August MCAT

[GraC_undr_PrsR]

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Hello,

I'm applying for a place in the 2004 entering class (MD/PhD) and have yet to take the MCAT - I will sit for the August administration coming up. Problem is, I am not completely confident that I will score above 30 - I'm taking a review course and scored <25 on the practice full-length (the first one).
I'm applying to:
Albert Einstein, JHU, Harvard, Umich, Wash U., Cornell, Columbia, Stony Brook... Among other competitive programs. I have extensive research experience and 3.7 GPA -- my essay and application are great, but I am worried that I may not do well enough on the MCAT.
Perhaps I'm just stressing out at the last minute, but this is a real concern of mine - does anyone have any input on my situation?

 

[Neuronix]

Don't fret until you actually have an MCAT score. Since you're already applying, you're just going to have to go ahead with it and see what happens.

Worst case -- You get a 25 on your MCAT. Odds are you're going to be overlooked by most programs. But who knows, a few programs might overlook a low MCAT score in the face of an otherwise good application. If you don't get in, you blew some cash--retake the MCAT and reapply next year.

Most people say that the first practice exam is the most difficult. You have time to improve. Work hard at it and it will work out for you this year or the next.

Good luck!

 

[Bad Mojo]

I would take your scores on the practice full-length with a grain of salt. I work for Kaplan and took the course, and I don't feel that the practice exams, especially the first one, are necessarily the definitive way to gauge what you'll get in August. I continuously improved over the time of the course, and then went up an additional 5 points on the real thing. On the other hand, I've known people to drop just as many points on the real thing. Take the feedback the tests are giving and work on what you need to do; don't get down on yourself if your scores aren't quite what you want yet.

 

[noy]

No 'practice' test is reliable except for the AAMC tests, and even only under reasonable conditions. The other tests have very different flavors (esp PR, in my opinion)

Take 4,5, and 6, see how you do on those.

They accuratly reflected my (high) score when the private Examkrackers exam showed a 28 or so.

Your scores will also improve with time as you get used to the 8 hour drag.