<p>Currently I am at a lib. arts school majoring in Mol. Bio and Biochem. I am currently pursuing a 3-2 engineering program in biomedical engineering our school offers and if I am accepted into that transfer program then I would probably be taking the MCAT after the final year of that program whilst working.
If I dont get accepted into the engineering transfer program then I would have essentially nothing to do senior as I would have already finished my major and would not really have enough depth in another field to double major. So whats left is just plain old hardcore MCAT studying.</p>
<p>So the central question is what are the pros and cons of taking the MCAT either during senior year of undergrad or taking it essentially after graduation. Also as a side note, give how the MCAT is changing, would this be a huge factor?</p>
<p>I cannot speak to the changes, but if you take in in your senior year, such that you are ready to apply June 1st of your senior year, then you benefit from those senior year courses raising your overall GPA, hopefully. And you benefit from having a glide year to work and/or do research, improve your ECs and have potentially more flexibility in scheduling interview. Also, you have that time out of academia to refresh yourself, though some people are averse to that, feeling that they would get off track.</p>
<p>For my kid, applying after senior year was ideal, many people apply after junior year and that works well for them. Better depends on your personal circumstances.</p>
<p>What year are you now? </p>
<p>Can’t speak to the MCAT changes either since my son took the MCAT last April and applied this last cycle. </p>
<p>What would you do if you took the MCAT soon and got a good score? Forego the MS and apply to med school? </p>
<p>I’m curious…if you’re in a 3-2 program at a LAC, then if you graduated early without the MS, what would your degree be in? </p>
<p>What is your BCMP GPA? What is your cum GPA?</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids</p>
<p>I am currently a soph. you formally apply for the 3-2 during junior year but its something that you begin day 1 as a freshman.
I have a cum GPA of 3.53 and a BCMP GPA of 3.58 (will my specific courses be looked at because im taking the physics/math courses in the major track, not the ones made to satisfy pre-med reqs) (I go to a NESCAC LAC)</p>
<p>As for taking the MCAT soon, I really dont think I will be ready. I have yet to take biochemistry and the 3-2 is something I’d really want to do given that I have already embarked on making it work. Also I’m about 95% sure I want to go to medical school but theres that 5% of me that wants to see what being a biomed. engineering is all about so the 3-2 will either cement my desire to go to med school or prevent me from spending time/money for something that wasn’t my real passion. </p>
<p>To quell your curiosity well the 3-2 is legit. dual degree program. I would have B.A in Molecular biology and biochemistry from my LAC and a B.S in Biomed. engineering from either Cal-tech, Columbia or one other (not sure of) if I was accepted into this 3-2 program.
You still declare a major and everything at your LAC just you need to finish your degree from said LAC in 3 years as well as fulfill the pre-engineering math/physics reqs</p>
<p>If you’re certain that you want the MS, then take the MCAT when you feel that you’re ready. Not sure what your concern is. </p>
<p>Frankly, if you’re certain that you want to go to med school, not sure why you want the MS. </p>
<p>BTW…do you know FOR SURE what your aid would be for the Masters part at another school? If you’re getting aid at your current school, that may not (probably would not) be the case when you’re in the MS portion. If you end up with loans for the MS part, then getting that MS would be a waste. </p>
<p>Usually, schools do not give “free money” for engineering MS programs. Usually those are paid for by either employers or loans.</p>
<p>No no no, your getting it wrong, its not a Masters degree its ANOTHER Bachelor degree. I would get a BA AND a BS. No MS.</p>
<p>oh…oops…sorry. Need my reading glasses. lol</p>
<p>The 3/2 program that my son looked at was a BS/MS program, so that’s what I had on the brain. </p>
<p>Anyway…since you’re determined to get the second Bachelors, then what is your concern? Why not just take the MCAT when you feel ready…whether it’s next year, the year after, etc???</p>
<p>I mean there really was no concern, I was just trying to get some input from others to see what the pros/cons to taking the MCAT as a senior/later as opposed to the traditional junior year would be. </p>
<p>My end goal is going to medical school, just my path there is unknown.</p>
<p>My pre-med advisor just said I would be essentially a non-trad applicant and left it as that. So I was just curious</p>