When Should I Start The Program?
The Longer You Study, The Better
Because most of our competitors focus on winter and spring courses that run for only 8-12 weeks, many students have been habituated to the concept of starting their MCAT studies in January or thereafter. That approach may not provide adequate time to prepare for this extremely arduous exam--especially when you desire the lofty scores we are used to attaining for our students at Altius. Below we describe the various start times available to Altius students ranked from most ideal to least desirable:
FALL SEMESTER: Start in September or October and study for 8-9 months, then take an April or May exam--or what we call the "long-track." This is by far the most ideal study plan. You will have more time in the program, more time with your tutor, and more time to master each lesson. You get more study time for the same price, so it is also your best value. Each year our best scores usually come from among these students.
LATE FALL SEMESTER: Start in November or December and study for 7-8 months, then take an April or May exam. Not as ideal as starting in September or October, but still much better than waiting until January. Getting even a few of the lessons completed, attending a few Group Sessions, and having the materials to study over the Christmas break will give you a head start on your spring studies and reduce your stress level.
JANUARY: Start the first or second week of January, study for 5 months and take a late May or early June exam (or what we call the "short-track"). This is adequate time for a student who has done very well in their science classes and has the discipline to stick to the program outline with exactness. Students who require a little more time may choose to register for a later exam.
SPRING: At most locations we do not recommend starting any later than the end of January. However, at some Oregon locations where the associated university follows a quarter system, we have adjusted the program to allow for later start dates. In those cases, a student could start anytime from February thru June. Those starting in February or March should study for 5-6 months and take a June or July exam. Anyone starting in April, May or June should take an August or September exam and will need to complete the program at the greatly accelerated pace utilized in our Summer Accelerated Programs. At this increased pace, MCAT study must become a full-time job to which you dedicate 40 hours minimum per week for at least 3 months. This is NOT ideal. All students--including those at quarter system universities--will have their greatest chance of success by starting no later than January.
SUMMER IMMERSION PROGRAM: At our Salt Lake City, UT and Provo, UT locations, the Summer Full-Immersion MCAT Program begins the third week of May and ends the last week of July. Students take an August or September exam. This option is primarily designed for students across the country who do not live near an Altius location, but could come to Utah for the summer and still get the full Altius experience. For anyone who can attend a regular long-track or short-track course, that will be the better option. This course is an intensive, full-immersion course requiring eight or more hours per day, five days per week. Affordable temporary housing is available for out-of-town students.