When do 'typical' applicants take the MCAt

[reddy123]

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Hey guys I am a bio major that just finished my first year of undergrad and I will be starting as a sophomore in about 3 weeks.

I think that I have a really good idea of what it takes to get into med school as far as ec's, lors, gpa, mcat scores go but I just wanted to confirm some things.

When do typical premeds that have taken the gen chem/bio/math sequence fresh yr, orgo/more bio/anatomy soph. yr, and phycics junior year take the mcat?--For the most part this is the sequence that most typical premeds take their pre reqs in right?

So do most ppl apply after their junior year or during their junior year? Is the MCAT taken after junior year because thats when most ppl finish physics? I just read the 3 months MCAT plan that is popular on this site and it seems like most ppl study for the MCAT for about 3 months during their junior year right? So if you apply junior year when do you find out if you got in or not? Also what are secondaries?--Lol i did some searching but couldn't find threads that answered these specific concerns...

 

[Telekinesis]

Hey guys I am a bio major that just finished my first year of undergrad and I will be starting as a sophomore in about 3 weeks.

I think that I have a really good idea of what it takes to get into med school as far as ec's, lors, gpa, mcat scores go but I just wanted to confirm some things.

When do typical premeds that have taken the gen chem/bio/math sequence fresh yr, orgo/more bio/anatomy soph. yr, and phycics junior year take the mcat?--For the most part this is the sequence that most typical premeds take their pre reqs in right?

So do most ppl apply after their junior year or during their junior year? Is the MCAT taken after junior year because thats when most ppl finish physics? I just read the 3 months MCAT plan that is popular on this site and it seems like most ppl study for the MCAT for about 3 months during their junior year right? So if you apply junior year when do you find out if you got in or not? Also what are secondaries?--Lol i did some searching but couldn't find threads that answered these specific concerns...

Junior yr. Then you apply the summer after junior year.

 

[GooseWing]

Hey guys I am a bio major that just finished my first year of undergrad and I will be starting as a sophomore in about 3 weeks.

I think that I have a really good idea of what it takes to get into med school as far as ec's, lors, gpa, mcat scores go but I just wanted to confirm some things.

When do typical premeds that have taken the gen chem/bio/math sequence fresh yr, orgo/more bio/anatomy soph. yr, and phycics junior year take the mcat?--For the most part this is the sequence that most typical premeds take their pre reqs in right?

So do most ppl apply after their junior year or during their junior year? Is the MCAT taken after junior year because thats when most ppl finish physics? I just read the 3 months MCAT plan that is popular on this site and it seems like most ppl study for the MCAT for about 3 months during their junior year right? So if you apply junior year when do you find out if you got in or not? Also what are secondaries?--Lol i did some searching but couldn't find threads that answered these specific concerns...

There are many different routes to take and many different orders that people take the classes you listed.
Personally, I did math/bio/gchem freshman year, ochem/phys sophomore year, and will be taking the mcat just before I start my junior year. Doing this allows me 3 solid months of summer to devote to MCAT prep and as little time as possible to forget everything that I'll be tested on!
I recommend it!

EDIT: Oh yes and if everything goes as according to plan then I'll be applying June of my junior year.

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Before senior year (summer of) is when most people apply. I'm choosing to do a gap year since I started a little late on my track and I haven't even completed the Physics sequence yet. (going into my Junior year)
As for MCAT, most people take it once they complete: Gen Chem, Orgo, Biology, and Physics. Microbiology, Genetics, and a good amount of A&P are said to have been seen on the MCAT. As for any math related material, I've heard people say there are some Biostats questions.

 

[LRAccord624]

Ok, most bio majors at my school took bio/chem freshman year, ochem/physics sophomore year, and upper level bio junior and senior year.

Most people I know studied for the MCAT starting in ~January of their junior year until they took the exam in April or May. Some people waited until June to take it, and others actually took the MCAT the summer after their sophomore year.

Most people who plan to go straight to med school after college apply the summer after their junior year. You do secondaries between the summer and early fall, and interview during your senior year between August and February. You may start getting acceptances within a week of your first interview 😀, or you may wait as long as the next summer 🙁 (or have to reapply 😡).

Hopefully that answered all of your questions!

Edit: y'all beat me to it, looks like I'm a slow typer 🙂

 

[Doctor246853]

Hey guys I am a bio major that just finished my first year of undergrad and I will be starting as a sophomore in about 3 weeks.

I think that I have a really good idea of what it takes to get into med school as far as ec's, lors, gpa, mcat scores go but I just wanted to confirm some things.

When do typical premeds that have taken the gen chem/bio/math sequence fresh yr, orgo/more bio/anatomy soph. yr, and phycics junior year take the mcat?--For the most part this is the sequence that most typical premeds take their pre reqs in right?

So do most ppl apply after their junior year or during their junior year? Is the MCAT taken after junior year because thats when most ppl finish physics? I just read the 3 months MCAT plan that is popular on this site and it seems like most ppl study for the MCAT for about 3 months during their junior year right? So if you apply junior year when do you find out if you got in or not? Also what are secondaries?--Lol i did some searching but couldn't find threads that answered these specific concerns...

By typical you must mean non sdn premeds... Sometime during junior year. But if you are talking about sdn premeds, a little before your freshman year of college.

 

[jhay]

At my school it's very common to follow the following:


Freshman: bio + general chemistry
Sophomore: orgo + physics + human physiology

Sophomore summer: MCAT

Junior: upper level sciences, finish your major.

Senior: upper level sciences, finish your major

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

I hate how I'm a year behind my high school class of 2009. 🙁

 

[Person0715]

Both the OP and Jhay mention taking some sort of A&P class before the MCAT. I know its not a requirement, but do you believe it is imperative to take an A&P course prior to the MCAT?

 

[theseeker4]

Both the OP and Jhay mention taking some sort of A&P class before the MCAT. I know its not a requirement, but do you believe it is imperative to take an A&P course prior to the MCAT?

No, it is not imperative. It could help, but the material covered is not necessary to perform well on the test.

 

[Snuke]

There are many different routes to take and many different orders that people take the classes you listed.
Personally, I did math/bio/gchem freshman year, ochem/phys sophomore year, and will be taking the mcat just before I start my junior year. Doing this allows me 3 solid months of summer to devote to MCAT prep and as little time as possible to forget everything that I'll be tested on!
I recommend it!

EDIT: Oh yes and if everything goes as according to plan then I'll be applying June of my junior year.

This is what I did, and it was such a relief to have it done and out of the way. It allowed me to concentrate on my classes while my poor friends had to sacrifice either MCAT study or class study. If you can pull it off, this is the way to go. 3 months of uninterrupted studying can help tremendously.

 

[Person0715]

This is what I did, and it was such a relief to have it done and out of the way. It allowed me to concentrate on my classes while my poor friends had to sacrifice either MCAT study or class study. If you can pull it off, this is the way to go. 3 months of uninterrupted studying can help tremendously.

For those of you that did this, did you do other activities like research or volunteering on top of MCAT study?

 

[paul411]

Both the OP and Jhay mention taking some sort of A&P class before the MCAT. I know its not a requirement, but do you believe it is imperative to take an A&P course prior to the MCAT?

Nah. Everything you need to know will be in the prep books.

 

[Snuke]

For those of you that did this, did you do other activities like research or volunteering on top of MCAT study?

No research (rural area), but I did volunteer and took a summer physics class.

 

[NickNaylor]

Both the OP and Jhay mention taking some sort of A&P class before the MCAT. I know its not a requirement, but do you believe it is imperative to take an A&P course prior to the MCAT?

No, it is not imperative. It could help, but the material covered is not necessary to perform well on the test.

I think it depends greatly on what you've been exposed to. I had absolutely no knowledge of phys from any other classes (including gen bio). I'm really glad that I took the human phys as that would've sucked to learn that content on my own.

You don't need the anatomy part of A&P - that sort of stuff isn't tested. But I would highly recommend taking phys if you can.

 

[aSagacious]

I think it depends greatly on what you've been exposed to. I had absolutely no knowledge of phys from any other classes (including gen bio). I'm really glad that I took the human phys as that would've sucked to learn that content on my own.

You don't need the anatomy part of A&P - that sort of stuff isn't tested. But I would highly recommend taking phys if you can.

On a similar note, if I had to choose between biochem, physio, or anatomy prior to taking the MCAT it would be biochem. You will find that orgo now manifests itself in biochemical passages (say, describing an active site of an enzyme or a conformational change dictating surface polarity). Though your understanding of orgo needn't be exemplary, it certainly helps to have some basic understanding of the biochem so you don't lose the forest for the trees in the passages. I suppose the same could be said of the bio questions with respect to physiology (but IMO to a lesser extent).

 

[GS Mikami]

On a similar note, if I had to choose between biochem, physio, or anatomy prior to taking the MCAT it would be biochem. You will find that orgo now manifests itself in biochemical passages (say, describing an active site of an enzyme or a conformational change dictating surface polarity). Though your understanding of orgo needn't be exemplary, it certainly helps to have some basic understanding of the biochem so you don't lose the forest for the trees in the passages. I suppose the same could be said of the bio questions with respect to physiology (but IMO to a lesser extent).

I totally agree. I wish I had taken biochem before the MCAT because everything related to ochem in my test was about amino acids, pathways, etc.

 

[oaklandguy]

I would say to take it summer of sophomore year if you will have had all your pre-reqs done. I found it much easier to study for it during the summer and not have to worry about classwork and other things. When you take it your junior year, you are trying to keep the gpa up to not have a downward trend, trying to fit in as many activities as you can before you submit, and studying for the mcat. It becomes a lot on your plate.

 

[MrLahey]

At my school it's very common to follow the following:


Freshman: bio + general chemistry
Sophomore: orgo + physics + human physiology

Sophomore summer: MCAT

Junior: upper level sciences, finish your major.

Senior: upper level sciences, finish your major

This is how I would do it...But there is no need to take HP unless you want to for your own enjoyment...It does not help for the MCAT

I Took mine at the end of my sophmore summer and did fine...But I will say taking the Biochem and upperlevel bio courses in my Junior would have helped a lot. So you have to judge, do you want to study for the test during the school year, or risk applying later or my take the test early but have not taken some possibly beneficial classes that are not required for the MCAT. It all depends on your schedual and how you study. Think about it for a long time and map out all three scenarios to see how they would look in a 2 or 3 year plan