<p>I just finished my 2nd year in college, and I was thinking about when to take the MCAT and realized that maybe I should take a semester off to study and then take it next summer. One of my friends who just graduated college told me to start studying for the MCAT this summer and to take it maybe in the winter for the 1st time. But I'm doing this research program over the summer, so I feel like I wouldn't be able to really study hard for the MCAT this summer. </p>
<p>So I was thinking about maybe taking a semester off (2nd semester of my 3rd year) to study for the MCAT for about 3 months and then taking it in June or July. I was also thinking about going study abroad to Korea where my parents live, and taking the courses a little bit easy and studying for the MCAT there. </p>
<p>Do you think this would be a good idea? Would taking a semester off be a little excessive? </p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>I would say that taking a semester off is a bit excessive, but then again people spend entire summers and then some studying so I guess. 6 months of studying non stop is too much, so maybe you could split the time between building EC, traveling, and MCAT studying.</p>
<p>This is a ridiculous idea. The MCAT can and should be studied for while you are either in college or during your summer break (along with some shadowing/volunteering). This is a test that takes 6-10 weeks to prepare for part-time. There’s no justification for spending an entire semester to prepare for this. And on the med school application you will be asked to explain any gaps in your education. Saying you took a semester off to study for the MCAT will be a huge red flag.</p>
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<p>Take it once and be done with it. Re-takes hurt your application.</p>
<p>thank you for the responses guys! </p>
<p>then what do you think about taking a semester off to go abroad on a mission trip or things like that? I know that these days people are taking a year off after they graduate from undergrad to get a job or do volunteer work before they apply to medical school, but could that be done on an off semester before I graduate? </p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>The best is to work and volunteer and do Research and prep. for MCAT while still taking normal classes with somewhat ligher schedule (15 credit hours vs. 18 - 19 before MCAT prep.). This is what most pre-meds do and you will be competing against them when applying to Med. School. Normally, jobs, volunteering, research all last for most semesters of UG along with other non-medically related EC’s (sports, sorority, minors).</p>