This blog was originally written by Jay B. Lusk and updated in 2026 by Elite Medical Prep. A common question students ask is when to take the MCAT if taking a gap year, and the answer depends less on motivation and more on planning backward from your intended application window....

Many students dream of a 99th percentile MCAT score, which can often be the ticket to a medical school acceptance. As of November 2021, the 99th percentile MCAT score is 522, a score that will certainly impress admissions committees— but how can you join this elite population of students? In this article, I describe the key strategies and behaviors of students who earn a coveted 99th percentile MCAT score.

The day before your USMLE Step 2 CK examination may bring feelings of anxiety, desperation, and fear; after all, the examination you’ve spent so many hours preparing for is now on your doorstep. However, with the right strategy, you can avoid test-taking anxiety the day before your USMLE Step 2 CK examination.