Application and MCAT advice please!

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

ace99

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2013
Messages
39
Reaction score
5
Points
4,551
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
So I am trying to figure out how I should go about applying to schools this upcoming cycle. I applied last cycle with a 3.57 cGPA 3.36 sGPA and a 26 MCAT (10 PS/7 VR/ 9 BS) and some solid extracurriculars including research, volunteering, tutoring, and of course shadowing. I submitted late July last cycle and was verified in like the first or second week of September. I sent in 6 secondaries, got 2 interviews, but no acceptances. This time around I will have completed my Biology degree, am probably going to retake the MCAT, and am looking to get a job as a medical scribe for two pediatricians. Both of my GPA's will go up after I finish my current semester but only just slightly (like .02/.03 ish). Learning from my mistakes last cycle, I will also be submitting right away in June and will apply to a lot more schools than I did last time.

One thing that I am unsure of is when to take the MCAT. I took it June 20th last year, having only taken basic biology classes and really only studied hardcore for about four weeks before that. This time around, like I said I will have taken more classes and thus feel quite solid on BS but I know I still need time to prepare for PS and especially Verbal. There is currently a June 21st date open and that would give me roughly around the same amount of time to study as I had last time. What I would like some advice on is whether or not I should take it that date seeing as I have a much better foundation to build off of than last time as well as more confidence, or take it a later date since I already have a decent score to submit right away and not feel as pressured or rushed while studying.

If you guys could please offer me some advice on how I should go about that and any other tips about applying that would be great. Also any other advice on what to do during this gap year that would help beef up my application would be appreciated greatly as well. Sorry for the long post btw!
 
Your problem was you only applied to 6 schools...
Yeah I am aware and it's definitely something I learned from last cycle and will apply that knowledge to this upcoming cycle.
 
He asked "where", not "when".
 
I wouldn't retake the MCAT unless you know for a fact that you will do better. Others may disagree but I would call the schools you applied to and ask for feedback. See what the consensus is on doing a retake. I spoke with dmu the other day on reapplying and asked if I should retake my 27 and she said absolutely not. Their average is a 28.2 and I think with your gpas that you should be fine, especially with a slight gpa increase.
 
I wouldn't retake the MCAT unless you know for a fact that you will do better. Others may disagree but I would call the schools you applied to and ask for feedback. See what the consensus is on doing a retake. I spoke with dmu the other day on reapplying and asked if I should retake my 27 and she said absolutely not. Their average is a 28.2 and I think with your gpas that you should be fine, especially with a slight gpa increase.
I've definitely thought about that but I am confident that I can get at least a couple points higher. Especially in the BS section. I felt very disappointed about the 9 I got last time around and my senior year has been basically nothing but Biology classes. But if I see that my practice exams aren't improving from my 26 last year, I will just cancel the retake.
 
Ya it's a tough call on re taking or not. Best of luck to you with either decision you make.
 
Top Bottom