When should I take the MCATs???

[Futurecalipt]

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I wanted to ask you guys when I should take the MCATs specific to my personal situation. I have two options: 1. Load up my remaining pre-reqs this coming year and take the MCATs next summer. 2. Finish my degree and study longer and take the MCATs at that time.

Advantages:
Plan 1: Because I am all done with my general ed, I can devote this whole year to my remaining pre-reqs which are: yr of bio, yr of Ochem, last semester of my yr of physics, and possibly throw in cell bio or genetics. This will all be fresh in my mind for the MCATs, however, having such a full load limits my MCAT study time and I probably will only have a month to study after the spring semester. However, I can apply a year earlier and not have to wait around for a year after my bachelor's. The Con is a busier school load which may hurt my grades.

Plan 2: 2 more years to graduate, devote myself to the best grades I get and take the time to study for MCATs after college.

Currently I am a Junior with 47 units left to go for my Biology degree.
Great student- 4.0gpa sciences to date, overall 3.78 gpa, so needing more time to bump up my gpa isn't quite necessary.

Is it to my advantage to limit my study time in exchange for fresh material in my head from pre-reqs? Any advice is much appreciated thanks all!🙂

 

[Donald Juan]

How about I offer a new plan:

Like in scenario 1, load up on prereqs this coming up year, then take the mcat next summer in august or september so you have all summer long to study for it. Use that score to apply the next year (like in plan 2).

Find something awesome to do with the year off. You could consider taking the year off before your senior year, so that way you could do something like traveling to another country for a year, and it wouldn't interfere with your interview/application process.

Meanwhile, you're already done with the mcat a year early, you could submit your application on June 1st, and you would have had plenty of time to study for it. So, you'll never have to think, "if I had only made more time study, maybe I could have gotten into...."

 

[Futurecalipt]

Thanks for that reply and I do believe that would be the best route now having thought about it. Although I think I'd be really tempted to apply late to just a few schools. If only just for the experience, I may get lucky and get an interview which would be great practice for when I apply with all the Extra Curricular activities I plan on doing my senior yr as well as this new gap year.
Would you advise on doing this? Or is it a waste of time. Would you just wait till you are the prime applicant or possibly test the waters a year early with a few schools. Thanks for the help!

 

[raltima07]

Thanks for that reply and I do believe that would be the best route now having thought about it. Although I think I'd be really tempted to apply late to just a few schools. If only just for the experience, I may get lucky and get an interview which would be great practice for when I apply with all the Extra Curricular activities I plan on doing my senior yr as well as this new gap year.
Would you advise on doing this? Or is it a waste of time. Would you just wait till you are the prime applicant or possibly test the waters a year early with a few schools. Thanks for the help!

Applying late would be a waste of time as you might have to settle, not reach your full potential. And if you didn;t get it, then you will be a reapplicant

 

[MDminded]

As a complete aside, every time I see this thread title "When should I take the MCATs?" I think to myself "NEVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR"

 

[FuturePharm21]

*MCAT....there is no s after, i hate when people call it MCATs; it's one test and hopefully you take it once and just yeah haha it bothers me...MCAT. no s.

 

[Donald Juan]

*MCAT....there is no s after, i hate when people call it MCATs; it's one test and hopefully you take it once and just yeah haha it bothers me...MCAT. no s.

It may interest you to know that I like to pronounce it "mmm-cat" as opposed to "em-cat". You just seemed like the type of person who might like to know this.

 

[FuturePharm21]

yes 🙂