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AnilKapoorFan

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So I recently saw a thread on this forum about someone who took the MCAT three times...and that's about to be me! But it's worse. The person I was reading about took the old exam, and had something like 23, 26 and then a 34. Good job to that guy! However, I have to take the new MCAT.

I have 2 scores: 23, 25. My story is long and complicated but I took these exams within a month of each other, didn't study for either because of personal family problems at the time, and was racing the clock to get a 26 so I could go onto the GMED program at my school. This didn't happen, I've reconciled with it, but still want to go to Medical School. I've been studying really well for the new MCAT. Just took AAMC #11 and scored a 36 on it. I'm a good test taker when I prepare, I know that. I plan to get at least 90+ percentile on this new Exam.

But...I'm afraid, and I worry endlessly, and I know this does nothing. BUT, seeing as adcoms don't know much about the new MCAT but they see 2 old scores that suck balls, will they just rule me out as a dumb applicant?

I guess the only thing I have going for me is they can't average it haha, advice from adcom members would be nice.

Side note: My cGPA/sGPA are mediocre but doable, good EC's, good life experience, good LOR's. Great app otherwise.
 
AnilKapoorFan said:
I have 2 scores: 23, 25. My story is long and complicated but I took these exams within a month of each other, didn't study for either
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What gave you this brilliant idea?

AnilKapoorFan said:
Side note: My cGPA/sGPA are mediocre but doable, good EC's, good life experience, good LOR's. Great app otherwise.
Click to expand...

Oxymoron?

Get a good score, every school will look at the new MCAT differently. How "mediocre" is the gpa?

I don't think your ruined, but you certainly dug yourself in a hole. I think the whole 'not studying at all' shows a boat load of immaturity.
 
AnilKapoorFan said:
I have 2 scores: 23, 25. My story is long and complicated but I took these exams within a month of each other, didn't study for either because of personal family problems at the time, and was racing the clock to get a 26 so I could go onto the GMED program at my school.
Click to expand...

You should have thought through the possible consequences if you did this, and, obviously, you're not in a fantastic position now because of it.

Don't rush into anything. Do your research, study, and destroy anything that comes in your path.
 
Our resident adcom member gyngyn said that multiple MCAT scores are viewed "idiosyncratically". About 8 years ago, someone on SDN compiled a list of how schools viewed multiple MCAT scores. Most of the schools answered that they wanted the most recent set of scores, or the highest set of scores.
 
AnilKapoorFan said:
So I recently saw a thread on this forum about someone who took the MCAT three times...and that's about to be me! But it's worse. The person I was reading about took the old exam, and had something like 23, 26 and then a 34. Good job to that guy! However, I have to take the new MCAT.

I have 2 scores: 23, 25. My story is long and complicated but I took these exams within a month of each other, didn't study for either because of personal family problems at the time, and was racing the clock to get a 26 so I could go onto the GMED program at my school. This didn't happen, I've reconciled with it, but still want to go to Medical School. I've been studying really well for the new MCAT. Just took AAMC #11 and scored a 36 on it. I'm a good test taker when I prepare, I know that. I plan to get at least 90+ percentile on this new Exam.

But...I'm afraid, and I worry endlessly, and I know this does nothing. BUT, seeing as adcoms don't know much about the new MCAT but they see 2 old scores that suck balls, will they just rule me out as a dumb applicant?

I guess the only thing I have going for me is they can't average it haha, advice from adcom members would be nice.

Side note: My cGPA/sGPA are mediocre but doable, good EC's, good life experience, good LOR's. Great app otherwise.
Click to expand...

I would just study super hard for the new exam and make sure my score is in a much higher percentile range than a 23, 25. Are you planning on matriculating in 2016? Then, you want to make sure you are ready for the new test by April so that you can get your scores soon and apply this June.

Btw, I love how only brown people can understand your username, although frankly, I would chosen someone like hrithik roshan 😀
 
If I were evaluating your application, I would look at your situation (low, immediate second low, then later high MCAT) as evidence of a very bright student who did not initially take things seriously and who failed to appropriately gauge the consequences of his actions. If your university school has a BS/MD program with a 'must take MCAT' requirement, I would suspect that this may have played a factor in both your low grades and low MCAT scores, and suspect you took that opportunity for granted and might be a) lazy, b) entitled, c) immature, or d) all of the above...

To convince me to admit you now, I would look for evidence that you had matured and that you now appreciate the consequences of your actions. I would also want to see a few years (2-3) of serious hard work -- so top grades, heavy volunteering and leadership.

If your school doesn't have a BS/MD track, I'd suspect you were uninformed (first bad score) and impulsive (second bad score). To convince me to admit you now, I would look for evidence that you now take the time to make sound, well-reasoned decisions.

I hope my [blunt] comments can help --
 
OP, AAMC advises that schools average MCAT scores, so you will need to knock the next exam out of the park. You have already displayed poor choice-making skills, and so do NOT take this exam until you are full ready.

As of right now you are not competitive for MD schools and only weakly so for DO programs. You'd be autorejected at my program and many others, and would only have luck with the newest schools.

Tread carefully.
 
AnilKapoorFan said:
I have 2 scores: 23, 25. My story is long and complicated but I took these exams within a month of each other, didn't study for either because of personal family problems at the time, and was racing the clock to get a 26 so I could go onto the GMED program at my school.
Click to expand...
nfNeT7YvTozx0cv7ze3mplZpo1_500.gif

The new exam will be looked at as it relates to percentiles, so in that sense you are fine. Unfortunately, your percentile will be averaged by most MD schools with your prior percentiles. This doesn't preclude you from being admitted, but will make it a bit of a challenge. A little studying before would have made your life a whole lot easier now...
 
To speak a little to the debacle...the GMED program I was in was transitioning during my year. And, during April we found out we'd have to take the MCAT and pass with a score of 26 by that August. I was about to leave for a 3 month stay for study abroad so I took it in April with no prep, tried to study as best as I could, but was bogged down by finals, and took it again in May with little (but some) prep and obviously missed the mark by 1 pt.

After that, I focused on getting good grades and getting a job! I'm working as a Biology teacher now, and I enjoy it, hopefully will be matriculating to Med school soon though. My cGPA is a 3.68, sGPA is a 3.50.
 
If you can work in the reason for the low MCAT score (and it has to be an extremely compelling reason) somewhere into your personal statement/secondary essays, you'll have a chance. Also I would try to get multiple people from med school admission committees/doctors/professors to read over them to make sure they are well written.
 
JackieChanFan said:
If you can work in the reason for the low MCAT score (and it has to be an extremely compelling reason) somewhere into your personal statement/secondary essays, you'll have a chance. Also I would try to get multiple people from med school admission committees/doctors/professors to read over them to make sure they are well written.
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So, my own Pre-Health Advisor advised me not to mention it anywhere on my application because she didn't want me drawing even more attention to it.

@Goro what would you advise?
 
JackieChanFan said:
If you can work in the reason for the low MCAT score (and it has to be an extremely compelling reason) somewhere into your personal statement/secondary essays, you'll have a chance. Also I would try to get multiple people from med school admission committees/doctors/professors to read over them to make sure they are well written.
Click to expand...
P.S. I like Jackie Chan as well....buuuut Anil Kapoor >>>>> Jackie Chan
 
@Mad Jack, I called up every school on my list of 30 or so and they all told me they don't average. Now, I don't know how far that'll take me. But that's about all the encouraging news I've gotten as of late!
 
STRONGLY disagree with chan's post. No matter how it's written, any attempt to explain poor performance comes off as an excuse, and what you wrote in your OP would make me want to reject you for really bad decision making.


Anyone who has bad life events going on right up to the day of MCAT taking should not take the test, or void it.


AnilKapoorFan said:
So, my own Pre-Health Advisor advised me not to mention it anywhere on my application because she didn't want me drawing even more attention to it.

@Goro what would you advise?
Click to expand...
 
I generally agree with you Goro, but there is a chance that the faculty screening his application might be more forgiving, albeit a small one. It's a game of chance, which is why we apply to many schools. Best he can do is to make the best out of a tough situation.
 
JackieChanFan said:
I generally agree with you Goro, but there is a chance that the faculty screening his application might be more forgiving, albeit a small one. It's a game of chance, which is why we apply to many schools. Best he can do is to make the best out of a tough situation.
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This won't work at my school.
 
Goro said:
STRONGLY disagree with chan's post. No matter how it's written, any attempt to explain poor performance comes off as an excuse, and what you wrote in your OP would make me want to reject you for really bad decision making.


Anyone who has bad life events going on right up to the day of MCAT taking should not take the test, or void it.
Click to expand...

I don't know, that sounds the same as saying, don't write anything about it, most schools probably won't even notice it. Right?

JackieChanFan said:
I generally agree with you Goro, but there is a chance that the faculty screening his application might be more forgiving, albeit a small one. It's a game of chance, which is why we apply to many schools. Best he can do is to make the best out of a tough situation.
Click to expand...

So you agree, I should just ignore it and write my PS and other stuff w/o mentioning it, right?
 
Your PS should be for "Why Medicine?" and "Who am I"? not, "please ignore the fact that I took a career-deciding, high stakes exam TWICE when I wasn't ready because I really, really won't do that in medical school, like really, I promise with sugar on top!"

Yes, I think most Adcom members will notice it, and if it's not counterbalanced by an otherwise stellar app, into the reject pile you go.

I don't know, that sounds the same as saying, don't write anything about it, most schools probably won't even notice it. Right?
 
ridethecliche said:
Goro don't waste your time. The usernames reek of sock puppetry.
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Dude what the heck? This is an actual situation I'm dealing with. I understand if you call BS on something like, I have a 3.05 GPA and a 28 MCAT and I got into Harvard.

I'm just trying to get some opinions.
 
fancymylotus said:
Right?? Almost like if I made a fancymy____ username and started posting too...
Click to expand...

Whatever. Thanks Goro for your help! I don't know why I'd try to be fighting myself on a forum, maybe to prove that I have a psychological disease? I don't know that JackieChanFan person and they basically told me to do the wrong thing anyways (no offense! I just don't agree with your advice).

Kind of messed up that you guys make these accusations and make someone out to be a liar without any proof.
 
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