Feeling down need advice!

[tatabox80]

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Hey there,
Hello everyone. Just recently saw my MCAT scores. Not too good. 22 Q 7V 6PS 9BS. My appendix also just ruptured and I am in the process of recovering from my surgery. I plan on taking the MCAT again in August, however there is only about 7 weeks until the MCAT. Is this enough time to signifcantly improve my score? I've been feeling pretty down lately and some enlightening words would be great. Thanks!

 

[Alli Cat]

Don't worry Tata! You'll retake it and do great, if you spend your recovery time in bed with your review books. It's not like daytime TV is that great anyway 😳 )

And now you have a funny story to tell: "I was so surprised when I saw my MCAT scores that my appendix burst!" <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />

Seriously, though, you might get to talk about your illness during interviews. Not too many people our age have had surgery. You have the advantage of having been a surgical patient.

Hope you feel OK! Keep taking that Vicodin.

~Alison

 

[ellerose]

Since you've already studied some, it's time now to practice, practice, practice. Churn out those practice verbal passages until you can finish each passage with time to spare. You may need to brush up on your PS, but same thing, get your down your timing and up your confidence level. I hope you're recovering well from surgery. Good luck!!! 🙂

 

[oldman]

yeah, you have plenty of time in 7 weeks to work hard. just do it non-stop hard core throat style.

i crammed for the mcats for about 2 weeks prior to the aug 2000, i did decent for the smount of time i spent on it.

 

[imtiaz]

<a href="http://forums.studentdoctor.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=000183" target="_blank">take a look at this thread</a> i know exactly how you feel! 🙂

 

[scootad.]

I say no to retaking the MCAT for August. Give yourself some time to recover from the surgery.
I needed 2.5 months to prepare for the MCAT 3 summers ago, 7 weeks would not have been enough especially if I was recovering from surgery. I say retake in April.

 

[Trek]

Damn i remember when my appendix ruptured. In a swimming pool no less. Damn near drowned. LUCKILY it wasn't close to the MCAT :wink: You'll be fine. Take the other posters' advice and STUDY until your eyeballs fall out. G'luck! --Trek

 

[Pneumo]

Use the experience to your advantage. I did. On January 2nd 2002 I had an operation to remove part of my left lung. I spent 3 days in the intensive care unit post surgery. I spent two weeks at home recovering, missing the first week of the semester. I did not even think about studying for the MCAT until the end of January. When I did finally begin studying, sometimes late into the evening on Fridays and Saturdays, I just remembered things could be worse...I could be back in the operating room with a ventilator breathing for me.

 

[tatabox80]

Thanks you guys for the advice! Being in pain and having a lame MCAT score can really get a person down!

 

[PrincessCKNY]

I agree with scootad. Your health is your first priority at this point. You need to ensure that your health is well enough so can give 100% when studying for the MCAT, and 7 weeks may not allow you to do both. I have had friends who thought that they could take the MCAT w/ everything ranging from pink-eye to Bell's Palsy. It just doesn't work. I would strongly suggest waiting until April.

 

[shekspere]

hang in there!!!

 

[reesie0726]

Now it depends. Was the 22 just an awful fluke? Or when you took practice tests is that how u performed? I personally think that recovering from surgery and trying to prep for the mcat in august might not be enough time if you have to build from a 22. Give yourself time to heal and recover. Then start studying. If your practice test scores are still low as you near august, dont take it again then. wait til april.

 

[tatabox80]

Now it depends. Was the 22 just an awful fluke? Or when you took practice tests is that how u performed? I personally think that recovering from surgery and trying to prep for the mcat in august might not be enough time if you have to build from a 22. Give yourself time to heal and recover. Then start studying. If your practice test scores are still low as you near august, dont take it again then. wait til april.

OK, this is probably the best advice I've ever gotten, though all is good. I took Kaplan last spring, always struggled with PS, where I got a 6. I always did well in VR, which surprised me when I got a 7. I also did well in BS, got a 9 in april. Now, in regards to AMCAS if I do manage to pull decent scores on practice tests, will it be a disadvantage if I submit my amcas in early august or late july?

 

[jonquille]

•••quote:••• Now, in regards to AMCAS if I do manage to pull decent scores on practice tests, will it be a disadvantage if I submit my amcas in early august or late july?[/QB]••••Are you talk about applying this summer? That seems like a lot also on top of recovering and studying for the MCAT. Remember to be kind to yourself! The situation you're in IS frustrating and must be discouraging. But sometimes waiting is the best thing you can do. If you are in fact hoping to recover, do your AMCAS, and study for the MCAT all in the next 6-7 weeks, you probably won't be able to perform as well on each of these tasks as if you devoted focused, individualized time to them (including getting better). Remember -- if you are applying to med school, you want to put forth the BEST of whatever you have, especially if you might end up with a score less then 30 on the MCAT. If you think you might not be able to give the MCAT and AMCAS your all, I would advocate waiting. (Which I would advocate anyway so that you can heal!!!) Maybe once you make a final decision about your plan, you'll feel less discouraged? Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!