I am currently in the application process (AMCAS submitted, awaiting secondaries) and took the MCAT this Spring. I did pretty well considering I've been out of school for five years. Here is the best advice I can give you.
1. Do NOT take the MCAT until you have taken Orgo. Biochem may add a point or two to your Bio section, but not having taken (and understood) Orgo WILL essentially reduce your Bio score by 20-40%. There really is that much Orgo on the blasted thing.
2. Take lots of practice tests and start taking them early so you can get some diagnostic use out of them. Don't screw with Kaplan's tests or anyone elses-- get real AAMC tests from AAMC. They are worth the money. Take them in one shot, with a timer, and in the order the sections are given. Don't omit the writing samples. The key here is to simulate the real deal so you can gauge your timing, endurance, and weak spots.
3. Learn the format for doing the writing samples, and then don;t let it stress you out. Learning to do the WSs should require no more than an hour of your life. Most schools could care less how well you do on the WS.
4. Sleep before the test, and get a good breakfast. If you don't take vitamins and excercise a little daily, start now. If you are sick or out of shape when the test rolls around it may bite you.
5. For study materials I recommend working through and learning all of the Exam Kracker's MCAT study books. The set is pricey but worth it. Work through them on a good schedule in the four or five months leading up to the test. If you have a commute of any kind I also highly recommend Exam Kracker's Audio Osmosis. The humor is terrible, but they have lots of useful mnemonics. Their study set and Audio Osmosis both cover pretty much everything that will be on the MCAT. Other books I have looked at (and used!) cover material in too much detail for the MCAT. Remember they are testing your basic understanding of the sciences, not you ability to derive Poiseuelle's Law-- learn trends and fundamental concepts.
6. For BS, know how to read scientific papers, understand the research done, and interpret graphs. It is important that you be able to make solid inferences.
7. If you don't read much, start now. And I don;t mean cereal boxes and comic books. Pick up some Faulkner and Joyce. If novels aren't your thing, read Scientific American and the New Yorker. You need to keep your reading skills sharp or the VR will eat you alive.
8. Start reading the forums at
Studentdoctor.net, but don't take the anal gunners too seriously. Do NOT read stats at mdapplicants.com. First, it will discourage you. Second, most of those stats on that site are utter tripe. Nuff said.
9. When you have studied all you can and have taken all the practice tests, do not be surprised when the AAMC throws you a curveball. Just go in on test day prepared for a reaming. I can guarantee that the real deal will barely resemble the practice tests you buy, but I can also guarantee you that they are the best thing going.
That's all I can think of at the moment. If I can be of any assistance, feel free to IM me. I'd be happy to share what little I know.
Best,
red