When do you take the MCAT?!? I am so confused!

[RadMD1day]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am taking Gen Chem 2, Bio 2, Pre Calculus
I still have to take Lit 2, and 2 history classes and physics.
I am taking all these at the local Community College
I still need to transfer to the University for my Bio Major.
So do I take the MCAT before or after my major???
How long is the score and acceptance good for?
What are the steps I need to take?
Thanks all!

 

[jmart]

I would recommend taking it once you have yoru pre-med stuff done. I was going to take it in the summer, took a Kaplan course and some of the real mcat for practice. Ihave since taken biochem and I'm in mol gen and I know that will be a huge help for me. I think you have up to five yeras to use that scores but I could be wrong.

 

[Rocher]

Honestly I think you have all the knowledge you need for the MCAT after you've taken both organics and physics, assuming you've completed basic biology. Genetics is definitely a plus, as is physiology or endocrinology. I have taken neither and still feel prepared, although I had to do some outside research before I really felt I overcame the material. A good approach is to take the material in an organ-based set up. This worked for me. I was able to picture the material much easier because I could picture the organ and automatically recall the physiology. Just my two cents.

 

[RadMD1day]

Honestly I think you have all the knowledge you need for the MCAT after you've taken both organics and physics, assuming you've completed basic biology. Genetics is definitely a plus, as is physiology or endocrinology. I have taken neither and still feel prepared, although I had to do some outside research before I really felt I overcame the material. A good approach is to take the material in an organ-based set up. This worked for me. I was able to picture the material much easier because I could picture the organ and automatically recall the physiology. Just my two cents.

How did you set up your study? I dont have any books yet, would love some recommendations!

 

[mikejames]

Im just like you Im also going to a community college and I wont be taking physics until my junior year of college after I transfer but Im going to be taken a princeton review course in spring of my junior year so I can to the MCAT in April or May of my junior year. hope this helps 🙂

 

[Beau Geste]

I am taking Gen Chem 2, Bio 2, Pre Calculus
I still have to take Lit 2, and 2 history classes and physics.
I am taking all these at the local Community College
I still need to transfer to the University for my Bio Major.
So do I take the MCAT before or after my major???
How long is the score and acceptance good for?
What are the steps I need to take?
Thanks all!

If you are following a more "traditional" approach, i.e. doing 2 years at CC and then 2 years at uni, then take it the spring of your junior year, after you've had both semesters of Gen Chem, Bio, and during your 2nd semester of Orgo and Physics.

If you haven't had Physics or Orgo yet, I wouldn't take the MCAT until I've had them.

If you are following a non-trad post-bacc type of thing, take the MCAT after you've completed the pre-reqs, whenever that may be.

The bottom line is that there is about 1.25 to 1.5 years in between MCAT and matriculation, and it's more important to do well on the MCAT than finish your degree before applying.

For me, this semester I'm finishing up with Physics II and orgo II, and taking the MCAT the Friday before finals week. I'll be reading EK and doing lots of practice problems and full-lengths. And for me, it's not that I haven't been exposed to most of the material (except what's in my upcoming classes), but that it's been a year since my gen science courses and I need to review that.

Some will take a prep course, but it's a waste of money and time for me so I'm following the plan above and in no particular order of study for Bio, Orgo, Physics, and Gen Chem.

Sorry this is a long post, and I hope you get what I'm saying - I feel like I'm rambling.

 

[foofish]

I would recommend taking it once you have yoru pre-med stuff done. I was going to take it in the summer, took a Kaplan course and some of the real mcat for practice. Ihave since taken biochem and I'm in mol gen and I know that will be a huge help for me. I think you have up to five yeras to use that scores but I could be wrong.

For a lot of schools MCAT scores are only good for three years, so don't take them too early or they'll expire. Traditionally the MCAT is taken the spring before you apply, whether you're a regular applicant (usually Junior year) or a nontrad...e.g. I took the MCAT in April 06, and applied in June 06.