Which MCAT Date?

[dorian baltar]

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I plan on applying for the class that starts in Fall 2015.
Due to my work being unpredictable in April and May, I was forced to wait until this week to schedule my exam.
I very much prefer weekend test dates, so I have 5/31 (Saturday 1:00) and 6/21 (Saturday 8:00) as options, but I could also do 6/13 (Friday 8:00, requires using a vacation day that I'm saving for interviews).
I'm behind the point I wanted to be in my studying, so dates in June are appealing, but the score release dates of 7/15 and 7/22 are troubling.
Should I go with the date that will give me an earlier score release but possibly a lower score (I'll also be coming back from a week long out of town job the day before the exam here and I likely won't have much time to study those days), or one of the dates that will allow me to prepare more, but with a score release date 2-3 weeks later?

Whichever test date I choose, I plan on submitting my AMCAS in early June and prewriting secondaries after I take the test.

Thank you all in advance!

 

[woltej1]

Well a huge mistake is taking the mcat before you're ready and also having your primary in by mid July sucks too. You can submit your app for review without a MCAT so you could in theory have secondaries done before august if you're lucky, but you definitely haven't set yourself up for an ideal application cycle. Look at the rest of your app, unless it is extremely strong then waiting a year might be a wise idea.

 

[BrawnsNBrain]

General rule of thumb: The earlier you take the MCAT the better
The 'Golden Rule' which supersedes the general rule: Take it when you're scoring what you want consistently!

Taking it late June is more late than early, but if you have your application complete beforehand/some secondaries pre-written it'll be fine. Having the MCAT/application completed earlier just helps you, however.

 

[mrh125]

It is really up to you to find out what works best for the mcat. Just make sure you are as prepared as you can possibly be. I, for example, spent several months studying for the mcat and essentially capped out around 27-29 scores and scored a 29 (9/11/9) on my first mcat. I felt capped out and that that was the maximum I could do on the mcat, but spent another month solidifying any science details I didn't know and received a 28 (10/7/11) on the march 2014 exam. If I would have paid attention to when I was at my apex instead of trying the odds again, I wouldn't have the issue of a second lower score. Know your own strengths and weaknesses and how reasonably you can improve by taking tests and doing lots of questions.

Also, be very wary about what time you take the mcat. If you are not a morning person and have lots of trouble adjusting to morning exams (take your tests and study during the time you would take the exam) doing one in the morning may cost you in terms of your score.

Basically, know your strengths and weaknesses and immerse yourself into studying to find out what you don't know. Some people may study years to get the same score, some may study a month to get into the 30s. It's all about you.

 

[dorian baltar]

@woltej1 I'm not really interested in highly competitive schools. I want to do family practice, internal medicine, or rural medicine so I'll be able to do what I want with an MD or DO.
1. Based on the above, do you still think it's necessary to wait a year just because of sub-optimal MCAT conditions?
2. I'm very opposed to waiting, so assuming that I have to pick one of the choices I identified, which one is best?

Also, to clarify, I should be complete as soon as my score is released.

@BrawnsNBrain unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of waiting to schedule until I score consistently, since I won't finish my content review until next week, maybe the week after. I'm worried seats will be gone by then. 🙁

@mrh125 I get up at 6:30 to study before work right now, so I don't think time should be an issue. I feel like I would do my best work in the early afternoon, but I can't really confirm that since I'm at work 5/7 of the early afternoons! >.<

 

[mrh125]

@woltej1 I'm not really interested in highly competitive schools. I want to do family practice, internal medicine, or rural medicine so I'll be able to do what I want with an MD or DO.
1. Based on the above, do you still think it's necessary to wait a year just because of sub-optimal MCAT conditions?
2. I'm very opposed to waiting, so assuming that I have to pick one of the choices I identified, which one is best?

Also, to clarify, I should be complete as soon as my score is released.

@BrawnsNBrain unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of waiting to schedule until I score consistently, since I won't finish my content review until next week, maybe the week after. I'm worried seats will be gone by then. 🙁

@mrh125 I get up at 6:30 to study before work right now, so I don't think time should be an issue. I feel like I would do my best work in the early afternoon, but I can't really confirm that since I'm at work 5/7 of the early afternoons! >.<

Early afternoon is better for me as well and let me tell you I took my second exam in the early afternoon instead of 8am (I took the january one at 8am) and it really helped tremendously in terms of my ability to think and focus. Try studying at both times and see how well you acclimate to earlier times. It is really important to take this into account and be aware of it.

 

[BrawnsNBrain]

@woltej1 I'm not really interested in highly competitive schools. I want to do family practice, internal medicine, or rural medicine so I'll be able to do what I want with an MD or DO.
1. Based on the above, do you still think it's necessary to wait a year just because of sub-optimal MCAT conditions?
2. I'm very opposed to waiting, so assuming that I have to pick one of the choices I identified, which one is best?

Also, to clarify, I should be complete as soon as my score is released.

@BrawnsNBrain unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of waiting to schedule until I score consistently, since I won't finish my content review until next week, maybe the week after. I'm worried seats will be gone by then. 🙁

@mrh125 I get up at 6:30 to study before work right now, so I don't think time should be an issue. I feel like I would do my best work in the early afternoon, but I can't really confirm that since I'm at work 5/7 of the early afternoons! >.<

Look back at your improvement in practice exams and extrapolate i.e. if you improved 2 points over the last month, then assume another 2 +/- 1 point improvement in the next month and would you be happy with that score? If yes, then I'd schedule.

 

[woltej1]

@woltej1 I'm not really interested in highly competitive schools. I want to do family practice, internal medicine, or rural medicine so I'll be able to do what I want with an MD or DO.
1. Based on the above, do you still think it's necessary to wait a year just because of sub-optimal MCAT conditions?
2. I'm very opposed to waiting, so assuming that I have to pick one of the choices I identified, which one is best?

Also, to clarify, I should be complete as soon as my score is released.

@BrawnsNBrain unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of waiting to schedule until I score consistently, since I won't finish my content review until next week, maybe the week after. I'm worried seats will be gone by then. 🙁

@mrh125 I get up at 6:30 to study before work right now, so I don't think time should be an issue. I feel like I would do my best work in the early afternoon, but I can't really confirm that since I'm at work 5/7 of the early afternoons! >.<

well DO is a later cycle so you stand a stronger chance there, if you're really opposed to waiting then do a MD and DO app this cycle, maybe you'll get MD, but you stand a better shot at DO and since you aren't looking at top tier programs any degree will give you the life you want.

 

[Ismet]

Moving to MCAT discussions forum