Devastated

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Sabrina_K

Sabrina_K

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Hi everyone,

I just joined SDN because I need help. I'm really devastated. I already submitted my application for next cycle to about 30 schools and I'm currently complete at most of them. My MCAT score came 16 (6 P.S 4 V.R 6 B.S)
This is so shocking to me, I studied for this exam for 5 consecutive months for 6 hours every day except Sunday. HOWCOME? I was scoring 26-31 on all my practice exams I'm horrified. I used the Berkeley Review, Examkracters, The princeton Hyperlearning, EK 101 for verbal, Kaplan, and about 40 practice exams. What happened ?
What do I do now? and how did that happen? I don't want to take the new MCAT, do I reschedule to retake in November? but most schools only accept the September MCAT, I'm at my lowest point of life, I'm so confused, please don't criticize or judge me I'm already feeling too down I can't take any criticism.

I would appreciate your advice thank you.
 
I think the only option would be the new exam. Maybe a fluke, but you're probably going to need more than 1 month to study for the MCAT. What did you score on the AAMC practice tests?
 
Kochanie said:
I think the only option would be the new exam. Maybe a fluke, but you're probably going to need more than 1 month to study for the MCAT. What did you score on the AAMC practice tests?
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My scores were between 22-28 on the AAMCs. SO should I withdraw my application or just wait to be rejected by all schools? I'm so mad, do I have a chance to get in with a 16? The rest of my application is solid, I have a master degree one publication and strong ECs.
 
Stannis Baratheon said:
Do you mean this cycle? Were you planning on matriculating 2015?
Click to expand...
Seems like it from OP's post.

OP I wouldn't suggest taking it in November. Clearly something is wrong that happened on test day. What were your individual scores on the sections? What were your individual scores on practice tests? Did you take any subject tests (ie Newtonian mechanics, Optics, etc) to see if you were particularly weak in any specific areas?

I mean how did you feel about your test the day of? Not that this is a perfect predictor, but if you felt insanely good about the test, it could theoretically be an innacurate score I suppose, but very unlikely.

More likely is something about the test day screwed you up big time (time? testing location? etc) and next time you will be better prepared, but I think you need to take some time off from studying for 6 months straight and take the MCAT in January. That will still be the current 2014 version of the test and you can apply next cycle. I don't see you getting into any US MD school with a 16.
 
Stannis Baratheon said:
Do you mean this cycle? Were you planning on matriculating 2015?
Click to expand...
Sorry I meant this cycle, yes I was hoping to matriculate in 2015. I submitted my app in July and was complete last month when the stupid MCAT kicked in.
 
The most weight is placed on GPA and MCAT. According to AAMC data ( https://www.aamc.org/data/facts/app...mcat-gpa-grid-by-selected-race-ethnicity.html ) there were 3 white students and 11 minority students who got in last year with an MCAT of 17 and lower.

Im going to go out on a limb and say that they probably jumped off the page. Nothing you are saying sounds that spectacular. You have very good "intangibles" (EC/Publications) and I doubt that will cut it given the data. You need amazing. It doesnt look good.
 
Your best bet would be to take the new MCAT and apply next cycle. There might be less applicants next cycle due to the uncertainty surrounding the new exam, so it might be in your favor to take an extra year.
 
Hi OP, first of all, I can't even begin to imagine what you might be going through with such an unexpected score, but I just want to say that this is NOT the end of the world, and one test is not the measure of your self worth/what you are capable of achieving. You know that you are an intelligent/hardworking/kind person, so don't forget that through this!

Are you bad test taker in general, due to test taking anxiety? Or was this a fluke completely out of left field? In any case, I don't think your application will be considered this cycle with a 16, so retaking the new MCAT is something you should definitely mentally prepare to do, if you would like to reapply next year.
 
I suggest retaking it and looking to DO schools
 
ndafife said:
The most weight is placed on GPA and MCAT. According to AAMC data ( https://www.aamc.org/data/facts/app...mcat-gpa-grid-by-selected-race-ethnicity.html ) there were 3 white students and 11 minority students who got in last year with an MCAT of 17 and lower.

Im going to go out on a limb and say that they probably jumped off the page. Nothing you are saying sounds that spectacular. You have very good "intangibles" (EC/Publications) and I doubt that will cut it given the data. You need amazing. It doesnt look good.
Click to expand...


I'll tell you what jumped off the page. $$$$$
 
Since English is my second language maybe that is the problem I don't know. I thought the Verbal and Biological Science sections were OK. I thought I would get at least a 26. I applied to both MD and DO. Do you know if being beautiful helps for schools that require pictures? or is everything so rigid and a 16 is totally unacceptable under all conditions ? my GPA is 3.8, I'm so desperate, I really want to get in this cycle, what else can I do?
 
I have a friend who was in a similar situation. It blows my mind how she ended up with an 18 on the MCAT after months of preparation. She had an exceptional GPA with a difficult major at a highly regarded institution. She also had solid ECs.

First of all, calm down, it's not over. You likely succumbed to the pressure of the MCAT. In my opinion, MCAT testing is like a sport and even great athletes have terrible days.

My friend did not withdraw her applications, but conceited to the fact that she will most likely be rejected by all of her schools. To be straightforward, your current score and the prospect of re-taking your MCAT this late takes away your chances this cycle, but you should consider re-taking them before the new MCAT comes next year.

This may be a killing blow for this cycle, but you can turn it into a blip in the long run. I would take a month off (there is a such a thing as over-studying and burning out for the MCAT, which I learned the hard way), start planning for a gap year, and find a MCAT tutor and retake it some time in December or January. If cost is an issue, ask for advice about where to apply and what aid options there are available to you.

What is a couple of a gap years to a lifetime of learning and service?

Hang in there.
 
Sabrina_K said:
Since English is my second language maybe that is the problem I don't know. I thought the Verbal and Biological Science sections were OK. I thought I would get at least a 26. I applied to both MD and DO. Do you know if being beautiful helps for schools that require pictures? or is everything so rigid and a 16 is totally unacceptable under all conditions ? my GPA is 3.8, I'm so desperate, I really want to get in this cycle, what else can I do?
Click to expand...

Being pretty doesn't help. Pictures are for identification.
 
Iceandmedicine said:
Hi OP, first of all, I can't even begin to imagine what you might be going through with such an unexpected score, but I just want to say that this is NOT the end of the world, and one test is not the measure of your self worth/what you are capable of achieving. You know that you are an intelligent/hardworking/kind person, so don't forget that through this!

Are you bad test taker in general, due to test taking anxiety? Or was this a fluke completely out of left field? In any case, I don't think your application will be considered this cycle with a 16, so retaking the new MCAT is something you should definitely mentally prepare to do, if you would like to reapply next year.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your nice reply, i don't think I'm a bad test taker, I was definitely nervous but I didn't think it was hard, I will definitely study harder and try to retake in November or January. I know verbal was my weakest, I always got a 5, 6 or 7 in all my practice exams on the verbal, but i kept practicing but was never able to pull off an 8. I think it s the language.
 
Sabrina_K said:
Since English is my second language maybe that is the problem I don't know. I thought the Verbal and Biological Science sections were OK. I thought I would get at least a 26. I applied to both MD and DO. Do you know if being beautiful helps for schools that require pictures? or is everything so rigid and a 16 is totally unacceptable under all conditions ? my GPA is 3.8, I'm so desperate, I really want to get in this cycle, what else can I do?
Click to expand...

I'm sorry to say this, but to echo what others have said, you won't have success this cycle and you should just start to prepare for the next cycle. I would however try to take the test before the new MCAT comes.
 
IL Pre Med said:
Definite troll thread

I'll give this an 8/10 troll score because until that comment I thought it was a real post, well done OP
Click to expand...
Why? many of my attractive female friends got in with low scores, definitely not a 16, but 22-23, if it is not because they are so beautiful what else? Many physicians nowadays are very attractive, any reason why? If you had a company and had to choose between 2 applicants, one was really competent and not so good looking, but the other was moderately competent and very good looking, which one would you choose ? obviously everyone would choose the more good looking, everyone likes to be attracted, there was a study that found that people tend to trust more the attractive vs the non attractive. Obviously like I said, this can only help once I land an interview.
 
Sabrina_K said:
Why? many of my attractive female friends got in with low scores, definitely not a 16, but 22-23, if it is not because they are so beautiful what else? Many physicians nowadays are very attractive, any reason why? If you had a company and had to choose between 2 applicants, one was really competent and not so good looking, but the other was moderately competent and very good looking, which one would you choose ? obviously everyone would choose the more good looking, everyone likes to be attracted, there was a study that found that people tend to trust more the attractive vs the non attractive. Obviously like I said, this can only help once I land an interview.
Click to expand...
150% troll thread now. Yes, medical schools choose people who are less competent to be doctors because they are attractive.... Does that even make sense to you?

I wonder how many LizzyM points you add for being attractive?
 
I'm shocked by how dumb you guys are for feeding a troll


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Kochanie said:
150% troll thread now. Yes, medical schools choose people who are less competent to be doctors because they are attractive.... Does that even make sense to you?

I wonder how many LizzyM points you add for being attractive?
Click to expand...
NO you don't get me, you have to have some underlying competence which can be seen in grades right? I have a 3.8. I could have just had a bad day during the test, one single test cannot define the amount of knowledge I have accumulated over the years. But maybe an adcom could see the potential in me because I'm attractive and undermine the MCAT score which cannot really speak for all the knowledge and competence I possess right?
 
Sabrina_K said:
NO you don't get me, you have to have some underlying competence which can be seen in grades right? I have a 3.8. I could have just had a bad day during the test, one single test cannot define the amount of knowledge I have accumulated over the years. But maybe an adcom could see the potential in me because I'm attractive and undermine the MCAT score which cannot really speak for all the knowledge and competence I possess right?
Click to expand...
Go for it.👍👍👍👍👍👍
 
Sabrina_K said:
NO you don't get me, you have to have some underlying competence which can be seen in grades right? I have a 3.8. I could have just had a bad day during the test, one single test cannot define the amount of knowledge I have accumulated over the years. But maybe an adcom could see the potential in me because I'm attractive and undermine the MCAT score which cannot really speak for all the knowledge and competence I possess right?
Click to expand...

Lol. Sorry girl. There are attractive pre-meds with high mcat scores too. I could get a 4.0 at joe state too. I bid you good day ma'am


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Do you have test taking anxiety? If so, that's fixable.

Strongly suggest waiting until next year and re-taking the MCAT. You need to identify what went wrong. Also suggest withdrawing all apps. Things will be harder as a reapplicant.

I already submitted my application for next cycle to about 30 schools and I'm currently complete at most of them. My MCAT score came 16 (6 P.S 4 V.R 6 B.S)
This is so shocking to me, I studied for this exam for 5 consecutive months for 6 hours every day except Sunday. HOWCOME? I was scoring 26-31 on all my practice exams I'm horrified. I used the Berkeley Review, Examkracters, The princeton Hyperlearning, EK 101 for verbal, Kaplan, and about 40 practice exams. What happened ?
What do I do now? and how did that happen? I don't want to take the new MCAT, do I reschedule to retake in November? but most schools only accept the September MCAT,

Yes, a 16 is lethal for any medical school in the US. The ESL issue explains a lot. Under no circumstances should you retake the MCAT until your VR deficit is fixed.

Since English is my second language maybe that is the problem I don't know. I thought the Verbal and Biological Science sections were OK. I thought I would get at least a 26. I applied to both MD and DO. Do you know if being beautiful helps for schools that require pictures? or is everything so rigid and a 16 is totally unacceptable under all conditions ? my GPA is 3.8, I'm so desperate, I really want to get in this cycle, what else can I do?
 
Now you guys are being mean to me, I just wanted advice, I'm just a desperate depressed pre-med thinking about all the possibilities, stop being mean to me.
 
Goro said:
Do you have test taking anxiety? If so, that's fixable.

Strongly suggest waiting until next year and re-taking the MCAT. You need to identify what went wrong. Also suggest withdrawing all apps. Things will be harder as a reapplicant.

I already submitted my application for next cycle to about 30 schools and I'm currently complete at most of them. My MCAT score came 16 (6 P.S 4 V.R 6 B.S)
This is so shocking to me, I studied for this exam for 5 consecutive months for 6 hours every day except Sunday. HOWCOME? I was scoring 26-31 on all my practice exams I'm horrified. I used the Berkeley Review, Examkracters, The princeton Hyperlearning, EK 101 for verbal, Kaplan, and about 40 practice exams. What happened ?
What do I do now? and how did that happen? I don't want to take the new MCAT, do I reschedule to retake in November? but most schools only accept the September MCAT,

Yes, a 16 is lethal for any medical school in the US. The ESL issue explains a lot. Under no circumstances should you retake the MCAT until your VR deficit is fixed.

Since English is my second language maybe that is the problem I don't know. I thought the Verbal and Biological Science sections were OK. I thought I would get at least a 26. I applied to both MD and DO. Do you know if being beautiful helps for schools that require pictures? or is everything so rigid and a 16 is totally unacceptable under all conditions ? my GPA is 3.8, I'm so desperate, I really want to get in this cycle, what else can I do?
Click to expand...
Really? you think I should withdraw???
 
Do you really think you can re-take the November exam and do well enough to show that the first exam was a fluke? I'm not a fan of magical thinking, and thus I don't think what was broken will be fixed in a month, especially for someone who is ESL.

Now, the DO cycle is longer, so a November retake, with a nice high 20s/low 30s score will do you well, even at schools that average scores. For MD schools, we're really late in the cycle, and so I can't recommend that route at this point in time.

Sabrina_K said:
Really? you think I should withdraw???
Click to expand...
 
Sabrina_K said:
NO you don't get me, you have to have some underlying competence which can be seen in grades right? I have a 3.8. I could have just had a bad day during the test, one single test cannot define the amount of knowledge I have accumulated over the years. But maybe an adcom could see the potential in me because I'm attractive and undermine the MCAT score which cannot really speak for all the knowledge and competence I possess right?
Click to expand...
lol yes, adcoms will look past your mcat score and focus on your beauty instead
 
IL Pre Med said:
Sounds like you have all the required attributes for escort service. Should be a lucrative business opportunity considering how hot you are.
Click to expand...
Why are you so mean to me? I'm so sensitive I'm going to cry.
 
Not even the newest most low-tier MD or DO school in the US will accept you with that score. You will have to retake and then apply next cycle.

You may have a chance with pod schools if you apply to all of them now.
 
Goro said:
Do you really think you can re-take the November exam and do well enough to show that the first exam was a fluke? I'm not a fan of magical thinking, and thus I don't think what was broken will be fixed in a month, especially for someone who is ESL.

Now, the DO cycle is longer, so a November retake, with a nice high 20s/low 30s score will do you well, even at schools that average scores. For MD schools, we're really late in the cycle, and so I can't recommend that route at this point in time.
Click to expand...
Ok thank you for the advice, I will try to find a tutor this month and retake, the V.R is my weakest though, I haven't been able to pull an 8 in all my practice tests, i have taken so many of them, I keep getting a 5, 6 or 7, any idea what im doing wrong?
 
Sabrina_K said:
Ok thank you for the advice, I will try to find a tutor this month and retake, the V.R is my weakest though, I haven't been able to pull an 8 in all my practice tests, i have taken so many of them, I keep getting a 5, 6 or 7, any idea what im doing wrong?
Click to expand...
If you really are serious, check out the MCAT forums for VR advice.
 
Kochanie said:
You can't be sensitive during this process.
Click to expand...
But I'm just a sensitive person it's not my fault I cry a lot, I have been crying for days since I got My score.
 
SkipJunior said:
Not even the newest most low-tier MD or DO school in the US will accept you with that score. You will have to retake and then apply next cycle.

You may have a chance with pod schools if you apply to all of them now.
Click to expand...
Sorry what is a pod school?
 
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