Low GPA and thinking about pushing back MCAT date?

[Meg94]

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Hi, everyone! My GPA is at a 3.2, which is quite low. Everyone on here has recommended that I submit applications early to have somewhat of a shot of getting in. Due to this, I registered to take the MCAT in mid May. I'm currently taking my last semester of classes, and it has been difficult studying for the MCAT, and all my lectures. The only open seats for the MCAT that are left are on June 30th. So, my question is, should I push my MCAT date back to have the best possible chance of scoring high, or should I take the MCAT in mid may, like I originally planned? I really do think that I need the extra study time for the MCAT, but I also don't want to apply late because of my low GPA.Any help would be appreciated it!

 

[Cardboard101]

An August application even would be considered early for DO schools. Push the MCAT back, don't take it if you're not ready.

 

[Faefly]

I am not pre-med, I am pre-dental. But come on!
This is a road for destruction!
First I would say!
You will hurt your gpa even more by trying to apply while you are studying for your last semester, which is hard on its own!
Then, you won't really study good enough for the MCAT, so you won't be prepared like the rest of people who did prepare well, and this might kill your last chance to get in, as a good MCAT score might make them consider you despite your low GPA.
So, my suggestion is: Focus on your courses right now. Try hard to ACE them. Graduate!
Take 2 days rest, then dive in and study the MCAT till the end of June!
Best of luck!

By the way, you can still postpone your graduation and enhance your gpa by taking non-elective courses or take them at community college after graduation, just in case you didn't get in this cycle, so you be prepared for next cycle!

 

[rrw1913]

Just remember that taking the MCAT on June 30 means you won't get your score until August 30. If you think that the extra month will gain you 3 or 4 points then push it back but an early application is worth A LOT.

If you push it back I suggest having your application complete so you can submit it the day your scores become final. Good luck!

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[AnatomyGrey12]

Just remember that taking the MCAT on June 30 means you won't get your score until August 30. If you think that the extra month will gain you 3 or 4 points then push it back but an early application is worth A LOT.

First, this is wrong. A June 30 MCAT will get their score back around August 1. If your app is already verified then applying the beginning of August is still considered early in the DO world.

Second, OP don't listen to the pre-dent person I don't know what they are going on about.

Lastly, don't take the MCAT until you are ready. I say push it back, like everyone said an August application is not late for DO schools. Goodluck.

 

[rrw1913]

First, this is wrong. A June 30 MCAT will get their score back around August 1. If your app is already verified then applying the beginning of August is still considered early in the DO world.

Second, OP don't listen to the pre-dent person I don't know what they are going on about.

Lastly, don't take the MCAT until you are ready. I say push it back, like everyone said an August application is not late for DO schools. Goodluck.

Thanks for the correction. I read that as July 31 so I was wrong. Definitely wait then that's still early!

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[NecrotizingFasciitis]

You are in a very similar situation that I was in when I applied (lower gpa; felt the pressure to apply as early as possible, but needed my MCAT.)

I pushed my MCAT back from May to mid June to give myself an extra month and it helped TREMENDOUSLY.

Use this (general) timeline and you will be FINE:

Now: Start drafting your personal statement. Seriously. This has a huge impact on those with lower gpa's. You need to tell them why you belong in medicine. Kill it in your classes. Think about asking professors/physicians to write you letters of recommendation.

If you want, do some content review in your weaker MCAT subjects here. Nothing too intense yet.. Unless you have the time to/want to I guess.

May: While you watch your fellow pre-meds frantically trying to write the perfect personal statement, yours is either in it's final drafting stages or is complete. Get your primary application ready for submission to AACOMAS (get your EC's organized, make sure your letter writers are either writing your letters or know they need to write your letters soon, etc.) Ace your final exams in your classes.

Start studying for the MCAT with any free time you may have.

June: Submit your primary application to AACOMAS as soon as you can to get your transcripts verified (this takes a couple weeks... so get it out of the way.) You'll technically need to apply to (one) medical school without an MCAT to do this. This is OK. Schools are usually cool waiting for your MCAT score. Make it a safety school (a school you think you are more likely to receive an interview at based on your stats.) Probably a newer school.

In addition, start (or continue) to study for your MCAT. Hardcore. "Balls to the wall" as the heathens say. This is extremely important considering your lower gpa. Shoot for a balanced 505+. Show medical schools that you can science.

June 30th (morning): Take the MCAT.
June 30th (afternoon): Cry.
June 30th (night): Celebrate.

July: Pre-write your secondary essays so that when schools start sending you invitations to submit secondaries to them (after you send them your MCAT score) you can send them your completed secondary essays immediately. You can find the essay prompts on the school-specific forums on SDN: Osteopathic School-Specific Discussions

August: Submit your MCAT score to AACOMAS, and send schools your (pre-written) secondary essays as they invite you to complete them.

September - May: Interview & get accepted.



Good luck!

 

[TheGrind]

You are in a very similar situation that I was in when I applied (lower gpa; felt the pressure to apply as early as possible, but needed my MCAT.)

I pushed my MCAT back from May to mid June to give myself an extra month and it helped TREMENDOUSLY.

Use this (general) timeline and you will be FINE:

Now: Start drafting your personal statement. Seriously. This has a huge impact on those with lower gpa's. You need to tell them why you belong in medicine. Kill it in your classes. Think about asking professors/physicians to write you letters of recommendation.

If you want, do some content review in your weaker MCAT subjects here. Nothing too intense yet.. Unless you have the time to/want to I guess.

May: While you watch your fellow pre-meds frantically trying to write the perfect personal statement, yours is either in it's final drafting stages or is complete. Get your primary application ready for submission to AACOMAS (get your EC's organized, make sure your letter writers are either writing your letters or know they need to write your letters soon, etc.) Ace your final exams in your classes.

Start studying for the MCAT with any free time you may have.

June: Submit your primary application to AACOMAS as soon as you can to get your transcripts verified (this takes a couple weeks... so get it out of the way.) You'll technically need to apply to (one) medical school without an MCAT to do this. This is OK. Schools are usually cool waiting for your MCAT score. Make it a safety school (a school you think you are more likely to receive an interview at based on your stats.) Probably a newer school.

In addition, start (or continue) to study for your MCAT. Hardcore. "Balls to the wall" as the heathens say. This is extremely important considering your lower gpa. Shoot for a balanced 505+. Show medical schools that you can science.

June 30th (morning): Take the MCAT.
June 30th (afternoon): Cry.
June 30th (night): Celebrate.

July: Pre-write your secondary essays so that when schools start sending you invitations to submit secondaries to them (after you send them your MCAT score) you can send them your completed secondary essays immediately. You can find the essay prompts on the school-specific forums on SDN: Osteopathic School-Specific Discussions

August: Submit your MCAT score to AACOMAS, and send schools your (pre-written) secondary essays as they invite you to complete them.

September - May: Interview & get accepted.



Good luck!

I must say this is one of the best posts I read on SDN. I wish I saw this a year ago. Very detailed and well constructed; respect to you fam.

But to get back on topic, it is indeed best to take the MCAT whenever you feel comfortable. I was in the same position as you last year and decided to take the MCAT when I wasn't prepared because everyone was harping how important it was to be complete early. I ended up with a really low score and it really hits home when you see such a devastating score. Either way I took 2 months off of work to fully focus on studying for the retake and ended up with 10 points higher.

Oh and to address submitting your application in August--that isn't late at all for DO schools. I submitted my app late December to see what would happen and I still received 2 ll's. Don't submit it in December like me though as that is considered very late.

All in all, if you're going to take that month off then spend every minute productively and not half-heartedly studying just because you have an extension till D-day.


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