Is this a Bad idea???

[M__]

Ok so i know i am def. not prepared for the April MCAT but i wanna take for the experiance and maybe i'll have a good day and get lucky, but accourding to my practice exam and im going to do horrible (pls dont ask). So my question is knowing that i will do HORRIBLE unless i get lucky should i take the April MCAT for the experiance or wait for the experiance....BTW my app isnt that great so the reason i was hoping to take it in april is so i can get my app in early, and b/c i graduate in the fall...thanks for the input.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Mr. Tee]

Wait for the experience...you don't want to have a "bad score" on your record when you KNOW you can do better.

 

[MediMama23]

I personally think it's a bad idea, but it's ultimately up to you. If you are at least scoring mid-20s, you might be okay, but with a not-so-hot GPA, you'd be better off scoring high 20s to low 30s.

If you're afraid of the extra gap between schooling, consider it a blessing in disguise. Take the time to do things you haven't done, "find yourself," take extra classes to help the GPA, work...whatever.

Good luck.

 

[arachniphobic73]

i agree with the above poster...if you know you're not ready, take the time to prepare and improve your application before investing in all that money with applications that you won't be confident about

good luck

 

[cee]

Ok so i know i am def. not prepared for the April MCAT but i wanna take for the experiance and maybe i'll have a good day and get lucky, but accourding to my practice exam and im going to do horrible (pls dont ask). So my question is knowing that i will do HORRIBLE unless i get lucky should i take the April MCAT for the experiance or wait for the experiance....BTW my app isnt that great so the reason i was hoping to take it in april is so i can get my app in early, and b/c i graduate in the fall...thanks for the input.

i'm in the exact same situation and would like other people's feedback.. ive got about a 3.0 overall and a 3.9 science gpa and am ONLY applying to DO and carribean schools.. a part of me just wants to start the application process as early as possible (therefore, taking the april mcat despite some VERY VERY crappy scores).. i have every intent of taking it in august and am pretty confident i will do much better [i realized what the hell i've been doing wrong in my studying, despite taking TPR which kinda screwed me up cuz it was so damn time consuming.. but i digress].. what does everyone else think?

 

[oxeye]

Judging by the topic of the post, I think you already know the answer to your question. Yes, it is a very bad idea.

But if you like taking risks - go for it!

 

[arachniphobic73]

i wouldn't take the april mcat...i think it's better to put forth a stronger application in october (with your aug scores) rather than an okay application earlier on...

if you aren't ready to write it, don't write it...

good luck

 

[Guy Legend]

But really, what's the harm taking the test in April, then taking the test in August?

First, you do you get the experience of the real thing, something you can't emulate perfectly with a practice test. Second, if you score higher in a particular section now compared to later, some schools take the highest numbers from each section, regardless of test to get an overall score.

Say you score poorly the first time, but do exceptionally well in August. The low April score shouldn't hurt you. From what I've been told, as long as you can prove you are capable of reaching a high number, med. schools will be able to see your capabilities.

 

[MediMama23]

But really, what's the harm taking the test in April, then taking the test in August?

First, you do you get the experience of the real thing, something you can't emulate perfectly with a practice test. Second, if you score higher in a particular section now compared to later, some schools take the highest numbers from each section, regardless of test to get an overall score.

Say you score poorly the first time, but do exceptionally well in August. The low April score shouldn't hurt you. From what I've been told, as long as you can prove you are capable of reaching a high number, med. schools will be able to see your capabilities.

The experience: fine, I'll give you the experience. I've already had it, so that's why I could care less about "the experience."

The number of schools that take the highest scores from all tests is very small; most take the most recent, whether the most recent was lower or higher than the first.

Higher MCAT scores are always better, but just like you can go up in score, you can also go down in score. And if that happens, as ANYTHING could happen, it will not look good. But from the links that BrettBachelor posted (in another thread about August vs. April), it seems that the average scores for repeat offenders goes down. And this is regardless of April or August testing.

I don't know if people are posting trying to seek comfort or approval or make themselves feel better or what, but DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. That's all you can do. I'd hate for anyone to follow advice that they don't believe in, not have things turn out as they expected, and then find themselves blaming a bunch of faceless premeds who have 1000+ posts or whatever (so they MUST be knowledgeable, right? 🙄 ) because "well, that's what so-and-so on SDN TOLD me to do."