Huge MCAT disappointment

[sadboi112]

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Hi all,
So I saw my first MCAT score from testing 5/24 and it was bad man. All my princeton FL and aamc FL were ranging about 504-508 with my last one before the exam being a 506. I looked at my score today and saw a 499. I guess I choked. So after crying for a bit and taking a long depression nap I am here for some much needed advice. I already submitted my MD and DO applications 2 weeks ago. They are paid for and sent so my question is what do I do now? Should I register to take the last MCAT of this cycle on 9/14 and bust my ass for these next two and a half months and send the second score too? Should I just leave it to fate? Should I take a gap year? Someone please give me advice I am so embarrassed and sad what do I do

 

[Seihai]

Hi all,
So I saw my first MCAT score from testing 5/24 and it was bad man. All my princeton FL and aamc FL were ranging about 504-508 with my last one before the exam being a 506. I looked at my score today and saw a 499. I guess I choked. So after crying for a bit and taking a long depression nap I am here for some much needed advice. I already submitted my MD and DO applications 2 weeks ago. They are paid for and sent so my question is what do I do now? Should I register to take the last MCAT of this cycle on 9/14 and bust my ass for these next two and a half months and send the second score too? Should I just leave it to fate? Should I take a gap year? Someone please give me advice I am so embarrassed and sad what do I do

Depending on your subscores, you may still be competitive for DO and some very limited state MD schools. Retaking your MCAT on 9/14 is next to useless, as schools wouldn't get your score until October, which is far too late for either cycle.

Your best bet may be to take a gap year. I really, really hope you submitted to only one school as a throwaway to get verified and waited to add the others until you got your MCAT score. If not, you'll be considered a reapplicant for every school you applied to, which will hurt your application a bit.

You may want to post a thread in the WAMC forum with more information, including your other stats.

 

[Dr. Let 'er Buck]

I did almost exactly what you are considering. I took a May mcat which wasn't great (had a bad day).

Took a mid Sept exam and jumped nearly 10 points.

I was accepted this past cycle and start our state MD program in August. It worked for me but I consider it more of a fluke than anything. The school o was shooting for didn't make interview decisions until December, so I knew I could fly in under the radar. I submitted everything else and was totally ready to go other than my 2nd mcat.

Can it be done? Sure. Fortunately I knew that my first perfomance was test anxiety or something. Had I not scored almost 10 points higher or would not have been as impressive.

But it's risky. If you know the intricacies of a specific school where you can afford a late October score, go for it. If not, I'd avoid it.

 

[LiftingMed]

If you already submitted to all schools you're interested in, retake it in September, you're already considered a re-applicant if you did that. If you only submitted to one throwaway school just to get verified, take a gap year.

 

[Dochopeful13]

Depending on your subscores, you may still be competitive for DO and some very limited state MD schools. Retaking your MCAT on 9/14 is next to useless, as schools wouldn't get your score until October, which is far too late for either cycle.

Your best bet may be to take a gap year. I really, really hope you submitted to only one school as a throwaway to get verified and waited to add the others until you got your MCAT score. If not, you'll be considered a reapplicant for every school you applied to, which will hurt your application a bit.

You may want to post a thread in the WAMC forum with more information, including your other stats.

A September mcat is no where near late for DO schools. As long as your complete by thanksgiving you are on time.

 

[Blueprint MCAT Tutor]

I am so sorry to hear about this. I know it must be so unbelievably difficult to score lower than what your practice exams indicate. However, this will make for a great story of resiliency during your interviews once you crush your retake! As far as I know, @Dochopeful13 is correct and if you take an exam in September, you should still be on a decent timeline for the osteopathic application. If you feel ready in Septemeber, there is pretty much no downside to retake. You'll get to get the test over with and still have a chance for this cycle and even if it doesn't work out this cycle, you won't have to worry about studying for it in the future and can focus on other parts of your application.

However, since you are retaking, only take it if you feel completely ready! Take a few days away from studying and recharge your batteries. You deserve it after working so hard! Then, spend some time self-reflecting on what went wrong with your exam. What went differently compared to your practice exams? Did you have difficulty controlling your nerves? Did they test topics that you weren't comfortable with? Did you have issues with timing that you weren't facing during practice exams? Whatever the issue was, do your best to decipher it and then work on fixing it during your next study period.

If you have any specific questions about studying for a retake, please don't hesitate to reach out! I know it's extremely difficult now, but you will overcome this setback if you continue to work hard and you will be a doctor in the near future 🙂

 

[PlsLetMeIn21]

Gap year! Being a late applicant is tough enough, but having to overcome a bad MCAT compounds the problem. Take a month away from this and come back refueled. Next time, follow the study plan from KoalaT or Nymeria or the many plans just like them. They work!