Delay the mcat or apply next year? Please advise.

[scaredpremed]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi,

I am registered for the July 13 MCAT, but my last two MCAT practice scores were no where near my goal score (mid 30s). Obviously, I'm freaking out because I spent months studying. I took a year off after undergrad and did some research and volunteering while studying. I was scoring in the 9-10 range in each section separately but when I sit down to take a full-length, all of a sudden each section score goes down by 3 points! I have no idea what's going on. I'm just not focused during the exam. But I'm also not distracted by other things? It's almost like all my strategies just completely disappear and I make the dumbest mistakes. So after an exam, instead of reading the answers, I re-do the section timed and all of a sudden, I can finish with about 10 minutes left over (EVEN FOR VERBAL) and score in the 9-10 range. Obviously this is freaking me out when I am so close to my MCAT. Because of this, I am considering taking an August MCAT because I think I need to do more practice exams and practice passages and save the AAMC ones (I've already used up 3, 4, and 5). But an August MCAT is really late for me because I'm not a super competitive applicant at all (low gpa, decent extracurriculars). So please tell me what I should do. Keep studying and take the July MCAT and see how things go or just take it next year? I still have not completed my primary application, and my committee letter from my undergraduate is still in the works.

I'm sorry this was so long! Many thank you's in advance!

 

[kilpty]

This is from someone who applied "late" last cycle and didn't get in (3.9 cGPA, 3.8 sGPA, 30, good ECs) And is now reapplying.

DON"T APPLY LATE. I took the MCAT end of july last year, and didn't do my AMCAS until first week of august, verified mid September, secondaries October. = 1 interview in march at my state school.
Total fail even with decent stats.

So I guess my advice is to take the July MCAT if you think you can get a 30-32. And try to turn in all the amcas paperwork stuff before august Otherwise just wait, not worth the money to apply late.

 

[Lucky Louie]

Send everything in now. You don't need your MCAT score to get verified. Then take the test. If it's a total bomb, void it and take it again. At least, with your paperwork started, that process is already happening and you can focus on the test. Med schools want to know your score, but AMCAS doesn't care about it.

 

[VictorAlpha]

I say wait. Keep building on everything, you can keep practicing, keep building on all your ECs. Take the MCAT in march or april or really anytime you feel comfortable, which basically means not rushing for this cycle. This will give you time to get the scores back and think about your situation before being "on the clock" with respect to an open application season. I have to echo the above poster who said it is bad to apply late. In my experience, it is really bad. Take a breath, save the money, relax and keep working...it will pay off.

I can't remember if you said you took it already. If you have then you might pick a couple schools that you think you have a good chance at with the underlying realization you will be applying next year. But if you haven't taken it yet, then just wait, get everything right the first time...less stress, less for the ADCOM to question when looking at your app (i mean re-app....late is bad). IMO

I would be more gung-ho about applying but really it would take till mid august to get the scores out. Then figure another 4 weeks before everything gets verified in the school admin offices...starts to add up.

 

[487806]

Send everything in now. You don't need your MCAT score to get verified. Then take the test. If it's a total bomb, void it and take it again. At least, with your paperwork started, that process is already happening and you can focus on the test. Med schools want to know your score, but AMCAS doesn't care about it.

Help me out here. If OP bombs the MCAT in July, voids it and is somehow unable to reserve a spot in September, what's the strategy? Withdraw the AMCAS app entirely?

OP, my advice is to apply next cycle. Sure, you'll receive your score in August and your app won't be late, but it's a better idea to feel confident and relaxed before taking the exam.

This is from someone who applied "late" last cycle and didn't get in (3.9 cGPA, 3.8 sGPA, 30, good ECs) And is now reapplying.

DON"T APPLY LATE. I took the MCAT end of july last year, and didn't do my AMCAS until first week of august, verified mid September, secondaries October. = 1 interview in march at my state school.
Total fail even with decent stats.

So I guess my advice is to take the July MCAT if you think you can get a 30-32. And try to turn in all the amcas paperwork stuff before august Otherwise just wait, not worth the money to apply late.

Yup. A perfect recipe for disaster.

 

[newbie909]

Hi Scaredpremed, I'm in the same situation as you and just rescheduled my 7/13 MCAT for late august. I think it's much more important to be ready for the exam than to rush the app process, even if the late app puts you at a disadvantage. I plan on applying for this cycle for both MD and DO. If I do well on the MCAT, I might stand a chance. If the MCAT score is subpar, then I can always re-take next year and re-app with a better score. Sure, re-apping is financially and emotionally draining, but it's worth it if you can begin your career a year earlier.

 

[487806]

Hi Scaredpremed, I'm in the same situation as you and just rescheduled my 7/13 MCAT for late august. I think it's much more important to be ready for the exam than to rush the app process, even if the late app puts you at a disadvantage. I plan on applying for this cycle for both MD and DO. If I do well on the MCAT, I might stand a chance. If the MCAT score is subpar, then I can always re-take next year and re-app with a better score. Sure, re-apping is financially and emotionally draining, but it's worth it if you can begin your career a year earlier.

I know you're being sarcastic, but if you're not...

Slow down there and carefully read the bolded portions of your post. Reapplication is HIGHLY recommended to be AVOIDED at all costs. What you're doing is an unnecessary, PREVENTABLE gamble. If you take the MCAT in the late August, your app won't be complete until late September.

OP, the choice is up to you. You have the following two options.

1. Take the MCAT whenever you want to and do well. Apply on time next cycle.
2. Postpone the MCAT to August so you can ensure your app is complete in September (late app with a risk of having poor score). You can even take it in July and risk having a bad score. Rush with your app and barely submit it. Be prepared to reapply.

If you're rational, you'll choose option 1.

 

[PreMedRookie]

I would calm down, get some sleep, and take another practice test. As the real thing got closer I started doing worse on my practice tests. On my last practice test (two or three days before the real thing), I scored 5 points lower than I scored on the real thing. If you feel like you know the material but you don't have timing down, you still have plenty of time to work on it.

 

[Solarium90]

Don't go into it planning to re-take the exam. If you are not ready, you are not ready. As others have stressed, do not submit your application late. If you think you are a borderline applicant already, it will not help at all for many rolling admissions institutions to have already filled several spots.

If you are able to be sure you have something constructive to be involved in (job, volunteering, research, internship, fellowship of some sort) for the next year, and can re-tool your exam approach and then apply next cycle with a strong attempt at the MCAT.

In addition, you should have taken a baseline practice test to see if you have made any improvement over the months. You picked mid 30's as a goal, what was your starting score? How did you decide on this goal? If you see no uptick in certain areas (there is a breakdown based on subject/are of material/difficulty/passage type etc) then perhaps you should address your study strategies.

if you have material memorized, perhaps the issue is problem solving.
if you are a good problem solver, perhaps you don't have the material properly memorized or understood.
are you running out of time? maybe your strategies are not efficient, or you take to long to recall info.
Are you estimating in calculations instead of doing exact calculations? (PS)
In VR, have you tried applying strategies in common MCATs textbooks?
etc.

 

[nabilesmail]

This is from someone who applied "late" last cycle and didn't get in (3.9 cGPA, 3.8 sGPA, 30, good ECs) And is now reapplying.

DON"T APPLY LATE. I took the MCAT end of july last year, and didn't do my AMCAS until first week of august, verified mid September, secondaries October. = 1 interview in march at my state school.
Total fail even with decent stats.

So I guess my advice is to take the July MCAT if you think you can get a 30-32. And try to turn in all the amcas paperwork stuff before august Otherwise just wait, not worth the money to apply late.

same- failed even with good stats

 

[Lambda Phage]

send everything in now. You don't need your mcat score to get verified. Then take the test. If it's a total bomb, void it and take it again. At least, with your paperwork started, that process is already happening and you can focus on the test. Med schools want to know your score, but amcas doesn't care about it.

+1

Don't waste a year unless you have to.

 

[487806]

+1

Don't waste a year unless you have to.

Care to clarify your claim?

 

[scaredpremed]

Hi Guys, thank you so much for all the advice! I decided to take the MCAT in January and apply early next year. It doesn't make sense to rush the MCAT and my application just to apply this year.

 

[487806]

Hi Guys, thank you so much for all the advice! I decided to take the MCAT in January and apply early next year. It doesn't make sense to rush the MCAT and my application just to apply this year.

wise move. good luck

 

[Renae]

Send everything in now. You don't need your MCAT score to get verified. Then take the test. If it's a total bomb, void it and take it again. At least, with your paperwork started, that process is already happening and you can focus on the test. Med schools want to know your score, but AMCAS doesn't care about it.

This exactly. Get your primary, transcripts, and LORs in ASAP, even before you take the MCAT. Then hope for the best and take it July 13.

I took the MCAT August 23. I had no idea that timing plays a huge roll in getting in! Even with a 35, I was rejected from all rolling out-of-state schools (no II either!). It seems like you've been studying, and I bet another month won't make too big of a dent. Wishing you all the best!

 

[Renae]

wise move. good luck

Just saw this! Good luck!

 

[PhysioG318]

I was also in a similar situation as you! I was scheduled to take MCAT Aug 9th but so much stuff has been going on that I had no time to study. I also just graduated from college and feeling lost but its better to be prepared for the exam than to rush to take it. I will now start studying for the January 2014 MCAT exam!!

Also Renae, I have been following your progress since you took MCAT! Your story is very motivational for someone who also wants to attend BCM! I hope to see you in a few years!