FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: When should I write the MCAT?
The MCAT tests you on basic biology, physics, chemistry, organic chemistry, verbal reasoning and writing. Therefore, you should take the MCAT when you've picked up this knowledge. The knowledge you gain after first year of studying the sciences in university will help to lay a good foundation in preparing for the MCAT with the exception of the organic chemistry section (tested under the Biological Sciences section of the MCAT) and is usually offered in most universities in the second year of a life/medical sciences program.
I would advise writing the MCAT in second year after you've taken organic chemistry and you've learned most of the basic concepts in biology, chemistry, and physics. However, writing after first year is also possible, especially if you have already decided on a career in medicine and you don't plan on doing anything else in the summer. Learning organic chemistry may be tough, especially if you're studying on your own, but it may also prepare you for your second year organic chemistry courses.
There's also the option of not writing in the summer, though most people write in the summer because it's too busy during the regular school year to set aside time to do it. However, I know some pretty self-disciplined people who have made it a priority to do practice MCATs during their regular school year. Although there are less people writing in the winter and spring, this does not mean that your chances of getting a higher mark increase (see below).
In short, you should write the MCAT when you've adequately prepared for all the sections. If you don't have the background science knowledge, it might be good to take a prep course and although most people write after 2nd or 3rd year, I don't see why you couldn't write it after first year, especially since the basic science knowledge will be fresh in your mind.
Q: How and when do you register for the MCAT?
It depends on when you want to write your MCAT. The registration schedule for 2012 is here: _https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/reserving/261800/deadlineandscorerelease.html Registration to write the MCAT in the summer usually goes live in February. Click on the buttons at the link above e.g. "Reserving a Seat" to find out more information. You will need to create an account on the AAMC website. If you have a specific test centre you want to write at, it's important to sign up early as spots can go quickly depending on the testing site.
Q: Should I take a prep course?
I think it depends primarily on 4 things: your level of knowledge, test-taking ability, access to practice material, and self-discipline. Although there is a lot of information to know for the MCAT, you aren't actually required to know many of the very specific details that you may see in a second year Biochemistry or Cell Biology course. If you don't have foundational science knowledge, taking lessons could be very helpful. The Verbal Reasoning and Writing Sample sections especially are different from the type of testing that you may be used to in your undergraduate science courses. Prep courses offer some little tips and tricks to work through these sections and hints for working under pressure. Perhaps the greatest advantage in taking a prep course is the abundance of practice material. Along with many practice MCATs, there are also many tests designed to address specific topics, concepts that you can use to work on specific areas of weakness. In summary, prep courses go through material in a structured way (e.g. weekly schedule and homework) and offer lots of practice material and test-taking strategies. On the other hand, motivated and self-disciplined individuals with strong foundational knowledge could save a bit of money by working through an MCAT prep course book and practice material, and probably do just as well.
Q: When should I sign up for a prep course?
For MCAT courses, prep companies always offer them so it's really up to you when you want to schedule it in since they offer many different types of courses (e.g. full year/summer and day/evening classes). In the summer, prep companies offer more classes with some of the big companies offering courses that start almost every week. If you want the maximal discount though, you should check the prep companies' websites in January and February (around the same time you register for the mcat). If you are a member of your school's PreMed Society, you may also be eligible for a discount on prep course. You can ask your PreMed Society's executive team for more details about the discount code.
Q: What's a competitive score to get into medical school?
Typically, a balanced score (10s in 3 sections and Q for the writing sample) is a competitive score for Ontario medical schools. For the past few years, the Verbal Reasoning cutoff for UWO's medical school was an 11 (the highest it has ever been). So if you want to get into UWO, make sure you're solid in VR! If you are looking at out of province schools, some MCAT cutoffs will be a bit lower. It's not uncommon to see a score of 7 or 8 as a cutoff in some of these schools. Then again, if you are applying as an Out-of-Province (OOP) applicant, your application will most likely be placed in a separate pool and the OOP cutoffs may be significantly higher.
Q: How am I going to learn all the material?
A: The MCAT is primarily NOT a test of content, but a test of logical reasoning. Many times, they will give you the information you need in the passage. Your main priority is to apply the knowledge and reason things out from the passage.
Q: Am I scored against the people who are writing with me on that day?
A: It's a common misconception that throughout the whole exam, you're "writing against the people in the room". You may be competing with them for medical school application spots but your actual MCAT score has a different meaning. "The percentile provided on your score report simply indicates what percentage of examinees from the previous testing year scored the same as you did on the MCAT exam." - AAMC Website.
Q: Do I have a better chance of getting a higher score in the winter since less people write it then?
A: "How you score on the MCAT exam...is not reflective of the particular exam you took—including the time of day, the test date, or the time of year—since any difference in difficulty level is accounted for when calculating your scale scores" - AAMC Website
Q: When should I write the MCAT?
The MCAT tests you on basic biology, physics, chemistry, organic chemistry, verbal reasoning and writing. Therefore, you should take the MCAT when you've picked up this knowledge. The knowledge you gain after first year of studying the sciences in university will help to lay a good foundation in preparing for the MCAT with the exception of the organic chemistry section (tested under the Biological Sciences section of the MCAT) and is usually offered in most universities in the second year of a life/medical sciences program.
I would advise writing the MCAT in second year after you've taken organic chemistry and you've learned most of the basic concepts in biology, chemistry, and physics. However, writing after first year is also possible, especially if you have already decided on a career in medicine and you don't plan on doing anything else in the summer. Learning organic chemistry may be tough, especially if you're studying on your own, but it may also prepare you for your second year organic chemistry courses.
There's also the option of not writing in the summer, though most people write in the summer because it's too busy during the regular school year to set aside time to do it. However, I know some pretty self-disciplined people who have made it a priority to do practice MCATs during their regular school year. Although there are less people writing in the winter and spring, this does not mean that your chances of getting a higher mark increase (see below).
In short, you should write the MCAT when you've adequately prepared for all the sections. If you don't have the background science knowledge, it might be good to take a prep course and although most people write after 2nd or 3rd year, I don't see why you couldn't write it after first year, especially since the basic science knowledge will be fresh in your mind.
Q: How and when do you register for the MCAT?
It depends on when you want to write your MCAT. The registration schedule for 2012 is here: _https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/reserving/261800/deadlineandscorerelease.html Registration to write the MCAT in the summer usually goes live in February. Click on the buttons at the link above e.g. "Reserving a Seat" to find out more information. You will need to create an account on the AAMC website. If you have a specific test centre you want to write at, it's important to sign up early as spots can go quickly depending on the testing site.
Q: Should I take a prep course?
I think it depends primarily on 4 things: your level of knowledge, test-taking ability, access to practice material, and self-discipline. Although there is a lot of information to know for the MCAT, you aren't actually required to know many of the very specific details that you may see in a second year Biochemistry or Cell Biology course. If you don't have foundational science knowledge, taking lessons could be very helpful. The Verbal Reasoning and Writing Sample sections especially are different from the type of testing that you may be used to in your undergraduate science courses. Prep courses offer some little tips and tricks to work through these sections and hints for working under pressure. Perhaps the greatest advantage in taking a prep course is the abundance of practice material. Along with many practice MCATs, there are also many tests designed to address specific topics, concepts that you can use to work on specific areas of weakness. In summary, prep courses go through material in a structured way (e.g. weekly schedule and homework) and offer lots of practice material and test-taking strategies. On the other hand, motivated and self-disciplined individuals with strong foundational knowledge could save a bit of money by working through an MCAT prep course book and practice material, and probably do just as well.
Q: When should I sign up for a prep course?
For MCAT courses, prep companies always offer them so it's really up to you when you want to schedule it in since they offer many different types of courses (e.g. full year/summer and day/evening classes). In the summer, prep companies offer more classes with some of the big companies offering courses that start almost every week. If you want the maximal discount though, you should check the prep companies' websites in January and February (around the same time you register for the mcat). If you are a member of your school's PreMed Society, you may also be eligible for a discount on prep course. You can ask your PreMed Society's executive team for more details about the discount code.
Q: What's a competitive score to get into medical school?
Typically, a balanced score (10s in 3 sections and Q for the writing sample) is a competitive score for Ontario medical schools. For the past few years, the Verbal Reasoning cutoff for UWO's medical school was an 11 (the highest it has ever been). So if you want to get into UWO, make sure you're solid in VR! If you are looking at out of province schools, some MCAT cutoffs will be a bit lower. It's not uncommon to see a score of 7 or 8 as a cutoff in some of these schools. Then again, if you are applying as an Out-of-Province (OOP) applicant, your application will most likely be placed in a separate pool and the OOP cutoffs may be significantly higher.
Q: How am I going to learn all the material?
A: The MCAT is primarily NOT a test of content, but a test of logical reasoning. Many times, they will give you the information you need in the passage. Your main priority is to apply the knowledge and reason things out from the passage.
Q: Am I scored against the people who are writing with me on that day?
A: It's a common misconception that throughout the whole exam, you're "writing against the people in the room". You may be competing with them for medical school application spots but your actual MCAT score has a different meaning. "The percentile provided on your score report simply indicates what percentage of examinees from the previous testing year scored the same as you did on the MCAT exam." - AAMC Website.
Q: Do I have a better chance of getting a higher score in the winter since less people write it then?
A: "How you score on the MCAT exam...is not reflective of the particular exam you took—including the time of day, the test date, or the time of year—since any difference in difficulty level is accounted for when calculating your scale scores" - AAMC Website