Advice needed please...

[premd85]

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Just got August MCAT score back: 9P/10V/10B (S for WS). Previous MCAT I got 10P/7V/11B (J). I applied last cycle but didn't get in (got 3 interviews but all WL and eventually rejected). I'm from CA with a 3.72 cum and 3.6 BCPM. Planning to apply this cycle and was complete with primary app in July. I checked box saying that I would be taking Aug. MCAT.

Should I proceed with secs or should I withdraw, save some money, retake MCAT, and apply again next year? I feel I've improved from my 7 in verbal which I think is what kept me from being accepted, but I don't know what they'll think of my 1 pt improvement overall. Please help, I'm in a state of confusion...

 

[BeAdmitted]

Just got August MCAT score back: 9P/10V/10B (S for WS). Previous MCAT I got 10P/7V/11B (J). I applied last cycle but didn't get in (got 3 interviews but all WL and eventually rejected). I'm from CA with a 3.72 cum and 3.6 BCPM. Planning to apply this cycle and was complete with primary app in July. I checked box saying that I would be taking Aug. MCAT.

Should I proceed with secs or should I withdraw, save some money, retake MCAT, and apply again next year? I feel I've improved from my 7 in verbal which I think is what kept me from being accepted, but I don't know what they'll think of my 1 pt improvement overall. Please help, I'm in a state of confusion...

I'd go for it this year. You don't have a bad MCAT at all, and your gpa is solid. So cut yourself some slack and give yourself some credit. Going into the application cycle (and interviews) with confidence will go a long, long way.

 

[only4jgong]

You look good to go, but I don't know how adcoms will look at the fact that you retook and only improved by 1 pt.

 

[Blade28]

How were your letters of recommendation? Extra-curriculars? Volunteer experience? Research? Were you in California for undergrad?

 

[premd85]

Have 3 solid LORs from current MD employer, former research mentor, and former psych. professor. Have 2 standard LORs from profs in my department who didn't know me as well.

Graduated from UCLA with B.s. in biology. Currently a full-time lab tech at VA Med Center (planning to get a couple of publications while here). Have 2 years research experience as a student in university lab, 1 publication, research scholarship, presented at 3 research conferences (dean's prize at one).

Volunteered for one year at university hospital and rotated through a couple of departments, provided free health clinics in rural Mexico a few summers ago, teaching assistant for developmentally disabled preschoolers for half a year.

Been on dean's list a couple of times, Phi Beta Kappa, Latin Honors, Departmental Honors, and College Honors.

Thanks for all the input guys, much appreciated.

 

[Blade28]

Hmmm. Everything else on your app looks great except for the MCAT score, which is most likely confusing (and worrying) the adcoms - "why the high GPA but low MCAT?"

 

[premd85]

Hmmm. Everything else on your app looks great except for the MCAT score, which is most likely confusing (and worrying) the adcoms - "why the high GPA but low MCAT?"

I thought I really had a good 1-2 months of preparation for this last MCAT too... My practice AAMC test scores ranged from 28-34. Maybe I'm just not really good at taking standardized tests because given the luck of the draw, I feel my score would go up or down by 1-2 points if I took again.

Do you think I have a chance of getting in this cycle at this point? I've applied broadly and selected mid-lower tier schools, but I hope that I don't go through the same unsuccessful cycle I did last year...

 

[Funky]

Hmmm. Everything else on your app looks great except for the MCAT score, which is most likely confusing (and worrying) the adcoms - "why the high GPA but low MCAT?"

29 is not low at all. It's right around average for matriculants.

 

[Blade28]

29 is not low at all. It's right around average for matriculants.

For UCs?

I don't actually know, but I'm guessing their averages are higher. But then again, I'm a little out-of-touch with med school applications - I applied back in 2000! 😱

 

[postbacker]

Even though the OP's composite MCAT is up only 1 point, I think this second result is much stronger: more balanced, nothing lower than 9, raised that pesky Verbal from 7 to 10, WS up significantly from J to S (the low Verbal score and the "J" were killing you)...I would proceed with applying this cycle...hopefully the OP applied broadly and outside of CA...

 

[premd85]

For UCs?

I don't actually know, but I'm guessing their averages are higher. But then again, I'm a little out-of-touch with med school applications - I applied back in 2000! 😱

Sorry if I gave the impression that I'm only interested in UCs, but I mainly have applied to schools outside of CA. I've decided to go through with this cycle and just keep my hopes up. Thanks for all the help.