The MCAT, or Medical College Admissions Test, is a standardized test used by medical schools across the United States to assess the readiness of a student for medical school. It’s similar to the SAT and ACT in that it’s an entrance exam, and your score can determine which college you go to. In this article, we’ll break down when is the best time to take the MCAT.
Preparation
Regardless of when you take the MCAT, the most important thing is that you are prepared. If you feel unprepared, and it’s not just exam nerves speaking, don’t take the test. You’d be much better off waiting and continuing to study until you do feel prepared enough to take the exam. That being said, for different situations, you’ll want to take the MCAT at more ideal times.
No gap year
If you’re planning on going straight from undergrad into med school, you’ll want to take the MCAT early in the year, preferably by May of your junior year. This is because the AMCAS, or American Medical College Application Service, begins sending applications to schools around the end of June, and colleges will not look at your application unless it comes with an MCAT score. MCAT scores come out about a month after test day, which means a May test score will likely come out in June. It’s best to try and submit your AMCAS application in the first week of June if you can, since that’ll give it enough time to get verified and sent out with the first batch of applications colleges will receive. Having your scores will allow you to submit immediately without delay.
Gap year
If you’re planning on taking a gap year between undergrad and med school, then your timeline shifts back. Instead of trying to take it before May of your junior year, you can take the MCAT in May or even as late as June of your gap year, which gives you an extra year to study. However, it’s important not to procrastinate on taking the exam, because again, it takes a month for your scores to come out, which means the scores for a June exam won’t be out until July. It’s also important to remember that if you’re planning on doing research or other activities to bolster your application during your gap year, you may want to take the test earlier to give yourself time to study while you don’t have a bunch of extra commitments.
Retakes
While in this article, we’ve told you that you should take the test no later than the late spring/early summer, it’s a good idea to take your first test as early as January, since this allows you the opportunity for a retake if you don’t perform as well as you like on your first go. Taking the test in January, for example, allows you to receive your scores in February, which means you can sign up for a retake in May or April, depending on availability, if you feel like you need it. Some people even take the MCAT as early as their sophomore year, but you should only do this if you feel prepared, and you feel like you have a good grasp of the material. Depending on the classes you’ve taken by sophomore year, it’s possible you’ve learned enough material to succeed on the MCAT. But remember the golden rule: Do not take the MCAT if you do not feel prepared.
Conclusion
The MCAT is an important part of your medical school application, and as such, planning for it is essential. Hopefully, this article has given you a good goal to aim for in your MCAT preparation. Good luck!