Hello everyone!
I’m a 36 year old non-trad and I hope to be ready to apply by 2024, so that I can matriculate right after I graduate with my bachelor’s in 2025. I’m planning ahead as much as possible and would love your thoughts.
I’ll most likely be taking a full course load (12-15 credits) and working part time (15-20hrs/week) by the time I take the MCAT and apply so would it make sense to start prepping for the MCAT a year ahead (early 2023)?
I know a lot of people say more than 6 months is too much, but I also have 3 kids. All 3 will be high school juniors by the time I apply and although they don’t need me as much as they did when they were younger, I know I’ll need to make time to start touring universities with them on top of everything else I have to do for myself and our family. I don’t have the luxury of being able to not work while I study, so studying 20+ hours a week for the MCAT just doesn’t seem realistic for me. But would less than 10 hours a week for a year be enough?
The other option of course is to wait until my last year or until I graduate to take the MCAT but then that adds even more time and at my age, I feel the clock ticking.
Let me know if I’m crazy for planning for a year of studying or if I should plan to take a gap year or two instead?
I’ll add that with my life experiences, I know that life can happen and get in the way of my plans so even though I’m planning this far in advance I know that I have to be flexible. Even though I feel like I’m running out time, I won’t take the MCAT or apply until I know I’m ready. I’ve waited this long to chase my dreams so another year or two won’t kill me (hopefully lol).
If you read this far, thanks so much!