5/24 MCAT...WTF. Real bummer to study so hard and still do poorly

[uphillBattle]

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I took TPR mcat prep and was getting towards the end:

AAMC 11: 34
AAMC 9: 37
AAMC 10: 37
TPR Practice Test 1: 39
AAMC 7: 35
AAMC 8: 34

What I was told was that TPR was harder than the real thing and my AAMC scores should better reflect what I would be getting. So I went in expecting shorter passages and more straightforward questions.

I did not expect the passages to be as text heavy as they were.

PS: Panicked in the beginning but pulled myself together and felt ok at the end.

Verbal: Did it pretty calmly.

BS: Killer. Felt hazy on 3 passages and there were some free standing questions which were confusing. I know I missed at least 6 to 7 questions after going over the problems post exam.

I kept the test because:
1. I want to see how I did so I know what to improve on
2. Use it as an impetus to study harder and make sure I destroy the score next time if I do poorly.

My Questions are:
For those of you who got destroyed like I did, did you guys take the exam again and show a strong upward swing?
What did you do differently?
What did you guys tell yourself to do better the next time?

 

[flodhi1]

You're going to score close to your average.

 

[plumhill]

You probably did fine 🙂 at this point in time, it's out of your control. You studied hard and did (hopefully) everything that you could. Don't worry so much!

 

[PreMedOrDead]

I still freak out about mine, but what I have been told is just have faith. Just like when you go into autopilot when driving and can forget entire stretches of time, but you did not crash, taking tests is the same way and you likely still performed well. Just go on with your app, nothing you can do until you get the score back.

 

[phltz]

I kept the test because:
1. I want to see how I did so I know what to improve on
2. Use it as an impetus to study harder and make sure I destroy the score next time if I do poorly.

My Questions are:
For those of you who got destroyed like I did, did you guys take the exam again and show a strong upward swing?
What did you do differently?
What did you guys tell yourself to do better the next time?

I know a lot of people who came out of the MCAT distraught, hysterical, in tears, and/or convinced they'd failed. All of them ended up scoring close to the average of their AAMC full lengths. It's miserable that they make you wait for a month to get your score, because it gives you so much time to second guess yourself and stress out. But it's best to try not to do this.

 

[NickNaylor]

I took TPR mcat prep and was getting towards the end:

AAMC 11: 34
AAMC 9: 37
AAMC 10: 37
TPR Practice Test 1: 39
AAMC 7: 35
AAMC 8: 34

What I was told was that TPR was harder than the real thing and my AAMC scores should better reflect what I would be getting. So I went in expecting shorter passages and more straightforward questions.

I did not expect the passages to be as text heavy as they were.

PS: Panicked in the beginning but pulled myself together and felt ok at the end.

Verbal: Did it pretty calmly.

BS: Killer. Felt hazy on 3 passages and there were some free standing questions which were confusing. I know I missed at least 6 to 7 questions after going over the problems post exam.

I kept the test because:
1. I want to see how I did so I know what to improve on
2. Use it as an impetus to study harder and make sure I destroy the score next time if I do poorly.

My Questions are:
For those of you who got destroyed like I did, did you guys take the exam again and show a strong upward swing?
What did you do differently?
What did you guys tell yourself to do better the next time?

There is approximately zero correlation between how you think you did during or after the exam and how you actually did. I left my exam thinking I did worse than my full lengths. I ended up crushing it.

Don't worry about anything until you get your scores back.

(sent from my phone - please forgive typos and brevity)

 

[Cinclus]

I felt like crap after my exam, too. Then BAM! Hit my average, dead-on. Freakin' EXACTLY.

 

[RiceOwl85]

I scored 3 points lower on the real thing than my LOWEST (not average!) practice test. Historically I have always been a strong test taker so I don't know what happened. Oh well, **** happens.

My AAMC average was in the high 30s so thankfully a 3 point hit wasn't detrimental for me. Looks like you are more or less in the same boat. You haven't gotten your score back so it is pointless to worry about something you have no control over about.

This probably isn't what you want to hear, but let it go. Yes it (will) suck if you didn't do as well as you had hoped, or as well as you think you "deserved." However you don't know yet. Until then stop stressing. Your test scores indicate you know the science well. Should you decide to retake the test, I'm sure the experience of having seen the real thing will be all the help you need.

Also, there are tons of people who think they bombed but did quite well. My wife almost canceled her LSAT. She got a 177. She is at Harvard now.

Go enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!!!

 

[mmmcdowe]

Moving to MCAT discussions.

OP, make sure you come back when you get your score and tell us.

 

[hiyaman]

You probably did well. I scored 1 point lower than my average but close enough..and I came out thinking I did several points lower (3-4).

 

[thlaxer]

Same experience here as most of the other posters. I left the testing center feeling like I had failed (I was expecting 5-6 points below my average), my score ended up being my AAMC average though, which was a very pleasant shock. Try your best not to think about how you did and the wait will go by much easier. Good luck!

 

[411309]

I feel the exact same way you did OP. I felt like I did decent on PS, not amazing but not terrible, but i feel like i got crushed on VR and thats usually my strong poinr. I felt like the BS and VR made me guess way too many times for me to have hit my average and theres some i know for sure i got wrong. Im in your boat, all i can do at this point is pray but i really think ill have to take it again and at this point I dont know really how to study for it besides practice reading long science articles.

the orgo on it completely blindsided me and i thought the bio discrete were unreasonable honestly.

 

[idontcaureuknow]

Second time I took my MCAT i had a practice test average of about 36 with an even spread of 13 PS, 11 VR, and 12 BS. Left the actual test feeling ok, but thought I got destroyed by the PS section and felt great about BS. I ended up with 35 and 14 PS, 10 VR, 11 BS. Point is, just wait to get your scores and relax until then. Nothing you can do now. Good luck bro/sis!

 

[uphillBattle]

Just thought I'd update you guys with how I did and maybe confirm the suspicions of people who have yet to take it that you really do score around your average.

I got a 34S: 13P 11V 10B.

Not the best of scores but still better than what I thought I received.

Thanks for everyone' words of encouragement!

I'm thinking about possibly taking it again next spring and judging how I feel at the end of the exam and making my decision.

EDIT: I'm currently taking some upper div science courses to get my sGPA up. Taking one atm but will be taking more in the future.

 

[Mehd School]

I read the very first post, said to myself "I bet he got +/- 2 points of his average." and scrolled to where you bumped.

Close 'nuff.

Congrats on your score man, that's solid. Glad you didn't void now?

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Just thought I'd update you guys with how I did and maybe confirm the suspicions of people who have yet to take it that you really do score around your average.

I got a 34S: 13P 11V 10B.

Not the best of scores but still better than what I thought I received.

Thanks for everyone' words of encouragement!

I'm thinking about possibly taking it again next spring and judging how I feel at the end of the exam and making my decision.

EDIT: I'm currently taking some upper div science courses to get my sGPA up. Taking one atm but will be taking more in the future.

You're getting into medical school.
Do not retake.
Congratulations man!

 

[uphillBattle]

I read the very first post, said to myself "I bet he got +/- 2 points of his average." and scrolled to where you bumped.

Close 'nuff.

Congrats on your score man, that's solid. Glad you didn't void now?

You're getting into medical school.
Do not retake.
Congratulations man!

Don't retake. My friend got into UPenn Med with a 34. She will be starting school in August.

Appreciate the kind words everyone!

However to rain on my own parade, my uGPA is a 3.367 and sGPA ~ 3.45-3.5. Did a double in engineering and econ. Slight Upward trend at the end.

Did research, leadership, volunteering. Doing extra classes now while I work and looking into clinicals for the future.

Hence my trepidation with my score. Posted in the 'Should I retake' thread so I'll see what sort of responses I get.

Again, thanks for the votes of confidence!

 

[benjaminl1nus]

hmmm...

 

[PreMedOrDead]

You honestly think an AdCom will care about a 2 point increase?

While risking lowering you score or remaining level?

That's pretty absurd.

 

[drbull]

Agreed. Too risky retaking a score that high already.

 

[FalconSlice]

Agreed. Too risky retaking a score that high already.

There is no way Homer Simpson is a Steelers fan...

 

[kasho11]

Unless you start scoring 37 and above on new practice tests it will not be worth the risk.

 

[ridethecliche]

Unless you start scoring 37 and above on new practice tests it will not be worth the risk.

Even so, OP scored 34 on AAMC 11 and 8 (closed to actual test for 8). I'd say the 34 is on the lower side of average, but not a surprise. Perhaps the test didn't play to the OP's strengths, but I'd take the 34 and run!