What is the best month to take the MCAT?

Aim to take the MCAT as early in the year as possible, preferably no later than mid-May before AMCAS application submissions begin in early June. Completing the exam earlier will allow you to complete your AMCAS application early, and the earlier you submit your application, the better.

What time of year is the MCAT the easiest?

You want to make sure you give yourself enough time to prepare and study everything you've learned throughout your undergrad so you have a strong foundation for medical school. There's no magical time period where the MCAT is easier. It's a challenging exam no matter the month you choose.

What month is too late for MCAT?

May 24, 2024 is the the latest date of the 2024/25 cycle to take the test to give yourself a shot at an acceptance. The latest date you can technically take the MCAT in 2024 is September 14, but this is only useful for students planning on taking a gap year or who know they'll retake the test the following spring.

Should I take the MCAT in September or January?

While you can technically take the MCAT any time, you should take it during the summer after sophomore year at the earliest, and April of your application year at the latest.

Should I take the MCAT in April or May?

The MCAT is offered from January through September of each year. The best time to take the MCAT is by April or May in the first year of your application cycle. For example, if you want to start medical school in fall 2025, you should take the MCAT by the end of May 2024.

What's the BEST Month to Take the MCAT? | The MCAT Podcast Ep. 202

Is June 17 too late for MCAT?

Ideally, take the MCAT in March or April, but if you need to take it a little bit later, then do it. A May or June MCAT is okay. It's not necessarily going to delay your application, or not by much. You obviously want to take it when you're prepared.

Is a 518 a good MCAT score?

Attaining a score of 518 on the MCAT means you performed in the 97% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred. For example: 129 (C/P) 130 (CARS) 129 (B/B) 130 (P/S).

How many times do most students take the MCAT?

Although you can take the MCAT up to seven times in your lifetime, that number certainly doesn't reflect how many times you should be taking the MCAT. Taking the MCAT twice is fine; even three times shouldn't impact your admissions too much. However, any more tries can begin to damage your application.

How many times do most people take the MCAT?

If you retake the MCAT many times, admissions committee members start to wonder how many times you will have to take the USMLE exams. Your goal with the MCAT then is to take it as few times as possible. Three times is considered reasonable by most medical school admissions committees.

Is September too late for MCAT?

We recommend taking the MCAT as early as possible but for the best chances waiting no longer than late July. That way your application is still complete by the end of August as the application pool gets more dense, and thus more competitive, going into the fall.

What year of college should I take the MCAT?

The earliest that students opt to take the MCAT is during the latter part of their sophomore year or the summer between sophomore and junior year. At this point, most students have completed their medical school prerequisite courses and are prepared to take the exam.

Do you take the MCAT junior or senior year?

The MCAT is something that requires planning and should not be taken on a whim. The ideal time to take the MCAT is the spring of your junior year of college, if you plan to attend medical school immediately following graduation.

How much does the MCAT cost?

It costs $330 to take the MCAT (and $370 for late registration 1–2 weeks before your test date). This initial MCAT registration fee includes the distribution of your MCAT scores to medical schools.

What is the hardest subject in MCAT?

The two sections that students typically have the most difficulty with on the exam is either Chem/Phys or CARS. This, of course, depends on the student.

What is the easiest subject on the MCAT?

MCAT CARS is often considered the easiest section of the MCAT since it does not test specific knowledge in any particular subject. However, this does not mean that MCAT CARS does not require preparation.

What is the average MCAT score for the first time?

Data Summary. The average MCAT score for all test-takers in 2023-2024 is 501.3. The average MCAT score for test-takers who applied to medical school in 2022-2023 was 506.5. The average MCAT score for all medical school applicants who ended up enrolling was 511.9.

What MCAT score do I need for Harvard?

But every school varies in what they consider a “strong” score. The top schools will have high average MCAT scores: for example, Harvard and Stanford have average scores of 520 and 518, respectively. A high MCAT score certainly does not guarantee an acceptance letter at the most competitive medical schools.

Should I retake a 515 MCAT?

While going from 515 to 517 looks good, going from 498 to 501 looks great. So statistically speaking, unless you're already in the very highest tier of test takers, chances are that retaking the MCAT will result in a better score and will ultimately benefit your application.

Do medical schools care if you take the MCAT twice?

That's not the message you want to send to medical schools that you keep making mistakes over and over again. Again, medical schools don't care if you have multiple MCAT tests on your application.

Do med schools care how many times you take the MCAT?

Medical schools are unlikely to care about up to 3 attempts if your score improves with each test. But decreasing or consistently low scores may indicate that you don't have an appropriate grasp of the necessary materials to successfully complete medical school.

Can medical schools see how many times you took the MCAT?

Also keep in mind, medical schools will be able to see all of your scored exams, and there are limits on the number of times you can take the exam. See the MCAT Essentials for more information about viewing your scores, releasing your scores to programs and lifetime limits.

Can you get into med school with just MCAT?

Can you get into medical school with just the MCAT? No, cannot get into medical school with just the MCAT. You also need a bachelor's degree and passing grades in specific science courses to attend medical school.

What is a realistic MCAT score?

In general, a good MCAT score is 511 and above.

MCAT and GPA requirements vary depending on the school you are applying to. So do not worry too much if your score is lower than this. However, if you want to get accepted into a top medical school, you will probably need to aim for a score significantly higher than this.

Is a 517 MCAT too low?

A 517 MCAT score is not just good; it's outstanding. Scoring a 517 puts you in the top 10% of all test-takers, and it can significantly boost your chances of getting accepted into your dream medical school.

How rare is a 525 MCAT?

Attaining a score of 525 on the MCAT means you performed in the 100% percentile. An even distribution for the section scores is preferred. For example: 131 (C/P) 132 (CARS) 131 (B/B) 131 (P/S).