Application Worries about MCAT score

[deleted987875]

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Hello,

I am currently applying to medical school this summer. My undergraduate GPA is a 3.73 and my MCAT score is a 501. The breakdown of my MCAT is:
Chem/phys (126)
CARS (125)
Bio/biochem (124)
Psych/soc (126)

I am retaking the mcat at the end of next month in July. However, I am still going to be submitting my primary application before the end of this month in June.

When I studied for the MCAT, I went through all of the Kaplan books by reading them and taking notes, watched some Khan Academy and YouTube videos on topics I didn’t understand, did all of the AAMC resources except for one of the full length tests, made flashcards, and did practice questions using UWorld.

For this time around, I reset all of the AAMC resources and have been redoing all of the questions. For questions I get wrong, I’ve been putting the explanations for the correct answer and wrong answer on a study guide document I made. For vocabulary terms that are among the answer choices, if I don’t know it from memory, I have been making flashcards. I also reset all of the UWorld questions and was especially going to focus on Psych/Soc, bio/biochem, and CARS since my friend who got a 515 on his MCAT said that they were good practice.

I also purchased all of the Altius full length test for a discount of only $99 (it normally costs around $300).

I just really want to do better this second time around and am just worrying about how good my application is.

If anyone has any other tips/suggestions for studying, please let me know.

Thank you and I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their weekend. [emoji5]

 

[Goro]

Best to check out the MCAT forum

 

[GoPenguinsGo]

I’m gonna caution you against reading into your scores when you re-do the AAMC Full Length practice MCATSs this time around. You likely will subconsciously remember answers and actually get answers right by this that you likely would not have otherwise. This can result in an inflated score and sense of readiness for the real thing.

Take 3rd party MCATs (3-5) + REVIEW THEM (except CARS) before attempting the only AAMC practice test you have yet to ever take. That last FL is your best gauge of readiness for the real thing and you dont want to burn it before being ready.

 

[deleted987875]

I’m gonna caution you against reading into your scores when you re-do the AAMC Full Length practice MCATSs this time around. You likely will subconsciously remember answers and actually get answers right by this that you likely would not have otherwise. This can result in an inflated score and sense of readiness for the real thing.

Take 3rd party MCATs (3-5) + REVIEW THEM (except CARS) before attempting the only AAMC practice test you have yet to ever take. That last FL is your best gauge of readiness for the real thing and you dont want to burn it before being ready.

Thank you for your input.

Yes I don’t I think am going to redo the full lengths that I’ve already done. The last AAMC full length test that I haven’t taken is going to be saved for last... probably 1 week before my test date

There are so many questions in the AAMC section banks, question packs, flashcards, and official guide questions, that there were a lot of questions that I didn’t remember from doing months ago. However, I feel like I have been performing better then compared to the first time around studying. I’ve just starting doing the practice questions using Altius and while some of the questions are difficult, I do think it’s good practice.

The only thing I’m never sure about is the scores using a third party company... are the scores reliable about how I’m doing or are they deflated or inflated? I’ve heard different things about different third party companies (such as Kaplan, Princeton Review, Altius, etc)