When to take the MCAT...

[RyanS32122]

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Hello:
New member to this group--I was wondering if it would be beneficial to take the MCAT the August preceeding my Junior year in college. All the prerequisites will be completed by then, and I have a GPA currently of 3.80. Would taking the MCAT in August be beneficial given my conditions? I am working this summer with some organic synthesis but all time not in the lab will be spent studying. Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks.
Ryan S.

PS--What study aid series do people perfer? I'm leaning towards EK after visiting their site, but what does everyone prefer? Anyone have +/- experience with the AudioOsmosis package. Anyway, thanks for the replies.

 

[AlternateSome1]

If you feel ready to take the MCAT in August, then do so. If you feel unprepared or need to finish up a pre-req, then considering waiting for April. It is really all a matter of how prepared you are, since the quality of testers does not change significantly from testing to testing.

EK was a fine set of material. Some people are upset that it is so condensed, so if you want extreme detail use something else (Kaplan, Berkley, Princeton Review). I did use Audio Osmosis some. It seemed more of a destresser than anything else. The CD's can be difficult to listen to due to very dumb jokes and annoying sounds being interspersed with the material. However, I was glad to have them during long car trips, because I didn't feel like I was wasting all of my time sitting in a car.

Good luck in your studies.
~AS1~

 

[nykka3]

i took the august 2002 mcat before applying in May 2003 (TMDSAS system). this helped me a lot because i had time to take it again if i needed to ( i didn't retake it) . it also gave me more time to work on my personal statement and other stuff, which helped me to apply early in May instead of later.
🙂

 

[JohnHolmes]

Originally posted by crystal18mc
Go for it. I'm taking the mcat this august, which is also before my junior year. I've worked really hard to get all the prereqs in, plus 2 quarters of physiology, microbiology, biochem and genetics...If all the material is there for you it'll be really fresh...Other benefits include..
#1. The entire summer to prepare...people who take the April one their Jr year simply do not have this luxury...
#2. Get it out of the way, less stress during the school year.
#3. A chance to retake if need be and still be perfectly on track with the application cycle...even a chance to retake TWICE if you absolutely had to and still apply same cycle.

I've asked many, many times about this same question and the responses I have gotten have been nothing but positive. I would highly suggest taking the August, if you feel certain you will be ready pre-req wise and can devote ample time to studying over the summer.

This is simply not the case. Don't forget, everyone who sits for the MCAT in August has an "entire summer to prepare" so it is a fallacious argument to thing its advantageous.

Statistically, you have to score higher (percentage wise) in August to get the same scaled score as the April test-takers. If you believe this cant be the case, check out the AAMC website for proof (test administration data). They even come and say this.

Anecdocally, people at my school who took it tended to do exceptionally well in April. That is to say, more people in August recieved scores between 29-33 than people who took the test in April, who seemed to have a more diffuse pattern, between 26 - 40. I'm sure there isn't a whole lot to this, but I wanted to take it in April because I wanted it OVER with not to ruin summer. I did pretty well 😉 and would advise people to take the test when they feel they are prepared for it. If you know you just have too much crud on your plate for the April test, take it in August. If you want some research experience or to expand your resume, I would advise taking the April test. If you are an exceptionally high achiever, too, anecdocally, it seems better to sit for the April test.

 

[JustD0it]

Would I be in a bad position if I:

apply in June'04 and retake the MCAT in Aug'04

I hear chances for UC schools would be impossible if I'm waiting for my new scores...

 

[hamhamfan]

Originally posted by crystal18mc
Go for it. I'm taking the mcat this august, which is also before my junior year. I've worked really hard to get all the prereqs in, plus 2 quarters of physiology, microbiology, biochem and genetics...If all the material is there for you it'll be really fresh...Other benefits include..
#1. The entire summer to prepare...people who take the April one their Jr year simply do not have this luxury...
#2. Get it out of the way, less stress during the school year.
#3. A chance to retake if need be and still be perfectly on track with the application cycle...even a chance to retake TWICE if you absolutely had to and still apply same cycle.

I've asked many, many times about this same question and the responses I have gotten have been nothing but positive. I would highly suggest taking the August, if you feel certain you will be ready pre-req wise and can devote ample time to studying over the summer.

I totally agree with him. When I started college, my goal was to finish all the necessary classes just so I could take the August MCAT before my junior year. I even took physiology at a community college even though I wouldn't receive credit for it.

Having the entire summer helps tremendously. It is, however, what you put into it. With absolutely no other commitments (I even quit volunteering temporarily), the MCAT became my sole worry. Looking back, I probably could have volunteered and did some research, but I don't regret my decision to focus on the MCAT.

Taking the MCAT early helps to you move your focus onto interviews, personal statement, and so on. Once the MCAT is done with, you don't have to worry about that part of your application. While many of my peers are busy studying for the MCAT and at the same time taking classes, I'm starting to formulate my personal statement and read up on interview topics. Don't forget that you are in a competition and things like this help you to get an edge.

Of course, you could take it this April like Cooper_wriston suggests, but it may be too early. If you already have all the prereqs done, then maybe go ahead and take it super early.