Mcat Timing Dilemma

[cse27]

Hello!

 

So, I'm currently in second year medical science at Western. Because of that, by the end of this year, I will have all of the "recommended" courses to take the MCAT, except sociology. My plan was to take the MCAT after second year, but I currently have a job lined up for the summer (Early-mid June until the end of August), and it could continue for the subsequent summers as well. (and one that I absolutely love!!)

 

I'm generally a very good test taker, and I seem to be doing very well on a lot of the CARS practice questions. That being said, it is crazy to think I could study for and take the MCAT in a month? The material would all be fresh, I would really just be hardcore studying the sociology and the physics. Or would I be better off taking a year off after my undergrad and working a little, traveling a little, and studying? 

 

Thank you in advance and I look forward to hearing from you! Please feel free to PM me as well. 

[oneschoolonedream]

I would say write it but do not study in a month. Study concurrently while you are taking your courses.  Do science passages, timed cars practice and full length practice tests.  Its good to get experience with the test.  Then if you need to retake just do it whenever.  I am also a very good test taker and was decent at cars but did poorly on my actual test in cars.  I think you should write it.  And try to balance studying for it with school and work.  You have nothing to loose and u are gaining experience.  Who knows you could apply to med in third year and get the omsas experience too.  

[VolumeOverload]

I agree with above.  Firstly you need to write a practice test and get a sense of what your baseline is.  This will ultimately guide how much time you will need to spend studying.  If you perform reasonably well without any study time (for ex. no scores <125)  My plan of action would be:

*study hard in the month you have off (end of April - end of May)

*start work, study a few hours each day after work (focussing mostly on practice questions)
*save Saturdays to do a practice test + review
*take Sunday off 
*repeat until test date (perhaps early/mid August?  Earlier if you're scoring high at baseline.)

Is it doable? Yes
Will it be difficult?  Yes
 

I had no dedicated time off when studying for the MCAT. I would study really early in the morning, go to the lab (9-5; doing my PhD), come home and have dinner, study a bit more, wind down and then repeat.  I did very well on my exam but unlike you, I would not describe myself as a good test taker going into it.

Sure, it's nice to have 2-3 months where all you do is MCAT.  But life, especially a life in medicine, does not work that way.  As a clerk, no one is going to give you months off to study for exams.  As a resident, no one is going to give you months off to study for your Royal College exams.  May as well get used to it early. 

 

Be forthcoming with your employer and tell them your plans early.  Perhaps book a week off before your test date, especially if you will need to travel long distances to your test center (I wrote my exam outside of Toronto with American students coming from Buffalo, Ann Arbor, Cleveland, Cincinnati)

 

Good luck!

[cse27]

Thank you both for your reply! I forgot to mention that my job is an overnight camp, and there will be no possible way to study or write it after early June. I think taking a diagnostic test was a really good idea, I will take one soon.