Lost and confused. Need some advice. Please Help!!!

[Cenwean3]

---

Members don't see this ad.

So I've taken the MCAT two times already. I took it twice last year and made a 21 ( 4 V, 9 B, 8 P) and took it a month after that and made a 22 ( 7 V, 8 B, 7 P). As you can see, my main issue is verbal. I also graduated last year with my bachelors in biology with a 3.5 sGPA and a 3.5 overall GPA. I have plenty of volunteer hours, shadowing and I currently work as an ED scribe and a pharmacy technician. I have already taken one year off which was last year. Though my MCAT score was low, I still went ahead and applied to 4 DO schools but I applied late and was able to get one interview. But now I'm on hold, they are delaying my decision hopefully until May. Now I need some advice. If I don't get accepted, what should I do
? I have already applied to GA PCOM's master's in biomedical sciences program and I am also considering just taking upper level science classes at a nearby university while working. But this would be after retaking the MCAT in July. Is that a good idea? I want to go to medical school desperately but at the same time I don't want to spend money on a program unless I absolutely need to. I would rather work and retake the MCAT. Please offer some advice. Thanks.

 

[Genore]

That little improvement in your overall score will be hard to overcome. Honestly, if it were me, I would move on with my life for 5 or so years, and then start thinking about reapplying. However, I'm no URM, and perhaps you are so lower scores maybe overlooked more. Maybe get your masters to boost, hopefully, your GPA a bit (it's not bad but it's not great) and then work for a couple years in a related field. Get some awesome clinical experience if you can. Start reading the great classics in literature, as well as well respected news (The Economist, NYT, etc.). Get your scores up and have the life experience to supplement lower overall scores/GPA. Some schools will still average all of your scores, but some will just take the most recent one or at least weight it when averaging. Good luck!

 

[Boolean]

Err, even with a 22 you'd be a bit hard pressed to get in. Have you used a study plan / taken a practice course at all?

 

[DermViser]

So I've taken the MCAT two times already. I took it twice last year and made a 21 ( 4 V, 9 B, 8 P) and took it a month after that and made a 22 ( 7 V, 8 B, 7 P). As you can see, my main issue is verbal. I also graduated last year with my bachelors in biology with a 3.5 sGPA and a 3.5 overall GPA. I have plenty of volunteer hours, shadowing and I currently work as an ED scribe and a pharmacy technician. I have already taken one year off which was last year. Though my MCAT score was low, I still went ahead and applied to 4 DO schools but I applied late and was able to get one interview. But now I'm on hold, they are delaying my decision hopefully until May. Now I need some advice. If I don't get accepted, what should I do
? I have already applied to GA PCOM's master's in biomedical sciences program and I am also considering just taking upper level science classes at a nearby university while working. But this would be after retaking the MCAT in July. Is that a good idea? I want to go to medical school desperately but at the same time I don't want to spend money on a program unless I absolutely need to. I would rather work and retake the MCAT. Please offer some advice. Thanks.

Your main issue is a lot more than verbal, pal (i.e. look at your other scores).

 

[Cenwean3]

No I have not used an MCAT prep course yet.

 

[Cenwean3]

Err, even with a 22 you'd be a bit hard pressed to get in. Have you used a study plan / taken a practice course at all?

No I have not used an MCAT prep course yet.

 

[Cenwean3]

Your main issue is a lot more than verbal, pal (i.e. look at your other scores).

I know the other sections aren't that great as well and I could improve on them. But I'm asking for advice. Would it be adviseable to do a post bacc since I might have to take another year off?

 

[Cenwean3]

That little improvement in your overall score will be hard to overcome. Honestly, if it were me, I would move on with my life for 5 or so years, and then start thinking about reapplying. However, I'm no URM, and perhaps you are so lower scores maybe overlooked more. Maybe get your masters to boost, hopefully, your GPA a bit (it's not bad but it's not great) and then work for a couple years in a related field. Get some awesome clinical experience if you can. Start reading the great classics in literature, as well as well respected news (The Economist, NYT, etc.). Get your scores up and have the life experience to supplement lower overall scores/GPA. Some schools will still average all of your scores, but some will just take the most recent one or at least weight it when averaging. Good luck!

Thanks for your advice.

 

[ciestar]

With an mcat like that, no post bacc will save you. Your gpa isn't even that bad to begin with?

Why would you take the mcat without prepping for it? Twice.

 

[DermViser]

I know the other sections aren't that great as well and I could improve on them. But I'm asking for advice. Would it be adviseable to do a post bacc since I might have to take another year off?

I don't think even a post-bacc will save you. I can't believe you took the MCAT w/literally no extra prep.

 

[Cenwean3]

With an mcat like that, no post bacc will save you. Your gpa isn't even that bad to begin with?

Why would you take the mcat without prepping for it? Twice.

It was a bad move on my part which Is why I'm asking for advice.

 

[Cenwean3]

I don't think even a post-bacc will save you. I can't believe you took the MCAT w/literally no extra prep.

I Thought i could study on my own and that would suffice but guess it bit me in the butt.

 

[ciestar]

Well, what did you do to get ready? You don't have to pay for a formal prep course to prepare for the mcat. What did you do before so you know what to do differently?

 

[Cenwean3]

Well, what did you do to get ready? You don't have to pay for a formal prep course to prepare for the mcat. What did you do before so you know what to do differently?

I used the princeton review prep materials. I did a of the

 

[Cenwean3]

Well, what did you do to get ready? You don't have to pay for a formal prep course to prepare for the mcat. What did you do before so you know what to do differin myntly?

I did all of the content review and also used examkrackers for the verbal. Although I took 6 of the AAMC practice tests, my highest score was a 26 but I still went ahead and took the exam. I was doing poorly In the verbal section with my highest verbal score being a 7. This time around I intend on using berkeley review and also looking over the 30 + MCAT forum for tips and suggestions.

 

[Cenwean3]

Well, what did you do to get ready? You don't have to pay for a formal prep course to prepare for the mcat. What did you do before so you know what to do differently?

So I guess I shouldn't do a post bacc?

 

[ciestar]

I don't think you need a post bacc. Your gpa isn't terrible. That 22 is what is weighing you down heavily

 

[Genore]

@Cenwean3, you'll be better off both in terms of applications and finances to get a paying job in a health care-related industry. If you got a degree in biology or chemistry, you could work in a hospital lab and/or as a phlebo. If you happened to major in humanities or business, you could try for a non clinical position in which you still would get patient contact. I know it's hard to hear, but with the consistently low scores, you need to put some time between them and your application. You could maybe try DO schools again in three, but five would be better. I know a PhD who went back to get her MD in her 30s. There are lots of older med school students now. It's not the answer you wanted, I'm sure, but I don't advise wasting your money again on the MCAT or applications until you can get your practice scores to a 30 or better (you will need to show marked improvement or adcoms might worry you just got lucky if you got a 25 or something).

 

[Dr. Biology]

maybe study harder? I heard the "recommended" study hours to score a 30+ on the MCAT was 300-500 hours and up.. Ill be honest with you man, id be damned before I would shell out the stress, time, and money for the MCAT if I didn't feel as if I knew the material 100%. That's like going into a genetics final and never opening the book or memorizing a single equation