I got a 17 on AAMC 3. My exam is in a week.

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My breakdown was 4/9/4 and my MCAT is on July 14. Under normal circumstances, I would reschedule, but my parents had already bought me a plane ticket back home for July 19 (I live in another country).

I know I'm in a bad situation, so does anyone have advice?

Originally Posted by BurntFlower

My breakdown was 4/9/4 and my MCAT is on July 14. Under normal circumstances, I would reschedule, but my parents had already bought me a plane ticket back home for July 19 (I live in another country).

I know I'm in a bad situation, so does anyone have advice?

Umm.. take the test, void and use it as a learning experience.

Are you applying this year? If so, you might be in some trouble.. see if you can take your MCAT in late August or something when you're returning to the US.

If you're applying next year, reschedule your MCAT for whenever.

Study for the next week but 4's are really tough.. that means you're getting 75-80% of each section incorrect and have more than a few conceptual issues.

The VR score is nice but have you been studying in PS/BS?

Originally Posted by Jepstein30

Umm.. take the test, void and use it as a learning experience.

Are you applying this year? If so, you might be in some trouble.. see if you can take your MCAT in late August or something when you're returning to the US.

If you're applying next year, reschedule your MCAT for whenever.

Study for the next week but 4's are really tough.. that means you're getting 75-80% of each section incorrect and have more than a few conceptual issues.

The VR score is nice but have you been studying in PS/BS?

Yes, I'm applying this year. I'll ask my parents if they can change the date of the plane tickets.

I'm really surprised by my BS section because usually I'm pretty good at Bio. Physics I'm not as surprised; I've always been terrible at it. I'm reviewing AAMC 3 right now and taking AAMC 4 tomorrow. If my scores in these practice exams improves, then i won't void the exam. Otherwise, I might have to void.

Originally Posted by BurntFlower

Yes, I'm applying this year. I'll ask my parents if they can change the date of the plane tickets.

I'm really surprised by my BS section because usually I'm pretty good at Bio. Physics I'm not as surprised; I've always been terrible at it. I'm reviewing AAMC 3 right now and taking AAMC 4 tomorrow. If my scores in these practice exams improves, then i won't void the exam. Otherwise, I might have to void.

Because you only have one week, I'd try not too burn through the AAMCs. Once you take them, you'll have that memory and won't be able to use them again to accurately gauge where you are.

aamc 3 is not represenative of the real test at all but 2 4s are scary, what are your other aamc scores?

Originally Posted by BurntFlower

My breakdown was 4/9/4 and my MCAT is on July 14. Under normal circumstances, I would reschedule, but my parents had already bought me a plane ticket back home for July 19 (I live in another country).

I know I'm in a bad situation, so does anyone have advice?

You are seriously lacking some basic science knowledge but you should find some comfort about your VR score since it is hard to have significant improvement in verbal. You can have some improvement in BS and PS but it is not gonna happen in 1-2 weeks in your case. Take it and void the score. Reshedule for next year if you are aiming for 30+ but if you are aiming for mid-to-high 20s, i think you can retake it in Sept 11th.

Originally Posted by sciencebooks

Because you only have one week, I'd try not too burn through the AAMCs. Once you take them, you'll have that memory and won't be able to use them again to accurately gauge where you are.

Good point.

Originally Posted by ColeSmalls

aamc 3 is not represenative of the real test at all but 2 4s are scary, what are your other aamc scores?

I've only taken AAMC 3.

Originally Posted by Temperature101

You are seriously lacking some basic science knowledge but you should find some comfort about your VR score since it is hard to have significant improvement in verbal. You can have some improvement in BS and PS but it is not gonna happen in 1-2 weeks in your case. Take it and void the score. Reshedule for next year if you are aiming for 30+ but if you are aiming for mid-to-high 20s, i think you can retake it in Sept 11th.

Fortunately, I've always been pretty good at verbal. People keep telling me to void, but shouldn't I have it scored just to see what I got? I want to retake it September 11...but you don't think I can get at least a 30 on it?

Originally Posted by BurntFlower

Good point.


I've only taken AAMC 3.


Fortunately, I've always been pretty good at verbal. People keep telling me to void, but shouldn't I have it scored just to see what I got? I want to retake it September 11...but you don't think I can get at least a 30 on it?

Normally, I would advise against voiding since you're planning on retake anyways. However, with 17 I don't think it is worth to jeopardize having a sub 20 score on your record.

I scored 18 on AAMC 3 a month ago and took the MCAT two days ago. I didn't void. However, my situation is a little different from yours. First, my score was low because of verbal, I got 2. I never scored less than 8 in science. Second, I had more than three weeks after that to bring up my score. It took me a little more than two weeks to bring that score up to 23 on AAMC 8 (still, my low score was due to 5 on verbal).

From experience, if your baseline score is very low, you will need at least 2 months of hardcore studying to score 27+.

Good luck with whatever decision you make.

Originally Posted by BurntFlower

Good point.


I've only taken AAMC 3.


Fortunately, I've always been pretty good at verbal. People keep telling me to void, but shouldn't I have it scored just to see what I got? I want to retake it September 11...but you don't think I can get at least a 30 on it?

I mean, no-one will really know the answer but I think having a sub-20 MCAT score will really hurt you no matter how much you can recover on the next try.

How have you been studying? What books? How long? Focusing on your weaknesses?

You also shouldn't have waited this long to take a practice exam. Everyone recommends one month before your test so you can judge where you are (i.e. if you got this score a month ago, you could have avoided this by pushing it off another month) and see where your weaknesses are. End of the day, all these other practice passages are nice practice but they don't really correspond to AAMC FLs (ex. I'm doing much better in AAMCs FLs than I was in TBR passages).

If I were you, I'd void Saturday. Take a day or two off.. STUDY hard for 2 weeks. Take the MCAT self assessment and see where you're at with regards to your weaker subjects and then work on those.

Really need 2-3 months of hard core studying to pull good scores unless you're very confident in your pre-reqs.

I strongly suggest you void your test.

If you're getting 4's in the science sections it means you haven't even begun to study yet (or if you have then your method does not work at all and its time to find a new one). There is no way you'll be ready in time for your test.

I wouldn't worry about your parents flying you back to wherever you're from. You're not going to be taking the test for a long time, and what's the difference between studying here and studying in your home country? I assume you'll come back here for university, and you really shouldn't be taking the test earlier than September anyway (more like October really) so it all works out. Of course, this means you won't be applying this cycle, but a gap year isn't the end of the world and as long as you aren't lazy will actually most likely come as a big boost to your application since you'll have time to cram in one more year of grades and ECs than most pre-meds have when applying.

Finally, yes, you should void the test. The terrible score you're very likely to get on it isn't going to go away when you get your new one. Schools still see your old score, and most will take it into consideration when reviewing your application. Some schools, for example, average the two together. So if you get a 17 and then get a 40, your score would still be a 28-29 at those schools. You know your score is going to be bad, there's no point in finding out how bad it is and killing your chances at a lot of schools in the process.

Take the test for practice and void. A 17 is atrocious.

I'd postpone the test if I were you, or void it if I absolutely had to take it.

As for the Sept 11 exam, your file won't be under review until the later stage of the application cycle, putting you at a further disadvantage.

As an international student you're at yet another disadvantage and will need excellent marks to obtain admission, even higher than the national averages. I remember reading somewhere the average numbers for international matriculants not including Canada are somewhere around 3.75/33.

Get some proper study books (BR/TPR/EK/Kaplan) and immerse yourself in the material for at least 3 months. Nail the MCAT and then try your luck. AAMC 3 is one of the "easier" practice exams offered, and if you're scoring a 4/9/4 (17) on this one, chances are you won't be seeing much improvement on the actual.

Originally Posted by OCDOCDOCD

...Finally, yes, you should void the test. The terrible score you're very likely to get on it isn't going to go away when you get your new one. Schools still see your old score, and most will take it into consideration when reviewing your application. Some schools, for example, average the two together. So if you get a 17 and then get a 40, your score would still be a 28-29 at those schools. You know your score is going to be bad, there's no point in finding out how bad it is and killing your chances at a lot of schools in the process.

Plus, even if the second score was something like a solid 30, they'd question why somebody would be willing to take such an important exam without being prepared.

Originally Posted by Davidasaurus

Get some proper study books (BR/TPR/EK/Kaplan) and immerse yourself in the material for at least 3 months. Nail the MCAT and then try your luck. AAMC 3 is one of the "easier" practice exams offered, and if you're scoring a 4/9/4 (17) on this one, chances are you won't be seeing much improvement on the actual.

While I do think upon review that AAMC 3 is among the easier practice exams, it also is usually the first practice exam people take.

For me, I got a 31 on AAMC 3 and rose up in my next few practice tests to 34-37.. not because of material or 'ease' but honestly because I got more familiar with computer based tests.

1) Don't take AAMC 4
2) Take your test and void it.
3) Seriously consider if applying this cycle is a possibility.

I, too just scored horribly on aamc 3 (6/7/7) but am convinced it was a fluke, and I have a month until my test. Good luck man.

Hey everyone, thanks for all the advice!

I took the MCAT today, and voided it although I felt like I didn't do too bad asides from the Physics section. I'll try to register for the September MCAT and apply this cycle. I know it's late, but I'll do it anyway. If I don't get in, I'll re-apply next cycle. I have most of my stuff ready, anyway.

Also, I have US citizenship although I live abroad so I wouldn't be considered as an International student in my application.

And yes, I did study but only used Examkrackers. This time around, I'm going to use TBR.

Originally Posted by BurntFlower

Hey everyone, thanks for all the advice!

I took the MCAT today, and voided it although I felt like I didn't do too bad asides from the Physics section. I'll try to register for the September MCAT and apply this cycle. I know it's late, but I'll do it anyway. If I don't get in, I'll re-apply next cycle. I have most of my stuff ready, anyway.

Also, I have US citizenship although I live abroad so I wouldn't be considered as an International student in my application.

And yes, I did study but only used Examkrackers. This time around, I'm going to use TBR.

Hey, just make sure that the schools you want to apply to will take a late September mcat. Many of the schools I'm looking at will only accept a September 1st mcat. As in, if you take it on September 10th, you can't apply to that school.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Fivo

Hey, just make sure that the schools you want to apply to will take a late September mcat. Many of the schools I'm looking at will only accept a September 1st mcat. As in, if you take it on September 10th, you can't apply to that school.

Good luck!

How do you find out which schools don't accept September MCAT? I was searching through some medical schools I'm interested in, and they only mention the cutoff date for applications.

Originally Posted by BurntFlower

How do you find out which schools don't accept September MCAT? I was searching through some medical schools I'm interested in, and they only mention the cutoff date for applications.

If you have the MSAR (online version). Go to the school and on the left tabs, click the second from the bottom "Application Deadlines and Requirements". Then it will be on the very last row of the page, in the middle, "Latest MCAT Considered"

For instance, UCLA, SUNY Downstate, NYU, Mount Sinai, Columbia, Hahvud, Cornell, UCSF and others will only accept your mcat if it's on September 1st or earlier.

Give it a look to be sure

Originally Posted by Fivo

If you have the MSAR (online version). Go to the school and on the left tabs, click the second from the bottom "Application Deadlines and Requirements". Then it will be on the very last row of the page, in the middle, "Latest MCAT Considered"

For instance, UCLA, SUNY Downstate, NYU, Mount Sinai, Columbia, Hahvud, Cornell, UCSF and others will only accept your mcat if it's on September 1st or earlier.

Give it a look to be sure

The latest MCAT score is for the date you take it--not for the date you get the score. For instance, if you take the mcat in Sept and get your score in Oct, it will be considered.

Originally Posted by Temperature101

The latest MCAT score is for the date you take it--not for the date you get the score. For instance, if you take the mcat in Sept and get your score in Oct, it will be considered.

That's exactly what I said

There's always podiatry.

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Originally Posted by shamwowzer

There's always podiatry.

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I don't want to do podiatry, I want to be a physician. I'm going to study and get the score I need either this cycle or the next.

This wasn't helpful.

Originally Posted by shamwowzer

There's always podiatry.

rude.

Originally Posted by LaurenMarie

rude.

^Agreed.

I believe in you (: It just takes some studying, and you've at least had the experience of taking it once!

Originally Posted by Camy99

^Agreed.

I believe in you (: It just takes some studying, and you've at least had the experience of taking it once!

I know this is a bit late, but thank you, Camy.

So is it an official stance that previous (low mcat) scores will affect admissions despite getting a much better mark next time around or is it something that everyone sort of assumes?

Originally Posted by AFALI

So is it an official stance that previous (low mcat) scores will affect admissions despite getting a much better mark next time around or is it something that everyone sort of assumes?

Differs from school to school. Some only look at the highest score, others use an average, and the way the average is computed can place more or less weight on your previous scores.

i think part of doing well is having a short memory. Not in the sense of content, but in the sense of forgetting that AAMC 3 that you did not do well in.

Study hard and I know you can do well. Thats good you're verbal is isn't low because that is the hardest section to improve. Your score can only go up!