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littleraindrops.j

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I applied for MD/PhD last cycle and did not get any interviews or acceptances.
I think I know where my weaknesses are - MCAT and GPA.
My undergrad GPA was poor as I was ill most of the time, but postbac work proved I could do better (3.9 for three years).

I'm in process of applying for master's programs in various disciplines so I can further prove that I can do better GPA-wise.
So my main concern is the MCAT.
I took the old one- did horribly. Prepped for the new one and received 499.
I am trying to improve the MCAT score, but I've never been good at taking standardized test (although I don't have anxiety.. in fact I am more anxious when I take class exams for school).
I have been enrolled to two different MCAT prep courses, but neither improved my score as I had hoped.
I do problems. I review them. I understand them at the time of reviewing them.
I have had trouble with application of the concepts even in classes in school, but with so much repetition and practice, I was able to get to a point where I felt comfortable.
With MCAT, it's a different story because the range of materials covered is so broad, so mastering in certain concepts may not be useful on some of the topics.
So I feel lost.

Currently I am watching Khan Academy videos, reading EK books, doing TPR problems, taking practice tests... etc. What else can I do to improve? Or how can I change the strategy at all to approach MCAT completely differently?

I need your wisdom. Please help.
 
You sound like you'll benefit from an expert MCAT tutor, even for a few hours. Someone to sit you down, do a few passages with you and give you strategies. You did great in school so you must have decent mastery of the topics. It sounds more like a strategy problem to me. What's your cum. GPA?
 
I'm not sure a master's program is the best idea, though that's not your question. Master's programs are just huge cash cows for the university.

You need to develop your reasoning skills. Keeping up with the primary literature will help. Data interpretation is a skill to have not just for the MCAT, but for life in general. It's very useful as the world is becoming more statistics-driven.
 
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