Getting worse MCAT scores... What now?

[Scrizzy]

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I have cGPA of 3.76 and a sGPA of 3.63. But my MCAT is steadily decreasing...

In 2016, I got a 506
But in 2018, I got a 504. This one I felt so confident in and now it's just a disappointment.

I'm a Asian Texas applicant and have no idea what I should do now. I'm not even sure that I can do DO with this score. At the decreasing slope I'm going, I'm afraid to take it again. I've been looking at several other options such as Dental or Optometry, or even go to grad school.

Is it better for me to go ahead and sign up for the MCAT exam this coming May 18th, or refocus my attention to other things? Even if I take it again and get a 510 (which was my goal this time around), would it even be a good chance since my previous scores were bad?

I was planning to join Americorps and volunteer for the year during the cycle, but I'm not sure about that anymore. Should I just cancel?

 

[WIMNFamilyMed]

I have cGPA of 3.76 and a sGPA of 3.63. But my MCAT is steadily decreasing...

In 2016, I got a 506
But in 2018, I got a 504. This one I felt so confident in and now it's just a disappointment.

I'm a Asian Texas applicant and have no idea what I should do now. I'm not even sure that I can do DO with this score. At the decreasing slope I'm going, I'm afraid to take it again. I've been looking at several other options such as Dental or Optometry, or even go to grad school.

Is it better for me to go ahead and sign up for the MCAT exam this coming May 18th, or refocus my attention to other things? Even if I take it again and get a 510 (which was my goal this time around), would it even be a good chance since my previous scores were bad?

I was planning to join Americorps and volunteer for the year during the cycle, but I'm not sure about that anymore. Should I just cancel?

You could get into a DO with that score, and that isn’t a huge jump (as long as your category scores are about consistent and not losing like 5 points in biochem and gaining 1 each for 3 other catrogories). Your chance at DO is really based on your volunteer and medical type experiences - of those are strong your numbers are fine.
(Not addressing your other points because I don’t think I can give great advice on those. I wouldn’t retake the mcat soon though, you’d really have to reanalyze your study strategies- if you didn’t after the first exam that’s part of the problem).

 

[PhilzCoffeeAddict]

First, if you are considering dental or optometry maybe you don't really want to do medicine... So first ask yourself, "Can you see yourself in the field of medicine for a career?"

Secondly, don't just rush into the mcat. It will beat the living S@#$ out of you if you don't respect it. How did you study for it? Was your studying effective or did you just skim or ignore the material you don't understand. You need to really iron out all the weak spots you have in it.

Why are you joining Americorps? I thought this was about your MCAT. Volunteering won't change anything about your score. Unless you don't have any community service, then don't bother and just study for the MCAT.

Lastly, I want to leave you with a glimmer of hope. I took the MCAT a stupid number of times.. I was scared I lost my dream career because of taking it so many times. But look at me now! You're okay. Just don't screw up anymore. Let me know if I can help you in anyway. I bumped my score up significantly.

 

[21Rush12]

If you want to be a doctor, apply broadly to DO and your state schools and you’ll probably have success.

 

[Scrizzy]

You could get into a DO with that score, and that isn’t a huge jump (as long as your category scores are about consistent and not losing like 5 points in biochem and gaining 1 each for 3 other catrogories). Your chance at DO is really based on your volunteer and medical type experiences - of those are strong your numbers are fine.
(Not addressing your other points because I don’t think I can give great advice on those. I wouldn’t retake the mcat soon though, you’d really have to reanalyze your study strategies- if you didn’t after the first exam that’s part of the problem).

First, if you are considering dental or optometry maybe you don't really want to do medicine... So first ask yourself, "Can you see yourself in the field of medicine for a career?"

Secondly, don't just rush into the mcat. It will beat the living S@#$ out of you if you don't respect it. How did you study for it? Was your studying effective or did you just skim or ignore the material you don't understand. You need to really iron out all the weak spots you have in it.

Why are you joining Americorps? I thought this was about your MCAT. Volunteering won't change anything about your score. Unless you don't have any community service, then don't bother and just study for the MCAT.

Lastly, I want to leave you with a glimmer of hope. I took the MCAT a stupid number of times.. I was scared I lost my dream career because of taking it so many times. But look at me now! You're okay. Just don't screw up anymore. Let me know if I can help you in anyway. I bumped my score up significantly.

The reason I was going to join Americorps was because I was so confident in the score and wanted to do something over the year cycle, but that's off the table. My previous practice exam scores were steadily improving and I had gotten between a 508-510 in the last few.

As for the dental and optometry school, it's not that I don't want to go into medicine, I'm just having a hard time seeing it as a option after this score.

I know I shouldn't rush into the MCAT, but it's already been a year and a half. If I don't take it this coming May, I have to wait another year, which I definitely don't want to do. I've been living with my parents and although they're supportive, but I don't infringe on it too much.

I don't know. This score really shot down my confidence.

 

[Isoval]

The reason I was going to join Americorps was because I was so confident in the score and wanted to do something over the year cycle, but that's off the table. My previous practice exam scores were steadily improving and I had gotten between a 508-510 in the last few.

As for the dental and optometry school, it's not that I don't want to go into medicine, I'm just having a hard time seeing it as a option after this score.

I know I shouldn't rush into the MCAT, but it's already been a year and a half. If I don't take it this coming May, I have to wait another year, which I definitely don't want to do. I've been living with my parents and although they're supportive, but I don't infringe on it too much.

I don't know. This score really shot down my confidence.

A friend of mine was accepted to TCOM with a 499 (albeit off the wait list) last year and I’ve had other non-URM friends pick up an acceptance at some other TMDSAS schools with low 500s (500-502).

I would apply to all TMDSAS and also toss in a AACOMAS application to some of your favorites.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

A 506 and a 504 are within the expected score range. So you did basically about the same even if the scaled score is a couple points lower.

 

[Goro]

I have cGPA of 3.76 and a sGPA of 3.63. But my MCAT is steadily decreasing...

In 2016, I got a 506
But in 2018, I got a 504. This one I felt so confident in and now it's just a disappointment.

I'm a Asian Texas applicant and have no idea what I should do now. I'm not even sure that I can do DO with this score. At the decreasing slope I'm going, I'm afraid to take it again. I've been looking at several other options such as Dental or Optometry, or even go to grad school.

Is it better for me to go ahead and sign up for the MCAT exam this coming May 18th, or refocus my attention to other things? Even if I take it again and get a 510 (which was my goal this time around), would it even be a good chance since my previous scores were bad?

I was planning to join Americorps and volunteer for the year during the cycle, but I'm not sure about that anymore. Should I just cancel?

You're fine for DO with those scores, even at my school.

But for TX MD? Maybe UTx Rio Grande and a few others. You're DOA for MD schools outside of TX.

 

[WIMNFamilyMed]

The reason I was going to join Americorps was because I was so confident in the score and wanted to do something over the year cycle, but that's off the table. My previous practice exam scores were steadily improving and I had gotten between a 508-510 in the last few.

As for the dental and optometry school, it's not that I don't want to go into medicine, I'm just having a hard time seeing it as a option after this score.

I know I shouldn't rush into the MCAT, but it's already been a year and a half. If I don't take it this coming May, I have to wait another year, which I definitely don't want to do. I've been living with my parents and although they're supportive, but I don't infringe on it too much.

I don't know. This score really shot down my confidence.

Retest if you really want MD and want to invest the time and money in retaking it a third time. Or just apply DO where you’ll probably get in (and if you don’t, the score won’t be the final factor it would be your extracurriculars)

 

[TexasSurgeon]

I have cGPA of 3.76 and a sGPA of 3.63. But my MCAT is steadily decreasing...

In 2016, I got a 506
But in 2018, I got a 504. This one I felt so confident in and now it's just a disappointment.

I'm a Asian Texas applicant and have no idea what I should do now. I'm not even sure that I can do DO with this score. At the decreasing slope I'm going, I'm afraid to take it again. I've been looking at several other options such as Dental or Optometry, or even go to grad school.

Is it better for me to go ahead and sign up for the MCAT exam this coming May 18th, or refocus my attention to other things? Even if I take it again and get a 510 (which was my goal this time around), would it even be a good chance since my previous scores were bad?

I was planning to join Americorps and volunteer for the year during the cycle, but I'm not sure about that anymore. Should I just cancel?

Please do not do grad school. It will be nothing compared to what you might think.

 

[MDPedigree]

I had a 508 and a 506. Retook for a 512 and have multiple MD acceptances. Very similar GPA to you as well.

 

[Lucca]

I know ppl with your numbers or something like them (and well rounded applications) who were successful in Texas MD admissions. Dont know how the retake will affect that calculus, but I agree that the most generous interpretation is that you did about the same.

 

[Mr. Babe]

No offense, but you need to do your research and see what is possible for DO schools. 506/504 are above average at many DO schools so if everything else looks good, you'll be fine. I got worse on my second MCAT by 5 points, but still got in so no biggy. If you want medicine, go get it. If you're unsure, do something else because it's tough enough for those who are 100% dedicated to it.