MCAT/ADVICE

[Naomyl23]

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Hello,

I have retaken my mcat in May 2021. I took it in July 2020 in the middle of the pandemic and obtained 492: 124/122/123/123. I then took a few months off to work and recharge and studied for 4.5 months and obtained 501: 126/121/126/128. I have everything else that medical school is asking for, except the good mcat score ( especially CARS). My GPA is 3.88, majored in Biology. I have 200+ hours of volunteering, research, a great job at Albert Einstein COM. I have gotten accepted into the Touro Master Program for one year, in which if I do good in the program, I would automatically be admitted to the DO program. I am not sure if I should directly apply to med school or DO program because that way I would save time and money ($70K), or do the master program to be safe.. Please give me your opinion.

 

[deleted1048149]

I don't see a point in you doing the master, personally. Your GPA doesn't need help and the master won't do anything about the MCAT. I definitely think applying directly to DO and saving yourself $70k (!!) would be good. I don't see you striking out with DO with your stats. I would check and make sure schools don't have a subsection minimum or you may need to retake the MCAT again. Do you feel there is something specifically holding you back from bumping up your CARS? Your score otherwise was quite good

 

[Naomyl23]

I don't see a point in you doing the master, personally. Your GPA doesn't need help and the master won't do anything about the MCAT. I definitely think applying directly to DO and saving yourself $70k (!!) would be good. I don't see you striking out with DO with your stats. I would check and make sure schools don't have a subsection minimum or you may need to retake the MCAT again. Do you feel there is something specifically holding you back from bumping up your CARS? Your score otherwise was quite good

Thank you so much for responding to my post.. The masters will not affect my GPA. But, if I maintain a good GPA and pass the comprehensive test at the end of the program, I would be automatically admitted to their DO medical school. I honestly tried so many strategies and I just could not find a good one to stick too. CARS has never been a friendly section (Never ever). I just started reading these boring passages since I studied for MCAT, never before. I really do not want to retake that exhausting mcat ever again lol...

 

[TradClimber]

Agree with the above. If you don't want to retake the MCAT, then apply broadly to DO schools this cycle. I don't see a need for you to spend 70k and another year of your life on an SMP. You have a pretty good chance of getting into a DO school this cycle.

Also you can never fully guarantee you will get into Touro by doing the SMP. Things happen. It's a 70k gamble, and I don't think that's worth it.

 

[Naomyl23]

Agree with the above. If you don't want to retake the MCAT, then apply broadly to DO schools this cycle. I don't see a need for you to spend 70k and another year of your life on an SMP. You have a pretty good chance of getting into a DO school this cycle.

Also you can never fully guarantee you will get into Touro by doing the SMP. Things happen. It's a 70k gamble, and I don't think that's worth it.

Will take the risk then. Thank you for taking the time to reply and good luck to you!

 

[Lucy0888]

I think you should apply to some MD schools as well.

 

[deleted1048149]

I think you should apply to some MD schools as well.

I agree with this. I will clarify, I think DO is VERY doable for you with your stats and MD, while difficult with that MCAT, is still a possibility

 

[Naomyl23]

I think you should apply to some MD schools as well.

Yes, I will apply to 20 schools, which is what the FAP pays for

 

[Naomyl23]

I agree with this. I will clarify, I think DO is VERY doable for you with your stats and MD, while difficult with that MCAT, is still a possibility

Yes, I am planning to apply to 11 DO schools and 20 MD schools

 

[Naomyl23]

Yes, I am planning to apply to 11 DO schools and 20 MD

I agree with this. I will clarify, I think DO is VERY doable for you with your stats and MD, while difficult with that MCAT, is still a possibility

But even with that 121 ( even though I previously had 122 in CARS), DO would accept that?

 

[deleted1048149]

But even with that 121 ( even though I previously had 122 in CARS), DO would accept that?

But even with that 121 ( even though I previously had 122 in CARS), DO would accept that?

You’ll need to check each school you want to apply to and see if they have subsection minimums, but I don’t think it will be an app killer

 

[Naomyl23]

Yes, I will apply to 20 schools, which is what the FAP pays for

You’ll need to check each school you want to apply to and see if they have subsection minimums, but I don’t think it will be an app killer

Got it! Thanks a lot

 

[deleted1048149]

Got it! Thanks a lot

Someone actually just posted on Reddit’s pre-med page about getting into med school with a 501 and similar gpa to you. They may be someone you could reach out to for more advice from a similar situation, as well. Good luck!

 

[Naomyl23]

Someone actually just posted on Reddit’s pre-med page about getting into med school with a 501 and similar gpa to you. They may be someone you could reach out to for more advice from a similar situation, as well. Good luck!

I just found that person. Thank you very much for letting me know. Good luck to you too

 

[emin1234]

Do we need to know conversions for the MCAT, cause ive been reviewing and for the atomic structure section for nuclear binding energy i see alot of conversions between Joules to kg and amu or will they be given?

 

[Naomyl23]

Yes, I had a question in regards to conversion (know what the Newtons, Joules, and Power units). For instance, Newton is kgm/s^2. Some questions will have it as a hint, but not all the time ( For me, I had to know them because it was not given )

 

[emin1234]

Got it! Thanks!

 

[andrewbee]

I am wondering what is the best MCAT course/study tool to use? I would be studying part-time for 6 months and I was wondering what course do y'all recommend that really helps with CARS the most, or overall. I am really looking to at least get a 510 MCAT and with my recent score it believe I can achieve this goal. I am willing to have a (reasonable budget) to spend on a solid MCAT program. Please let me know and thank you!

Also if you have any CARS advice or strategy that helps/helped you, please let me know!

 

[Naomyl23]

I am wondering what is the best MCAT course/study tool to use? I would be studying part-time for 6 months and I was wondering what course do y'all recommend that really helps with CARS the most, or overall. I am really looking to at least get a 510 MCAT and with my recent score it believe I can achieve this goal. I am willing to have a (reasonable budget) to spend on a solid MCAT program. Please let me know and thank you!

Also if you have any CARS advice or strategy that helps/helped you, please let me know!

I did not take any course. I studied everything by myself. CARS was the only section I failed so I can not tell you what strategies worked for me because none worked! Some people recommend Princeton Review.
For the Full Lengths, I strongly recommend Altius.