500—>506—>?

[TripleHBK]

Hey guys! Took the MCAT a 2nd time around and wildly unperformed against any more my FLs. I was between 514-516 on all 3 FLs taken.

This has left me distraught af, and I submitted my primary application and applied to schools this cycle with an average GPA and a below average MCAT.

If things don’t work out, which they probably won’t, I’ll probably have to apply again next cycle. What do you guys recommend I do to increase my effectiveness in studying?

I was roughly getting 130/128/130/126 on practice exams. On my last MCAT I got 128/127/125!/126 (506)

So lmk what I can do to improve: resources, yoga, breathing techniques w/e


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[BabyDaddy]

So you scored a 506 this time?

 

[TripleHBK]

So you scored a 506 this time?

Yessir


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[BabyDaddy]

Don't be too discouraged!
As long as you applied strategically, plenty of people get into med school with that score. That's not far off the average at many DO schools! As long as the rest of your application is good (especially personal statement), you might get some MD school interviews at programs that aren't as sought-after.
Don't get too caught up on each school's AVG MCAT. Remember that it's an AVERAGE. Pay just as much attention to the RANGE if published. If you applied to those that you fit comfortably inside the range, even if it's lower within the range, you should get some interviews!

 

[BabyDaddy]

According to AAMC, a 506 is 69th percentile for MCAT. There are several schools in my state that you are close to average for, FOUR of them MD schools, two of them DO.

 

[Hi_I'mPaul]

Hey guys! Took the MCAT a 2nd time around and wildly unperformed against any more my FLs. I was between 514-516 on all 3 FLs taken.

This has left me distraught af, and I submitted my primary application and applied to schools this cycle with an average GPA and a below average MCAT.

If things don’t work out, which they probably won’t, I’ll probably have to apply again next cycle. What do you guys recommend I do to increase my effectiveness in studying?

I was roughly getting 130/128/130/126 on practice exams. On my last MCAT I got 128/127/125!/126 (506)

So lmk what I can do to improve: resources, yoga, breathing techniques w/e


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I took an SMP which helped substantially with my time management and scientific content review. I also used Khan Academy videos as my main resource to study and supplemented my videos with my fav TPR and Kaplan books. I was much more disciplined because 3 times is really the max amount before med schools get hella suspicious from my convos with med schools. Work on confidence, that's a big key for success. Good luck ~

 

[Black Mamba Gene]

Hey guys! Took the MCAT a 2nd time around and wildly unperformed against any more my FLs. I was between 514-516 on all 3 FLs taken.

This has left me distraught af, and I submitted my primary application and applied to schools this cycle with an average GPA and a below average MCAT.

If things don’t work out, which they probably won’t, I’ll probably have to apply again next cycle. What do you guys recommend I do to increase my effectiveness in studying?

I was roughly getting 130/128/130/126 on practice exams. On my last MCAT I got 128/127/125!/126 (506)

So lmk what I can do to improve: resources, yoga, breathing techniques w/e


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were the AAMC practice fls retakes from when you took the mcat the first time?
because that can inflate your scores

 

[TripleHBK]

Don't be too discouraged!
As long as you applied strategically, plenty of people get into med school with that score. That's not far off the average at many DO schools! As long as the rest of your application is good (especially personal statement), you might get some MD school interviews at programs that aren't as sought-after.
Don't get too caught up on each school's AVG MCAT. Remember that it's an AVERAGE. Pay just as much attention to the RANGE if published. If you applied to those that you fit comfortably inside the range, even if it's lower within the range, you should get some interviews!

Thank you so much for your advice! It means a lot. I’m trying to be optimistic but I also want to be realistic you know and that means giving myself the best opportunity possible.


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[TripleHBK]

were the AAMC practice fls retakes from when you took the mcat the first time?
because that can inflate your scores

Well the first mistake I made when I took the MCAT the first time was I didn’t do any prep lol


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[TripleHBK]

I went from a 501 -> 504 -> 515. I took an SMP which helped substantially with my time management and scientific content review. I also used Khan Academy videos as my main resource to study and supplemented my videos with my fav TPR and Kaplan books. I was much more disciplined because 3 times is really the max amount before med schools get hella suspicious from my convos with med schools. Work on confidence, that's a big key for success. Good luck ~

I am looking into SMP’s if this cycle doesn’t pan out. I know that I can apply to DO schools to become a physician but it seems as if the general consensus is that, being a DO will prove to be an uphill battle if I want to pursue research/academic/or a highly selective speciality.

What smp did you attend if you don’t mind me asking?


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[Hi_I'mPaul]

I am looking into SMP’s if this cycle doesn’t pan out. I know that I can apply to DO schools to become a physician but it seems as if the general consensus is that, being a DO will prove to be an uphill battle if I want to pursue research/academic/or a highly selective speciality.

What smp did you attend if you don’t mind me asking?


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Yeah, I feel you. I got accepted to 1 DO schools last cycle and really disliked my time during the interview process. The med students were very unprofessional imo and tried to be "cool med students" which came off to me as "unprofessional," so I declined the offer. Kinda glad it ended up this way, enlighted in me a renewed vigor to do well!

I attended the USF Morsani College of Medicine's SMP. Absolutely loved it!

 

[TripleHBK]

Yeah, I feel you. I got accepted to 1 DO schools last cycle and really disliked my time during the interview process. The med students were very unprofessional imo and tried to be "cool med students" which came off to me as "unprofessional," so I declined the offer. Kinda glad it ended up this way, enlighted in me a renewed vigor to do well!

I attended the USF Morsani College of Medicine's SMP. Absolutely loved it!

Woah, isn’t turning down an acceptance viewed unfavorably?


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[Hi_I'mPaul]

Woah, isn’t turning down an acceptance viewed unfavorably?


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If you're applying DO again and turned it down for s.hits and giggles. I'm not staying at a school for 2-4 years that does NOT have a good environment. Plain and simple. Would you stay at a business that did not treat you well and had a ****ty atmosphere? No. The same goes for medical school. It's not like DO schools talk to MD schools like "omg this kid turned down an acceptance, let's blacklist them." Come on lol

 

[Hi_I'mPaul]

Woah, isn’t turning down an acceptance viewed unfavorably?


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You have to stop thinking about what others think about you and do what is best for you. If you do what is best for you, the rest will come... Who cares how a third MCAT will look? You're probably gonna have to take it anyway... so do it. I turned down an acceptance to a bad school... do you think I care how it may look? I have good reasons for doing so. Just do you, my man.

 

[TripleHBK]

You have to stop thinking about what others think about you and do what is best for you. If you do what is best for you, the rest will come... Who cares how a third MCAT will look? You're probably gonna have to take it anyway... so do it. I turned down an acceptance to a bad school... do you think I care how it may look? I have good reasons for doing so. Just do you, my man.

Yeah I know I probably will unless I get into a DO school but even then idk for sure if I’ll attend. The point of this thread was to ask how I can improve lol


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