I took my MCAT on 8/16/13, having taken the latter half of a Kaplan course (I was studying abroad for the first half, now regretting it). Anyways, I consistently made 33s and 34s on practice exams, which was what I was aiming for. I made a 28 on the real thing. I'm a senior at UNC Chapel Hill and was planning on applying June of next year (the next application cycle). With this score I don't know about that anymore. I want to take the Kaplan course again (this time, fully) and take the MCAT in August or September of next year. If I do decide to apply next June, I can have schools wait to look at my new score before considering my application, right? Is this a good idea considering acceptances are on a rolling basis? Would it be a better idea to wait until the cycle after that (i.e. applying June 2015)? My plans have been completely thwarted because of this MCAT score, so I'm lost as what to do next. Ideally, I would like to attend UNC's SOM. (I'm a North Carolina Resident.) I'm also set on going for a M.D. Thanks!
Disappointing MCAT, next steps
- Thread starter NeeleshD
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Can you not start taking the course in say January and plan for an April or May re-take? That way you could be early in the cycle...if you take the MCAT in August or September you won't be complete with schools (aka they won't look at your app) until September or October...you have 9 months to plan ahead and be early in the cycle. Be ready to be complete in June/July so you can start getting IIs in August...trust me that it makes the stress wayyyy less...if I was sitting in a position of just getting complete now I'd probably be freaking out...instead I am in the midst of interviews
Think about it.
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You're applying next cycle, you should have enough time to take the MCAT again in Jan-April of 2014 if you start studying now and balance between your school work and MCAT studying.
Taking in Aug or Sept is a bit late for applications.
You want to submit, be verified and be completed as early as possible since the process takes a long time.
Good luck.
I've tried taking the Kaplan course during the Spring and it was way too difficult balancing school work with MCAT preparation. I also don't want to risk getting another bad score, so I figured if I dedicated my summer to studying there is no way I could do badly. Perhaps applying in 2015 is the way to go, then? Also, thanks to both of you for your answers.
Assuming you graduate early May - Take mid July so that gives you 8 weeks to study. You have a MCAT score (28) to apply early in June. By the time they get your secondary application, your repeat MCAT score will be available.
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I was in your situation. Took the MCAT on 9/6/12 and got a 28. Went with school and prep at the same time and it worked out. Ended up with a 34 on the March re-take. Now use Berkeley Review self study instead of a commercial prep company. Make sure to start Sn2's schedule early and leave like a month worth of buffer space (so do the 4 month schedule on a 5 month time period). Also, any time you have to read for a class, do it and read actively and try to develop those skills. You can do it. You can wait as long as Mid-May before it'd start affecting your primary submission date.
