LOW MCAT, HIGH GPA...What now?

[Mandee8767]

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Hey everyone,

I am a Junior studying Cell and Molecular Biology. I currently have a 3.86 Cum and 3.7 Science. I want so badly to be a DO, it is my dream to serve those in need with the knowledge and training provided by a DO program. Unfortunately, I got a 20 on my first MCAT. I am Latina so my chances statistically are not terrible (40% chance of acceptance), but I am wondering whether or not to apply to my first choice (VCOM) as well as a few other schools or wait. I don't want to rush into the 2015 MCAT because I am not conditioned or prepared for the material and time required for that exam just yet. I will need many months of practice.

Current options:
1) Apply this cycle and see what happens...
2) Wait until I graduate and focus for 6 months on MCAT studying ONLY (no job or school) and retake it to apply for that next cycle.
3) Apply for a post-bacc program that has a linkage agreement and then take the MCAT after that (2 years after graduation).


Help? Suggestions? Advice? ALL IS APPRECIATED.

Thank you.

 

[Nesmall2]

By this cycle, do you mean right now? If thats the case, then you are REALLY late, and with that MCAT, you are basically just:
A. throwing away money
B. making it so its harder to get into that specific school that you applied to
If I were you, I would start studying IMMEDIATELY for a retake, your 20 is incredibly low, and yes being URM helps, but with the competition increasing every year, you are already 5 points behind the "competitive" score for VCOM (VA). I would go with option 2. Option 3 can be very expensive, on top of it only really gives you benefits for one specific school.

 

[NonTrad16]

What was the breakdown? (X/Y/Z) From what I can tell, it doesn't matter much (too low in general), but may point to the key deficit.

Personally (as a non-trad), I'd wait until you graduate and focus on studying and working for year. I do not think 6 months should be required of FT study -- take a PT job to keep yourself from losing it (mentally) and make money (perhaps to pay for a course, if you think it would help you prepare).

I do not know what I post-bac would do for you -- you already have a good GPA and the basic material will probably be even more distant for you after 2 years away from undergrad. You'd still need to take the MCAT, and you'd be spending a lot of money in the process.

 

[emkayveedee]

I would suggest avoiding post-bac. It's not your GPA that needs work. It seems like retaking the MCAT is inevitable and it's not really worth putting off studying for it.

 

[Mandee8767]

Hey guys, thanks for the input!

My breakdown is 7 Physical, 7 VR, 6 Biological. By cycle, I mean I would be applying June of 2015 to start medical school Fall 2016.

You're absolutely right that perhaps a post bacc program would be a waste. I took a Kaplan prep course but since I was in school, I did not get a lot out of it as I was taking a full course load. I will likely do what NonTrad16 suggested, graduate and study for 6 months while working. That way I can put all of my focus into retaking it. Kaplan will give me another course free which I will utilize at that time.

Do you recommend I hire a private MCAT tutor? Advice on that?? It costs less than a post bacc program!

 

[referee3]

You do not need to study for 6 months, nor should you. That is too long and you will burn out and forget info. 3-4 months is ideal. If you can afford to hire a private tutor go ahead but any prep course should do. Such the forms here to see which few people like.

Good luck.

 

[NonTrad16]

Wait, if you're a junior now... You have all of this summer, which you could use to study if you don't have other things you need to do (a full time internship or research gig). If you studied this summer and did well on the MCAT, you would save yourself some headaches later.

Unless you have some courses that would help a lot, it might be optimal to aim for a fall MCAT. You would then apply right after graduation. It's important to figure out what you did wrong, and not over extend yourself...

 

[Mandee8767]

Unfortunately I am taking summer classes and am an undegrad researcher year round (so that won't clear up until after graduation). I think my best bet would be to study once I'm free after graduation.

Also, I was told I should apply to one or two DO schools to throw my name in the hat. Do you think it's even worth it with my stats, EC's, volunteering and shadowing?

 

[noleknight16]

Do not apply till you have a score greater or equal to 25. I think it would be a waste of money with a 20 MCAT even for DO schools.

There's no rush for a college junior. Get this done right.

 

[Nesmall2]

I don't think its worth it at all. A 20 on your MCAT is really looked down upon by many ADCOMS, because they will have more competitive applicants than you. I apologize if it comes across as mean, but you are basically just throwing money away, and possibly making it harder to apply to those specific schools again if you don't get in the first time

 

[Mandee8767]

You're right. I will just stick to studying and retaking. Do you think one summer (May-mid August) is enough time or should I devote the summer and fall semesters to studying for the MCAT?

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

20 MCAT is too low. Especially for somebody with a 3.7+ gpa. You need to retake it. URM status doesn't mean as much when it comes to DO programs.

Everybody is different. Some folks claim to have studied for three weeks and have scored 30+. Some study for 3-4 months and don't do as well.
Take it once you are comfortable with your practice exam averages.

 

[s5260205]

You're right. I will just stick to studying and retaking. Do you think one summer (May-mid August) is enough time or should I devote the summer and fall semesters to studying for the MCAT?

It depends on what your comfort level and prior knowledge with the subjects tested are. If you have a very good foundation in both biological and social sciences, you should be good. I would suggest at least 2 full months of studying (no full time courseload/work, minimal ECs).

 

[Mandee8767]

2 full months of studying on my own? or 2 full months of a prep course?

 

[s5260205]

2 full months of studying on my own? or 2 full months of a prep course?

This is from my personal experience. Having taken all the pre-reqs, I self-studied for two months with the Princeton Review materials supplemented with online PR and AAMC practice tests. You should consider your own familiarity with the subjects and determine if you could self-study.

 

[Mandee8767]

I will do that, the 2015 MCAT is a whole new ball game so I need to figure out where I can find those practice tests etc.

 

[TopTomato]

Hey everyone,

I am a Junior studying Cell and Molecular Biology. I currently have a 3.86 Cum and 3.7 Science. I want so badly to be a DO, it is my dream to serve those in need with the knowledge and training provided by a DO program. Unfortunately, I got a 20 on my first MCAT. I am Latina so my chances statistically are not terrible (40% chance of acceptance), but I am wondering whether or not to apply to my first choice (VCOM) as well as a few other schools or wait. I don't want to rush into the 2015 MCAT because I am not conditioned or prepared for the material and time required for that exam just yet. I will need many months of practice.

Current options:
1) Apply this cycle and see what happens...
2) Wait until I graduate and focus for 6 months on MCAT studying ONLY (no job or school) and retake it to apply for that next cycle.
3) Apply for a post-bacc program that has a linkage agreement and then take the MCAT after that (2 years after graduation).


Help? Suggestions? Advice? ALL IS APPRECIATED.

Thank you.

I can tell you right now I am a URM, with an MCAT score much much higher than yours and I didn't get much love from the COMs. Also I had no red flags on my application. My point being, don't rely on your URM status to make up for a low MCAT. You're going to have to retake.

 

[TopTomato]

20 MCAT is too low. Especially for somebody with a 3.7+ gpa. You need to retake it. URM status doesn't mean as much when it comes to DO programs.

Everybody is different. Some folks claim to have studied for three weeks and have scored 30+. Some study for 3-4 months and don't do as well.
Take it once you are comfortable with your practice exam averages.

Very true

 

[OsteopathicHopeful]

20 MCAT is too low. Especially for somebody with a 3.7+ gpa. You need to retake it. URM status doesn't mean as much when it comes to DO programs.

Everybody is different. Some folks claim to have studied for three weeks and have scored 30+. Some study for 3-4 months and don't do as well.
Take it once you are comfortable with your practice exam averages.

I agree with the URM status doesn't mean as much! Just what I have observed....

 

[user3]

.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

If you're reading this, it's too late.

 

[user3]

I can tell you right now I am a URM, with an MCAT score much much higher than yours and I didn't get much love from the COMs. Also I had no red flags on my application. My point being, don't rely on your URM status to make up for a low MCAT. You're going to have to retake.

yea, a 20 is pitiful but it still wouldn't surprise me if they made it into one of the newer schools. High GPA, plus female, plus another new school opening for 2016 might enable OP to get in somewhere.

 

[ananasmed]

yea, a 20 is pitiful but it still wouldn't surprise me if they made it into one of the newer schools. High GPA, plus female, plus another new school opening for 2016 might enable OP to get in somewhere.

Is "female" a characteristic that you believe helps people with lower than average stats gain admission?

 

[Mandee8767]

So I am thinking of studying during the summer and taking it again in August before the Fall semester starts. I will then apply June of 2016

 

[Goro]

With a Bio 6 I'd reject you before coming to the interview room. You must retake but not before you fix your dificts. A poor MCAT score is a risk factor for failing Boards and/or flunking out of medical school.

We'd be doing you no favors by admitting you if you can't handle standardized testing or a med school curriculum, Latina or not.

Hey guys, thanks for the input!

My breakdown is 7 Physical, 7 VR, 6 Biological. By cycle, I mean I would be applying June of 2015 to start medical school Fall 2016.

You're absolutely right that perhaps a post bacc program would be a waste. I took a Kaplan prep course but since I was in school, I did not get a lot out of it as I was taking a full course load. I will likely do what NonTrad16 suggested, graduate and study for 6 months while working. That way I can put all of my focus into retaking it. Kaplan will give me another course free which I will utilize at that time.

Do you recommend I hire a private MCAT tutor? Advice on that?? It costs less than a post bacc program!

 

[Mandee8767]

With a Bio 6 I'd reject you before coming to the interview room. You must retake but not before you fix your dificts. A poor MCAT score is a risk factor for failing Boards and/or flunking out of medical school.

We'd be doing you no favors by admitting you if you can't handle standardized testing or a med school curriculum, Latina or not.

If I upped my score on the new 2015 MCAT and scored equal to or above average, I could be accepted regardless of my 20 MCAT score? Or are you saying the fact that I have a 20 indicates I will fail my boards?


I work with a resident physician who scored a 17 on his first MCAT, took it 3 times and got a 24 as his final score. He scored in the 90th percentile of his boards exams. The MCAT doesn't always indicate success on boards.

 

[Nesmall2]

I think you misunderstood what @Goro was trying to say. They were saying that if you came in without a retake, and your final score was a 20, then you would be rejected before entering the room. If you do a retake and score substantially better, than your previous score will be overlooked. And yes, the MCAT doesn't always indicate whether someone will succeed or not on the board, but from an administrators perspective, they don't know you fully as a person. They just know you by your extracurriculars, your previous classes, and a standardized exam that everyone must take in order to get accepted to medical school. There has been some correlation that relates MCAT scores to board pass rates, but thats just it, correlation. You might be another student that didn't do so well on the MCAT, but scored 90% percentile on the boards, but for administrators, are they willing to take that chance or just look upon another candidate that did much better than you? I don't mean to be insulting, but with some schools having over 6000 applications, this is probably how Adcoms deduce their applicants.

 

[MightBeACylon439]

If I upped my score on the new 2015 MCAT and scored equal to or above average, I could be accepted regardless of my 20 MCAT score? Or are you saying the fact that I have a 20 indicates I will fail my boards?


I work with a resident physician who scored a 17 on his first MCAT, took it 3 times and got a 24 as his final score. He scored in the 90th percentile of his boards exams. The MCAT doesn't always indicate success on boards.

GPA doesn't always indicate success in med school classes, MCAT doesn't always indicate success on boards...BUT GUESS WHAT!!! They need some sort of way to determine potential for success or failure, and GPA/MCAT is what is used. So get over it and retake the MCAT.

I had eight years between my undergrad and when I took the MCAT, I took a prep course and worked my ass off prepping ESPECIALLY for verbal (you will need to study a lot for verbal). If I did it than you can do it.

 

[Goro]

There is a good correlation between poor MCAT scores and failing our of med school and/or failing Boards. Do a PubMed search if you don't believe me.

Coming in with a 6 Bio says to me that you didn't learn anything in UG.


I work with a resident physician who scored a 17 on his first MCAT, took it 3 times and got a 24 as his final score. He scored in the 90th percentile of his boards exams. The MCAT doesn't always indicate success on boards.[/QUOTE]

 

[user3]

There is a good correlation between poor MCAT scores and failing our of med school and/or failing Boards. Do a PubMed search if you don't believe me.

Coming in with a 6 Bio says to me that you didn't learn anything in UG.


I work with a resident physician who scored a 17 on his first MCAT, took it 3 times and got a 24 as his final score. He scored in the 90th percentile of his boards exams. The MCAT doesn't always indicate success on boards.

Bringing up any discussion of MCAT vs med school performance correlation, doesn't usually have a happy ending in these forums.

FWIW, those at my school who did poorly love to express their disdain for the test, call it stupid, and assert that there are zero correlations of any kind.

 

[FloresMD]

Unfortunetly, you will have to retake. It would be different if your bio score was the highest of the three scores but it is the lowest. On the bright side you should know more by the time you take it again because you would have more classes under your belt. Just make sure you kill it the second time and do not take it unless you absolutely are ready! Good Luck! 😉

 

[FloresMD]

*Unfortunately

 

[Mandee8767]

Thank you for the advice everyone. I am DEFINITELY retaking it. Not sure why some of the comments are so harsh. I am just trying to get advice from everyone, no need to be rude in your comments. According to my family friend and officer of medical admissions at UCLA school of medicine, VR is the only section they are concerned with.

Anyway, thank you to all who posted nice, encouraging and helpful advice. I will be retaking the MCAT and will let you know how it goes in August!