what would you do?

[akaYoungSkrilla]

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I'm deciding on whether I should take the MCAT at the end of this summer or sometime next year. I have all the pre-reqs completed, and completing it this summer would make my last two years of college much more enjoyable. So here are the two options:

1) I quit my job and work about 10 hours a week in my lab to keep the ball rolling, and spend the rest of my time studying for the late August MCAT. Doing so would give me 5-7 weeks of full-time studying. I then have the next full year before applying to med school to keep a solid GPA, do lots of research in my lab, volunteer, and generally enjoy my junior year. This also leaves next summer open for study abroad and internships, as well as full-time work in my lab if I choose that route.

2) I keep my job and bust my ass in my lab so that I get my own project in the Fall. I kill myself studying for the MCAT during the school year, but I can study for longer. If I take it next summer, I have to study while applying to schools and such, and I'll be way more stressed all of next year.

Option 1 seems like kind of a no-brainer, but the main drawback is that I'd only have 5-7 weeks of full-time studying, and I'm aiming for a 40+.

 

[flatearth22]

[youtube]Gyg5IoEv8oA[/youtube]

also lol at aiming for 40+

After you hit 36 it's all the same (provided it's balanced of course)

 

[NYBills987]

I'm deciding on whether I should take the MCAT at the end of this summer or sometime next year. I have all the pre-reqs completed, and completing it this summer would make my last two years of college much more enjoyable. So here are the two options:

1) I quit my job and work about 10 hours a week in my lab to keep the ball rolling, and spend the rest of my time studying for the late August MCAT. Doing so would give me 5-7 weeks of full-time studying. I then have the next full year before applying to med school to keep a solid GPA, do lots of research in my lab, volunteer, and generally enjoy my junior year. This also leaves next summer open for study abroad and internships, as well as full-time work in my lab if I choose that route.

2) I keep my job and bust my ass in my lab so that I get my own project in the Fall. I kill myself studying for the MCAT during the school year, but I can study for longer. If I take it next summer, I have to study while applying to schools and such, and I'll be way more stressed all of next year.

Option 1 seems like kind of a no-brainer, but the main drawback is that I'd only have 5-7 weeks of full-time studying, and I'm aiming for a 40+.

There is a lot of luck once you get to be aiming that high.. If you cant do it in 7 weeks of full time studying, its not gonna happen. Take it now and enjoy yourself later.

 

[akaYoungSkrilla]

also lol at aiming for 40+

After you hit 36 it's all the same (provided it's balanced of course)

Haha. Alright, sounds like I'm aiming for a 36+ at 12:12:12.

 

[ash914]

If you're not applying this cycle, why not do the September 10th mcat? That extra 2-3 weeks can be big, and you'd be close to the 3 months of study time that is usually recommended. That first week or so of school wouldn't get too much in the way.

Regardless, taking it next summer might get difficult if that's when you're applying, but it's certainly doable, and a lot of people do go that route, and having your own research project can be a big asset. However, if your schedule the coming year is going to be busy/ have a heavy courseload, you won't be able to study for the mcat. An alternative is to study during the year but take it in January so that you winter break to study too.

 

[dancerdoc89]

flatearth22, you beat me to it.

I was mentally singing that as I clicked this thread.

Yes, aim for a 36ish....the percentages get so close when you get to >12 in each section...good luck!