Apply now (504), or wait for new MCAT score

[D.O. OMM boob]

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Do you guys think I should apply now to be verified on june 15 with my old mcat score of 504 and update when i get my new MCAT score, or wait for my new MCAT score which I take on May 20, with scores released on June 20?

Im expecting probably around 508-510 on my new MCAT. I'm asking because my GPA is on the low side cGPA 3.29 sGPA 3.45 and my extracurriculars are not that great... EC's can be slightly improved in the month of waiting for my test results. Everyone says applying early is huge, so i want to get my app in with my old MCAT, but at the same time i don't want to be screened out for my MCAT or GPA, or mediocre/sub-mediocre EC's.

EC's that I currently have are now minimal shadowing, and <50 hours volunteering in hospital. Can get up to ~70-80 hours during the month wait of my new mcat score.

 

[femmegoblue]

Do you guys think I should apply now to be verified on june 15 with my old mcat score of 504 and update when i get my new MCAT score, or wait for my new MCAT score which I take on May 20, with scores released on June 20?

Im expecting probably around 508-510 on my new MCAT. I'm asking because my GPA is on the low side cGPA 3.29 sGPA 3.45 and my extracurriculars are not that great... EC's can be slightly improved in the month of waiting for my test results. Everyone says applying early is huge, so i want to get my app in with my old MCAT, but at the same time i don't want to be screened out for my MCAT or GPA, or mediocre/sub-mediocre EC's.

EC's that I currently have are now minimal shadowing, and <50 hours volunteering in hospital. Can get up to ~70-80 hours during the month wait of my new mcat score.

100% wait. Even waiting until June 20, you will be very early. If you are "complete" at a school with your 504, they will review you based on that and you don't want to risk it!

 

[D.O. OMM boob]

100% wait. Even waiting until June 20, you will be very early. If you are "complete" at a school with your 504, they will review you based on that and you don't want to risk it!

Awesome thank you! I plan to just work on my EC's and my app/common secondary questions. About when would you say the favorability of applying early starts going away? Like maybe end of july/august? Because as superficial as my EC's are, and even though the ADCOMS may know I'm just cramming in hours last minute to obtain decent EC's, its better than not cramming and having weak EC's. Every week i wait i can grab about 12 hours more of volunteering. I wish I would have started earlier, but unfortunately it is what it is

 

[femmegoblue]

Awesome thank you! I plan to just work on my EC's and my app/common secondary questions. About when would you say the favorability of applying early starts going away? Like maybe end of july/august? Because as superficial as my EC's are, and even though the ADCOMS may know I'm just cramming in hours last minute to obtain decent EC's, its better than not cramming and having weak EC's. Every week i wait i can grab about 12 hours more of volunteering. I wish I would have started earlier, but unfortunately it is what it is

I believe @Goro always says that as long as you're in before Sept, you're early!

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

minimal shadowing, and <50 hours volunteering in hospital

Do not retake that score. It is fine for DO even with your GPAs (which aren't even bad). All adcoms would see is you retaking a perfectly fine score for minimal improvement, which could count against you. This however (what I quoted), is a much bigger hurdle for you. Do not apply until you get 30+ hours of shadowing and much more volunteer work, do you have other volunteering outside of hospital work?

 

[D.O. OMM boob]

Do not retake that score. It is fine for DO even with your GPAs (which aren't even bad). All adcoms would see is you retaking a perfectly fine score for minimal improvement, which could count against you. This however (what I quoted), is a much bigger hurdle for you. Do not apply until you get 30+ hours of shadowing and much more volunteer work, do you have other volunteering outside of hospital work?

What if I already am signed up for the MCAT and have been studying my butt off :/... I will make sure to up on my shadowing hours for sure then. Also I only have extra volunteering if you count help giving free tennis clinics and private instruction to people. Not really medically related at all, but I am big into sports as is my family, and I help run tennis clinics for free on the regular. Worth mentioning?

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

What if I already am signed up for the MCAT and have been studying my butt off :/... I will make sure to up on my shadowing hours for sure then. Also I only have extra volunteering if you count help giving free tennis clinics and private instruction to people. Not really medically related at all, but I am big into sports as is my family, and I help run tennis clinics for free on the regular. Worth mentioning?

I guess it is up to you, but with a 504 you are competative for DO schools and I can't suggest a retake unless you know you can make a marked improvement, like 510+. Even then a retake is honestly not needed. What was your breakdown?

That is definitely worth mentioning. Non-medical volunteering gives you something unique and gives you something to talk about that you feel passionate about. IMO non-medical volunteering can give you a bigger boost than medical volunteering. You still should have some shadowing and other ECs but that tennis stuff is a good start

 

[D.O. OMM boob]

I guess it is up to you, but with a 504 you are competative for DO schools and I can't suggest a retake unless you know you can make a marked improvement, like 510+. Even then a retake is honestly not needed. What was your breakdown?

That is definitely worth mentioning. Non-medical volunteering gives you something unique and gives you something to talk about that you feel passionate about. IMO non-medical volunteering can give you a bigger boost than medical volunteering. You still should have some shadowing and other ECs but that tennis stuff is a good start

My old MCAT breakdown was: 504-127-124-125-128 (last bio class I took when I took mcat was 5 years prior AP bio in high school)

Took AAMC sample today and scored a 92%(C/P), 64%(CARS), 85%(B/B), 78%(P/S). Of course, taken with a grain of salt, I used the converter this fellow SDNer made to help predict AAMC sample---->Actual MCAT, and it showed me at a 514:131-124-130-129. I've been trying to work on my cars a lot, but tbh, i never read a single book in my life until i got to college...

Practice FL to MCAT Predictor ver 1.3.xlsx

in this thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/tentative-aamc-sample-fl-score-conversion-sheet.1149516/

 

[mathnerd88]

Not sure if OMM can be performed on breasts lol...

But OP, yes I would wait if I were you. It won't make a difference if you apply in early June or late June.

 

[D.O. OMM boob]

Not sure if OMM can be performed on breasts lol...

But OP, yes I would wait if I were you. It won't make a difference if you apply in early June or late June.

For sure, I honestly will probably apply in July early/mid so i can at least attempt to patch up some of the blatant lack of EC's in my app though.

 

[DrMikeP]

Do you guys think I should apply now to be verified on june 15 with my old mcat score of 504 and update when i get my new MCAT score, or wait for my new MCAT score which I take on May 20, with scores released on June 20?

Im expecting probably around 508-510 on my new MCAT. I'm asking because my GPA is on the low side cGPA 3.29 sGPA 3.45 and my extracurriculars are not that great... EC's can be slightly improved in the month of waiting for my test results. Everyone says applying early is huge, so i want to get my app in with my old MCAT, but at the same time i don't want to be screened out for my MCAT or GPA, or mediocre/sub-mediocre EC's.

EC's that I currently have are now minimal shadowing, and <50 hours volunteering in hospital. Can get up to ~70-80 hours during the month wait of my new mcat score.

A 504 is ok for many DO schools, so only retake IF you feel positive you'll beat that score. June and even mid-July is still early. Aug/Sept is on time. So get everything done in your application and approved (could do a throw-a-way school) and as soon as your mcat comes in submit broadly. If you apply with the 504 then they will screen you with it and some may or may not update the application with the new score when it comes in.

I've shared my story on applying pre-mcat with expected date and it caused some grief, so if I had it to do over I'd have waited to submit until July when my mcat was in. I still made it in but might have lost a couple of opportunities.

Best of Luck