Completely Lost- and not sure what to do.

[achaverta]

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This is my (very sad) story.
I am graduating in January. I took the MCAT June 2011 did terribly: 22S v: 9 p: 7 b: 6.
I was upset but still had time so I planned on retaking. This last summer I studied for 4 months straight- Every day from 9am- 10pm. I studied like my life depends on it- and I showed. My first AAMC practice test was a 26 but by the end of the summer I was getting over 32. Highest was 34.
Then I took the test on 8/10- Had an issue with time but in general felt like I did well. Was confident Ill at least get my average- (30)

Oh well. Score today: I almost fainted- 22Q. v: 8 p:6 b: 8. 🙁 I have no idea how this happened. I studied my heart out- in all my practice tests- I NEVER got this low- and I don't know what to do. Do I retake it in January- and wait another year (Im 25) or do I retake it in January and go to Sacklers in Israel. Do I ask for a rescore?

Any words of encouragement/ suggestions!!!

 

[qwerty2012]

anything below 10 on bs/ps means weakness in subjects. i suggest stressing on rigorous contents review.. if u have the determination and time.

it is really up to you if u want to retake it. if u feel you can do it again, go for it.

 

[napafarmer]

I would definitely retake the test. It seems like you have the potential to score significantly higher! Were you taking all of your practice tests under timed conditions?

 

[achaverta]

So a retake and push for another year? I just was really strong in the content by the time i took the test. Was scoring 11,12 consistently on the practices in all sections.

 

[achaverta]

I would definitely retake the test. It seems like you have the potential to score significantly higher! Were you taking all of your practice tests under timed conditions?

Yeah all practice tests were under test conditions.

 

[La Presse]

You should try and follow a comprehensive schedule. Please give us an outline of your schedule.

 

[achaverta]

You should try and follow a comprehensive schedule. Please give us an outline of your schedule.

Ok
I worked with the EK series- both the books and the 1001.

I started with gen chem: Finished the book in 3 days- with the chapter questions and spent the next 4 days on 1001 questions- worked on weak areas.

Then I took 1 day off- and then did a day of verbal- 3 passages- scored great.

Then I Went on to physics- same format- took me a bit longer cuz physics is my weakest subject- was done with subject and 1001 by 2 weeks- then took my first AAMC- got a 26.
Continued with bio- my supposedly strong point. Took me a 1.5 to go through that. Orgo took a week.
Was done with subjects 3 weeks before dates-started taking 2 mcats a week and was scoring over 30. Went over the results- strengthened weak points. Took test confidently.

 

[achaverta]

Is it even worth it to try to apply with my scores? I have gpa of 3.79 and fantastic EC plus a great personal story.
Even worth it?

 

[napafarmer]

I wouldn't apply with a 22 mcat score. Despite your great GPA and extracurriculars your 22 puts you at a huge disadvantage. If you feel like you can get your score up to 28 or higher I think you should definitely retake te exam. If you are planning in applying in June next year you can take the test in April or so and have a few good months to study after you graduate in january.

 

[achaverta]

I should rather push it for a year than just go to International: ex: sacklers?

 

[Geebeejay]

Ok
I worked with the EK series- both the books and the 1001.

I started with gen chem: Finished the book in 3 days- with the chapter questions and spent the next 4 days on 1001 questions- worked on weak areas.

Then I took 1 day off- and then did a day of verbal- 3 passages- scored great.

Then I Went on to physics- same format- took me a bit longer cuz physics is my weakest subject- was done with subject and 1001 by 2 weeks- then took my first AAMC- got a 26.
Continued with bio- my supposedly strong point. Took me a 1.5 to go through that. Orgo took a week.
Was done with subjects 3 weeks before dates-started taking 2 mcats a week and was scoring over 30. Went over the results- strengthened weak points. Took test confidently.

I used the EK series to study as well. They are very good, but they aren't very thorough with material. It sounds like you might be good at taking the test based on your practice exam scores, but maybe you need some content review? Either buy more thorough books like Kaplan, or start reading texts.

The other possibility - did you take these practice tests in a simulated environment? I.E. in a library, without music, and timed sections without breaks? If you didn't, maybe this is the problem.

 

[achaverta]

yeah- I stimulated conditions. Library, no breaks same time as i took the test. The saddest thing- that if feel like all these studying was for nothing. I got the same score a year ago before taking advanced bio elective, before studying so intensely. I did well on the practice tests so i can't figure out what went wrong.

 

[BABSstudent]

If you were getting above 32s on practice, then I would just retake. It might have been a fluke. Maybe you stressed out, forgot how you normally time yourself, accidentally skipped a passage, etc.
But you have to be honest with yourself.

 

[achaverta]

I think I am honest with myself- which i why I am confused. Retake would mean another year- I didnt want to do that- but I just might have to.

 

[CoolWhipp]

You need to do whatever it takes to get a 30+ the next time you take the test. Try another program and get their books.

 

[HughMyron]

Its time to become a pirate...

of the Caribbean!

 

[collegestud2013]

A 22 when you were getting 30-34 on your practice exams suggests the real thing was a fluke. Were you sick that day or had something really pressing on your mind that day? Do have any kind of major anxiety when taking exams that may cause you to lose focus on the real thing? And as others have said, you should retake. Otherwise your high GPA and stellar ECs will mostly go to waste (at least when applying to med school).

 

[sinuous sausage]

your stellar GPA, ECs, and back story are, as you say, in the bag.

to me, it's at least worth a year to get that last elusive piece of the puzzle. you'll always wonder "what if?" if you jet off to another country. a 30+ MCAT, man. you said yourself your practice tests were in that range. go back and kick it in the balls, then it's almost falling off a log to get into a great US med school.

25 is nothing. it's the new 15. that's what I tell myself when I hit on 16-year-olds. not really, but you see my point. stick around and learn the material. you can do it!

 

[theseeker4]

I should rather push it for a year than just go to International: ex: sacklers?

It would be better to push it back five years than to go international. Do what you need to get everything up and take it in the spring. Apply MD and DO and you should be good to graduate in 2018. And no, you are not old, no where near in fact.

 

[achaverta]

Wasn't sick. Mind was focused it was a bit early and.time was a killer- something I didn't.experience at the practices. I think ill go with waiting, can't do caribbean. Im just tired of the struggle
- I feel like i did everything right this time. I see how it so simple for some , perfect college, get into med school at 22. While I had to work full time to pay the bills while in school. No support or financial help. And I worked my ass off- and still I keep in struggling. But I'm not giving up, will retake and get there. I'm just so tired.

 

[theseeker4]

Wasn't sick. Mind was focused it was a bit early and.time was a killer- something I didn't.experience at the practices. I think ill go with waiting, can't do caribbean. Im just tired of the struggle
- I feel like i did everything right this time. I see how it so simple for some , perfect college, get into med school at 22. While I had to work full time to pay the bills while in school. No support or financial help. And I worked my ass off- and still I keep in struggling. But I'm not giving up, will retake and get there. I'm just so tired.

There is nothing wrong with stepping away from the path to med school for a year or so. Take some time off, recharge, do something fun, and come back less burned out and more determined.

 

[mcworbust]

This is my (very sad) story.
I am graduating in January. I took the MCAT June 2011 did terribly: 22S v: 9 p: 7 b: 6.
I was upset but still had time so I planned on retaking. This last summer I studied for 4 months straight- Every day from 9am- 10pm. I studied like my life depends on it- and I showed. My first AAMC practice test was a 26 but by the end of the summer I was getting over 32. Highest was 34.
Then I took the test on 8/10- Had an issue with time but in general felt like I did well. Was confident Ill at least get my average- (30)

Oh well. Score today: I almost fainted- 22Q. v: 8 p:6 b: 8. 🙁 I have no idea how this happened. I studied my heart out- in all my practice tests- I NEVER got this low- and I don't know what to do. Do I retake it in January- and wait another year (Im 25) or do I retake it in January and go to Sacklers in Israel. Do I ask for a rescore?

Any words of encouragement/ suggestions!!!

I had a somwhat similar situation with a different outcome -
1st take got a 21 (didn't study correctly), then I took a short break from the whole pre-med thing, came back and studied for 6 months (worked in a lab 9-5, studied nights/weekends) before taking the next one. I was getting all 34s and 35s on the AAMC's the second time around, then test day comes and I got a 30 (not complaining, just unexpected).

As others had mentioned, I had to improve my knowledge of the content between the first and second test. To do so, I meticulously went through all of the Kaplan materials and all of the Princeton Review materials (redundant, but thats what I needed). Most importantly, I took TONS of practice tests. I begged/borrowed/stole (and sometimes actually purchased) 24 practice tests from various sources that I completed after going through Kaplan and concurrently with my review of Princeton Review (of course did EK for verbal).

I attributed my score the first time to lack of knowledge, and second time to nerves (and, stupidly, I took a full length practice test the night before - not advised!). I think both these things might have affected you/your score. IMHO I think with a solid review of the material again and tons of practice tests you could score 10 points higher, but make sure to taper before the test and reduce test day anxiety as much as possible.

best of luck to you, i really hope everything works out!

 

[achaverta]

Thanks- That is just what I'll have to do- I just can't believe I have a whole another year before med school. Originally I was supposed to be Class of '16 that flopped, then i was supposed to be Class of 17- today that was shattered- I guess I'll be Class of 18. I just hope its not held against me that I took the test twice and got the same score.

 

[kpcrew]

A 22 when you were getting 30-34 on your practice exams suggests the real thing was a fluke. Were you sick that day or had something really pressing on your mind that day? Do have any kind of major anxiety when taking exams that may cause you to lose focus on the real thing? And as others have said, you should retake. Otherwise your high GPA and stellar ECs will mostly go to waste (at least when applying to med school).

Not when you take it twice.

 

[achaverta]

Not when you take it twice.

First time i was very very underprepared- expected that 22. The confusing part was the second one.

 

[TxResident]

First time i was very very underprepared- expected that 22. The confusing part was the second one.

The MCAT works in mysterious ways. It usually evens out to what you should get (surprisingly sad to say). Study harder this time.

Edit: Seriously, study really hard. Friend scored a 29->24->29.
Another scored 29->30.

 

[achaverta]

The MCAT works in mysterious ways. It usually evens out to what you should get (surprisingly sad to say). Study harder this time.

Thanks! That made me smile for the first time today- Thats 3rd MCAT better watch out- this bitch is coming its way!!

 

[Doc E Brown]

ask for a regrade if you feel like the score is unexplainable.

 

[AestheticGod]

Asking for a regarde can't hurt right? Might as well try since a 22 vs a 34 is kind of a big difference.


And I would go for a 3rd try OP, unless you're in a lot of shiithole for money wise. 1 year isn't nothing if you're going to love what you're doing for the rest of your life.

 

[La Presse]

A regrade? Would they fulfill that? I guess...

 

[TxResident]

A regrade? Would they fulfill that? I guess...

I believe they actually do, but then again you have to pay for a fee.

I believe I remember reading back that usually your score doesn't change.

 

[achaverta]

I can try a regrade but it takes 4 weeks and I would miss this cycle anyway. Plus I heard that with the CBT system its virtually unheard of for them to get a grading mistake.

 

[QuantumFlame]

If content is your weakness, then BR might be for you. Their passages especially are stellar. Best of luck to you!