<p>I am currently a freshmen in college and was wondering if it is too early to start practicing the MCAT. I was thinking about getting the Princeton Review Cracking the MCAT book just to practice and look at the types of problems. Is this a good idea or should i focus more on academics right now and take care of this stuff around the summer or later? And who offers the best MCAT prep/practices? (example: Kaplan, Princeton Review, Barron's etc.) Thank you</p>
<p>Way, way too early. </p>
<p>Save the MCAT prep until right before you take the exam. You haven’t learned the material that’ll be tested yet and you’ll either end up discouraged or panicked if you start now. Also prep burn-out is real possibility.</p>
<p>So concentrate on doing well in your courses for now.</p>
<p>Focus on your studies. As far as who is better, they all have their merits and people who prefer them.</p>
<p>I know the importance of my studies freshmen year but I’m a little confused. One premed student told me to start as soon as possible so I would be better prepared?</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/mcat-prep/1209481-freshmen-mcat-practice.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/mcat-prep/1209481-freshmen-mcat-practice.html</a></p>
<p>As WoWMom said, it is way too early.</p>
<p>There is no reason to start prepping now; you should wait until 4-6 months prior to taking the exam.</p>
<p>even 4-6 months could be considered too much if it’s not entirely during the school year and thus you’re not spending a lot of hours/day on it. Most of my friends and I started 2-3 months prior (e.g. take it in August, don’t start anything until June after classes) where we were studying in addition to research, thus doing 2-4 hours/week night and then doing larger study blocks on the weekends.</p>
<p>That kid who responded hasn’t even taken the test yet!</p>
<p>A pre-med student who admits he/she doesn’t know for sure versus medical students and higher telling you not to. Studying now will just waste time that could be devoted to improving your application via grades or extracurriculars.</p>
<p>My 4-6 months before comment was aimed at someone taking a prep class since some prep classes are held irregularly so it offered a wider time range. I didn’t mean for someone to spend 4-6 months studying…sorry for the confusion.</p>
<p>Do not do anything now. My D. started about 7 months before taking MCAT and it is much longer period than most others. The reason for her to streatch it longer was her very busy schedule. It is better to study for about last 4 months or shorter. The closer to finals exams, the better also, D. had 2 weeks in between and mentioned that these 2 weeks were waste of her precious summer time. Spend time doing something else. Even just being with your friends is much higher priority for you right now. Best wishes whatever you decide!</p>
<p>thanks guys for the input, ill definitely focus on more important things right now like grades/EC’s etc. I was just wondering lol</p>