Will this look bad for me?

[TurkTurkleton92]

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So I want to sort of take off a semester so I can dedicate it to the MCAT. It would be during the spring of next semester. I still plan to continue my research lab (not too much ~10 hours a week), continue volunteering at a children's hospital on the weekends, continue two tutoring services, and take a four credit math class.

I spoke with my adviser and he told me that course of action will be looked down upon. He said I should take at least 12 credits, but I don't have any more "fluff" classes and I don't want to do poorly on my MCAT. Can anyone help, please? Thank you.

 

[gyngyn]

There is no independent variable more important than the MCAT. You decide.

 

[sghos]

Why not take a summer to do MCAT? Maybe do something light (volunteering, bit of clinical research or something, bit of EMTing or something, work on campus as a summer RA, etc) and devote most time to mcat? Are you planning on taking whole semester off? Might be awkward to explain to admissions.

 

[DrOneDay7]

I guess it would really depend on when you're planning to apply. But if I could give two pieces of advice to anyone, it would be this:

1. Take your test before July if you plan to apply during that cycle.

2. Do what works best for you personally in order to do very well on the MCAT.

Those are two very critical mistakes I made. A July/August MCAT delays your app like no other. A late app + a very mediocre score = Not good. Take it early enough so that your app is not delayed upon submission.

Also, when it comes to the MCAT, don't let anyone tell you what is/isn't frowned upon during the time you plan to invest into preparing. Trust me, a poor MCAT score will be frowned upon much more than a light semester schedule. Not taking classes for a semester will not cause your app to be automatically rejected; a poor MCAT score will. Do what you need to do.

Good luck!

 

[staygoldponyboy]

If you can, just start studying for the MCAT now. Many secondary applications ask if you have any gaps in your undergraduate studies, and doing something like you're describing would qualify as that. While the above posters are absolutely right - a poor MCAT will get you rejected far before any schedule abnormalities will - many applicants do well on the MCAT without taking entire semesters off. I'd agree with your advisor and find a way to take 12 credits. Maybe take the opportunity to take intro courses in other subjects you're interested in?