When to take MCATs?

I took them the first time before I finished org II, physics II and my bio courses. I got some questions on the MCAT that I did not cover in my classes at the time. That was April of last year. I got a 24. I took them again in August, having spent 9 weeks studying for them. I got a 29. It definitely worked out better.

If you take them while you are still taking classes, how are you going to get enough time in for studying both for your classes and for the MCAT? I would focus on your classes and get great grades. I didn't get my scores until October and I still got accepted during the first round.

 

Since the MCAT can now be taken multiple times throughout the year, I would say only take it after you have had at least two solid months of uninterrupted study and only after you have finished all of the prerequisite courses. While it's true several students have done well with only partially-complete or missing prereq's, they are most definitely in the minority. If this means waiting a while after your classes to take the MCAT, I would do it. You want to take this test only once. Being a slightly later (fall) MCATer is not the kiss of death if your score is competitive, so take every opportunity to make it competitive.

 

Agree with this -- don't rush to the slaughter. This is a test you want to study for. I would also suggest that you let practice tests be the final guide as to when to take them. Until you are scoring close to where you want to be on multiple full length practice tests, you aren't ready.

 

Agree. I took MCAT in April, but applied in November due to my busy schedules:-( I don't see my application got affected tremendously.

 

FWIW, November is probably later than you really want to shoot for. A great candidate will still get in, but a month or two earlier can make a great difference for everyone else.