Laura Jean
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I agree with everyone else that the MCAT is really the most important piece right now. Have you taken any official practice exams? Also what is your goal score? Depending on your MCAT, the sky is the limit as far as a school list is concerned.I am currently a junior but am in a dilemma. I cannot decide whether to apply this upcoming cycle or the next cycle...
Basic Info:
GPA: 3.97
cGPA: 3.96
ORM female from midwest
Here is why I am stuck between which cycle:
I don't know how much of a difference it will make if I apply this year including all these future hours or if I apply next year after they are all done.
- I don't have a lot of research rn (200 hrs by the end of the semester) but after my senior year I will have a lot more (1450 hrs)
- I only have 1 poster presentations but after my senior year I will have at least 7
- I haven't taken the MCAT yet. I planned on taking it April 30, but I don't know if I will be 100% ready by then -- I am scared
- I don't have a lot of clinical experience (500 hrs by the end of the semester) but after my senior year I will have a lot more (2000 hrs - I am a nursing assistant in a hospital)
they could be near superstar level and very strong candidate for top school.
I have been studying and I have gotten solid high scores (520+) on my practice FLs. I am just nervous because the MCAT is important and it is intimidating. If I take the MCAT this spring and do really well, will I still be a strong candidate for top schools with my projected hours? I know that projected hours carry a lot less weight than completed hours...Depending on your MCAT, the sky is the limit as far as a school list is concerned.
Yes! Your current hours are already fine. Your projected hours, when completed, will make you even better, but that is always the case and it never ends, so you have to figure out when is the right time to just stop and apply. 2/3 need at least one gap year to be successful. If you have a great MCAT score, you will be in the 1/3 that doesn't.I have been studying and I have gotten solid high scores (520+) on my practice FLs. I am just nervous because the MCAT is important and it is intimidating. If I take the MCAT this spring and do really well, will I still be a strong candidate for top schools with my projected hours? I know that projected hours carry a lot less weight than completed hours...
If you are already getting 520+ on practice full lengths, you need to take the MCAT sooner rather than later. Scoring that high on FL's and then putting off the real thing is like timing your training to be in peak Olympic-ready shape to run a marathon, and then waiting 6 weeks to run the race. There is a reason athletes try to peak right at race time. It is really really hard to keep all of the MCAT content fresh when you are ready to score 520+ on the MCAT AND you are in school at the same time, without getting burnt out to a crisp. Maybe some people have this ability, but it is savant level imo. For us mere mortals that want to score 518+, we need to time our peak haha.I have been studying and I have gotten solid high scores (520+) on my practice FLs. I am just nervous because the MCAT is important and it is intimidating. If I take the MCAT this spring and do really well, will I still be a strong candidate for top schools with my projected hours? I know that projected hours carry a lot less weight than completed hours...
Did you have this text anxiety before i.e. in HS? did you score much less than practice tests before? If not, treat MCAT as another standardized test.I have been studying and I have gotten solid high scores (520+) on my practice FLs. I am just nervous because the MCAT is important and it is intimidating. If I take the MCAT this spring and do really well, will I still be a strong candidate for top schools with my projected hours? I know that projected hours carry a lot less weight than completed hours...