when to take MCAT

[~premed~]

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Hi.

I am a premed, planning to apply in year 2007.

I know that MCAT is changing to CBT in 2007 and MCAT will be given 18-19
times throughout the year and you get your result back in 30 days.

Here's my dillema.

Would taking MCAT in August of year 2007 (even though you get your result
back in 30 days) be disadvantageous in the application cycle?

I mean I could probably take the paper version this August (year 2006),
but I am taking a full load of summer session and I might not have as much
time as I want to prepare for MCAT.
While, if I take it in August of year 2007 (in August cause I would need
2-3 months of preparation), I would have the whole summer to prepare for
MCAT.

So, would taking MCAT in August of 2007 put me in a disadvantageous
situation as to it's better to take it this suumer?
or taking MCAT next August won't hurt much at all in the application cycle and have the whole summer to prepare and take it in August of 2007?

I would appreciate any input.

 

[Dr. Giggles]

Take it sometime between this August and May 2007 if you can (assuming you have more than 2 dates to take it in 2007). It is very hard to study for it when you have a full load of classes, but you still have more than a full year to prepare. You want that primary in as early as you can, trust me.

 

[FenderHM]

I'd definitely recommend NOT taking the MCAT until you have time to prepare... computer based or otherwise its standardized and if most people are better prepared than you your score will suffer

 

[MDdream]

maybe im wrong, but i would tend to think people do better on the August MCAT because they have more time to study over the summer??? (if your scaled based on everyone else, wouldnt the Aug MCAT also be tougher too?)

whereas, with the April MCAT most students are cramming MCAT studying with classes = crappier score??

wonder if this holds true or not

 

[OSUdoc08]

maybe im wrong, but i would tend to think people do better on the August MCAT because they have more time to study over the summer??? (if your scaled based on everyone else, wouldnt the Aug MCAT also be tougher too?)

whereas, with the April MCAT most students are cramming MCAT studying with classes = crappier score??

wonder if this holds true or not

Nah,

I took the April MCAT just after completing an easy semester AND taking Princeton Review.

I took the August MCAT after 3 months of doing absolutely nothing whatsoever (NO STUDYING.)

I scored 4 points higher on the August MCAT.

 

[relentless11]

Take it when YOU are ready. You in theory only want to take it once. It is expensive, time consuming (studying and the actualy test).

So what has the OP looked into what the application cycle is like?

Keyword is rolling admissions...earlier you apply, the more slots are available to you. Considering you won't have MCAT scores in until October (August + 30d), by the time your AMCAS is complete, people may be getting interview invites, and some people may even be accepted through early admission programs. Secondaries could have been given out to people as early as July.

July vs. October/November. Do the math. Now, its not to say doing a August MCAT is going to screw you over. People do get in, but statistically speaking, I would rather have as many things on my side as possible. Applying is also a time consuming and costly venture, and something you would like to do once...if possible.

😉

 

[jbrice1639]

maybe im wrong, but i would tend to think people do better on the August MCAT because they have more time to study over the summer??? (if your scaled based on everyone else, wouldnt the Aug MCAT also be tougher too?)

whereas, with the April MCAT most students are cramming MCAT studying with classes = crappier score??

wonder if this holds true or not

i think it probably balances out...the august mcat takers have more time to study, but that group also includes the re-takers who did poorly in april (and statistically tend to do about the same the second time around). the august group also includes a lot of people who are terrified of the test and put it off as long as possible...they're not necessarily any more prepared regardless of the timing. i'm sure there's slight variances, but i seem to remember reading that the averages were similar regardless of when the test was taken in past years