3 answers
Jessie
Student
Laurens, South Carolina
1
Question
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How and when should I start studying for the MCAT? #Spring26
I start college in the fall and will be majoring in pre-med to later specialize in forensic medicine. I want to know when I should start studying for the MCAT, to maximize my ability to get a good score when the time comes for me to transition to medical school.
I would also appreciate some tips on how to study for it, because I am not very good at studying.
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3 answers
James Hanson
Pediatric Intensive Care Physician; Consultant
266
Answers
Oakland, California
Updated
James’s Answer
I never recommend cramming for tests. The MCAT questions are designed to help identify what students have learned that apply to the future study of medicine. So, in a sense you should always be studying for the MCATs as you are studying biology, chemistry, physics, psychology...
Many people benefit from taking MCAT preparatory classes. The cost is unpleasant, but scores usually are better for those who take these. You can buy MCAT study guides that are not as expensive, with sample questions that may be a satisfactory substituted. At least you would be prepared for how the test appears and allows you to identify your weak spots so you can do focused study before the exam.
Many people benefit from taking MCAT preparatory classes. The cost is unpleasant, but scores usually are better for those who take these. You can buy MCAT study guides that are not as expensive, with sample questions that may be a satisfactory substituted. At least you would be prepared for how the test appears and allows you to identify your weak spots so you can do focused study before the exam.
Bruce Peters
Pediatrics
6
Answers
Tampa, Florida
Updated
Bruce’s Answer
When to take the MCAT?
After starting college, ideally you should try to complete two years of college that is heavily influenced by sciences and math. After your sophomore year that summer, you should start MCAT prep course work by doing online courses or obtaining a MCAT review book and doing your own preparation. Over the next year during your junior you should build upon your MCAT prep knowledge throughout the school year during downtime, weekends, and over the summer between junior and senior year. At any point if you find yourself not doing well on the practice tests try to get connected to an MCAT prep tutor to help you improve your test taking skills for this type of high impact exam.
You should try to take the exam during the later part of your junior year or early in your senior year.
I strongly recommend when starting college is to get connected to a premed advisor ASAP, join a pre-club, meet premed students in their junior & senior year, who are walking this path already as well for further mentorship and support.
Next start doing some shadowing as well while in college so you have an indication of what the field is like that you want to go into.
Then lastly, if possible try to find someone who’s already in your field who has walked a similar path or has a background similar to yours for further mentoring and the road blocks that you may possibly encounter.
Warning just something to keep in mind that greater than 99% of the pre-med advisors never went to medical school and most of them did not know the difference between osteopathic and allopathic medicine or never even heard of an Osteopathic physician (D.O.) vs M.D!!!
After starting college, ideally you should try to complete two years of college that is heavily influenced by sciences and math. After your sophomore year that summer, you should start MCAT prep course work by doing online courses or obtaining a MCAT review book and doing your own preparation. Over the next year during your junior you should build upon your MCAT prep knowledge throughout the school year during downtime, weekends, and over the summer between junior and senior year. At any point if you find yourself not doing well on the practice tests try to get connected to an MCAT prep tutor to help you improve your test taking skills for this type of high impact exam.
You should try to take the exam during the later part of your junior year or early in your senior year.
I strongly recommend when starting college is to get connected to a premed advisor ASAP, join a pre-club, meet premed students in their junior & senior year, who are walking this path already as well for further mentorship and support.
Next start doing some shadowing as well while in college so you have an indication of what the field is like that you want to go into.
Then lastly, if possible try to find someone who’s already in your field who has walked a similar path or has a background similar to yours for further mentoring and the road blocks that you may possibly encounter.
Warning just something to keep in mind that greater than 99% of the pre-med advisors never went to medical school and most of them did not know the difference between osteopathic and allopathic medicine or never even heard of an Osteopathic physician (D.O.) vs M.D!!!
Rita Chuang
Physician
317
Answers
Henderson, Nevada
Updated
Rita’s Answer
I was and still am terrible at standardized testing. It's been a long time since I took the MCAT and the problem is that you probably aren't ready until the third year of college. I believe for the MCAT, they had questions on Biology, Chem, O Chem but you may not have taken some of the classes until later. You can pay to take Kaplan courses. I did and I don't think it helped me too much. See if you can get old tests to study.