So you’re supposed to take the MCAT the 2nd semester of your junior year. Should you have all of the courses done before your 2nd semester of your junior year or can you take one or two in that 2nd semester?
Would I have to do a lot of self studying of a subject if I take that class in the 2nd semester?
Edit: the course in question is Physics. I have already taken the 1st semester this year, and I was trying to decide if I should take it fall or spring semester next year
There is no “supposed” time for when you should take the MCAT. Your goal is to take it only once after thoroughly preparing.
You can take physics 2 in the spring of your junior year if that’s what you want. Just schedule your MCAT test date until after] the end of the semester so that you’ve at least had the chance to learn all the material covered in the class. You can consider the physics 2 final comprehensive exam as your subject review for that material on the MCAT.
@wayoutwestmom Should I be concerned about multiple attempts on the exam? If I wait until May I feel that would only give me one, maybe two attempts in a short period (apparently having some time between exams is better in terms of improvement)
For the MCAT–you want to be “one and done”
Adcoms strongly prefer a single strong MCAT score. (In part, because for the USMLEs, students are prohibited from retaking the exam unless they fail.)
Multiple MCAT attempts may be viewed as indicative of negative personality traits that are undesirable in a med student or physician. (inability to defer gratification, poor judgment, lack of self-awareness/insight, impatience, an unwillingness to devote adequate time for necessary preparation, etc)
@wayoutwestmom Really? I did not know that. I actually heard adcoms tend to super score so I thought it would be in your best interest to take it multiple times
Medical schools do not superscore. At best they will average all your MCAT scores.
Many medical schools simply will not consider applicants who have more than 3 MCAT scores and AMCAS has set a lifetime limit of 7 attempts per individual. (Attempts include tests taken but score cancelled.)
I don’t know how much personality stuff they really read into it, but it’s definitely a palpable negative to need more than one try to get a good score.
The med schools are definitely trying to sort out personality/judgement…but they’re obviously left with imperfect markers to base those insights on.
During my interview process, I was home over winter break and had my interview set up at my home state medical school. My interview was on a Thursday. On Tuesday night a huge ice storm came through the area, shutting the city down, and the medical school cancelled all interviews on Wednesday. During our interviews on Thursday the dean of admissions told us how people scheduled to interview the day prior were still calling in to say that they could still make it in and that they would brave the icy roads (we’re talking 3/4 of an inch of glaze ice over everything…it was treacherous) for the interview. The Dean, half-jokingly but with a lot of truth, told us “I couldn’t believe that all these people we’re trying to assess the quality of their judgement and they’re talking about risking life and limb for a med school interview! That’s not good judgement at all!”
They’re hoping to find any insight they can to separate you out from the masses, good or bad. MCAT attempts is just one way.