When to take the MCAT?

[revell1108]

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Hey guys! I'm new to SDN and I was hoping I could pick y'all's brains about something. I am currently a senior at a private university in Tennessee and I was trying to plan out when I should take the MCAT in order to apply for admittance for the Fall of 2014. I was thinking early July, but would that be too late? Should I try and take it in June?

 

[MedPR]

April. Start studying during winter break.

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[SBuck53]

So scores take about 4 weeks to come out after you take the exam. Applying early gives you your best chances (in theory).

So planning to take the test to have your scores back by the time the application opens up isn't a bad idea. That being said, you want to be well prepared to sit the exam. Seesing as it is February now, taking the exam in late April or early May seems like it would give you lots of time to study and take practice tests while still getting your scores back in time for the app to open

 

[Goobs]

April. Start studying during winter break.

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+1 April for sure. If you take it in July you'll be at a huge disadvantage. I know someones going to come in and tell a story about how they took it late and applied late, but they got accepted anyhow. Hopefully you don't take one person's experience and figure one person knows more than the entire community 🙄

 

[AktionPOTENTIAL]

How much content review have you done? How many practice FLs do you plan on taking? How are you doing on practice passages? Do you have a study schedule? Do you have a job/family along w/ school? Do you feel like you have a solid science background?

All these factors play into scheduling your MCAT.

 

[revell1108]

OK I was hoping I could use my summer break as time to study for the MCAT, but its sounding like a bad idea at this point. Having taken a good amount of science classes, do you think 2-3 months is enough time to study? I'm concerned it won't be enough.....

 

[MedPR]

OK I was hoping I could use my summer break as time to study for the MCAT, but its sounding like a bad idea at this point. Having taken a good amount of science classes, do you think 2-3 months is enough time to study? I'm concerned it won't be enough.....

Yes it's enough.

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[Goobs]

OK I was hoping I could use my summer break as time to study for the MCAT, but its sounding like a bad idea at this point. Having taken a good amount of science classes, do you think 2-3 months is enough time to study? I'm concerned it won't be enough.....

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=623898

Adapt it to your schedule and good luck!

 

[red7]

+1 April for sure. If you take it in July you'll be at a huge disadvantage. I know someones going to come in and tell a story about how they took it late and applied late, but they got accepted anyhow. Hopefully you don't take one person's experience and figure one person knows more than the entire community 🙄

Edit: let me preface this by saying that April would be ideal, but if you think you would do significantly better with a few more weeks to study, then consider what I said below.

I definitely support applying early, but let's timeline this:

- June 1 = AMCAS open
- approx. June 25 = initial primary data transmission
- early-mid July = most secondaries come out, first complete applications as people begin turning in secondaries

Since you have to be complete (i.e. secondary submitted) before most schools review you, I think as long as the MCAT result comes out before about mid-July, the OP would still be among the first complete applications that schools see. So as long as the OP still turns in the application early, I think writing the MCAT in May would be fine (or even June if he has his application already done and just has to submit).

Bottom line: as long as his MCAT results come out before ~15 July and he submits his primary/secondary applications early, and the time spent on application/MCAT is balanced well, he should be fine

Edit #2: you should also be reasonably confident of your score going in so you know where to apply before the score comes out.

 

[dgsilvervid]

April is prime.

 

[GatsbyK]

I'd have to agree with April or so. But since the amcas opens around July it's okay for may.

 

[MedPR]

I'd have to agree with April or so. But since the amcas opens around July it's okay for may.

AMCAS opens in may and can be submitted in June.

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[UrbanRiver]

Edit: let me preface this by saying that April would be ideal, but if you think you would do significantly better with a few more weeks to study, then consider what I said below.

I definitely support applying early, but let's timeline this:

- June 1 = AMCAS open
- approx. June 25 = initial primary data transmission
- early-mid July = most secondaries come out, first complete applications as people begin turning in secondaries

Since you have to be complete (i.e. secondary submitted) before most schools review you, I think as long as the MCAT result comes out before about mid-July, the OP would still be among the first complete applications that schools see. So as long as the OP still turns in the application early, I think writing the MCAT in May would be fine (or even June if he has his application already done and just has to submit).

Bottom line: as long as his MCAT results come out before ~15 July and he submits his primary/secondary applications early, and the time spent on application/MCAT is balanced well, he should be fine

Edit #2: you should also be reasonably confident of your score going in so you know where to apply before the score comes out.

+1

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