Decent GPA, 2 Bad MCATs

[RoadtoMed]

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Hey guys! I'm really depressed and seriously scared now. I am a senior, have a decent GPA of 3.5 and science gpa is probably around 3.2, not sure. I have about a year an a half of research (doing my Honors thesis this year), am an RA, and volunteered a DO for a year. My LORs should b good.

Getting to the bad point...my MCAT was 21 both times. I just went from a N to a Q on the writing sample this time around with straight 7s. The first time I was shaky (I had a 7 on VR, 6 on PS, and 8 on Bio) but this time I thought I did pretty ok, well not 30 but at least a 25. Guess not 🙁

I am applying regardless, mostly to DO and Carribbean, but I am scared that my MCAT might even be too low for Carribbean. What do you guys think? The other option is to take the MCAT in January again? Ugh...help pls

 

[Tin Man]

Most people who are scoring that low on the MCAT can identify some reason behind it. What are you feeling so shaky on that you would have been happy with even a 25?

 

[RoadtoMed]

Honestly I am bad at standardized test taking. I'm not trying to make excuses, because I know it's probably more my fault and the way I'm studying. So I always feel like I'm gonna do badly even if I end up doing well.

But this second time around, I actually felt I went it more confidently. Afterwards I was scared of PS, but I felt pretty good about VR and BS, especially BS. I honestly would have been happy with a 25, anything other than the same score. That was unbelievable. But yea, either way, I got what I got and now I don't know what to do.

 

[slick27]

the science sections are more knowledge based than anything, you should be able to score higher on those sections. Take three months and increase your knowledge base on those sections.

 

[iamdo]

Honestly I am bad at standardized test taking. I'm not trying to make excuses, because I know it's probably more my fault and the way I'm studying. So I always feel like I'm gonna do badly even if I end up doing well.

But this second time around, I actually felt I went it more confidently. Afterwards I was scared of PS, but I felt pretty good about VR and BS, especially BS. I honestly would have been happy with a 25, anything other than the same score. That was unbelievable. But yea, either way, I got what I got and now I don't know what to do.

Go ahead and apply ASAP all new schools. Applying early is the key for you. Do not get disppointed. You seems to be OK.

 

[NontradICUdoc]

The statistics have been showing that it is getting more competitive to get into any medical school in the country, DO or MD. That being said, even the new schools will be hard pressed to accept an applicant with mediocre stats because they want to show that they have a good program with good retention rates and good board passing rates. Along with that, comes the data from the match. What percentage of students match? For that matter, what percentage match in their first choice?

However, medical school admissions are such a crap shoot that anything can happen

You have 2 options.

1) apply now and see what happens.
2) Retake the MCAT.

However, if you decide to retake the MCAT it is very important to not continue to study the way that you did, it did no work for you. I would suggest thinking about the ENTIRE day. Where did you feel you had a problem? Did you run out of time and have to guess on the last group of questions? Were you spending too much time reading the passages? Were you calculating too much in physics? When you take apart the day, you may find out what went wrong.

Then find a different method to study. What did you find not work for you before? Was it the need for a better schedule? Do you need to see a counselor about developing better study skills? Do you need a structured class like Kaplan or Princeton Review? etc.

In the end, you are an adult and the final choice is yours.

Good luck.

 

[blueflower]

Hey guys! I'm really depressed and seriously scared now. I am a senior, have a decent GPA of 3.5 and science gpa is probably around 3.2, not sure. I have about a year an a half of research (doing my Honors thesis this year), am an RA, and volunteered a DO for a year. My LORs should b good.

Getting to the bad point...my MCAT was 21 both times. I just went from a N to a Q on the writing sample this time around with straight 7s. The first time I was shaky (I had a 7 on VR, 6 on PS, and 8 on Bio) but this time I thought I did pretty ok, well not 30 but at least a 25. Guess not 🙁

I am applying regardless, mostly to DO and Carribbean, but I am scared that my MCAT might even be too low for Carribbean. What do you guys think? The other option is to take the MCAT in January again? Ugh...help pls

RoadToMed, you will make it. I have many friends (and when I say many, I mean more than 10) who have gotten into SGU and Ross with below 25 MCATs. Your GPA is on par with them too. You also have a shot with osteopathic schools, but you need to apply broadly and ASAP. Good luck. 🙂

 

[Meerkatology]

your mcat may be low for carribean, but your gpa is high for carribean which helps to make up.

applying this year is a good idea regardless as even if you don't get in you still:
1. get the experience and especially possible interview experiences to better prepare you next year
2. when you apply next year it shows that you are persistent and really want to be a doctor.

don't:
stop your EC's
stop studying for mcat
be discouraged because bad mcats are easy to make up by studying and retaking, a bad gpa is permanent.

 

[iamdo]

with 21, I still feel that you have a shot in D.O schools. So do not lose hope and apply broadly.

 

[surfer4life722]

Hey guys! I'm really depressed and seriously scared now. I am a senior, have a decent GPA of 3.5 and science gpa is probably around 3.2, not sure. I have about a year an a half of research (doing my Honors thesis this year), am an RA, and volunteered a DO for a year. My LORs should b good.

Getting to the bad point...my MCAT was 21 both times. I just went from a N to a Q on the writing sample this time around with straight 7s. The first time I was shaky (I had a 7 on VR, 6 on PS, and 8 on Bio) but this time I thought I did pretty ok, well not 30 but at least a 25. Guess not 🙁

I am applying regardless, mostly to DO and Carribbean, but I am scared that my MCAT might even be too low for Carribbean. What do you guys think? The other option is to take the MCAT in January again? Ugh...help pls

21 is just fine to get into a carib school w/ a 3.2. I got accepted at Ross w/ a 20 and 3.5. W/ a 7,6,8 you should be just fine getting into a D.O. school. Just apply widely and you will find one that likes you. I got accepted w/ a 21 and 3.5-3.6cum, 3.9 major at kcumb, where I am at now. So it is possible...

 

[RoadtoMed]

Thanks guys! 🙂

Definitely am planning to finish and send out all my apps by this week. I'm hoping for the best. Honestly, if I need to I guess I can even take this thing again in January but we'll see

 

[RoadtoMed]

21 is just fine to get into a carib school w/ a 3.2. I got accepted at Ross w/ a 20 and 3.5. W/ a 7,6,8 you should be just fine getting into a D.O. school. Just apply widely and you will find one that likes you. I got accepted w/ a 21 and 3.5-3.6cum, 3.9 major at kcumb, where I am at now. So it is possible...

Are you a resident of Kansas??

 

[surfer4life722]

Are you a resident of Kansas??

nope, i'm from south carolina...so I was super out of state.