When to take MCAT

[ponybreeder4]

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Hi guys, so currently am finishing up sophmore year and wanna head to med school straight out of undergrad...when is the best time for me to take the mcat? I will be finishing my last mcat prereq fall quarter. When should i enroll in the class and what test date to register for?

 

[mattng]

Spring of your junior year. Right before the summer you become a senior. This is good for a few of reasons.

1. Since you want to matriculate into medical school the same year that you graduate, you'll want to apply during the summer before your senior year.

2. You'll need to take the MCAT around the time that you're planning to apply.

3. Taking it in the spring allows you to have your score by the time you apply and also, it's early enough as to if you need to retake it again, you'll have the opportunity to.

Good luck. Study hard. I'm assuming you have a winter break, so use that winter break during your junior year to take practice exams and start studying for it in the fall semester of your junior year, since you'll be juggling both class and the MCAT.

 

[Bollywood Junkie]

I think April/May is good. I know it's just my opinion, but I think beyond that seems late.

 

[ksmi117]

I personally think January is the perfect time. You have Winter Break to finish up studying hardcore and there's plenty of time to retake if need be (although we hope that won't be an issue). I just liked it because I studied during the beginning of the fall semester, took a little break when that got hard and used my winter break and first few weeks of the Spring to finish up and such. I especially liked the fact that it was only 3 weeks into my Spring semester so I didn't have other tests to worry about like you may in March/April.

But really, take it when you are ready. There is no reason to rush this. Do your best the first time.

Good luck!

 

[atomi]

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[ksmi117]

Hi guys, so currently am finishing up sophmore year and wanna head to med school straight out of undergrad...when is the best time for me to take the mcat? I will be finishing my last mcat prereq fall quarter. When should i enroll in the class and what test date to register for?

Oops. Didn't see that before. What pre-req is it? That may change my answer.

 

[AdmiralChz]

I took it in late May after finishing up Orgo, really glad I waited until after spring semester so I could focus on it. For some reason people like to take it early April, I am so glad I didn't do that!

 

[MassTransport]

I personally think January is the perfect time. You have Winter Break to finish up studying hardcore and there's plenty of time to retake if need be (although we hope that won't be an issue). I just liked it because I studied during the beginning of the fall semester, took a little break when that got hard and used my winter break and first few weeks of the Spring to finish up and such. I especially liked the fact that it was only 3 weeks into my Spring semester so I didn't have other tests to worry about like you may in March/April.

But really, take it when you are ready. There is no reason to rush this. Do your best the first time.

Good luck!

+1, especially since the AMCAS application doesn't open until May and you'll have your scores by then.

Take time out of your summer to get it right the first time.

 

[kingofthehill]

Whatever you do, try NOT to take it around a bunch of tests...I took mine in early May in between two class finals...not good!

 

[ipod01]

I am having the same concern. I am not sure whether to take the mcat on January or on March. I will be done with my prereqs by the end of this school year so i could be ready for either date...i am hoping. SO, are there any benefits for taking it earlier in January rather than on March? I also want to make sure that if i need to take it again i will have ample time to prepare well for the next one.

 

[ksmi117]

I am having the same concern. I am not sure whether to take the mcat on January or on March. I will be done with my prereqs by the end of this school year so i could be ready for either date...i am hoping. SO, are there any benefits for taking it earlier in January rather than on March? I also want to make sure that if i need to take it again i will have ample time to prepare well for the next one.

The benefits I found were that school isn't as hard in January. You aren't going to have tests in the first 3 weeks of school, so you can focus on MCAT studying. Also, you have all of winter break to prepare. Once you get into March and April, you'll have to focus on school a lot, as well. Who knows if you'll have a test the day before your MCAT? And if you test in late January, you'll get your scores early March, plenty of time to schedule another test, if need be.