My plan has been to sit for the MCAT in spring of 2011 (which is subject to change if you saw my thread in the general forum). Since I’ve got a fairly heavy load scheduled for this next year, I’m looking for advice on how other people have budgeted their time to remain successful in coursework while studying for the MCAT.
I have my heart set out on taking a live class with The Berkeley Review, but living 90 minutes-2 hrs (depending on traffic) from their nearest location is going to be a challenge. Their course runs the same length as my spring quarter, and attending would mean commuting three days a week for those 10-ish weeks. The other live test prep courses are also the same commute for me. I’m leaning toward a live class because I’m not as solid in chem and am hoping to reinforce my knowledge a little better by sitting through a live class.
I’m considering deferring the MCAT for yet another year so that I can have some time off from school with no distractions while I study for it. Generally speaking, is that level of intensity necessary for a high score? How long did you study before the MCAT? Were you studying for it while still in full-time attendance as a premed? Any advice on how to work out time management for this would be greatly appreciated.
I did a one-year post-bacc program (didn’t need to take physics, so took two upper level science courses). I took the Kaplan course and treated it along with the studying that went along with it as the equivalent of a college course. I took O-chem II, A&P II, and microbiology along with the MCAT course that semester. Worked out well and didn’t feel overwhelmed.
Hope this helps. Good luck!!
Thank you Tara. Hearing your experience was really helpful.