Help! Terrible MCAT (22M), uncertain of my options...

[moulinrouge]

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I am a first time MCAT taker who just got my score in and did horribly worse than on the practice exams 🙁. PS-6, VR-7, BS-9. I panicked midway through the test when timing became an issue and was not able to complete all the sections for Physical sciences and verbal. Verbal is usually my better section and I had never scored so low on a practice exam.

I completed undergrad with a GPA of 3.7 with EC in hospital volunteering, club leadership, community service involvement, biomedical research and thesis.

I have never been the best standardized test taker. I'm extremely worried with my chances due to the terribly low MCAT score. I had prepared for months, reviewing content, completing practice exams and working on timing. Test day jitters severely impaired my performance on the MCAT. I am so depressed at how one score jeopardized my entire application.

I am currently applying for the 2010-2011 cycle, though, my chances seem extremely slim. I am considering DO options and have delayed submitting my application since I'm uncertain of where I stand. Should I even consider MD? Or would it be a total waste of money to apply?

All my hard work in college has culminated to this one application for my dream career. Unfortunately, I don't feel like my score reflects who I am as a candidate for medical school or the extent of my abilities as a student. I've considered retaking the MCAT but that would equate to taking an additional year off. Which schools would I be competitive at? What should I do???

 

[Analog]

You will not be competitive for any MD programs (except caribbean which i wouldn't recommend). It is below average for DO programs as well (iirc the average is 8-9 for all 3 sections for DO schools).

If you don't feel like the score reflects you as an applicant you should strongly consider retaking, if you were doing much better on practice tests

 

[Analog]

*double posted*

My bad. Things were getting screwy last night

 

[Analog]

*triple posted actually*

My bad.

 

[J ROD]

I would recommend you trying just DO. But, it sounds like you are not so happy with that and want MD. So, if that is the case, I would regroup and take the MCAT again and apply next year.

The rest of your stats are solid. I did worse than I could imagine my first time and did better the second because I was not nearly as nervous.

 

[aggie08]

If your application is otherwise good, I would really recommend taking the test again (after sufficient preparation). Your GPA is find for MD schools, so study more, take tons of practice tests and work on the emotional aspect of test taking in order to fight off your anxiety. A 22 is going to be low even for DO schools. You would have a chance, but it definitely wouldn't be a guarantee by any means.

 

[Cali Anteater]

I am a first time MCAT taker who just got my score in and did horribly worse than on the practice exams 🙁. PS-6, VR-7, BS-9. I panicked midway through the test when timing became an issue and was not able to complete all the sections for Physical sciences and verbal. Verbal is usually my better section and I had never scored so low on a practice exam.

I completed undergrad with a GPA of 3.7 with EC in hospital volunteering, club leadership, community service involvement, biomedical research and thesis.

I have never been the best standardized test taker. I'm extremely worried with my chances due to the terribly low MCAT score. I had prepared for months, reviewing content, completing practice exams and working on timing. Test day jitters severely impaired my performance on the MCAT. I am so depressed at how one score jeopardized my entire application.

I am currently applying for the 2010-2011 cycle, though, my chances seem extremely slim. I am considering DO options and have delayed submitting my application since I'm uncertain of where I stand. Should I even consider MD? Or would it be a total waste of money to apply?

All my hard work in college has culminated to this one application for my dream career. Unfortunately, I don't feel like my score reflects who I am as a candidate for medical school or the extent of my abilities as a student. I've considered retaking the MCAT but that would equate to taking an additional year off. Which schools would I be competitive at? What should I do???

Doing practice tests and then reviewing them question by question until all you dream about is practice tests and reviewing answers is what you have to do to raise that MCAT. It's a struggle but doable - I took the dreaded thing several times.

Also taking a year or more off isn't the end of the world. I have had a chance to really get exposed to the world of clinical research, community health, and have also been able to pursue an MPH. As long as you are productive while trying to get into med school, those years aren't wasted.

G'luck

 

[apumic]

Options? Well, Caribbean unless you do better on the MCAT next time.
So pretty much, your only choice in the continental US is to retake. As others have said, start doing practice problems and tests. Get your score to at least 30 on a consistent basis to "prove" to med schools that the 22 was nothing more than a fluke. With a 3.7 GPA, you're in a good place there but your MCAT would sink you. You need to go back to the drawing board and do practice problems and tests, esp. in PS. Reading scholarly publications and quizzing yourself on them will help w VR. Your BS isn't great but get PS and VR up to at least a 9 before working on BS. Once all 3 are consistently in the double digits, you're ready for a retake.

 

[landerman]

study again for the MCAT! i got a 22 the first time around and then studied for two months and got a 30. Don't worry or give up! You have hope!

 

[J ROD]

Def retake. I went up alot too.

 

[DRIN]

I improved 7 points with minimal studying. I think the second time I was just more familiar with the exam and more at ease knowing what to expect on a real MCAT.

 

[280224]

Taking a year off isn't so bad! Spend the time to study for the MCATs and strengthen your application overall instead of using this year to apply... which I think will be a waste of your time and money. A 22M is too low.

 

[Cupidsmoke]

took the test twice, first in may second in august, almost exact same day of each month, studied all of july and august - even day before, improved my score by 9 points. anything is possible, you just have to believe in yourself. As Nike says,

Just Do It.

 

[DocAnnabelle]

I took the MCAT in September and scored a 21M (6PS, 6VR, 9BS) after taking a Kaplan Classroom course and using ExamKrackers books on my own. I scored a 27 (7 PS, 12 VR, 8 BS) on Kaplan's diagnostic and scored a 30 on AAMC 9 one week before the exam. I was very nervous and had problems with timing during the actual exam. I had to guess on all the questions for nearly two passages in PS. I thought about walking out after the first section, but figured I should stick it out. Since I did so poorly on the first section, I could not focus on the verbal passages and thus, sunk that score too. Although I was shocked that I only got a 6 considering I had never gotten lower than a 9 on my practice tests and was an English major in undergrad. I am definitely planning on retaking the exam in the spring and plan to apply early June. I am a little frustrated with figuring out how and what I should study, but I do know I need to take a lot more full lengths to build up my stamina, reduce anxiety, and improve pacing/timing. I am sure both of us can do better. I just still fear what medical schools will think even if my score does improve. Schools want students who can do well on the boards, the first time. I still regret not just voiding, since I knew it wasn't my day. However, I plan on just using this low score as motivation. Good luck and feel free to PM me if you want to stay in touch and encourage each other!