Advice on when to take the MCAT

[UMP]

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I've been studying for quite a while now, but haven't REALLY hit the books because I was planning on the August MCAT. Now I'm really thinking I should take in April and apply earlier then I thought. My GPA is sub 3.0 and won't get up above a 3point until probably the end of summer. I thought I could off-set it with a solid high 30s score (I'm in the low 30s right now). Should I just study hard for the next two months and take it in April, or are my chances so slim as it is for this year that I should just wait until August and *maybe* score a couple points more and just build a stronger application for next year. I don't know how much 4 months as opposed to 8 months of studying really matters, because at a certain point you are just not going to get any better no matter how much you know and practice. Any thoughts ?

 

[UMP]

NOTE: I took the MCAT in April 2004 and got a (10,11,O,9) with no prep other than a single practice exam. So applying with those scores first can be an option.

 

[dbhvt]

If you think your overall chances of acceptance are tenous, take it in April and apply early. Early application can give you a significant boost at some rolling schools. The non-rolling schools tend to be the more competitive ones. You've already taken the MCAT once though, so don't take it again unless you are SURE you'll get a higher score. Med schools see the results of each MCAT you take (at least MD schools).

I might suggest thinking about a third option. Get your GPA up and apply next year (to matriculate in 2008). You've got a 30 MCAT already, but a sub 3.0 GPA. I think you'll get more mileage out of an improved GPA than out of an improved MCAT.

 

[thatguyagain]

I've been studying for quite a while now, but haven't REALLY hit the books because I was planning on the August MCAT. Now I'm really thinking I should take in April and apply earlier then I thought. My GPA is sub 3.0 and won't get up above a 3point until probably the end of summer. I thought I could off-set it with a solid high 30s score (I'm in the low 30s right now). Should I just study hard for the next two months and take it in April, or are my chances so slim as it is for this year that I should just wait until August and *maybe* score a couple points more and just build a stronger application for next year. I don't know how much 4 months as opposed to 8 months of studying really matters, because at a certain point you are just not going to get any better no matter how much you know and practice. Any thoughts ?

If you want to be very competative, you should prepare accordingly. Sub 3.0 is actually very low for a GPA. I think you should take the august MCAT for sure. What's the rush? So what, you lose the summer vacation. I've got news for you....when you get into medical school you'll lose a whole lot more than just one summer!

 

[jebus]

My GPA is sub 3.0 and won't get up above a 3point until probably the end of summer. I thought I could off-set it with a solid high 30s score. Any thoughts ?

I can tell you right now that a high-ish MCAT (36) won't mitigate a low GPA (3.3). I agree with dbhvt, work to improve that GPA, champ. Your MCAT score (low 30's) is fine. Improve the other parts of your application now, don't improve the one good part.

 

[UMP]

ok, so my second question is. Should I apply as early as possible with a sub3.0, or wait until I get my 3.0 after the summer, and apply in early september ? I'm not really expecting to get in this year, I just want some interviews to practice for next year, and an opportunity for them to tell me what I should do next.

 

[abcxyz0123]

ok, so my second question is. Should I apply as early as possible with a sub3.0, or wait until I get my 3.0 after the summer, and apply in early september ? I'm not really expecting to get in this year, I just want some interviews to practice for next year, and an opportunity for them to tell me what I should do next.

why dont you spend the year doing a post bacc instead? others were right, your mcat is fine, and improving it won't do as much to aid the worst part of your app (grades) than doing well in a post bacc. I say you nail the august mcat (you should nail it if your prep for april was true), and take a 1 year post bacc starting fall aug 2006, and apply next year. or if youre feeling impatient, do the everything i just mentioned and apply this year to see what happens. you already have an mcat score to send, so you might as well try...and you can hopefully update your app with an even better mcat by oct.

 

[UMP]

thanks for the advice, I'll definitely do that. After the summer I'll have 27 graded post-bacc credits, so that will give them a look at what I can do. Should I just continue at my local State U or go to a formal post-bacc. There's nothing in Michigan, and I'd rather save a lot of money. How much does a formal post-bacc really help over an informal one ?

 

[ND2005]

ok, so my second question is. Should I apply as early as possible with a sub3.0, or wait until I get my 3.0 after the summer, and apply in early september ? I'm not really expecting to get in this year, I just want some interviews to practice for next year, and an opportunity for them to tell me what I should do next.

You want to spend 1000+ dollars to get some practice interviews?

There are consulting services that will charge you less than that.

If you aren't ready, just wait another year and apply once. It will look better (you won't have to explain your reapplication), you'll save money, and you'll reduce stress.

 

[Benzo4every1]

I've been studying for quite a while now, but haven't REALLY hit the books because I was planning on the August MCAT. Now I'm really thinking I should take in April and apply earlier then I thought. My GPA is sub 3.0 and won't get up above a 3point until probably the end of summer. I thought I could off-set it with a solid high 30s score (I'm in the low 30s right now). Should I just study hard for the next two months and take it in April, or are my chances so slim as it is for this year that I should just wait until August and *maybe* score a couple points more and just build a stronger application for next year. I don't know how much 4 months as opposed to 8 months of studying really matters, because at a certain point you are just not going to get any better no matter how much you know and practice. Any thoughts ?

You should take the MCAT when you are ready to take it. I dont think you should waste any of your chances when youre unprepared.

 

[UMP]

You want to spend 1000+ dollars to get some practice interviews?

There are consulting services that will charge you less than that.

If you aren't ready, just wait another year and apply once. It will look better (you won't have to explain your reapplication), you'll save money, and you'll reduce stress.

I'm limiting myself to my three state schools, based on what they told me I have a shot at two of them...

 

[omgwtfbbq?]

what state are you from that a sub 3.0 gpa = a shot at 2 schools?

not to say that you don't have interesting EC's or that you're not perfectly capable of med school, i don't know you, so i can't say that, but 3.0 is a really really low gpa compared to the applicant pool across the nation (your mcat is just fine, better than mine and i got into a school this year) and i'm surprised you were told you'd have a shot at 2 schools

that being said, if you really want to apply and think you have teh chance. go for it. i've seen 3.2's get into great schools with their fantastic mcat scores. its a dice roll anyway. I applied to 9 schools and got into 1. 1 isn't a huge number of acceptances but the return rate wasn't bad. So hey, good luck if you do it. i'd apply to a ton of places though to up your odds and if you're really just using this as a "practice" year, i wouldn't do it. reapplying comes with some explaining, why add the stress?

 

[dbhvt]

And in case you didn't realize, if any of those three schools use AMCAS and you end up reapplying, I'm pretty sure you can't hide that the next time round. You might not be able to hide it even if they don't use AMCAS. Please please please don't apply for practice. It's a very bad idea.

 

[UMP]

i live in michigan, and MSU-CHM told me a minimum of 16 science credits in a post-bacc with GPA 3.5-3.8 would be looked upon favorably by the committee. They are looking for people who are interested in primary care, and I'm gung-ho about going in to FP. Wayne State said 20 credits with above a 3.5 in a post-bacc would be looked at more closely than my undergrad.


Are they just trying to get application money from me , or are they saying I have a legitimate shot ? 😕

 

[inflamesdjk02]

april, unless you are waiting a year after taking it in august.

 

[dbhvt]

i live in michigan, and MSU-CHM told me a minimum of 16 science credits in a post-bacc with GPA 3.5-3.8 would be looked upon favorably by the committee. They are looking for people who are interested in primary care, and I'm gung-ho about going in to FP. Wayne State said 20 credits with above a 3.5 in a post-bacc would be looked at more closely than my undergrad.


Are they just trying to get application money from me , or are they saying I have a legitimate shot ? 😕

Both. It's in there interest to encourage anyone who might be accepted to apply. I would interpret that as, 'we wouldn't be surprised to see someone who happened to have those numbers end up matriculated at our school', and nothing more.

 

[gary5]

Apply to D.O. schools and bottom allopathic schools. A 3.0 is difficult to get in with.

 

[UMP]

I think MSU-CHM might have the lowest median GPA for matriculants at 3.41, I might be wrong, though. They're almost like a DO school when looking at the "Whole" applicant, and are geared towards primary care and keeping their grads in michigan, which not a lot of people are really interested in