When should I take the MCAT?

[busygyal]

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I am currently in my second semester as a sophomore.

I am trying to plan out the best time to take my MCAT. If I stick to my original plan I would be taking orgo this semester and biochemistry and physics in my junior year. That means I wouldn't be able to take the MCAT until the summer after my junior year.

What are the pros and cons to taking the MCAT the summer after my junior year?

 

[aldol16]

If you're taking it summer summer, then you likely won't be able to apply straight through without putting yourself at a disadvantage. But if you take the MCAT May or earlier, you should be fine. If physics is the only class you're missing by junior spring, then you should be in a good place to take the MCAT that spring, as you're finishing up the physics class.

 

[getfat]

Dont worry about a timeline. Medical school isn't going anywhere.

Take the MCAT when your practice tests mirror your target score. Do it right and do it once.

 

[deleted781806]

Spring/Summer of Junior year is the standard time to take it, I would at least get some physics and a semester of biochem under your belt in the fall. You might be able to apply blindly without an MCAT score as soon as they open the primary application and you'd receive your score before secondaries would be sent out in early July. However, this is generally assuming that you are fairly confident about your score.

Take the above with a grain of salt though, the best advice anyone can give you is as above: Take it when you're ready. "Do it right and do it once"

 

[busygyal]

Spring/Summer of Junior year is the standard time to take it, I would at least get some physics and a semester of biochem under your belt in the fall. You might be able to apply blindly without an MCAT score as soon as they open the primary application and you'd receive your score before secondaries would be sent out in early July. However, this is generally assuming that you are fairly confident about your score.

Take the above with a grain of salt though, the best advice anyone can give you is as above: Take it when you're ready. "Do it right and do it once"

I am a chemistry major and didn't take all the recommended bio courses such as cell bio and molecular bio and embryology. Would I be at a major disadvantage?

 

[busygyal]

I am a chemistry major and didn't take all the recommended bio courses such as cell bio and molecular bio and embryology. Would I be at a major disadvantage?

 

[pioneer22]

I am a chemistry major and didn't take all the recommended bio courses such as cell bio and molecular bio and embryology. Would I be at a major disadvantage?

no. i've never heard embryology as a recommendation...those other subjects are not plainly tested...review material will cover all you need to know for cell bio, etc.

 

[deleted781806]

I am a chemistry major and didn't take all the recommended bio courses such as cell bio and molecular bio and embryology. Would I be at a major disadvantage?

Basic review material on cell and molecular biology will probably be enough to get you through the MCAT, overall it didn't seem too nit-picky about material that you can actually memorize, more based on problem-solving skills.