Game over or Game continued?

[North Penguin]

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I took the MCAT three times, and each time I took it, I scored under 20. My GPAs are 3.5 for science and 3.6 overall from a fairly well-known private school. I did not major in bio or other science but majored in humanities. I am applying to med schools this year. I just got my third MCAT score, which pretty much explained to me very clearly that I am not even getting an interview this admissions cycle.

Is there any re-applicant who had a hard time getting into med schools with good GPAs but horrible MCAT scores? How did you overcome your MCAT dilemma? Otherwise, I have great LORs and ECs.

Even post bac programs require a good MCAT score, and my situation of having multiple bad MCAT scores and good GPAs seems worse than those who have a good MCAT score and horrible grades. I am realy distressed and stressed right now. Can anyone please shed a light on my situation? How should I tackle my MCAT problems and prep for my second cycle?

 

[gman33]

How did you prepare for the MCAT and how did you do on practice tests?
Some additional information would be needed to offer suggestions.

 

[North Penguin]

For PS, I kept doing problems on EK 1001 (both physics and gen chem), reviewed every single problem, and did AAMC questions again and again. I got 8 on it. I really suck at verbal even though I majored in humanities, which proves that I am not a good test taker. I ran out of verbal passages. (I did all passages on Kaplan, PR and AAMC). My score is usually around 4-5 on VB. I know it's really sad. Then, for BS, I score 4-5. Bio passages freak me out, and no matter how carefully I read each bio passage, I do really bad. I studied for MCAT while carrying like 17-20 semester credit hours. I had no job but took classes full-time. I always study in a quiet place and received 17-20 on my practice exams. My real scores are very similar to the practice AAMC exams I did under the timed condition. I am not a good test taker.

I didn't know I was this dumb. Even many post-bac programs want at least 27 on MCAT, and I have no idea where to turn to. I took pre-med classes as a post-bac and am with no advisor. I applied to medical school without a committee letter. Anyways, I know my biggest hurdle is MCAT, and I am studying for my MCAT to death. I feel like I am squared into doing wrong things in preparing for the MCAT, and I have no way to measuring what I am doing wrong and right. I am a very hard worker, and this is driving me even crazier because I can't figure out what I am doing wrong even with my hard work. Do you know of any good post-bac program I can do or good method of preparing my MCAT? Please help. I am a minute away from jumping off the cliff.

 

[F12]

OP: I would highly recommend taking a classroom prep course from Kaplan or Princeton Review.

Also, it is not advisable to study for the MCAT while taking a full class load - it's a beast that you should attack head on.

With all of your past tests, you're going to need a 30+ on the next MCAT to have a chance of getting in.

Edit: You may want to up your GPA as well. A 3.5 GPA is slightly below average.

If I were you I would apply for a master's program in the sciences to up your GPA and also retake the MCAT aiming for something in the low to mid 30's.

 

[Meatwad]

Definitely take a review class. There will always be schools in the Caribbean that will be willing to accept you with a very low or no MCAT score, but if you are very bad at taking tests, passing the USMLE will be very difficult. At least if you take a review class and still can't get a 24 or above, maybe you should think about taking some time off from the whole applying/MCAT thing.

 

[North Penguin]

I took the Kaplan course and even repeated one more time after the whole lecture series. I attended all lectures, doing all the homework. I took the full-length exams on my own pace, which was the only thing I did different from what Kaplan suggested.

What special master program is available for someone like me? I have looked at Georgetown SMP, but they require 28. Loyola MAMM requires 25. No way for me. Even if I study and re-take, it will be my 4th time to take it. Even if I have 25 on MCAT, I don't know if post-bac programs will take the risk of accepting someone with multiple bad MCAT scores. By the time I apply to med schools, I would have taken it five to six MCATs, and this is getting way stressful for me.

I know there are medical schools that say that they only look at the highest score regardless of number of times taken. But, who knows? They just say that to comfort people, and I am not so naive to believe things like that

I think I am just dumb, and I did not know my plan of going to medical school would come down like this. Knowing how to take a standarized exam is really one big skill I should have acquired early on. I think I am screwed, and there i no way out of my current situation.

 

[F12]

This may sound harsh, but what about a DO?

 

[brianmartin]

OP, what were your individual section scores for your highest MCAT? Are you a native english speaker?

 

[North Penguin]

For PS, I have scored 7 and 8.
For VB, I Have scored 2,4, and 6
For WS, I have scored Qs only.
For BS, I have scored 5 and 6.

I never got anything above 20 for composite. Yes, English is my second language, but the fact that I am a student of ESL doesn't matter to the committee. Only I have to deal with it and figure things out on my own.

I have thought about DO, but if I have to choose a DO because of my low MCAT, how am I going to deal with my board exams later on? I'd rather take some time and find out what it is that I am doing wrong on a standarized exam, which will be truly helping me take board exams later on, regardless I do DO or MD. I am not declining DO over MD because one thing is viewed better than the other (please don't get into that because that's not the point of my thread). It's the MCAT that is eating me up, and as a re-applicant, I have much work to do on the MCAT and GPA (it seems that 3.5 Science and 3.6 Overall aren't enough).

 

[Blade28]

A few questions...

Any chance you could take a prep class during (1) a semester with a lighter load, or (2) the summer?

Are you running out of time during any of the sections?

I'm not sure about the "I'm a poor test taker" thought either - you've obviously done well in school thus far! Any significant obstacles when you're taking the MCAT (or even during the practice tests)? Anxiety? Stress? Loss of concentration (due to long test length)? Lack of stamina?

Have you taken all the necessary classes (e.g. physics, g-chem, o-chem, basic bio)?

How long have you been speaking English?

 

[North Penguin]

I like the idea of devoting my entire summer studying for it better because reducing my course load is not going to happen if I want to finish my current MPH program by May. But then, right now, my level of anxiety and stress is so high. Even with some time off between my graduation and studying the MCAT full-time, I don't know if I will ever be ready to study the MCAT again after so many failed attempts.

I am scoring 8 on PS, and yeah, I run out of time. I have to skip two passages each time I take PS. VB has been like a struggle and I run out of time all the time. Then, I ran out of VB passages to practice (I did all the passages on Kaplan, PR, and AAMC). I never run out of time for writing (only section I can actually do well but no one cares about that section) I finish BS on time, and I think the more ochem passages there are, the more time I get to save because I aced my ochem classes. (Yeah, I had no problem going through ochem because they just came to me. Then, now, I can't do my MCAT.) I have taken all necessary classes Blade28 listed as a yearlong course ( none of it in the summer). I know I prepped for this medical school stuff more seriously than anyone else. I see my friends who goofed off in classes (some even cheated on their own ways in class exams) and aced the MCAT. They are getting into med schools with a ton of interviews.

I have been speaking English for 20 years, and my solid writing score "Q" seems to show that I can handle my writing skills. I think getting into a post-bac program that provides an advisor (who can do my composite letter) and advanced science classes ( biochem, microbio, physio, etc) seems like the next step. I am thinking about getting into 2-year post bac program that offers physio, microbio and biochem in the first year of post-bac program, use these classes to prep for my bio section, take the MCAT in the late spring of my 1st year of post-bac, and spend the summer applying to med schools for the second time. While applying, I will be in the second year of post-bac program, doing some clinical research as part of the post-bac program and take more science classes that could help me survive in med school.

I am looking for a small 2-year post-bac program with very well-designed science classes and tight-knit advising system. It doesn't have to be a big named program like Georgetown SMP or Tulane ACP, etc. Any program that can boost my confidence and help me get into med schools is what I need. Has anyone done such a program?

 

[Meatwad]

This may sound harsh, but what about a DO?

Well, that's not an option right now, because the OP is going to need at least a 24 to have a realistic chance.

 

[Meatwad]

For PS, I have scored 7 and 8.
For VB, I Have scored 2,4, and 6
For WS, I have scored Qs only.
For BS, I have scored 5 and 6.

I never got anything above 20 for composite. Yes, English is my second language, but the fact that I am a student of ESL doesn't matter to the committee. Only I have to deal with it and figure things out on my own.

I have thought about DO, but if I have to choose a DO because of my low MCAT, how am I going to deal with my board exams later on? I'd rather take some time and find out what it is that I am doing wrong on a standarized exam, which will be truly helping me take board exams later on, regardless I do DO or MD. I am not declining DO over MD because one thing is viewed better than the other (please don't get into that because that's not the point of my thread). It's the MCAT that is eating me up, and as a re-applicant, I have much work to do on the MCAT and GPA (it seems that 3.5 Science and 3.6 Overall aren't enough).

This is a very mature thing of you to say. Most people are just trying to get in, without giving any thought as to how they will survive if they actually do get in. Bravo to you for actually wanting to correct your inability to score well on standardized tests.

I wish I had more good advice for you, but you seem to be doing everything right. Have you read the threads around here that deal with how to score high on the MCAT (i.e. study habits of others, etc.)? I wish you all the best, because it's apparent you have a good head on your shoulders and you are just being held back by poor test-taking skills.

The problem with an SMP is, even if you were able to get into one with your current MCAT, once you apply again, they are still going to see that <20. Even if you havea 3.5+ in the SMP, I don't think they'd really want to accept you without you retaking and breaking a mid 20-something. What you could do, maybe, is take the GRE and apply to an SMP with those scores, since a few of them take the GRE in lieu of the MCAT. Are you disadvantaged, economically or any other way? I believe Creighton has a post-bacc for disadvantaged students which includes classes, a simultaneous MCAT prep program, and volunteering experience. I also think you get into Creighton U. for med school afterwards.

 

[Perrotfish]

The only SMP designed specifically to deal with low MCAT scores is Drexel's MSP program. It's basically a year long MCAT prep program, and reports huge gains (no personal experience, though).

 

[NontradICUdoc]

The first thing you should do is probably change the way that you are thinking about the MCAT. Any negative thinking, such as calling the MCAT "the beast" or an impediment, will give you a negative attitude and then go negatively on the MCAT. If you start thinking about the MCAT as the key to unlock your door to medical school then you will have a better attitude and a better chance of doing well.

Next, realize that you need to learn how to handle the MCAT. Judging from your scores on the VR you probably are thinking that the VR section tests your comprehension and you spend the time looking for the answer in the passage. The VR section tests your ability to take the information that you read and apply it. Rarely will you see the answer directly in the passage. This also applies to the passages on the biological and physical sciences questions. The MCAT wants to know if you can take the information and data presented to you and come up with a conclusion and apply that conclusion to another situation.

Only with the stand alone questions will you be given a straight forward question that you have to know the material from rote memorization.

Do yourself a favor. Start from scratch with this new attitude.

Take a practice MCAT from the AAMC keeping in mind what I suggest and see if you improve your score. If you do, then you know what you need to do. If you do not, they you should take the time to figure out where your weakness is by breaking down the entire test day and figure out where you may have gone wrong.

Let me know if this works.

 

[Blade28]

Your command of English (in this thread) is without fault, and you write articulately. It seems you've done everything right to prepare for the MCAT thus far, save for what EMT2ER-DOC said about not letting the test mentally defeat you beforehand (which I completely agree with).

I'm not sure what else you could do - except for taking time to study for it during the summer, of course. It's not like you bombed your college classes, or didn't test well in your college midterms/finals, or took easy CC summer school classes for your pre-reqs. Hell, you've even gone through the majority of practice material!

So I'm at a loss. 😕 Is there any way you could work on your speed? New strategies, faster comprehension, underlining/circling major points as you read, etc.? Are you using a tried-and-true method of tackling the answer choices (e.g. Kaplan's strategies)? Do you do a lot of non-school-related reading on the side? Are you finding that you're running out of stamina towards the end of each section, and consequently are taking longer to focus and concentrate on the passages/questions?

 

[candbgirl]

How about going to a campus counseling center and get yourself evaluated for a reading disablity? It seems like you might have a comprehension problem. You work way too hard to only be getting low scores on the MCAT. Lots of really smart people have problems. You have obviously learned to compensate well in most areas but something is definitely up with the MCAT scores. Perhaps the same center could hook you up with a test taking skills course. You need to work through the cause of the low MCATs before you spend anymore time on applications or studying for the MCAT. You are spinning your wheels. Good luck to as you try to sort this out.

 

[DrBubbles]

How about going to a campus counseling center and get yourself evaluated for a reading disablity? It seems like you might have a comprehension problem. You work way too hard to only be getting low scores on the MCAT. Lots of really smart people have problems. You have obviously learned to compensate well in most areas but something is definitely up with the MCAT scores. Perhaps the same center could hook you up with a test taking skills course. You need to work through the cause of the low MCATs before you spend anymore time on applications or studying for the MCAT. You are spinning your wheels. Good luck to as you try to sort this out.

I agree that this isn't a bad idea--it might help you figure out that it's your learning and comprehension abilities, and not your command of the material, or you might figure out your learning and comprehension are just fine, and it's more just psyching yourself out mentally.

If it's the former, I agree you should address those issues first, and put med school on the back burner. If it's the latter, there are private tutoring companies, ones that offer one-on-one help, and I know my instructors from the Princeton Review course offered to meet outside of class individually as well. One of my classmates ran an MCAT tutoring business, and the average score for his clients was like a 36 or something ridiculous. So I know they're out there.

Like you said in your previous post, I think getting to the root of this is wise.

With that said, you're working so hard right now. Have you considered taking some time off, regrouping, and coming back? Maybe work for a year, and six months into it start figuring out how best to prepare for the MCAT? Instead of continuing to revolve your life around studying? This is what helped me pick up my B average to an A average. (My issue was GPA, not MCAT.)

I wish you the best of luck!

 

[Cranial Gavage]

Previous posters have discussed the options of taking prep courses or time off to prepare for another MCAT attempt. These options could enhance your chances of getting into an MD, DO, or overseas MD program.

You might also consider pursuing one of the many healthcare careers that does not require an MD or DO. A friend of mine realized that he wanted to work in healthcare during his senior year of college but had not completed the prereqs for the MCAT. He is now pursuing a degree of audiology (AuD) and will work with the hearing impaired. Other options include physical therapy, pharmacy, and optometry. Some of these programs will have more stringent requirements than others, but your GPA should open some doors.

In any case, don't give up on your goal of working in healthcare if that is truly your passion!

Good luck!

 

[DocInProgress]

This may sound harsh, but what about a DO?

Why is becoming a DO harsh?

 

[EEL08]

Why is becoming a DO harsh?

I believe the harsh was in reference to suggesting a lower MCAT would be okay for DO schools but not MD.