Bombed the MCAT after my 3rd try. Need major advice

[user3]

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user3, I've followed some of your posts. You always seem to be a bit more optimistic than most. What's your basis for that?

sifting through this site and MDapplicants and seeing many, many people get into DO schools with 3.0-3.5/3.0-3.5/23-24.

 

[Textbookversion]

sifting through this site and MDapplicants and seeing many, many people get into DO schools with 3.0-3.5/3.0-3.5/23-24.

The problem is getting in doesn't guarantee the ability to thrive in school, and get the residency of your choice.

If you are absolutely sure you would be happy with psych or family practice OP then I think it is okay to apply to DO schools.

I really question why you want to pursue a career built around standardized testing given your weakness.

AA is a good choice for a career and may play better to your academic abilities. You finish in 2 years and make great money.

 

[ToKingdomCome]

sifting through this site and MDapplicants and seeing many, many people get into DO schools with 3.0-3.5/3.0-3.5/23-24.

Fair enough. I'm not hating or anything.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

The problem is getting in doesn't guarantee the ability to thrive in school, and get the residency of your choice.

If you are absolutely sure you would be happy with psych or family practice OP then I think it is okay to apply to DO schools.

I really question why you want to pursue a career built around standardized testing given your weakness.

AA is a good choice for a career and may play better to your academic abilities. You finish in 2 years and make great money.

More or less it usually does, at least for over 90% of all students. Though obviously low stats do have higher drop out stats, it's only 20% higher for people even in the 23s. And again, we can't really say much about how the stats will transfer to residency placement, because we don't know whether or not his true potential is a 30+ and he's lazy or etc.

 

[bajastapler]

I commend your fighting spirit, but you really need to think long and hard before doing a postbacc/SMP. You need to sit down and factor in the cost of a postbacc/SMP, the time that goes into a postbacc, and the time and cost of hopefully getting accepted your first time around, which isn't as easy as it sounds. Then on top of all this you need to factor in the cost of DO schools, most of which are private, interest accrument, the crummy pay during residency, tax deductions and a 10+ year loan repayment that will cut into your salary.

Finally, you need to factor in: are you comfortable being a DO? I am very happy with the route I have picked and am more than comfortable talking to patients about why I chose DO over MD. are you?

Anyways after all this nonsense if you really want it? Just do it. Don't let me or some other sdn nobody tell you how to live your life. GL mate, hope I catch you on the flip side

 

[Dr Dazzle]

OP, to be competitive, you need to bring your gpa up to a minimum of 3.4-3.5 range with a very early application. That can help a lot. SMP and any MS program is a risk! You have no idea how you will do, and could end up spending money and with a lower gpa.

 

[KCOM2015]

So sorry to hear of your struggle. I know it's not easy, and I know a lot of folks who struggled on the MCAT. It matters because MCAT scores are closely correlated with Step 1 boards scores, which is why schools use it as a barometer of future success. The MCAT answers this question: "Is this student a liability for us, or will they make us look good?" My humble opinion - if you're bent on a medical specialty, consider a PA program.

 

[hallowmann]

So sorry to hear of your struggle. I know it's not easy, and I know a lot of folks who struggled on the MCAT. It matters because MCAT scores are closely correlated with Step 1 boards scores, which is why schools use it as a barometer of future success. The MCAT answers this question: "Is this student a liability for us, or will they make us look good?" My humble opinion - if you're bent on a medical specialty, consider a PA program.

I don't know if I would call an R = 0.60 as "closely correlated." Correlated yes, closely correlated, not quite. Obviously there is a correlation, because they have similar formats and are both timed standardized tests, but some people work out their problems, study more for the steps, or simply learn how to study more effectively after going through med school.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

So sorry to hear of your struggle. I know it's not easy, and I know a lot of folks who struggled on the MCAT. It matters because MCAT scores are closely correlated with Step 1 boards scores, which is why schools use it as a barometer of future success. The MCAT answers this question: "Is this student a liability for us, or will they make us look good?" My humble opinion - if you're bent on a medical specialty, consider a PA program.

R of .43 is a moderate correlation, and considering the measure it's worthless.

 

[hallowmann]

R of .43 is a moderate correlation, and considering the measure it's worthless.

Is that a new study? Last one I saw was 0.60. Can't remember if it was for USMLE or COMLEX.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Is that a new study? Last one I saw was 0.60. Can't remember if it was for USMLE or COMLEX.

JAMA Review Article 2011. But regardless a lot of articles show high correlations like .7, but then tell you that .6 is accounted by variance. So what exactly are we reading?

 

[hallowmann]

JAMA Review Article 2011. But regardless a lot of articles show high correlations like .7, but then tell you that .6 is accounted by variance. So what exactly are we reading?

I wouldn't be surprised if there was a correlation, I just don't know what that would mean for most people. Its more up to the individual than anything else. Its not like I could say, "I got a mid-30s MCAT, that means I will get 90th percentile on the boards", or "I got a 21 MCAT, I'm going to fail the boards". It really depends on how I study, whether that MCAT was the best I could do, how much harder (or less hard) I study for the boards, etc.