MCAT Advise

[maikelm]

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I'm taking a Kaplan class right now and I took a few practice test, however my score is not increasing consistently.

Here are my scores so far:
1/20/2017 Kaplan FL 1: CP 124 - CARS 121 - BB 124 -PS 123 - total 492
2/6/2017 Kaplan FL 2: CP 126 - CARS 121 - BB 126 - PS 124 - total 497
3/21/2017 Kaplan FL 3: CP 125 - CARS 123 - BB 124 - PS 125 - total 497
4/7/2017 Kaplan FL 4: CP 127 - CARS 123 - BB 126 - PS 125 - total 501
4/12/2017 Kaplan FL 5: CP 125 - CARS 119 - BB 125 - PS 126 - total 495

I'm schedule to take my MCAT on 4/28/2017, but that is coming up faster than I thought. This would be my second time taking the MCAT and I need to have a major improvement for med schools to consider me.

If I have to reschedule, then I'll probably choose June or July. I don't think I'll be able to take in May because I'm planning to do research for the entire month in a different state. Now I know taking it June is risky, because I would have to wait until July to submit my application, once I get my score.

Would it be a better idea to reschedule to June or July and guarantee and improved score? Or just keep it for 4/28/2017 hope for the best?

If I end up taking my MCAT in August or September, can I keep my score until the following cycle? Has anyone done this? What do med schools think?

 

[Upstage]

Honestly man, I think you need to just reschedule. It's not looking good, for anything 500+ in my opinion. Your CARS is killing your score, even a middle may could possibly help a bit-- but the best thing you can do is wait for June

 

[sjcha]

I'm pretty sure you answered your own question. Like you said, it's your 2nd time, so you need to have major improvement for a chance at med school. Why risk getting a lower score than desired vs. sending in a later app? You should probably be on AAMC materials if you plan on keeping your current test date. Also, please look at admission requirements. It will tell you how long MCAT scores are valid for (3 years).

 

[DoctorCrush]

I would make the decision to reschedule base on the AAMC exam. If you're not within where you want to be with the AAMC, postpone it. And I'm saying this as someone who is in the same boat as you and going for a retake.

 

[maikelm]

Honestly man, I think you need to just reschedule. It's not looking good, for anything 500+ in my opinion. Your CARS is killing your score, even a middle may could possibly help a bit-- but the best thing you can do is wait for June

I have been trying to improve my CARS for the past 6 months! I had an increase from when I started, but I'm stuck at a plateau right now. I tried The Princeton Review and Exam Krackers for CARS passages and they did help. I'm taking a Kaplan class and it is somewhat good for CARS. As I read on other posts, no one really likes Kaplan for CARS because of their large amount of details question. Also, I went through Testing Solutions CARS plan, and I even bought their passages.

 

[maikelm]

I'm pretty sure you answered your own question. Like you said, it's your 2nd time, so you need to have major improvement for a chance at med school. Why risk getting a lower score than desired vs. sending in a later app? You should probably be on AAMC materials if you plan on keeping your current test date. Also, please look at admission requirements. It will tell you how long MCAT scores are valid for (3 years).

On my first MCAT (June 2016), my CARS score was horrible! That's what brought me down at that time and I have been trying to increase it ever since. I have been trying to improve my CARS for the past 6 months! I had an increase from when I started, but I'm stuck at a plateau right now. I tried The Princeton Review and Exam Krackers for CARS passages and they did help. I'm taking a Kaplan class and it is somewhat good for CARS. As I read on other posts, no one really likes Kaplan for CARS because of their large amount of details question. Also, I went through Testing Solutions CARS plan, and I even bought their passages.

 

[maikelm]

I would make the decision to reschedule base on the AAMC exam. If you're not within where you want to be with the AAMC, postpone it. And I'm saying this as someone who is in the same boat as you and going for a retake.

While I agree the AAMC exam will give me the best score, I don't feel ready to take it in all honesty. That is why I am leaning towards rescheduling. And if I don't do so good, then I'm not sure if I can take it again in the future, because I was already pre-exposed to the questions, which I feel will skew my results.

 

[medtech2MD]

Use the Kaplan method for CARS would be my advice (I scored a 511, with 130 in CARS). I would also recommend reading a variety of material to increase your reading speed to make the section more approachable


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[maikelm]

Use the Kaplan method for CARS would be my advice (I scored a 511, with 130 in CARS). I would also recommend reading a variety of material to increase your reading speed to make the section more approachable


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In all honesty, the Kaplan method seems very time expensive. They do teach you a lot of stuff, but I think you should be doing them mentally. Writing out stuff will end up costing me time. It cost me time when I took the MCAT the first, and I used their methodology.

 

[medtech2MD]

In all honesty, the Kaplan method seems very time expensive. They do teach you a lot of stuff, but I think you should be doing them mentally. Writing out stuff will end up costing me time. It cost me time when I took the MCAT the first, and I used their methodology.

Edit - sorry didn't realize your scores were in the original post, ignore my question haha
I agree it takes a lot of time and I did a very short-handed version of Kaplan, definitely didn't strictly follow it, but I felt it helped


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