If I have to reapply, help me improve my app...

[eaglebaseball4]

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Grew up in a rural and underserved area
Graduated from a state public university in May of 2018
Major: Biology
cGPA: 3.79
sGPS: 3.77

Freshman year GPA: 3.3
Sophomore year GPA: 3.9
Junior year GPA: 3.89
Senior year GPA: 4.0

MCAT: 1st attempt (2017) : 498 (CP: 125 CARS: 124 BB: 124 PS:125)
2nd attempt (2018) : 507 (CP: 126 CARS: 125 BB: 129 PS: 127)

On my current application, all secondaries complete by 8/1/18:

• Undergraduate Research- Genetics lab- performed PCR, gel electrophoresis, etc. Presented a poster at 2 national conferences and 2 school research symposiums- 1 year experience, 600 hours total
• Academic tutor: 1 year, 600 hours
• Disaster Relief Volunteer- 1 month, 60 hours in New Orleans
• Emergency Department hospital volunteer- 6 months, 70 hours
• Post Anesthetic Care Unit Volunteer- 3 months, 20 hours
• Physician shadowing- 120 hours over 4 specialties, including IM
• Flag Football coach for Sorority intramural league- 2 years, 120 hours
• Club Baseball Player, Vice President, and Coach- 2 years, 600 hours
• Home Depot Sales Associate- 700 hours
• Member of two university clubs (political club and environmental awareness club), treasurer of both, 150 hours total
• Hibbett Sporting Goods Assistant Manager- 10 months, 850 hours

Current gap year activities not on current app but would be if I have to reapply:

• Patient transporter at medium/large public hospital: 6 months, 960 hours
• Patient care technician: 5 months, 800 hours
• Boys and Girls Club volunteer: 8 months, 250 hours
• Hospice Volunteer- 10 months, 125 hours

In the event that I need to reapply, what could I improve on my app? I really do not want to retake the MCAT as my practice exams were around 507 before the real deal. MD is the ideal goal, but if I need to reapply I will apply both MD and DO. Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

 

[eaglebaseball4]

The MCAT is the main thing that you need to address. You need to go back and prep and prep and prep and prep until you get 512 on practice.

I was hoping my BB 129 would carry me a little bit, considering that medical school is learning about human biology... My biggest issue with the MCAT is test anxiety. Even in practice exams, I get so nervous that I can't think and make dumb mistakes. In the past I did a 5 month study and a 7 week study, and you see the results. Even if I decided to retake the MCAT, I'm not sure how to improve test anxiety when I have taken over 20 practice exams and still get nervous each time. I never had test anxiety during undergrad...

 

[ciestar]

Did you apply DO? You still could and reasonably get interviews

 

[Goro]

I was hoping my BB 129 would carry me a little bit, considering that medical school is learning about human biology... My biggest issue with the MCAT is test anxiety. Even in practice exams, I get so nervous that I can't think and make dumb mistakes. In the past I did a 5 month study and a 7 week study, and you see the results. Even if I decided to retake the MCAT, I'm not sure how to improve test anxiety when I have taken over 20 practice exams and still get nervous each time. I never had test anxiety during undergrad...

One subsection will NOT carry you. You have to master all of the categories. Medicine is like this.

Test taking anxiety issues are fixable, and so you need ti get this fixed before you can seriously think about a career in Medicine. If not, you'll fail multiple exams in med school and Boards.

 

[ciestar]

One subsection will NOT carry you. You have to master all of the categories. Medicine is like this.

Test taking anxiety issues are fixable, and so you need ti get this fixed before you can seriously think about a career in Medicine. If not, you'll fail multiple exams in med school and Boards.

I will attest to this. Luckily, i didnt fail step 1.

 

[eaglebaseball4]

Did you apply DO? You still could and reasonably get interviews

I did not. I wanted to apply MD only my first cycle with the hope that I get in, and if I did not receive an acceptance, I was hoping to blame it on my lack of clinical/nonclinical experience. I am working on both of those now in my gap year, and plan to reapply next cycle both MD and DO if I do not get in. I prefer MD 100% as I have no clue what specialty I want to enter, and the DO bias.... I am okay with taking 2 gap years.

 

[ciestar]

I did not. I wanted to apply MD only my first cycle with the hope that I get in, and if I did not receive an acceptance, I was hoping to blame it on my lack of clinical/nonclinical experience. I am working on both of those now in my gap year, and plan to reapply next cycle both MD and DO if I do not get in. I prefer MD 100% as I have no clue what specialty I want to enter, and the DO bias.... I am okay with taking 2 gap years.

With your MCAT, I’d deeply consider it. If you don’t get in, I’d surmise that is more the reason, especially at schools that average. Median is 511.

 

[eaglebaseball4]

One subsection will NOT carry you. You have to master all of the categories. Medicine is like this.

Test taking anxiety issues are fixable, and so you need ti get this fixed before you can seriously think about a career in Medicine. If not, you'll fail multiple exams in med school and Boards.

Thank you for your advice. I think it is simply just the MCAT that gives me anxiety. My first practice exam was a 485... I probably could have done just as well in the beginning if the text were written in a different language and had to guess on every question. I think because I started at such a low score, I will always have anxiety associated with this test. As you can see from my GPA, I do not struggle with tests in general, just the MCAT.

 

[eaglebaseball4]

With your MCAT, I’d deeply consider it. If you don’t get in, I’d surmise that is more the reason, especially at schools that average. Median is 511.

My goal isnt a top 20. My goal is an MD granting school not in the carribean. My state school median is 509, and a private school in my state (GA) only accepts in state students and their median mcat is 505. I would be happy at either of these schools.

 

[ciestar]

My goal isnt a top 20. My goal is an MD granting school not in the carribean. My state school median is 509, and a private school in my state (GA) only accepts in state students and their median mcat is 505. I would be happy at either of these schools.

Well, good! Your chances are definitely best there and it is only September still, so there is still time.

 

[eaglebaseball4]

Well, good! Your chances are definitely best there and it is only September still, so there is still time.

Thanks for your advice! Just somewhat freaking out because I see II's going out, and I was "complete" pretty early therefore I feel like my app is being passed over.

 

[ciestar]

Thanks for your advice! Just somewhat freaking out because I see II's going out, and I was "complete" pretty early therefore I feel like my app is being passed over.

When I applied, I got three II in February! You never know. Just keep doing what you’re doing

 

[eaglebaseball4]

Does it matter when I last shadowed a physician? I think my last shadowing experience was in 2016.

 

[Goro]

Thank you for your advice. I think it is simply just the MCAT that gives me anxiety. My first practice exam was a 485... I probably could have done just as well in the beginning if the text were written in a different language and had to guess on every question. I think because I started at such a low score, I will always have anxiety associated with this test. As you can see from my GPA, I do not struggle with tests in general, just the MCAT.

How will you survive Boards????

 

[eaglebaseball4]

How will you survive Boards????

I made a 507 on the Mcat , 73 percentile. It’s not like I made a 475, and my daddy is on the admissions committee and is secretly holding a seat for me. I am a borderline md/do applicant. My family friend took the Mcat 4 times, and the highest he ever achieved was a 30. He’s now a plastic surgeon, and did his residency at Vanderbilt. My point being, if I can get in, I’m at least good enough. I think the failure rate for medical school with my Mcat score is less than 3 percent? I’ll be fine.

 

[ciestar]

I made a 507 on the Mcat , 73 percentile. It’s not like I made a 475, and my daddy is on the admissions committee and is secretly holding a seat for me. I am a borderline md/do applicant. My family friend took the Mcat 4 times, and the highest he ever achieved was a 30. He’s now a plastic surgeon, and did his residency at Vanderbilt. My point being, if I can get in, I’m at least good enough. I think the failure rate for medical school with my Mcat score is less than 3 percent? I’ll be fine.

Step 1 was a complete other beast compared to the MCAT. I didnt really ever have test anxiety until OChem and then med school. My anxiety was so bad before step 1 i slept about 3 hours before my exam. No doubt you can do well, just take care of your test anxiety. You’ll thank yourself in the longterm.

 

[Goro]

I made a 507 on the Mcat , 73 percentile. It’s not like I made a 475, and my daddy is on the admissions committee and is secretly holding a seat for me. I am a borderline md/do applicant. My family friend took the Mcat 4 times, and the highest he ever achieved was a 30. He’s now a plastic surgeon, and did his residency at Vanderbilt. My point being, if I can get in, I’m at least good enough. I think the failure rate for medical school with my Mcat score is less than 3 percent? I’ll be fine.

Let us know how it works out.

 

[candbgirl]

My goal isnt a top 20. My goal is an MD granting school not in the carribean. My state school median is 509, and a private school in my state (GA) only accepts in state students and their median mcat is 505. I would be happy at either of these schools.

So did you check with these schools and find out if they average multiple MCAT scores or if the take the most recent or the highest? Of course they may say one thing and their ADCOM members might do another. But all of your scores are visible and you do have that 498. And AMCAS rec that schools average multiple MCAT scores.

 

[GenSurgONLY]

Medical school is a series of exams punctuated by occasional lectures. Before you even consider applying again or take the MCAT, you need to seek some professional guidance on test anxiety

I used to have testing anxiety. What helped me was simply not overthinking and apply logic to why an answer choice doesn’t fit. I notice on the MCAT prep(such as on Khan Academy) it goes through and pokes holes to why a choice that “sounds correct” is far from it. Using this strategy works; hard part is telling your brain to piss off with your backseat diving and let me navigate.

Sounds silly but for me, second guessing hurt me greatly on exams. I’d want to kick myself when I saw answer marked wrong simply because I changed it at the last minute. Goro is right about all the exams; this morning I was telling my husband that my schedule will pretty much be studying for exams, volunteering, clerkship(when the time comes) and probably napping. Aside for a few events, probably will miss a lot of disc golf, family gatherings and what not beyond a few core basics li school registrations.

Gotta find what allows you to get tunnel vision on your exams. During an exam, remember that a flat tire can wait, late bill can wait, School conference can wait, movie night can wait, any distraction pertinent to your life can wait during exams because it will be there waiting afterwards anyways. 😉

 

[LAIsTheBestPlaceEver]

my daddy is on the admissions committee and is secretly holding a seat for me.

First I was like: 😱😕
Then I noticed the word "daddy":
But when I realized no one can hold a seat for anyone:

507 is not a bad score, but also not an excellent score. Everything else on the file looks great! I wish you good luck in the process. The family friend is now a plastic surgeon story is literally an urban legend that I've heard at least 20 times from different sources both online and in real life. But, please let us know if you end up getting into the school that your daddy holds the seat for you. It will "help and enlighten" all of us.

 

[eaglebaseball4]

First I was like: 😱😕
Then I noticed the word "daddy":
But when I realized no one can hold a seat for anyone:

507 is not a bad score, but also not an excellent score. Everything else on the file looks great! I wish you good luck in the process. The family friend is now a plastic surgeon story is literally an urban legend that I've heard at least 20 times from different sources both online and in real life. But, please let us know if you end up getting into the school that your daddy holds the seat for you. It will "help and enlighten" all of us.

Lol my daddy is a cop and my step dad is a bus driver, I doubt anyone in my family will be holding a seat for me in med school!!

 

[GenSurgONLY]

Lol my daddy is a cop and my step dad is a bus driver, I doubt anyone in my family will be holding a seat for me in med school!!

Mine is garbage man! He can be my Doctor Janitor. 😉

 

[chemdoctor]

I will attest to this. Luckily, i didnt fail step 1.

Hmm... looks like I’ve got quite a few things to take care of before applying.