Writing MCAT in summer after 2nd year

[chemEngMD]

Hey,

I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I want to write the MCAT this summer, but I'm not sure when I should take it. I wanna self-study it, and apparently 2 months are adequate if you don't have other commitments. However, I've looked at the test dates and almost all of the August ones are booked, so I don't know what to do. Write in July and try to re-write in August if I don't too well? Or do August test dates get rescheduled and will I have a chance to schedule for the date I'm interested in?

[Persephone]

I wouldn't spend $400+ on something if you're not going to have enough time to prepare for it. So you have to figure out if you have enough time. I started out with self-study, but as a non-science background student (with some science courses) I found I was not getting enough studying done per day and I was unable to focus on my own for the length of time required. I ended up taking a prep course.

I would recommend taking some time now to try self studying one of the subjects (maybe one you find the hardest/most difficult to prepare for) and see how that goes for a week or two. If you find you can keep it up, try to calculate from that how much time you'll need to prepare and then decide whether or not to book for July. I don't believe test spots typically "open up" much, but you never know.

[Broken man]

5 hours ago, Persephone said:

I started out with self-study, but as a non-science background student (with some science courses) I found I was not getting enough studying done per day and I was unable to focus on my own for the length of time required. I ended up taking a prep course.

Would you be willing to expand on what your background was (which science courses you took) and how much prep was required since you didn't have all the science courses?

[frenchpress]

6 hours ago, chemEngMD said:

Hey,

I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I want to write the MCAT this summer, but I'm not sure when I should take it. I wanna self-study it, and apparently 2 months are adequate if you don't have other commitments. However, I've looked at the test dates and almost all of the August ones are booked, so I don't know what to do. Write in July and try to re-write in August if I don't too well? Or do August test dates get rescheduled and will I have a chance to schedule for the date I'm interested in?

People do cancel, especially as the different cancellation deadlines approach — if you keep an eye on August dates you may see one open up, especially if you’re in a larger Center.

[Persephone]

14 hours ago, Broken man said:

Would you be willing to expand on what your background was (which science courses you took) and how much prep was required since you didn't have all the science courses?

I did a poli sci type degree originally. I went back to school and took first year bio, general chem, and two semesters of organic chem. I also took an anatomy course, which I highly recommend doing before med school, wasn't that useful for the MCAT though. I stopped there, when UBC got rid of their pre-reqs and I learned the bio chem and physics needed for the MCAT in the prep course. I studied for roughly two months, if I remember correctly. The prep course was 4 days per week 4 hours per day. The course was good in that it covered a LOT of information in those 4 hour sessions and you were given access to a number of full practice exams, which was one of the most important parts of my study process. At a certain point, sitting down for 6 or 7 hours the way you will actually be writing it was crucial to my preparedness. It was intense, but I don't think I would have done well on the MCAT without it, with my educational background. I can't really speak for anyone who is more familiar with the content you have to know for the MCAT though. They might have stories of success with self-study. It was just not for me and I was lucky in that my parents were willing to pay the very expensive fee for the course.