Is anything applying to schools with Jan 08' MCAT scores? If so, what schools are you applying to and have you inquired whether or not they will accept those scores so late? THanks!
Applying with Jan scores?
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I am, look at my md apps for schools applying to, if they had not said they would accept Jan Mcat scores I would not be applying
Laura,
the reason I ask is because I am re-taking in Jan and although I have called schools and most said they would look at the grade, I just had a very long convo with someone on LECOM's admissions board and they said quite frankly that by the time the scores come in in Feb it would be way to late, unless it was way above 30 for them to take a second glance. I already applied with my primary so I guess it won't hurt to spend the extra money.
the reason I ask is because I am re-taking in Jan and although I have called schools and most said they would look at the grade, I just had a very long convo with someone on LECOM's admissions board and they said quite frankly that by the time the scores come in in Feb it would be way to late, unless it was way above 30 for them to take a second glance. I already applied with my primary so I guess it won't hurt to spend the extra money.
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you know with so many things it is luck of the draw. I talked with two different people at Lecom-B and they both said it was fine, would it put me at a disadvantage, sure, but with the rest of my stats the disadvantage would be a timing one only.
I talked with the director of admissions at LMU who said basically the same things. I have talked with adcom people at all the other schools I"m applying to and they have said, no worries about Jan mcat.
I think alot of it depends on what the rest of your application looks like in comparision to the rest of the applicant pool. For me it is worth the chance right now
good luck
I talked with the director of admissions at LMU who said basically the same things. I have talked with adcom people at all the other schools I"m applying to and they have said, no worries about Jan mcat.
I think alot of it depends on what the rest of your application looks like in comparision to the rest of the applicant pool. For me it is worth the chance right now
good luck
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I would think that, even if you got in with the january scores, you'd have a much bigger selection of schools, assuning you are a good applicant, if you just waited for next cycle. Unless you're already certain about where you want to go, or you don't really care.
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I took the July 13 MCAT and did not do so well and will be retaking on January 25. I already applied for 2008 and I'm hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.
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I am retaking in January...if I don't get accepted anywhere with my current school. I did not do well on the August MCAT, but already spent so much money on primary apps, I figured what's a little more for the supp apps that I received? So, I sent them all off last week. I almost sent a letter to the schools asking the to put my file on hold until I retook, but decided just to go with it. If I don't get in anywhere this year, I will reapply next year. Just more time to save up some more money! One more year isn't really anything when you are dedicating so much time to school and residency anyways.
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Do you mind sharing your MCAT score? I should be complete at schools this week but registration for January opens tomorrow. I went ahead and bought the Examkrackers set and figure even if I miraculously receive an acceptance before then I will go ahead and retake because I know I can do much better. My MCAT score was a 22O by the way.
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EEL08 what were your MCAT splits?
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Oh and the verbal is the only section I didn't study at all for. I haven't studied since I took the MCAT in July and I just took a practice test yesterday. I got a freakin' 14!! I don't know how that's possible. It was my lowest verbal at an 8 with 3 each on PS and BS. I realized I've been learning to know the info for tests but then I promptly forget it. Now I'm trying to figure out how to learn to learn.
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What are you currently doing to study? I might be able to give you some pointers?
How long has it been since you took the college courses that are covered on the MCAT?
How long has it been since you took the college courses that are covered on the MCAT?
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I just started the Examkrackers 10 week study. For the MCAT I read both Kaplan books but realize I didn't focus enough on how the information would be presented in terms of the MCAT. I only took a couple practice tests. I took O Chem 2 and Physics 2 in the spring and all the other courses were at least three years ago. Oh and my degree is in Counseling so I don't have a strong science basis from that to work off of.
Oh and I'm taking Genetics now.
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Here's the deal... as I'm sure you are well aware, there is a very real possibility that you will not be accepted anywhere with a 22O, and if you get a 14 on your next attempt, you're just digging yourself in deepeer. So you need to ask yourself how important this is to you. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to get this done? For me, I knew that I wasn't going to impress anyone with my GPA, so I wanted a 30+ on the MCAT. So then I went out and got one. I worked nights at a bar, and studied during the day. I took a couple classes that semester that were particularly MCAT-relevant too.
Honestly, you might want to re-take some of the MCAT-relevant courses at a community college or something. Get them back fresh in your mind. Even take them P/F. You would probably have to wait until next cycle to apply if you did this, but it could be helpful.
I know you've got a kid to deal with, which is not something I had, and I assume you work. But there's still time. It's just going to suck ass. Do your parents or in-laws live close? Brothers, sisters? Anyone who is willing to watch the kid for free while you get **** done a few times a week, or on weekends?
Genetics will help a lot. It covers a lot of the bio stuff that will be on there.
What is the Examkracker's 10-week study? Is that a classroom course or is it a self-study thing?
If you haven't taken a classroom course yet, you should. I did TPR, and they were pretty good. They really expose exactly what your weaknesses are and show you what you need to study more. They run like $1700 or so. Take out a loan or sell something.
For physics and g-chem, work a ****-ton of problems. It is tedious, but it will help.
O-chem is conceptual. It can be hard to practice. Do what they say in the Kaplan or TPR books. Or ExamKrackers. Or whatever.
If you don't get in this year, but your husband does, perhaps you could do a post-bac program at said school while he does his first year of med school? Some of these things do a bang-up job of prepping you for the MCAT. Not sure how hard they are to get into.
However you decide to go about this, you just need to put in as much time as you possibly can.
Honestly, you might want to re-take some of the MCAT-relevant courses at a community college or something. Get them back fresh in your mind. Even take them P/F. You would probably have to wait until next cycle to apply if you did this, but it could be helpful.
I know you've got a kid to deal with, which is not something I had, and I assume you work. But there's still time. It's just going to suck ass. Do your parents or in-laws live close? Brothers, sisters? Anyone who is willing to watch the kid for free while you get **** done a few times a week, or on weekends?
Genetics will help a lot. It covers a lot of the bio stuff that will be on there.
What is the Examkracker's 10-week study? Is that a classroom course or is it a self-study thing?
If you haven't taken a classroom course yet, you should. I did TPR, and they were pretty good. They really expose exactly what your weaknesses are and show you what you need to study more. They run like $1700 or so. Take out a loan or sell something.
For physics and g-chem, work a ****-ton of problems. It is tedious, but it will help.
O-chem is conceptual. It can be hard to practice. Do what they say in the Kaplan or TPR books. Or ExamKrackers. Or whatever.
If you don't get in this year, but your husband does, perhaps you could do a post-bac program at said school while he does his first year of med school? Some of these things do a bang-up job of prepping you for the MCAT. Not sure how hard they are to get into.
However you decide to go about this, you just need to put in as much time as you possibly can.
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Thanks for the input Texas. I am actually a stay-at-home mom to my two toddlers, so I do work but I don't get paid for it. We don't have much family nearby and those we do are busy with their own things and we wouldn't trust implicitly to take care of our kids. There's a lot of background there. I am well aware that I could very well not get in this year but I'm still trying to be hopeful.
I think the class that might help to retake is Physics I because I got a C in that and completely didn't, and still don't, understand the concepts. I'm not really sure if it would be worth it to retake the other classes I did well in or not. The problem for the spring is my schedule. I will be taking 3 classes for my Masters program and an online English class which should be no big deal. My husband and I though work our schedules around each other so when he's in class or working I'm home with the kids and vice versa. That really doesn't leave a lot of extra time for more classes than I already have.
The 10 week Examkrackers is a self-study. Last year my husband actually signed up for the Kaplan online class. I planned on getting some use out of it as well last spring but I was so focused on getting used to taking four classes again, two of which were science. I think I'll focus on the Examkrackers for now and see how I do in January. If there's still hope for me for this cycle I want to do what's in my power to increase my chances. I wouldn't have time now to devote to a course but I will be graduating in May so if it comes down to it that would be a great time for me to take a course.
Oh and my only problem with a post-bacc is I don't think I could get financial aid for it but I might be able to do a biomedical sciences type Masters degree. I've got to run and get my daughter out of the bath or I would say more than I already have. Thanks again! I appreciate the suggestions.
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Hi EEL, I just wanted to encourage you with starting the Exam Krackers 10-week study, because I loved the program and it really helped me stay organized and on top of studying. It's especially ideal for those who have bits of time throughout their day to work on it, because as long as you have 2-4 hours each day to work on it, you'll be good. From your posts, it sounds like you could benefit from the flexibility. 🙂 I also would recommend using the Exam Kracker's Audio Osmosis CDs because they help reinforce the material and also explain some things better than the books. Since it sounds like Physics is your weak area (it definitely was mine), then I would suggest looking into getting the NOVA Physics book, which I haven't personally used but so many people in your situation have raved about it. Also, I was really helped by the Exam Krackers 1001 Question book series because practicing problems is crucial and I really benefited from the Physics and Chemistry books. Exam Krackers helped boost my score up five points! Some people use other MCAT preps and don't even get that, so I was thrilled. Granted, it wasn't a good score to begin with, but I think it will be fine for where I'm applying (all DOs). Good luck! Oh, and don't forget to take many practice exams from aamc! (I'd start with test #10 and work your way down)
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Thanks Dancer!! I was actually wondering if buying Audio Osmosis would be worth it or not. I don't know how expensive it is but I will have to check into it. Are that and the NOVA Physics book available on sites like Barnes & Noble and Amazon? I actually have all the 1001 books but didn't really use them. Yes I know it was stupid. I took AAMC #10 a few days before the actual test and scored 2 points higher than my actual score. The one I just took and scored lower than my diagnostic last year was #5. I am definitely going to take advantage of doing the practice tests. The great thing about taking in January is that I'll have three weeks over Christmas break to get a lot more studying in. My husband won't be teaching or have class so he'll just be at his work-study job part-time. I'm trying to keep up with the Examkrackers program now but I will really be able to kick my studying into high gear once the middle of December gets here. Thanks again for the suggestions!
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Hey EEL, I'm glad you found that helpful 🙂 Yes, actually I found all of the MCAT prep books I needed from Amazon and all of them were way discounted. I love Amazon because my books consistently came way faster than originally said. I kept seeing the NOVA books advertised and I seriously considered getting the physics one when I was debating over taking this January MCAT. I'm pretty set on not taking it if I don't have to. Of course, we'll find that out if I don't get any interviews (I'm actually just starting secondaries...eeeek).
As for the Audio Osmosis cds, they are originally $199.99 from the EK site but you can probably get them cheaper from Amazon. In hindsite, I don't think the AO cds were as helpful as I wished, but I'm a very visual learner, so it was hard for me to learn the material auditorily (I would seriously rewind every minute because I would zone out). I ended up buying them because so many people recommended it. If you're not so much an auditory learner, then I would spend the money on additional study books like Kaplan because EK is superficial at times.
As for the Audio Osmosis cds, they are originally $199.99 from the EK site but you can probably get them cheaper from Amazon. In hindsite, I don't think the AO cds were as helpful as I wished, but I'm a very visual learner, so it was hard for me to learn the material auditorily (I would seriously rewind every minute because I would zone out). I ended up buying them because so many people recommended it. If you're not so much an auditory learner, then I would spend the money on additional study books like Kaplan because EK is superficial at times.
