Amy Li 14 had two summer jobs, but her work did not end when she went home for the day. She spent half of her summer at a clinical internship in Alabama and the other half on campus doing molecular biology research.

Li was also registered to take the Medical College Admissions Test in September, so she spent her nights self-studying biology, chemistry, biochemistry and anatomy.

I wanted to study for the MCAT, but at the same time I didnt want to lose a valuable summer for clinical work or research, Li said. So I decided to just work really hard and try to do both.

Li is among a group of students who choose to take the MCAT the summer before their junior years. To these students, that summer is the perfect time to study for and take the five-hour test, which covers diverse topics including biology, organic and general chemistry, physics and anatomy and is a critical part of a students application to medical school.

Premedical students often factor studying for the test into their workloads and extracurricular options, according to Health Professions Advising director Kate Fukawa-Connelly.

You always have to take into account what youre going to be doing when you take the MCAT, Fukawa-Connelly says. If youre taking it your senior year, you have to plan your two-course semester and your thesis work with preparation for the MCAT in mind.

Li said that for students who want to go straight to medical school, the summer before junior year is an ideal time to devote to studying for the test. These students then spend their junior years focusing on schoolwork before beginning their application processes in the summer and fall of their senior years.

Its good to get it out of the way at a time thats most convenient, because you can dedicate an entire summer to studying and then focus on schoolwork during the year, Li said. It makes the most sense.

Patricia Yeh 14 also studied for and took the test this summer. Matriculating at medical school immediately after graduation was her biggest priority, she said, so in the course of planning activities for her summer, she made sure she had time to study.

I knew studying would be the most time-consuming activity I had, so I was volunteering a fair amount, but not enough to deter me from studying, she said.

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On medical school entrance exam, students get early start to stay ahead