crappy mcat score

[JennieLeigh]

Your help would be appreiciated in this situation. I did crappy on the MCAT, just say its below 20. I dont know what happened. I took TPR and everything was going fine. I think I misbubbled on verbal because I came out with a ****ty score of 4, when i was averaging 8's. I'm going to take the test again in August in hopes that I will do better. However what do I do in the meantime???? I already submiited my application. Do I call the schoools and talk to the admissions people...or do i just keep on trecking. Im already studying for the Aug test. I just feel like I completely ruined my chances. Everything had been great so far....major EC'c a glowing letter of rec from a DO...and pretty decent grades. Its just this damn score. I've been crying for days and I can't seem to get back on my feet. Please help.

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[JennieLeigh]

bump. Will someone please reply. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

 

[Toejam]

Sorry to hear about your @$*&ty score. I got a 6 on the verbal and I'm still trying to figure it out.

I'm only applying to Western and I know that they take the higher of the two exams (April vs. August). If you're below a 20 you'll probably have to take it again. I got a 23S and I think I'd better try it again. I used Kaplan only (at home) and this time I'm going to attempt Examcrackers. It seems like a lot of people got some good use out of it.

There are MANY medical students who did poorly on the MCAT and either got in or took it again and got in. Don't freak too much. Just set your sights on August and you'll be fine.

 

[jabroni108]

My advice: Your scores are weak, and you wont even get an interview unless you take the august mcat and do significantly better (at least 24). If you take the mcat again and do not improve you can basically wait until next year to reapply. If this fails, you can always go FMG (but I would never recommend this to anyone). The good news: if you have decent grades (above 3.5 science) and good extra ciriculars (EMT, research, etc) you can take the mcats next year and reapply. Schools like to see if you can improve your scores--it shows dedication.

 

[birdman]

JennieLeigh, you will be fine. Take them in august and do better. Listen, you alot of people that tell you what score you need to get into schools. Don't listen to them. The truth is that the MCAT is absolutely no indication of how well you can handle med school or what kind of doc you will be. I had a 21 on my MCAT and I am #1 in my class. People that got 30's have failed classes. Just be determined and you will make it.

 

[njdesi]

Jennie Leigh:
I would really encourage you to hang in there. A few years ago, if you had looked at my ungergrad transcript, no DO school would have looked at
me (my undergrad premed was a 2.55!). I decided to do both a masters in public health and a postbaac. I now have a 3.85 masters GPA, and a
3.2 premed GPA ( I took hardcore courses like Physio, Biochem, and Cell Bio). I took Kaplan for the April 2002 MCAT and lived at KAPLAN for 2.5 months. I ended up with 9BS, 8VR, WS-Q, but a pitiful 6PS! I cried for like a week, but decided that retaking the MCAT in August is what I have to do in order to realize my dream.....believe me this has been a long enough road (I will be 25). But you have to do what is needed. I am now using EXAMKRACKERS to prep me for August. I pray all this pays off. I encourage you to look at your options and persevere. If I could do it, you can to. Good luck

 

[NUgirl]

Hi Jennie,

A lot of people said that a successful applicant needs at least a 24 MCAT. But there have been LOTS of pre-meds who have gotten in with scores below a 24, even with 19's! It's more rare, but it happens.

If I were you, I would submit with the scores you have now, so that processing will happen quicker. And then plan on taking the Aug MCAT. Since you KNOW why you got the 4 in a section, you are bound to increase it! You still have a shot for an acceptance this year. Simply apply to at least 10 DO schools to maximize your chances for an interview. I am confident that you can increase your MCAT and that you WILL get in, if not this year then next year.

 

[JmE]

At the risk of sounding simplistic...

If medicine is what you want to do, don't ever give up. Continue on with the process and re-take the MCAT.

FYI, I am 34, married 2x and four children by my present wife. I have been working towards this goal for over 10 years (working full time+ and undergraduate full time). I never gave up. The first school I applied to granted an interview and then accepted me (and it was my first choice school!). Nothing academic wise or MCAT score was what I would consider stellar, however, that determination is what will get you there and get you through to Dr. I began as a near high school drop out/vocational school graduate and will have DO after my name before I know it.

This is not just a pep talk, it is the only way I know to approach the problem and prevail.

Hope this helps, I recommend: Submit the app and re-take the MCAT PRN.

-JmE-

 

[jimdo]

More of the same garbage talk. Dont give bad advice to this poor person. Your scores absolutely MUST come up. And by the way, on the whole birdman is wrong. It is a fringe fluke that someone with a low score does well in medical school. You dont often hear of people with high scores flunking out whereas it happens every year with those of low score. Stop trying to blow smoke or make yourselves feel better because of low performance. MCAT doesnt directly effect your physician prowess, but it does show your ability to overcome obstacles, to perform satisfactorily and to pass through the same criteria that thousands have before you.
Pull your score up before applying again. There is no way acceptance will be had with such a low score, nor should it. Im confident that when you pull the score up youll agree and feel better about yourself by not having to squeak into a situation.

 

[Toejam]

With all due respect, Jimdo, I think it's obvious that if she improves her MCAT's, she'll have a better chance. Few posters are filling her with huey saying that her scores are going to get her in. But, the fact is that she DOES have a chance and might as well apply while redoubling her efforts for the August MCAT. Most, if not all, DO schools will take the higher set of scores. And, her current scores are very close to the AVERAGE that DO schools will accept.

Besides all that, I wanted to synopsize my incredible long journey to help her understand that perseverance does, indeed, pay off.

I started working in restaurants at age 15 and didn't stop until I finished my podiatry residency in 1999. I finished high school with a 1.89 GPA (1979), went to community college where I floundered for a couple of years, but eventually got it together, transferred to UCLA, finished with a 3.2 overall and 3.0 science mostly due to the lack of effort I had in my first couple of years in college. I was working either full or part-time during this entire period.

I went back to a community college in 1991 to finish my pre-med stuff, got A's and B's, took the MCAT in 1993 (around 27S), applied to MD, DO and DPM schools, didn't hear from any MD or DO schools, went to podiatry school (4 years plus a one year residency) knowing the whole time that I really didn't want to be a DPM, but thought that it was the ONLY way I could become a doctor. After 3 years in private practice I finally saved enough money to REAPPLY to medical school, took the April MCAT, 23S and I'm now looking to retake it in August.

Bottom line is that one way or another I'm going to achieve the dream that I set out for myself 20 years ago. I don't care that I'm 40, 170k in debt, making 150k as a podiatrist or that I'll have to take anatomy YET AGAIN!!!! None of it matters. I want to be a complete physician and ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IS GOING TO STOP ME!

You shouldn't worry and keep plugging away. Perseverance will eventually pay off.

 

[JmE]

I agree that it was obvious that the scores needed to be improved.

jimdo,

I do not "blow smoke" nor do I try to "make myself feel better". I posted that I did not consider my performance to be stellar. That is not what others thought of my performance. I had an honors GPA, majored in chemistry and Biology (BS degree), and did okay on the MCAT first try (I only took it once). I thought my performance was poor so I almost did not even apply!!

I offered some encouragement to JennieLeigh. This individual is capable of making rational decisions quite independently, I am sure. My post was from my own experiences (which are quite a few miles down several roads), the only information I have available to draw upon.

I applied to many schools (too many I think). Only one didn't ask for an interview. Some were MD and some were DO. My first choice school asked quickly and first. I went and was accepted a few days after (they have a policy of fast replies to everyone). I then stopped sending secondaries and withdrew applications.

The MCAT had nothing to do with "showing MY ability to overcome obstacles" as there isn't a test designed that could repeat the obstacles I have overcome. It was to me another hoop through which to jump to get to doing what I should have been doing for years. In fact, I would have traded many "obstacles" I have had to overcome in my life for an MCAT...

Now, I did not take your comments personally and I 100% respect your right to an opinion and encourage its expression. However, I could not leave a diminished impression regarding my hard work or that of others expressing their opinions.

I do not wish to engage in a flame war, indeed, I will not. I wish you the best of luck and I sincerely hope one day we have an opportunity enrich someone's life together in our beloved profession.

As for JennieLeigh, I stand behind my opinion. If I had bombed out on the MCAT repeatedly and had messed up a "basket weaving major" GPA, I still would continue to work towards my life goal. I think you will truely know when it is time to give up (if ever). If you try "too long", you may be a little poorer. But, if you give up too soon, (as I had done before in my life), I think you would be doing yourself discredit.

-JmE-

BTW to all: My reference to a "basket weaving GPA" was in no way meant to offend. At one time, if I could have found such a major that would have gotten me to where I needed to be, I would have taken it. Instead, I tortured myself with PChem and the like. What do you know, I found out I actually liked it. I almost got side tracked into a chemistry field, but that was a whole other story...

 

[JmE]

Toejam,

Glad to see yet another of the "cool hand Luke" variety around here.

Congrats on you persistence of vision and hard work. I understand from whence you speak!

-JmE-