Does severe sleep deprivation warrant an MCAT retake?

[ExistentialistPhilosopher]

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Hi everyone,

I'd like to know: what do you think are valid conditions for retaking the MCAT? People normally cite low scores, bad testing conditions, lack of adequate MCAT prep. But what about sleep deprivation?

I'm planning to apply in the 2006-2007 cycle, but I took the August 05 MCAT. I got only 3 hours of fitful sleep the night before, due to anxiety over the test. I ingested a ridiculous amount of caffeine to try to compensate, but nonetheless I felt that the lack of sleep affected my cognitive performance. I was thinking much more slowly than I normally do. I found out last weekend that I got a score somewhat (but not significantly) lower than I had been doing on my practice tests. Part of me is considering a retake in April 06 for this very reason, this time with a prescription for a sleeping aid for the week before.

But I should mention that the score I received wasn't bad. It was a reasonable score for getting into medical school, and some people feel that I'd be looking a gift horse in the mouth by retaking, as well as risking a lower score. But with adequate sleep, I believe I could score a couple of points higher to make myself more competitive for the top schools, even though it would once again require lots of studying in the evenings and weekends along with a full-time job. What do you guys think? Is it worth the effort?

 

[jebus]

Take it again! You might as well have taken it hungover, or high or.... My point is your rest will affect your performance. Unless you're disappointed with the 33 you got (I don't know what you got but if you did that well don't take it again.) I would take it again.
Good luck.

 

[AggieJohn]

Hi everyone,

I'd like to know: what do you think are valid conditions for retaking the MCAT? People normally cite low scores, bad testing conditions, lack of adequate MCAT prep. But what about sleep deprivation?

I'm planning to apply in the 2006-2007 cycle, but I took the August 05 MCAT. I got only 3 hours of fitful sleep the night before, due to anxiety over the test. I ingested a ridiculous amount of caffeine to try to compensate, but nonetheless I felt that the lack of sleep affected my cognitive performance. I was thinking much more slowly than I normally do. I found out last weekend that I got a score somewhat (but not significantly) lower than I had been doing on my practice tests. Part of me is considering a retake in April 06 for this very reason, this time with a prescription for a sleeping aid for the week before.

But I should mention that the score I received wasn't bad. It was a reasonable score for getting into medical school, and some people feel that I'd be looking a gift horse in the mouth by retaking, as well as risking a lower score. But with adequate sleep, I believe I could score a couple of points higher to make myself more competitive for the top schools, even though it would once again require lots of studying in the evenings and weekends along with a full-time job. What do you guys think? Is it worth the effort?

I wouldn't call only 3 hours of sleep "severe sleep depression."



I will, however throw my 2 cents in. I sure wish you would have said what you made, because it would have made my reply much easier. But, I would have to assume that most people will say, "Its up to you." And, I agree with them. If your score will get you in and thats what you want, then don't retake it. If your score won't get you into top 10 Med school, and thats what you want, then retake it.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Does anyone ever get a good solid rest the night before the MCAT?? I think just about every single one of us has test anxiety the night before a test as important and challenging as the MCAT. I took it 3x and I never got a full nights sleep any of those times. The first time I didn't sleep a wink. I don't think it's something you can get away from. I tackled the problem by making sure that I got at least 8hrs of sleep the starting week before the MCAT.

You could try the sleeping aid route, but I have heard that they can make you groggy. I have no first-hand experience with sleeping aids though. It would be a good idea to try the sleeping aid beforehand because you never know how your body might react to it and you definately don't want any surprises MCAT day.

If you got a decent score and the rest of your application is solid, then I'd say forget about rewriting. If you're making the cutoffs and don't think you'd improve by more than 3 or 4 points, why risk getting a lower score? Just my opinion.

 

[ExistentialistPhilosopher]

I wouldn't call only 3 hours of sleep "severe sleep depression."



I will, however throw my 2 cents in. I sure wish you would have said what you made, because it would have made my reply much easier. But, I would have to assume that most people will say, "Its up to you." And, I agree with them. If your score will get you in and thats what you want, then don't retake it. If your score won't get you into top 10 Med school, and thats what you want, then retake it.

1. 
   
   Perhaps you're right, "severe" is too harsh a word. But I'm the kind of person that needs 8-9 hours of sleep every night to function at all. And it was 3 hours of very poor quality sleep. I'm not sure it even counts as "sleep." And there are countless studies clearly demonstrating the cognitive effects of losing even several hours or sleep or gaining several hours of sleep in a single night.
   
   It seems like my actual score matters in people's responses to this question. So I'm guessing that regardless of whether I can do better w/more sleep on a retake, if I did "good enough" (above a 33) the first time around, it's not worth the effort?
   
   I got a 34Q. I'm not complaining about it at all, believe me. I'm grateful for any solid score, but it's below what I was averaging on the AAMC practice tests by a couple of points. At this point, even though it's less than average for the top schools, it seems too high to merit a retake, and I probably won't get more than a 2-pt increase anyway. I'm thinking it's not worth it, and I'll cut my losses and move on.

 

[MercyKillerDoc]

I probably wouldnt have bothered to take the test if I had not gotten at least a decent amount of sleep. No point to wasting my time.

 

[organichemistry]

unless your GPA is very low, i can't see any reason to retake it if you got a 34. maybe if you had you heart set on stanford or harvard, but really... is taking the mcat twice something you really want to do?

 

[astrife]

I'm a person that is very sensitive to lack of sleep. When I was studying for the ACT and taking a bunch of practice tests, on days that I didn't sleep well my scores were significantly lower than on days I had rested fully. The mind slows down and cannot process at the speed that it usually can without adequate rest.

Before I took my final ACT which I got a 33 on I planned a week in ahead to get my sleep on schedule. I took each night at about 8pm 3 benadryl pills to knock me out for everyday leading up to the exam.

My speed increased, my comprehension increased... and I just all around had a better test than all the practice tests I had taken...

My score jumped 3 points from my practice tests, and 5 points from my last real ACT.

So to me sleep is everything.... I think I'm going to go do it right now...

 

[Noeljan]

haha im just the opposite,
when I cant fall asleep I am worried I will do aweful and I feel out of my head but thats when I usually end up doing really really well for some reason. Maybe Im just odd. haha

 

[Scewby Doo 1973]

Hi everyone,

I'd like to know: what do you think are valid conditions for retaking the MCAT? People normally cite low scores, bad testing conditions, lack of adequate MCAT prep. But what about sleep deprivation?

I'm planning to apply in the 2006-2007 cycle, but I took the August 05 MCAT. I got only 3 hours of fitful sleep the night before, due to anxiety over the test. I ingested a ridiculous amount of caffeine to try to compensate, but nonetheless I felt that the lack of sleep affected my cognitive performance. I was thinking much more slowly than I normally do. I found out last weekend that I got a score somewhat (but not significantly) lower than I had been doing on my practice tests. Part of me is considering a retake in April 06 for this very reason, this time with a prescription for a sleeping aid for the week before.

But I should mention that the score I received wasn't bad. It was a reasonable score for getting into medical school, and some people feel that I'd be looking a gift horse in the mouth by retaking, as well as risking a lower score. But with adequate sleep, I believe I could score a couple of points higher to make myself more competitive for the top schools, even though it would once again require lots of studying in the evenings and weekends along with a full-time job. What do you guys think? Is it worth the effort?

im in a similar pickle...i took the test only a short time after i underwent major surgery. i scored decently but not great....probably, i'll just stick with these scores, and apply.