I don’t know what to do anymore.

[hopefulpsychiatrist]

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I failed my MCAT twice 8/2017 I received a 485 after 5 months of studying and doing practice problems. The next attempt, I did more practice problems, and spent 2 months of content review and 2 months of solely problems. 1/2018 I received a 485. English is my first and only language before you all insult me, and I have a 3.5 GPA. I did poorly on the ACT/SAT and the MCAT, I am horrible with standardized exams. I reviewed any questions I missed, I did everything. But it’s like I can win.

I’m just confused I’m not use to failure. I’m a well rounded student, and I always do so well.

I don’t know what to do now or what my options are, or if I should continue this battle. Should I even submit secondaries or finish the application? I am graduating in May now I have no idea where I’m going.

 

[tekkenman11]

Troll post? There's no way you have a pretty decent GPA and are a well-rounded student whose first language is English but can't score above a 485 on the exam. That's essentially below a 121 in each section...

Mods please.

 

[Blakeb_212]

I failed my MCAT twice 8/2017 I received a 485 after 5 months of studying and doing practice problems. The next attempt, I did more practice problems, and spent 2 months of content review and 2 months of solely problems. 1/2018 I received a 485. English is my first and only language before you all insult me, and I have a 3.5 GPA. I did poorly on the ACT/SAT and the MCAT, I am horrible with standardized exams. I reviewed any questions I missed, I did everything. But it’s like I can win.

I’m just confused I’m not use to failure. I’m a well rounded student, and I always do so well.

I don’t know what to do now or what my options are, or if I should continue this battle. Should I even submit secondaries or finish the application? I am graduating in May now I have no idea where I’m going.

My advice would be to keep trying. You're going to have to re-take the MCAT again, but a good score is worth the hassle. I took it three times myself, improved 8 points the last time, and was a reapplicant this year before finally getting accepted. You're GPA should be fine so I would say just focus on the test this summer. I used gold standard, the AAMC guide for the mcat to help with what topics I need to cover, and library resources but I'm sure people who scored higher than myself can give you some better guidance on resources! Good luck and hope all turns out well for you.

 

[hopefulpsychiatrist]

Troll post? There's no way you have a pretty decent GPA and are a well-rounded student whose first language is English but can't score above a 485 on the exam. That's essentially below a 121 in each section...

Mods please.

I wish I was lying.

 

[DocAdams]

Troll post? There's no way you have a pretty decent GPA and are a well-rounded student whose first language is English but can't score above a 485 on the exam. That's essentially below a 121 in each section...

Mods please.

Karma Police, arrest this man.

@hopefulpsychiatrist keep working at it and make sure to get plenty of practice exams in!

 

[btuck]

Practice exams are key!

 

[Ismet]

Moving to WAMC

 

[westsidestoryz]

I failed my MCAT twice 8/2017 I received a 485 after 5 months of studying and doing practice problems. The next attempt, I did more practice problems, and spent 2 months of content review and 2 months of solely problems. 1/2018 I received a 485. English is my first and only language before you all insult me, and I have a 3.5 GPA. I did poorly on the ACT/SAT and the MCAT, I am horrible with standardized exams. I reviewed any questions I missed, I did everything. But it’s like I can win.

I’m just confused I’m not use to failure. I’m a well rounded student, and I always do so well.

I don’t know what to do now or what my options are, or if I should continue this battle. Should I even submit secondaries or finish the application? I am graduating in May now I have no idea where I’m going.

Can you post all the FLs you have taken and its scores?

 

[7331poas]

I wish I was lying.

Did you not do practice exams? What were you getting on those?

 

[GypsyHummus]

Op, I hate to say it, but it think it’s time to move on and choose anouther profession.

The only shot I see of you becoming a physicician is if you apply to an SMP what doesn’t require an MCAT score and do well.

I would look into dentistry or optometry. The DAT and OAT are so much easier than the MCAT (studying DAT now).

The only other option to becoming a physician in the United States is the Podiatry route. Top schools are likely out, but the larger schools like Kent and New York are desperate for applicants. The lowest I’ve heard of getting accepted is a 487 at Kent (reported). I’ve known people personally that got in with a 489, so 485 isn’t too far off.

 

[altblue]

Op, I hate to say it, but it think it’s time to move on and choose anouther profession.

The only shot I see of you becoming a physicician is if you apply to an SMP what doesn’t require an MCAT score and do well.

I would look into dentistry or optometry. The DAT and OAT are so much easier than the MCAT (studying DAT now).

The only other option to becoming a physician in the United States is the Podiatry route. Top schools are likely out, but the larger schools like Kent and New York are desperate for applicants. The lowest I’ve heard of getting accepted is a 487 at Kent (reported). I’ve known people personally that got in with a 489, so 485 isn’t too far off.

I disagree with switching as the next course of action, especially given that their GPA is by no means bad. As long as OP shows substantial improvement, to 498+, they could apply for DO schools. This will require substantially improved study habits admittedly, therefore they should check out the MCAT subforum for advice on how to get better. After another attempt or two of not doing well, they can then consider pod school.

 

[GypsyHummus]

That would make the mcat a third time. Most schools take a look at all the scores.

OP can do what they want, but not everyone is made of money. Eventually, you run out and have to pursue greener pastures.

I disagree with switching as the next course of action, especially given that their GPA is by no means bad. As long as OP shows substantial improvement, to 498+, they could apply for DO schools. This will require substantially improved study habits admittedly, therefore they should check out the MCAT subforum for advice on how to get better. After another attempt or two of not doing well, they can then consider pod school.

 

[altblue]

That would make the mcat a third time. Most schools take a look at all the scores.

OP can do what they want, but not everyone is made of money. Eventually, you run out and have to pursue greener pastures.

They do, but there are people with multiple scores with only a solid recent one who get in.

Agreed there...after one, maybe two more tries, they should move on.

 

[DokterMom]

Is it the content or the format that's getting you @hopefulpsychiatrist? Or horrible anxiety/emotional strain on test day that incapacitates you? Have you ever been tested for learning disabilities or ADHD? (MANY very bright people have LDs and are able to succeed academically up to a point because they are able to compensate.)

The most common problems I've seen for bright people on standardized tests involve close reading/comprehension and over-thinking/analysis paralysis.

By 'close reading/comprehension' I mean automatically picking up on words like 'can' or 'do' or 'generally' or 'always/never' or 'caused by' and forming a mental picture that's sharply focused of the written material presented -- exactly what was and was not said. Even tiny things like comma placement, possessives or hyphens can subtly change a sentence's meaning, and picking up on these clues quickly and on auto-pilot is a vital test-taking skill.

There are some grammar errors in the original post that lead me to believe this might be a problem for you OP, and that's where I'd suggest you focus your efforts -- especially if you find you are answering incorrectly on material you know.

 

[Goro]

I failed my MCAT twice 8/2017 I received a 485 after 5 months of studying and doing practice problems. The next attempt, I did more practice problems, and spent 2 months of content review and 2 months of solely problems. 1/2018 I received a 485. English is my first and only language before you all insult me, and I have a 3.5 GPA. I did poorly on the ACT/SAT and the MCAT, I am horrible with standardized exams. I reviewed any questions I missed, I did everything. But it’s like I can win.

I’m just confused I’m not use to failure. I’m a well rounded student, and I always do so well.

I don’t know what to do now or what my options are, or if I should continue this battle. Should I even submit secondaries or finish the application? I am graduating in May now I have no idea where I’m going.

IF you have test taking anxiety issues, these can be fixed. If you don't, then I don't know how to help, other than by asking how are you going to make it past Boards, much less med school exams (or SMP exams, for that matter)?

 

[GypsyHummus]

Op, as someone who scored very low on the MCAT, my issue was reading comprehension. The MCAT is all about long passages and critically thinking on those passages using previous knowlage from the pre recs.

The DAT and OAT on the other hand are much more regurgitation and much more strait foreward. A question the the OAT will ask “which C is the alpha C. Is this reaction cis or trans” or “a organism that can produce it’s own food is called a ___”.

Undergrad trains us to think in the DAT/OAT way. We are given power points with the info we need and then asked descrete multiple choice questions. Your dream of becoming a doctor doesn’t have to end, but it might shift and change a little bit.

There is a reading portion on the dat, but it is so much easier to understand.