nice holiday...
Ryan.

I thought it would be a fine idea until the "not the best standardized test taker" line. You've got to decide for yourself. I think maybe they drummed the scientific method into me just enough for me to like information to make decisions on, so I'm a big fan of saving a practice test like AAMC 6R or 7R for the weekend prior to the test. See what you score on that. If you think the stress of the real thing will hurt your score a couple of points, take that into account. If you're happy with the result, take the real thing. If not, wait until April.

Good luck, whichever way you decide to go. Have a nice holiday, too!

 

[willthatsall]

I'm taking it in August and I'll be a junior next year. I think if you are ready it's a good thing to do, but of course it isn't really important. If you take it in April that would be fine too.

 

[kiahs]

I'm with moose pilot take a practice exam and see how you do you said you did intense prep. so let yourself see how well you think it can go. And then you can decide with some real results in front of you.

 

[bella_dottoressa]

i'm taking it too and it'll be my 3rd year next year. after you're prep take an aamc test (4-7) and see how you do. if your score is decently close to where you want to be, go for it. i don't think there's any disadvantage in taking it early, except of course if you aren't fully prepared.