Trying to fit the MCAt in with everything else? Good idea? or Designed to Fail?

[mcatstudent1]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi all. I just graduated from top 10 big research university and am off to the NIH for an IRTA position this summer. I have yet to take the MCAT, which is a problem because I really wanted to go ahead and apply this cycle. I have approximately 2 months (tops ) to take the MCAT before I move and start work. On top of that, I am participating in a clinical program (mandatory, full time+commuting for 2 hrs/ day) before I start work at NIAA in July. I was thinking of trying to study now and after shadowing until july, take the MCAT in early July, and finish the primary before June 4th. Would this work? There is no modified Sned2 schedule for 1.5-2 months unless you start cutting out break days, so I don't know what to do. I do have some physical science weaknesses which need content review.

Everything else for my app is complete (LORs), ECs, research, getting more clinical. I have a 4.0 from a community college (biology+gen chem+ orgo chem 1+2) and a 4.0 from 3 years at the Big Research University (physics+calc+stats+lots of bio+honors thesis) as a Neuroscience major. Has anyone gone through this before, have any positive/ constructive advice? Thanks.

 

[plumhill]

Hi all. I just graduated from top 10 big research university and am off to the NIH for an IRTA position this summer. I have yet to take the MCAT, which is a problem because I really wanted to go ahead and apply this cycle. I have approximately 2 months (tops ) to take the MCAT before I move and start work. On top of that, I am participating in a clinical program (mandatory, full time+commuting for 2 hrs/ day) before I start work at NIAA in July. I was thinking of trying to study now and after shadowing until july, take the MCAT in early July, and finish the primary before June 4th. Would this work? There is no modified Sned2 schedule for 1.5-2 months unless you start cutting out break days, so I don't know what to do. I do have some physical science weaknesses which need content review.

Everything else for my app is complete (LORs), ECs, research, getting more clinical. I have a 4.0 from a community college (biology+gen chem+ orgo chem 1+2) and a 4.0 from 3 years at the Big Research University (physics+calc+stats+lots of bio+honors thesis) as a Neuroscience major. Has anyone gone through this before, have any positive/ constructive advice? Thanks.

Most people (that I know of) put in a solid 3-4 months of studying before taking the MCAT. But depending on how much content review you need to do, you can add or subtract from that time, I guess. If you're planning on applying this cycle, you risk having a bad MCAT score (especially if you don't have enough time to study and practice) and not leaving yourself enough time to re-take. Why not focus on this (amazing) opportunity, and study for the MCAT in the Spring or something, and take it before next cycle?

 

[Ost3oclast]

Most people (that I know of) put in a solid 3-4 months of studying before taking the MCAT. But depending on how much content review you need to do, you can add or subtract from that time, I guess. If you're planning on applying this cycle, you risk having a bad MCAT score (especially if you don't have enough time to study and practice) and not leaving yourself enough time to re-take. Why not focus on this (amazing) opportunity, and study for the MCAT in the Spring or something, and take it before next cycle?

Good advice. Its possible to study for the MCAT and do other things ( thats how I did it) but it can make your score suffer....as mine did.