Friendly advice PLEASE :)

[scienceloverr]

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Hello all, I am in need of some advice. I am a bio major that just finished college with a 3.71 gpa, but unfortunately a 22P mcat. Somehow I just cannot seem to do well on the verbal section . This also is the second time I took it, and I barely scored higher. I do however have great volunteer experiences including alternative spring breaks, President of a club, clinical research, and many others. Also, starting this summer I am a Postbac IRTA for NIH for a year in Bethesda, MD. Therefore, focusing solely on verbal and re-taking the mcat would be difficult, but is a possibility.

I am overall quite happy with my application, minus the horrid mcat score. I would be happy to only apply DO because I love the osteopathic philosophy, however there are still a couple in state MD schools that I would like to apply to. I am wondering if you guys think that in state MD schools are out of the question, and also if my mcat is hurting my chances for DO as well. Thanks so much!

 

[leggo]

Hi

Your GPA is fine, but your MCAT score is nowhere near what MD schools look for. You should be alright for DO schools I think, but they really look for MCATS of 24 or higher I believe. So I dont think MD schools are a great chance. If you want MD, you need to take it again.

 

[scienceloverr]

Thanks leggo. That's true, I can't imagine MD taking a 22 (besides Carribean). I'm hoping that I can still be competitive for DO. I have a meeting with an advisor later this month for the one I want to go to most so we will see. What do you think about re-taking at the end of July or early August? Too late or okay? Thanks!

 

[PressPforPi]

Hello all, I am in need of some advice. I am a bio major that just finished college with a 3.71 gpa, but unfortunately a 22P mcat. Somehow I just cannot seem to do well on the verbal section . This also is the second time I took it, and I barely scored higher. I do however have great volunteer experiences including alternative spring breaks, President of a club, clinical research, and many others. Also, starting this summer I am a Postbac IRTA for NIH for a year in Bethesda, MD. Therefore, focusing solely on verbal and re-taking the mcat would be difficult, but is a possibility.

I am overall quite happy with my application, minus the horrid mcat score. I would be happy to only apply DO because I love the osteopathic philosophy, however there are still a couple in state MD schools that I would like to apply to. I am wondering if you guys think that in state MD schools are out of the question, and also if my mcat is hurting my chances for DO as well. Thanks so much!

Average MCAT for DO schools is a 27. I would suggest a retake. However, there are people that get into DO schools with around the same score as yours. See "The Underdog Thread" in the DO forums.

Also, look into SN2ed's three month MCAT Prep schedule if you plan to do a retake or are considering it.

 

[leggo]

I think applications are starting soon, so I don't think its really that late to take the MCATs. If you think your ready, then I say go ahead and take them. Just be sure your truly ready for them though, cause taking the MCAT multiple times like that could be a red flag to medical schools. You may need at least a 32 to be competitve for MD schools.

 

[scienceloverr]

Yeah I probably won't get close to a 32 so I will plan on the DO direction. Although ya never know.. I just hope that my volunteer/research and gpa make me somewhat competitive for DO. Thanks for the advice guys!

 

[TriagePreMed]

I would say that you're toast right now. It seems many Osteopathic schools are arriving at MCAT averages around 27 and 28 with GPAs of 3.5 and 3.6. You might get lucky at some programs, but without at least a 25, I think you're still walking the tight rope.

 

[scienceloverr]

Hm well I'm not sure I'd refer to myself as 'toast', which sounds to me like you're saying I'm done for. Considering some of the averages are still around 24 or 25, there are individuals who get higher and lower. Though yes, there are plenty that are up around 27 or 28, including my top choice. Regardless, I appreciate your input!

 

[TriagePreMed]

Hm well I'm not sure I'd refer to myself as 'toast', which sounds to me like you're saying I'm done for. Considering some of the averages are still around 24 or 25, there are individuals who get higher and lower. Though yes, there are plenty that are up around 27 or 28, including my top choice. Regardless, I appreciate your input!

Something cut off along the way. I was saying you were toast for MD colleges. You're on a tight rope for DO.

 

[scienceloverr]

Oh yes I agree, thanks for the clarification.

 

[BestDoctorEver]

Thanks leggo. That's true, I can't imagine MD taking a 22 (besides Carribean). I'm hoping that I can still be competitive for DO. I have a meeting with an advisor later this month for the one I want to go to most so we will see. What do you think about re-taking at the end of July or early August? Too late or okay? Thanks!

You should definitely retake the mcat...Shoot at least for a 24. I don't think 22 would cut it for DO. .

 

[Eternalangel]

You should definitely retake the mcat...Shoot at least for a 24. I don't think 22 would cut it for DO. .

+1
I would shoot for a 26. If you are really struggling with the MCAT (which apperantly you are with a 22)you should try a few Kaplan/princeton review classes... BUT if you can't afford it I would at least get a few study MCAT practice books if you can't afford Kaplan. The books can cost anywhere from 10-100+ dollars depending on where you look....try Amazon? 🙂

 

[scienceloverr]

Yes actually my science sections were fine but my verbal was quite low, do you guys have suggestions for studying verbal specifically? I know there is a verbal accelerator thing online for princeton review so I'm looking into that but I'm open to other suggestions.

Also, I will post my EC's to see what the opinions are on this helping my app:

-2 semester's volunteering in the ER
-1 semester clinical research in the ER (my instructor is an academic DO that is writing me a LOR and went to the school that I want to go to)
-1 year research in the Department of Epidemiology
-2 Alternative Spring Breaks
-Doing research next year at National Institutes of Health as a Postbac IRTA
-Volunteer at food bank
-~30 hours shadowing
-President of Biology Club for one year and member for 2
-Volunteering at a brain rehab center for a year
-other activities such as Relay for life, working at flu shot clinics, etc

Just curious what you guys think about my EC's, though I am still planning on re-taking. I am also planning on sending everything on June 1. Is this a good idea if I do this and let the schools know that I am re-taking the mcat in July? Thanks so much!

 

[Catalystik]

I will post my EC's to see what the opinions are on this helping my app:

-2 semester's volunteering in the ER
-1 semester clinical research in the ER (my instructor is an academic DO that is writing me a LOR and went to the school that I want to go to)
-1 year research in the Department of Epidemiology
-2 Alternative Spring Breaks
-Doing research next year at National Institutes of Health as a Postbac IRTA
-Volunteer at food bank
-~30 hours shadowing
-President of Biology Club for one year and member for 2
-Volunteering at a brain rehab center for a year
-other activities such as Relay for life, working at flu shot clinics, etc

Having 30 shadowing hours is on the light side. I'd suggest at least 50, but ideally 60-80. This should include a DO and primary care.

 

[sector9]

Yes actually my science sections were fine but my verbal was quite low, do you guys have suggestions for studying verbal specifically? I know there is a verbal accelerator thing online for princeton review so I'm looking into that but I'm open to other suggestions.

Check out the MCAT forum here
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=31

There's a thread specifically for improving verbal reasoning scores. It's stickied at the top of the page since this is frequently a problematic section for premed http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=803769

 

[scienceloverr]

Actually I totally forgot that during my clinical volunteering I shadowed DO's quite often which adds more that I should have mentioned. I'll make sure to do that!

Thanks sector9.

 

[BestDoctorEver]

Yes actually my science sections were fine but my verbal was quite low, do you guys have suggestions for studying verbal specifically? I know there is a verbal accelerator thing online for princeton review so I'm looking into that but I'm open to other suggestions.

Also, I will post my EC's to see what the opinions are on this helping my app:

-2 semester's volunteering in the ER
-1 semester clinical research in the ER (my instructor is an academic DO that is writing me a LOR and went to the school that I want to go to)
-1 year research in the Department of Epidemiology
-2 Alternative Spring Breaks
-Doing research next year at National Institutes of Health as a Postbac IRTA
-Volunteer at food bank
-~30 hours shadowing
-President of Biology Club for one year and member for 2
-Volunteering at a brain rehab center for a year
-other activities such as Relay for life, working at flu shot clinics, etc

Just curious what you guys think about my EC's, though I am still planning on re-taking. I am also planning on sending everything on June 1. Is this a good idea if I do this and let the schools know that I am re-taking the mcat in July? Thanks so much!

If you scoring low on verbal and English is not your first language, I think you have a shot at DO if you apply early and broadly.

 

[scienceloverr]

English is definitely my first language. I have trouble with timing but I have decided to re-take the MCAT in July, but still send my stuff in early. I'm going to focus on verbal for the next couple months and hopefully the suggestions from SDN help.

 

[BestDoctorEver]

English is definitely my first language. I have trouble with timing but I have decided to re-take the MCAT in July, but still send my stuff in early. I'm going to focus on verbal for the next couple months and hopefully the suggestions from SDN help.

That is the way go. Send your application early and retake the mcat.

 

[Jstone123]

the mcat is the only thing standing in your way. i had problems with the verbal section too, i got a 6 the first time around. i did the exam krackers book and really took time to figure out their reasoning. you have to take time with the verbal, really try and understand why answers are right and wrong. i i think exam krackers does a good job of explaining, plus that book is so ridiculously hard that its good practice. do work