Desperate, need help please!

[help me]

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Hello everyone,

I am just kind of in a bind right now and would certainly appreciate any help/advice/guidance. Allow me to explain my circumstance... I am a May 2010 graduate from an IL University. I have taken the MCAT 3 times with my highest score being a 23. I graduated undergrad in 3 years, was Vice President of AMSA (amongst other clubs), and have a science gpa of 3.7 and an overall gpa of 3.8. I've shadowed at least 5 Doctors in various hospitals (can't remember exactly off the top of my head), and I have volunteered at multiple hospitals as well.

I've applied to med schools twice before, but I have only gotten one interview and that was in 2009 (I was a sophomore). I applied for the 2011-2012 cycle but have been denied for the most part without a single interview. I am aiming for applying for this upcoming cycle again. I am wondering what med schools may think of me for applying for what will be either the 2nd or 3rd time already. I have not improved my MCAT scores really and have been consistently in the low 20's each time. I feel as though if I take the MCAT again, I would need to improve my high score by at least 7 points. How realistic is this? Do I need to improve my score by THAT much?

The only thing that I bring different to this application cycle is the fact that I went overseas for about 4 months working an office job (family business) and I shadowed a doctor and went on medical missions as well. What are my chances of getting at least an interview this time with this added bit of experience? I'm looking more towards IL med schools. I'm so lost and would appreciate any help. Please forgive me for the rather desperate sounding tone. I'm a little stressed and lost right now :S.

 

[leggo]

Hi,

I'm sorry, but there is no way you can get a MD acceptance with a 23. The average is a 32, so yours is obv a far cry from it. Your GPA is great, but the MCAT is really gonna hurt your chances. The three repeats dont look great either. If you cant get near a 32, then you have to think about DO, which look for around a 27.

 

[kautionwirez]

Hello everyone,

I am just kind of in a bind right now and would certainly appreciate any help/advice/guidance. Allow me to explain my circumstance... I am a May 2010 graduate from an IL University. I have taken the MCAT 3 times with my highest score being a 23. I graduated undergrad in 3 years, was Vice President of AMSA (amongst other clubs), and have a science gpa of 3.7 and an overall gpa of 3.8. I've shadowed at least 5 Doctors in various hospitals (can't remember exactly off the top of my head), and I have volunteered at multiple hospitals as well.

I've applied to med schools twice before, but I have only gotten one interview and that was in 2009 (I was a sophomore). I applied for the 2011-2012 cycle but have been denied for the most part without a single interview. I am aiming for applying for this upcoming cycle again. I am wondering what med schools may think of me for applying for what will be either the 2nd or 3rd time already. I have not improved my MCAT scores really and have been consistently in the low 20's each time. I feel as though if I take the MCAT again, I would need to improve my high score by at least 7 points. How realistic is this? Do I need to improve my score by THAT much?

The only thing that I bring different to this application cycle is the fact that I went overseas for about 4 months working an office job (family business) and I shadowed a doctor and went on medical missions as well. What are my chances of getting at least an interview this time with this added bit of experience? I'm looking more towards IL med schools. I'm so lost and would appreciate any help. Please forgive me for the rather desperate sounding tone. I'm a little stressed and lost right now :S.

how did you study for the mcat? you should apply next year if you aren't getting 30+ and planning to take it in june. your GPA/ECs are fine.

 

[help me]

First of all, thanks so much for the help/advice. Should I just apply to DO schools then? Would it be a waste to apply to MD schools with such low MCAT scores? I've studied for the MCAT by studying progressively, I've also tried studying in a sort of "cram" style. I was also in school at the time. I used exam crackers and kaplan. I've changed up my methods now. Now I study with exam crackers AND Princeton review books. I also use khan academy videos to help with conceptual stuff. I also just recently tried these osmosis audio tracks to help as well. I plan on taking the MCAT in mid August (12th or 18th). I study 5-6 hours a day, every day, and I really plan on loading up on practice tests. I plan on doing this up until the test date. Any tips or anything I should add to my study method?

 

[kautionwirez]

First of all, thanks so much for the help/advice. Should I just apply to DO schools then? Would it be a waste to apply to MD schools with such low MCAT scores? I've studied for the MCAT by studying progressively, I've also tried studying in a sort of "cram" style. I was also in school at the time. I used exam crackers and kaplan. I've changed up my methods now. Now I study with exam crackers AND Princeton review books. I also use khan academy videos to help with conceptual stuff. I also just recently tried these osmosis audio tracks to help as well. I plan on taking the MCAT in mid August (12th or 18th). I study 5-6 hours a day, every day, and I really plan on loading up on practice tests. I plan on doing this up until the test date. Any tips or anything I should add to my study method?

I think your stats for MCAT are still low, however you have a chance in DO schools.

Look at the MCAT section and use SDNed 3month study guide. TBR books

However, you could wait a year (travel!!!), and do well on your mcat this summer (30+) and have a chance to go to an MD/DO program you prefer. But that is a decision you have to make.

 

[PressPforPi]

First of all, thanks so much for the help/advice. Should I just apply to DO schools then? Would it be a waste to apply to MD schools with such low MCAT scores? I've studied for the MCAT by studying progressively, I've also tried studying in a sort of "cram" style. I was also in school at the time. I used exam crackers and kaplan. I've changed up my methods now. Now I study with exam crackers AND Princeton review books. I also use khan academy videos to help with conceptual stuff. I also just recently tried these osmosis audio tracks to help as well. I plan on taking the MCAT in mid August (12th or 18th). I study 5-6 hours a day, every day, and I really plan on loading up on practice tests. I plan on doing this up until the test date. Any tips or anything I should add to my study method?

Unless your home state schools have low 10th percentile MCAT scores, like if you were a Georgia resident, then an MD acceptance is highly unlikely. With a 23, your best bet is to apply DO even though their average is around a 27. However, if your AACOMAS GPA is the same or higher than your AMCAS GPA, and if your extracurricular activities are up to par, I think you would at least get some interviews at DO schools.

Also, you could try SN2ed's study schedule for the MCAT if you haven't tried that approach already. Good luck!

 

[leggo]

Yea, i wouldnt bother with MD, unless you can get that score up. You may still want to take the MCAT in August though. Its a bit late, but you may need to get the MCAT up for DO. You should def get some interviews though. You would need around a 27.

 

[help me]

Thanks so much for your help everyone. I will continue coming back to this wonderful site for any future advice/guidance. It's always great to see an online community that's so nice and genuinely helpful. Again, thanks so much!!!

 

[help me]

Hello everyone, I just wanted to say that since the original posting of this thread, I have been accepted to 3 different medical schools!!! WesternU (northwest), VCOM, and KCOM have all granted me acceptances to their incoming class!!! I have a very important decision to make regarding which school to attend, but I do want to take the time to thank everyone who has been so kind to give me advice during my time of need.

I was stressed and scared like no other, and the SDN community went out of there way to relieve my stresses and give me some truly sound advice! So once again, I want to thank everyone for their input and I really could not have gone as far as I have without the help and guidance of this amazing community!!!

 

[ToldYouSo]

Hello everyone, I just wanted to say that since the original posting of this thread, I have been accepted to 3 different medical schools!!! WesternU (northwest), VCOM, and KCOM have all granted me acceptances to their incoming class!!! I have a very important decision to make regarding which school to attend, but I do want to take the time to thank everyone who has been so kind to give me advice during my time of need.

I was stressed and scared like no other, and the SDN community went out of there way to relieve my stresses and give me some truly sound advice! So once again, I want to thank everyone for their input and I really could not have gone as far as I have without the help and guidance of this amazing community!!!

That's great to hear, congrats!!

 

[varsityblue]

National AMSA or local AMSA? There's a big difference.