When to take MCAT?.......................

[npp71681]

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Hey,

When is the best time to take MCAT when u r in 4-years degree program?

What classes I must have completed before I take MCAT?

thanks................................................

 

[shantster]

Hey,

When is the best time to take MCAT when u r in 4-years degree program?

What classes I must have completed before I take MCAT?

thanks................................................

If you search the threads, you could find a lot about this since it's been asked alot. But anyway...

You need to take it by August of the summer between your Junior and Senior years if you want to go to Med School right out of college. But, you won't get your scores until mid-October and the last day to submit the AMCAS is October 15th so if you are waiting on scores to determine whether you are going to apply that year, you'll be submitting your application at the very last minute.

April of your Junior year and August of the summer before your Junior year would allow you to get the AMCAS in during the summer, and there's debate over which one would be better. Taking it in August would allow you to have the entire summer to study for it and then you'll be able to submit the AMCAS with your MCAT scores right away. Taking it in April won't put you that far behind since you'll get your scores in mid-June. I personally am going to be taking the upcoming April MCAT, my Junior year. However, if you would be taking it after this April or August, it will be completely computer based and there will be more test dates. That's all I know about the new format.

The classes that you need to take are:
General Bio
General Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Physics

You may want to take other classes if you feel that they would be beneficial. I've heard many people say that genetics, biochem, and physiology are all good classes to take if you want to learn those subjects more indepthly. You don't need to take them if you feel that your courses adequetely cover the materials that you need. The MCAT student manual is http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/studentmanual/mcatstudentmanual2005.pdf and if you skim through it you can find links in each section to the topics that can be asked on the MCAT. If you are comfortable with what you have learned in the general classes and feel that you can learn what you don't know from books or a course, then you don't need to take courses beyond the big four that I listed.

Hope that helps.

 

[eflwon]

Hey,

When is the best time to take MCAT when u r in 4-years degree program?

What classes I must have completed before I take MCAT?

thanks................................................

if i could do it again, i would say the summer after your sophmore year. that way if your on a normal program, you will have just finished ochem 2 and physics 2 only a few months before hand. all you need are those classes and the prereqs. for them, including bio 1 and 2 which you could take your fresh. or soph year. if you want to really be on the ball i would study my ass off in those classes including an anatomy, biochem, or genetics type class the last semester of your soph year so you will have all that golden by the time mcat time comes around. good luck