Bombed mcat - help!!!

[jreed32152]

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I averaged 24.6 on the five AAMC FL prior to taking the real thing. My final test two days before taking the real thing was a 28 (PS 10, VR 9, BS 9) I was pumped and ready to take the real thing. Had a great, relaxed night the evening before, woke up and went to my test. Felt good going in...and then the test started. I'm not sure what happened other than I didn't feel like I knew ANYTHING! I am normally a quick and relaxed test taker.
Well, I got my scores back and my feeling was 100% accurate. I GOT A 19!!!! (PS 4, VR 9, BS 6) HOW THE CRAP DID I GET A 19???? My lowest AAMC was a 23 and that was while taking it under timed conditions, in a hotel room, with my wife and three little ones watching a show/running around. No freaking way!
I'm pretty upset about it and am hitting the books hard because I need to apply this cycle (non-traditional with a family relying on me starting next fall - no room for flex unless absolutely necessary)
I just finished the physics section in the self-assessment and scored almost exactly the same in each of the subjects as I had been averaging on the FL. So now what??? Anyone with tips or advice?
I don't want to hear about my FL being too low and stuff like that, I know what is competitive at the schools I am applying to. Thanks!

 

[Jepstein30]

I averaged 24.6 on the five AAMC FL prior to taking the real thing. My final test two days before taking the real thing was a 28 (PS 10, VR 9, BS 9) I was pumped and ready to take the real thing. Had a great, relaxed night the evening before, woke up and went to my test. Felt good going in...and then the test started. I'm not sure what happened other than I didn't feel like I knew ANYTHING! I am normally a quick and relaxed test taker.
Well, I got my scores back and my feeling was 100% accurate. I GOT A 19!!!! (PS 4, VR 9, BS 6) HOW THE CRAP DID I GET A 19???? My lowest AAMC was a 23 and that was while taking it under timed conditions, in a hotel room, with my wife and three little ones watching a show/running around. No freaking way!
I'm pretty upset about it and am hitting the books hard because I need to apply this cycle (non-traditional with a family relying on me starting next fall - no room for flex unless absolutely necessary)
I just finished the physics section in the self-assessment and scored almost exactly the same in each of the subjects as I had been averaging on the FL. So now what??? Anyone with tips or advice?
I don't want to hear about my FL being too low and stuff like that, I know what is competitive at the schools I am applying to. Thanks!

You don't know your stuff nearly well enough.

Use the breakdown at the end of the physics self-assessment to figure out which topics you are really weak in and hit the books. Repeat for other topics. Unless this is your full time gig for the next month, I'd be nervous about about having enough time to make sure you can hit your goals.

You're well below average in the PS section and below average in the BS as well.. seems to me like you don't really have a solid knowledge foundation to be able to apply on the test. How long ago were/how did you do on your pre-reqs?

 

[Cheetah13]

Are you practicing MCAT style questions?
I ask this because, I remember a non-trad at my testing center stating that he only read the Kaplan Chapters and would complete the questions at the end of each chapter---a horrible strategy

I found The Princeton Review Hyperlearning Workbooks to be the most helpful

 

[jreed32152]

Physics and General Chem were taken about 10 years ago - got solid As in both. (Majored in Electrical Engineering)
Biology and O Chem were just finished up in May of this year - took two semesters of each with labs. Also got solid As.
As far as being well below average on the actual MCAT - yes, I know. But my AAMC FL had me scoring 8-10 in all subjects by the last couple tests I took (all except first test were taken in testing conditions, timed and all)
My physics self assessment had three subjects scoring below average and all others were well above.
I have been using EK 1001 and TBR books for review along with my textbooks from the classes I just finished.
I guess I just don't know what to do since everything before and after the test say I should be scoring close to 30!

 

[AktionPOTENTIAL]

This must be tough, I am sure. I too, have a family that is waiting on me to get things done so we could move on w/ our life. The first time I took the MCAT, I scored below what I was hoping and now I am having to retake. To be honest, it was very difficult breaking the news and accepting the feedback because life is paused for them until I decide where I will be attending school. However, I decided to wait an entire year to adequately prepare. Only you know your circumstances, and what you have to do. If I could offer you advice though, I would suggest that you not rush the MCAT. W/ your current state of mind and only a month to prepare, I am not sure that you would be able to raise your score enough. Either way, GOOD LUCK w/ everything. It's not easy being a Non-Trad.....

 

[MedOldAge]

This must be tough, I am sure. I too, have a family that is waiting on me to get things done so we could move on w/ our life. The first time I took the MCAT, I scored below what I was hoping and now I am having to retake. To be honest, it was very difficult breaking the news and accepting the feedback because life is paused for them until I decide where I will be attending school. However, I decided to wait an entire year to adequately prepare. Only you know your circumstances, and what you have to do. If I could offer you advice though, I would suggest that you not rush the MCAT. W/ your current state of mind and only a month to prepare, I am not sure that you would be able to raise your score enough. Either way, GOOD LUCK w/ everything. It's not easy being a Non-Trad.....

Well said. 👍
Please the family first and believe in yourself.
DON'T take MCAT until you feel you are ready. It is a mind game....particular tough for a person who has a family.

Best Luck to you.

 

[Moose A Moose]

I averaged 24.6 on the five AAMC FL prior to taking the real thing. My final test two days before taking the real thing was a 28 (PS 10, VR 9, BS 9) I was pumped and ready to take the real thing. Had a great, relaxed night the evening before, woke up and went to my test. Felt good going in...and then the test started. I'm not sure what happened other than I didn't feel like I knew ANYTHING! I am normally a quick and relaxed test taker.
Well, I got my scores back and my feeling was 100% accurate. I GOT A 19!!!! (PS 4, VR 9, BS 6) HOW THE CRAP DID I GET A 19???? My lowest AAMC was a 23 and that was while taking it under timed conditions, in a hotel room, with my wife and three little ones watching a show/running around. No freaking way!
I'm pretty upset about it and am hitting the books hard because I need to apply this cycle (non-traditional with a family relying on me starting next fall - no room for flex unless absolutely necessary)
I just finished the physics section in the self-assessment and scored almost exactly the same in each of the subjects as I had been averaging on the FL. So now what??? Anyone with tips or advice?
I don't want to hear about my FL being too low and stuff like that, I know what is competitive at the schools I am applying to. Thanks!

You sound like a hard worker, and given your engineering degree and the fact that you've earned A's, you're probably a sharp guy. I've met non-trads that run into similar situations, and being a non-trad myself, things related to coursework completed 5 or 6 years ago can be frustrating.

Prep smart and give the MCAT another round. However, since you're on a schedule and have a family, maybe consider podiatry school if you're still scoring lower than you'd like. You'd be able to apply this round, and it'd be unlikely that you wouldn't gain admission.

 

[Person0715]

Since it's been a while since the pre-reqs, you should probably consider another round of content review.

Learn from the mistakes you made on your last test and attack the MCAT again with a fresh mind.

 

[Jepstein30]

Physics and General Chem were taken about 10 years ago - got solid As in both. (Majored in Electrical Engineering)
Biology and O Chem were just finished up in May of this year - took two semesters of each with labs. Also got solid As.
As far as being well below average on the actual MCAT - yes, I know. But my AAMC FL had me scoring 8-10 in all subjects by the last couple tests I took (all except first test were taken in testing conditions, timed and all)
My physics self assessment had three subjects scoring below average and all others were well above.
I have been using EK 1001 and TBR books for review along with my textbooks from the classes I just finished.
I guess I just don't know what to do since everything before and after the test say I should be scoring close to 30!

Yea, that's what I figured.

Definitely look more into content review. Get some textbooks, audit a class.. etc. Honestly, a course or private tutor would be pretty beneficial for you as well.

TBR is a review book.. it's made for people who just finished their pre-reqs so it's not really ideal to use for something you learned 10 years ago.

 

[jreed32152]

Nobody is really addressing why they think I would have done so much worse on the real thing than on all the FL and self-assessment. That's my bigger concern. How do you adequately prepare for a test when you perform so differently?

 

[Jepstein30]

Nobody is really addressing why they think I would have done so much worse on the real thing than on all the FL and self-assessment. That's my bigger concern. How do you adequately prepare for a test when you perform so differently?

The MCAT covers a wide variety of topics. It just so happened that the topics you were tested on the real thing were weaker topics than those that you got on the FLs/SA. Meaning you were not adequately prepared across the board.

That + nerves explains all drop offs from AAMC averages.

 

[terrifiedcarrot]

Which AAMC FLs did you take?

 

[jreed32152]

3,4,5,7,8, & 9 - 9 was taken last 4 days before MCAT (thought it was 2, but actually 4) got a 28 on it.

 

[SIvankovic]

The MCAT covers a wide variety of topics. It just so happened that the topics you were tested on the real thing were weaker topics than those that you got on the FLs/SA. Meaning you were not adequately prepared across the board.

That + nerves explains all drop offs from AAMC averages.

This ^

I used TBR and its great for content review...but if you want a quicker content review use EK (I only used it for bio and thought it was great)

 

[IslandStyle808]

3,4,5,7,8, & 9 - 9 was taken last 4 days before MCAT (thought it was 2, but actually 4) got a 28 on it.

I read the thread wondering about which ones you had taken and this explains a lot. All 6 of these exams are pretty much obsolete in comparison with the current exam. You need to take 10 and 11 because those are the best indicators of performance on the real exam. I will admit that the exam is different from 10 and 11 but not by much.

For the next retake I would suggest using TBR practice exams first and foremost and then using AAMC 10 and 11. You could even take the first 6 AAMCs but remember that the predictive value is lower because you are taking them again.

Also Jepstein has a point that you might have been dealt a bad hand (topics you were weak in) and this happens at times which is why it is important to do as many questions as you can.

Sorry to hear about the score and I wish you well on your journey.

 

[TriagePreMed]

It was probably a fluke. I would definitely study hard this month and take the test again. This type of stuff happens. It sucks.

 

[jreed32152]

Thanks guys! I'll definitely use 10 & 11 closer to exam time. Working hard right now on those weak areas. I am hoping it was a bad hand, fluke sort of deal and that by the extra study time I will get the score I feel I need!