What are my chances/Advice

[CamBam425]

Hey everyone,

Trying to map out a plan after MCAT scores were released today. Unfortunate my MCAT fell short of expectations. Based out of Washington State.

cGPA: 3.55 (small liberal arts university) Major: Biology. Minor: Chemistry.
sGPA: 3.60

Continued education after graduation include Bioethics, abnormal psychology, lifespan development and health psychology.

Employment:
Chief medical scribe with about 5000 hours in the emergency room and outpatient orthopedics.
EPIC EMR lead implementation specialist for a major hospital system. Mostly anesthesia and surgical workflows with additional experience in radiology, FM, Peds, OB/GYN and ER. About 1000 hours total with the areas above having 40+ hours of direct provider experience or more in each. Most of my experience took place within three hospitals in the PNW.

Additional employment:
Library supervisor continued from work-study position while in college. extra income, benefits and free classes).

Extracurriculars:
-Eagle scout
- DII Track and Field sprinter, 6 conference championship appearances.
- Column editor for school newspaper
- YouthBuild academic tutor for at risk youth
- Community Health Center volunteer
- Co-founder of a run and walk that benefit Seattle Children's
- Bio/Chem club with two years attending the American Chemistry Conference ( To acquire some research background due to going to a small school).

MCAT 8/2016- 495 ( 125/123/126/121) with tutor
MCAT 7//2015- 492 ( 123/121/125/123) self study
MCAT 1/2015- 24 ( 8/9/7) Kaplan
MCAT 8/14- 21 Self study


Currently have apps and secondaries submitted for Midwestern AZCOM, PNWU. UW, OU, AT stils Arizona and Burrell.

Was planning on riding out this cycle but wanted to plan for further options like a post-bacc if I still had a shot. Also any other med schools I could try for?

Just wanted to see if anyone else was in a situation similar to this. Understandable that I may have burnt some bridges by taking the MCAT when I wasn't ready early on and have worked sometimes too much as a scribe and library supervisor ( with 70-75 hours on average) when I was studying ( hard to turn it down when I love the idea of working in medicine). Just frustrated that everything is together except my MCAT.

Thank you for your time and I appreciate any advice or guidance.

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[Faha]

Your problem is your repeated low scores on the MCAT with 4 attempts. Your GPA is fine. You could try the newer schools when you reapply next summer but your chances are low with your MCAT scores. There will be several new schools opening for 2018 so apply to all of those. Also try some of the current newer schools such as:
ACOM
ARCOM
BCOM
WCU-COM
LMU-DCOM
UP-KYCOM
WVSOM
LUCOM
VCOM (all 3 schools)
NYIT-Arkansas
RVU-Utah
UIWSOM

 

[ed*26]

Your problem isn't that you took the MCAT when you weren't ready - people with one retake bounce back all the time. It's that your MCAT "fell short of expectations" 4 times (really how did this happen?). Either schools will think you're academically incapable, that you lack the ability to learn from past mistakes, or both.

Your major strength is your clinical experience, which might redeem you in the eyes of some committees. If you're absolutely dead set on becoming a physician, apply very very broadly. Like 30+ schools, probably all DO, state, or new schools.

Why not become a PA? Some programs accept the GRE in lieu of the MCAT, and you're right that the one thing holding you back is your MCAT. I'm not sure if you can get away with just not giving them your MCAT, but if possible, I'd say that's your best chance to be practicing medicine in a similar scope as a physician.

 

[Mr. D.O.five]

MCAT is consistently low. Don't apply this cycle as you will end up disappointed.

Any reason why your MCAT is consistently low? Test anxiety? How did you feeling coming out of the testing center?

 

[CamBam425]

MCAT is consistently low. Don't apply this cycle as you will end up disappointed.

Any reason why your MCAT is consistently low? Test anxiety? How did you feeling coming out of the testing center?

I felt prepared going in especially on the last test. I was coming out of practice tests for example with a 126-128 on psych. Verbal was inconsistent during tests and both science sections ended up coming out where I expected them to be. I did not feel test anxiety was too bad, previously test anxiety was certainly a factor. Due to financial reasons that may be considered "disadvantaged" and additionally focusing too much on my clinical experience, I have been working usually 70+ hours a week during the times when I was studying. I considered a post-bac next year to give me time to study the MCAT in a program where work was not necessary. Just trying to figure out some options

 

[gyngyn]

We sometimes see applicants who develop a pattern of multiple MCAT re-takes with little improvement.
I have seen 13 weak MCATs in a single series, sadly.
The person who applies with this many unfortunate scores is viewed differently than someone with a single bad score. Every time you take the test with a score inconsistent with success, the goal becomes more distant.
It is time for a serious time-out and perhaps a professional assessment.

 

[Goro]

Even LUCOM has standards. I can't recommend med school to OP; Boards would kill him/her.

Our SMP students with MCATs that weak are getting killed by that program!

Your problem is your repeated low scores on the MCAT with 4 attempts. Your GPA is fine. You could try the newer schools when you reapply next summer but your chances are low with your MCAT scores. There will be several new schools opening for 2018 so apply to all of those. Also try some of the current newer schools such as:
ACOM
ARCOM
BCOM
WCU-COM
LMU-DCOM
UP-KYCOM
WVSOM
LUCOM
VCOM (all 3 schools)
NYIT-Arkansas
RVU-Utah
UIWSOM

 

[CamBam425]

Even LUCOM has standards. I can't recommend med school to OP; Boards would kill him/her.

Our SMP students with MCATs that weak are getting killed by that program!

I understand your recommendation. Despite my attempts, and with continued dedication, I do not believe that my MCAT reflects my true academic abilities. Caught in this position, I am hoping to seek advice on where to go from here

 

[Goro]

It's time for Plan B.

I understand your recommendation. Despite my attempts, and with continued dedication, I do not believe that my MCAT reflects my true academic abilities. Caught in this position, I am hoping to seek advice on where to go from here

 

[CamBam425]

Never came back around but thank you for the above advice everyone. I was accepted to two schools, ultimately choosing one on the above list. Thank you, again!

 

[gyngyn]

PM me if you don't want to go public!
Knowing where you had success will help us advise others.

 

[Faha]

Never came back around but thank you for the above advice everyone. I was accepted to two schools, ultimately choosing one on the above list. Thank you, again!

PM me and let me know which 2 schools you were accepted to.