Apply or not to apply this year

[lwgw]

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So i have to retake the mcat again and wanted to get some advice

I was averaging 6s on aamc verbal and unfortunately, i got less than my average on real thing. But ok with ps and bs since i was able to get at least average on what the schools are looking for. With that, Should I try to retake the test the latest on July and finish all of the secondary application within like 7 days or so after receiving the score in late august (assuming that I will be able to turn in the primary as soon as possible and get verified). So i will be working on application and studying at the same time, while i only studied and did some light volunteering for the first time. And take a chance of being a re-applicant if I decide not to take the test when it comes to July if I'm not sure of getting a score of at least 8 or so on the verbal. But this will give me a chance to apply this year if i do get decent score. As far as i know, i have decent gpa of about 3.7 overall (with decent science gpa also i think because i only have like a few b's on all of the science courses), but with no more than just an average for ECs. Is it worth applying late with average ECs?

Or just take another year off and not think about applying and just focus on improving the verbal since if i decide to rush the test just to apply this year or when i know that i'm not ready to get higher score on verbal, then i will just be at the same situation as i am right now with bad score and can't do anything about applying.

As for now, i don't know if i will improve the verbal to above 8 or so by july because it takes time to improve verbal in general and I just have a lot of problems in reading in general. I lose focus when i'm reading or when i'm not familiar with topics or writing style. Not that i have any medical problems, but just the way i am i guess since i have to read multiple times for scientific paper and i majored in science. But i've been reading long hours each day on different topics and practice reading actively as if i'm doing a verbal pssg. I've been doing that for like a week or so and i'm feeling a bit more confidence whenever i approach reading new topics that i'm not familiar with. But that' s no guarantee of higher score until i try on the actual verbal passages from like TPR or actual aamc tests (from like self-assessment).

So, work on application while studying and take a chance of being a re-applicant if i decide not to take the test in july for whatever reasons or just take another year off?

 

[Ismet]

I'd suggest another year off. First of all, you shouldn't have even taken the MCAT in the first place if you were averaging 6's on VR. That's an automatic screen out at most schools. You also shouldn't settle for an 8 in VR, you should try for a 9 or 10 at the very least. You need to address the problem with reading and losing focus. Is English not your first language? That may be the problem behind your reading comprehension. Maybe take a literature course or some kind of English writing course, or consider getting a tutor for MCAT VR.

 

[lwgw]

yeah, english is my second language. yeah i made a mistake of taking the test even the first time. If i find or follow a way to improve, i think i can do it since this will be my second time overcoming difficulty with academic. Any other suggestion? I'm not new to the sdn but don't post a lot on the forum. I really appreciate your input. thanks.

 

[jw3600]

If you got a 5 on verbal do not apply. Save 3K and try and improve verbal when you retake.

 

[lwgw]

yup, not applying w/ the score i have. Have to retake either way, just a matter of applying this year or not...

 

[coffeesnob]

yup, not applying w/ the score i have. Have to retake either way, just a matter of applying this year or not...

Are you retaking your MCAT in July? Then, take AAMC full-length exams in June to see if you are improving. If you are still scoring <9, I wouldn't retake in July (which means you are not applying this year).

There are a lot of threads for verbal help on SDN. English is also my second language. I got 7 for verbal on the first MCAT and 11 on my second attempt. It's possible. It's all about strategies and critical thinking.

 

[lwgw]

Are you retaking your MCAT in July? Then, take AAMC full-length exams in June to see if you are improving. If you are still scoring <9, I wouldn't retake in July (which means you are not applying this year).

There are a lot of threads for verbal help on SDN. English is also my second language. I got 7 for on the first MCAT and 11 on my second attempt. It's possible. It's all about strategies and critical thinking.

Yeah, planning to retake in the latest in July if I can score higher for sure.

True. Thanks for the suggestion. It seem like a good idea.

Yeah, I found some verbal strategies threads that seem to fit me, and just need to get use to applying those in actual verbal passages. But I hope people who read this thread don't think that because english is my second language, I'm using that as my excuse. Just happened to answer the question that was asked by previous post. I'm not using that as my excuse for poor verbal score. 🙂 But thanks for your suggestion.

 

[coffeesnob]

Yeah, planning to retake in the latest in July if I can score higher for sure.

True. Thanks for the suggestion. It seem like a good idea.

Yeah, I found some verbal strategies threads that seem to fit me, and just need to get use to applying those in actual verbal passages. But I hope people who read this thread don't think that because english is my second language, I'm using that as my excuse. Just happened to answer the question that was asked by previous post. I'm not using that as my excuse for poor verbal score. 🙂 But thanks for your suggestion.

I didn't think you were using English being your second language as an excuse. I was just sharing my experience because I've been in your shoes... Verbal takes a long time to improve. It took me 6 months. But the thing is once you get what the section is about, it becomes really easy. Are your science sections okay?

 

[lwgw]

Yeah, I think it might take me about that much time also. It's good to hear from someone who was in similar situation.

I was averaging from 9-12 on both ps and bs on practice aamc, and including making stupid mistakes like alpha helix is primary structure of protein 🙁. But on the real thing, I was able to get average of what med school are looking for (not top schools, just average schools). If the verbal score was the same as ps and bs, then let just say that i don't need to retake the test and can apply this year. I was just so nervous on that day that I could not focus and end up mixing up numbers like speed of light and speed of sound 🙁 maybe that was the sign that I should have voided the test haha, but that's done and that's another story

But for now, I plan to leave those sections alone, since verbal is my weakest and I think that I can pick up on ps and bs again not as much difficulty as verbal. and of course, eliminating those stupid mistakes.