When did you take your MCAT Prep Course?

[metalgearHMN]

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Hey, just wanted to get some data on when most people take their MCAT prep courses. I'm assuming you took the MCAT between March-July of the year you were applying.

I'm thinking of taking an MCAT course this summer so that I don't have to take it while also taking 15 credits/qtr next year. Any advice on this? I know some of you are going to say that I should enjoy my summer, but an MCAT class isn't going to eat up all of my time, especially since I'm not graded.

Clarification:

Sorry for the confusing poll guys. I know some of you took the MCAT at unorthodox time so I didn't put in all possibilities. For the summer class choice, I meant taking the course the summer after sophomore year, and then applying after end of junior year.

 

[silverhorse84]

What I did isn't an option in the poll.

I took it spring of 2007 and then applied this past cycle (2008), so I took it a year before. I wasn't going to take a year off so I took it, then after taking the MCAT (April 2007), I decided to take a year off. 😳

 

[Mobius1985]

I assume that 'summer before application year' includes the summer of the same application year too?

 

[lovedocta07]

im wondering the same thing, i was going to take in the winter quarter before the summer i apply, but would it be hard balance classes and MCAT classes...
Also if i take the class in the summer and i know im not taking the mcat till april the following year, i dont think id be that focused...
ahh cant decide

 

[metalgearHMN]

I assume that 'summer before application year' includes the summer of the same application year too?

No, I meant if you applied at the end of Junior year, you took the prep course the summer after Sophomore year.

 

[MedYEP]

I took the prep course the same summer that I applied (took MCAT August 26th, was complete at schools in October). Can't vote in the poll because none of the options apply to what I did.

 

[NiCad089]

If you can study on your own, then prep courses are not necessary. I think I heard somewhere that the increase in scores students receive is not statistically significant. You would probably get the same grade studying on your own.

 

[metalgearHMN]

If you can study on your own, then prep courses are not necessary. I think I heard somewhere that the increase in scores students receive is not statistically significant. You would probably get the same grade studying on your own.

Yea, but I need that motivation to study. I guess I could pay my friend $1500 to force me to study, or I could pay Kaplan to do it.

As far as the average, Princeton Review says their students get an average score of 30 on the MCAT, I think that may be somewhat higher than regular average.

 

[Carlin]

I'm confused by your poll/ don't think what I did is an option.

I finished my premed coursework during sophomore year, took a prep course the summer following, and then just this past summer (the summer after my junior year) I applied.

(And now I'm a senior and I have lost all desire to do any schoolwork at all...)

 

[yangxx2]

No, I meant if you applied at the end of Junior year, you took the prep course the summer after Sophomore year.

But then most students wouldn't have had physics under their belt yet..is that advisable to do an MCAT course over the summer when you haven't learned the material?

 

[BlauMac]

Having taking an MCAT prep-course and now teaching them, here is my advice.

Most prep courses are taken 2-4 days a week over a few months and have a significant amount of homework and practice tests to cover each week, which can be a lot to complete if you are taking a full load of classes or working full time.

As for timing of taking the MCAT, as long as you are sitting for the exam before the application cycle begins, my advice is to first take all your pre-req classes (ie physics and o-chem) so you actually understand the material when they go over it broadly.

Secondly, the prep courses end a week or two before a specific MCAT exam date, so the material is fresh in your mind. However, in my experience and quite a few of my students, you need more than just a week or two to REALLY go over everything, iron out the weak points, and hone your test taking skills. Taking an extra month to study after the class finishes seems to do the trick.

But if you are really on top of your studying during the course and are an expert in all the material by the end, then taking the exam right after the class ends will be fine.

Also beware of classes that occur around Spring or Winter Breaks, you may think it is an extra free week to catch up on all your studying, but most people find it really hard to study when their family is opening presents or their friends are all partying at the beach.

OH DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR THE EXAM EARLY!!! Too many tears have been shed by poor pre-med students who waited too late in the registration process and had to take their exam months later OR in a completely different state. Worse case scenario is you register for the test, decide you need more time and pay the $55 to move your exam date back.

 

[Mobius1985]

I assume that 'summer before application year' includes the summer of the same application year too?

No, I meant if you applied at the end of Junior year, you took the prep course the summer after Sophomore year.

I took the prep course the same summer that I applied (took MCAT August 26th, was complete at schools in October). Can't vote in the poll because none of the options apply to what I did.

I, too, took the prep course after sophomore year, took an August MCAT, and applied that summer, like MedYEP. I wasn't complete until November. Is it too late to add this extra option?

 

[pianola]

Yeah what I did wasn't an option there either.

I don't know that the course particularly helped me "stay on top of things" but the resources were very useful.

As for motivation, you really have to find it within yourself.

 

[chessknt]

What I did isnt an option either since I was in soviet Russia at the time and the MCAT took me.

 

[RoadRunner17]

What I did isnt an option either since I was in soviet Russia at the time and the MCAT took me.

 

[Shawnpremed]

As far as the average, Princeton Review says their students get an average score of 30 on the MCAT, I think that may be somewhat higher than regular average.

If you read the fineprint, it says that stat is based on a 2005 indep. study.

 

[binko]

There's research that indicates studying for more than something like 10 weeks prior to the MCAT actually reduces score as compared to studying for exactly 10 weeks.

 

[binko]

What I did isnt an option either since I was in soviet Russia at the time and the MCAT took me.

I think this happens to a lot of people even if they aren't in soviet Russia, unfortunately.

 

[metalgearHMN]

What I did isnt an option either since I was in soviet Russia at the time and the MCAT took me.

Sorry for the confusing poll guys. I know some of you took the MCAT at unorthodox time so I didn't put in all possibilities. For the summer class choice, I meant taking the course the summer after sophomore year, and then applying after end of junior year.

 

[Mobius1985]

Maybe you could add this clarifying information to your first post for the benefit of new would-be voters.

 

[Shawnpremed]

There's research that indicates studying for more than something like 10 weeks prior to the MCAT actually reduces score as compared to studying for exactly 10 weeks.

When you say 10 weeks, does that include or exclude time spent in a prep course? I can't imagine taking a summer MCAT course for 2 months, finishing a substantial no. of practice TPR, Kap, EK, etc. tests and AAMC tests, and then be prepared to immediately take the real thing a month later to be ideal! Or maybe I'm just slow...

 

[JackInTheBox]

I didn't bother taking a prep course. That's right ladies, that number is all me 😀

 

[ChubbyChaser]

No prep course...just bootleg materials.