<p>I have completed my premed prereqs and am going to take an MCAT course and the MCAT this summer. This way I will have it out of the way. I don't hear of too many people taking the MCAT this early. Is there any reason not to?</p>
<p>The reason is prob that people wait for the second semester in their junior year. It is either they take physics during the summer and finish the sequence the first semester junior year…or they have other courses to fulfill that they feel will help them in the MCAT.
Additionally, the summer you study for the MCAT…you don’t take the exam just b/c people feel that they can actually study for it a bit more over the semester and during the winter breaks.
Now for the verdict…I just think people don’t take the MCAT junior year because they are not complete with their prereqs simply. From what I have heard from people i spoke from personally…they feel more comfortable taking a gap year because they haven’t really gotten time to study.
Similarly, I cannot take MCAT during summer because I will be taking a course. Hence, it’ll be difficult for me to prepare for the test.
I don’t think you have anything to worry about if you feel you’ve prepared well and are ready. Honestly, I would much rather enjoy my winter breaks then have to study for another test after my first semester headaches are over lol.</p>
<p>The other reason people may not take MCAT early is that a MCAT score is only valid for 2-3 years. (Depends on the individual SOM’s policies.) If for any reason you cannot apply after your junior year, your MCAT score may have expired by the time you do apply.</p>
<p>One other consideration: will you be applying for admission for Summer/Fall 2016?</p>
<p>If so, you may be required to take the new 2015 MCAT. AAMC and the admission offices of all US med school will issue a policy decision regarding this in July 2012. It appears very likely that anyone who will be applying to med schools for 2016 admission will be required to take the new 2015 MCAT.</p>
<p>^ Wow. Thanks for the info because I was set on taking the old MCAT before the new one rushed in. Why would this be if the med schools accepted the OLD OLD Mcat even when our current one went into system?</p>
<p>Don’t know why–perhaps because of the new content and a desire on the part of med schools to have a more uniform comparison among applicant scores since the new exam will cover significantly different content than the current MCAT?</p>
<p>It also appears likely the med schools will be revising their admission requirements with the changes to go into effect for entry year 2016. The idea is the new requirements will better match up with the 2015 MCAT. Some schools have already announced changes; others will likely do so in the next 3 years. </p>
<p>Stay tuned!</p>
<p>My D will also be taking the MCAT this summer after finishing up her sophmore year. She has taken all of her requirements plus a genetics class. She will be studying in Spain next fall semester and wants to have a stress free semester taking in the sites and culture without thinking about that test. She plans on applying for admission directly from UG so this MCAT score will still be good. Also, if for some reason she is unhappy with her score, she still has plenty of time for a re-take and still have her app’s on time.</p>
<p>What ahs helped my D. was taking MCAT right after finals in spring of Junior year. She has just completed Physics and Physiology and it was nice to have it fresh. She wished that she did not have 2 weeks between finals and MCAT, she was sorry that she wasted 2 weeks of her summer.<br>
Do not plan on re-taking, plan to do well first time. All scores are counted, not just the best. So prepare your best, take several timed practice tests to estimate your real score and take real exam whenever you feel that you are completely ready. For many, the real score is 2 points below best practice score (sometime it is different, my D. got exactly 2 points below)</p>
<p>@MiamiDAP, I’m curious about the following situation: say I take the current MCAT (for 2015 cycle) but if I decide to take a gap year, will I be looked down for taking MCAT twice when I take the new MCAT for 2016 cycle? If you are unsure about the answer, I will call up my home med school to find out the answer and post it at college confidential.</p>
<p>If you take the current MCAT but are required to take the new 2015 MCAT (for 2016 admission), AMCAS has already said that all MCAT scores you have will still be reported. </p>
<p>So even if med schools require the new MCAT exam, they will also see your old score when your score report is sent. Whether that helps or hinders will depend on what your scores look like.</p>
<p>Liveulife.
Not sure about that. I think you should contact adcoms of few Med. Schools on your list. Email them, they have been helpful and quick with replies, D. contacted several few times with various questions and addressed all of her concerns with pre-med advisor at her UG.</p>